When bicycle accidents happen in Waukegan, Lake County, or across Illinois, it’s important to seek legal representation from a reputable and experienced Waukegan bicycle accident lawyer. Many bicycle accidents cause serious injuries, leaving bicycle accident victims overwhelmed by mounting medical bills. Our personal injury law firm has a proven track record of representing Illinois bicyclists who have been injured in accidents due to negligent drivers. Our experienced bicycle accident lawyers can guide you through the legal process to recover financial compensation.
In this Article
What Are Bicycle Laws in Illinois?
By Illinois law (625 ILCS 5/11-1512), cyclists on sidewalks or crosswalks must yield to pedestrians and give an audible signal before passing them. Riding on sidewalks or crosswalks is not allowed where signs prohibit it. Cyclists on sidewalks or crosswalks have the same rights and responsibilities as pedestrians on city streets.
Do I Need a Waukegan Bicycle Accident Attorney?
When bike accidents occur due to someone else’s recklessness—and your bike crash leads to a serious personal injury, lost wages, or medical bills—legal help from an experienced personal injury attorney can make a difference.
A personal injury attorney can help pursue legal action by investigating the accident scene, gathering evidence (like medical records, witness statements, and input from accident reconstruction experts), proving negligence, assessing the value of your case, and managing all aspects of the claims process.
While most personal injury claims are settled at the negotiation table, insurance adjusters often offer low settlements. If full and fair compensation for injuries sustained is not offered, we can argue your case in court.
What to Do After a Bicycle Accident
After a bicycle accident, ensure your safety by moving to a secure location if possible. Seek immediate medical attention—many common injuries are not immediately apparent. Document the scene by taking photos, gathering contact details of witnesses, getting contact and insurance information of drivers of vehicles involved, and retaining the police report. Report the incident to the Waukegan Police Department.
Common Causes of Bicycle Crashes in Waukegan, IL
Injured cyclists are often harmed by motor vehicle drivers who violate traffic laws on roadways or in dedicated bike lanes. Causes of bicycle-car crashes include driver negligence (including distracted driving and impaired driving), failure to yield at intersections, dooring accidents, unsafe lane changes, or speeding vehicles. A defective bicycle part may also cause accidents.
Common Severe Injuries in Bicycle Accidents
Injured bicycle riders often face devastating injuries (or even fatal injuries) in motor vehicle accidents due to minimal bodily protection. These injuries, requiring medical treatment, commonly include road rash (severe skin abrasions), facial injuries, head injuries (such as concussions or traumatic brain injuries), back and spinal cord injuries, broken bones, internal bleeding, and other internal injuries like organ damage.
What If I’m Partially to Blame?
Even if you share some legal liability for an accident, you can still file a personal injury claim. Illinois law uses a comparative negligence system, allowing you to seek compensation if you’re less than 50% at fault.
For instance, if the other driver is 80% responsible (and you’re 20% at fault), you can still recover 80% of the economic and non-economic damages. Our Waukegan bike accident attorneys will review your case to help you recover compensation.
What Is My Bicycle Accident Claim Value?
An experienced bicycle accident attorney will evaluate your Waukegan bicycle accident case, considering factors such as the extent of your injuries, costs of medical assistance and treatment, lost income, and the overall impact the accident has had on your life. Waukegan bicyclists may be eligible to recover damages for:
Past and future medical expenses, including physical therapy
Financial support for certain beneficiaries of bike riders involved in fatal accidents
How Long Will It Take to Receive My Settlement?
The timeline for a successful personal injury claim in bicycle accident cases can vary significantly. Some personal injury cases may settle within weeks or months. Others take longer, particularly if they proceed to trial.
Key factors that make the legal process more complex include the severity of injuries and required treatments, investigation and discovery in difficult cases, the negotiation process with insurance companies, accidents in which deaths occurred, and whether a fair settlement with substantial compensation can be reached (or if court action becomes necessary).
Call Us for a Free Consultation
When a bicycle-car accident occurs, the experienced attorneys in our personal injury law firm are here to help injured victims take legal action. The personal injury lawyers on our legal team work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no upfront, out-of-pocket expenses.
Get help from a Waukegan bicycle accident lawyer when you've been injured in a bike wreck caused by someone else's negligence.
$7.5 Million
Recovery for a construction worker injured when a support wall fell and struck him. (Highest award on record for a construction injury in DuPage County at the time).
$3.2 Million
Recovery for a construction worker injured when he fell in an uncovered foundation trench, ranking as the highest award on record for a construction injury in McHenry County at the time.
$3 Million
Recovery for the family of a man struck by a garbage truck that was making an illegal turn.
$2.2 Million
Recovery for a salesman injured in an automobile collision.
$2 Million
Recovery for a man struck by a speeding vehicle as he waited for the CTA bus.
$1.5 Million
Recovery for a truck driver that was struck by another car on the expressway while his vehicle was disabled.
$1.4 Million
Recovery for a computer programmer that slipped and fell in the washroom at work.
Recovery for a pedestrian struck by a vehicle in a parking lot. At the time, this was the second-highest recovery on record in DuPage County for a similar injury.
$800,000
Recovered for a disputed wrongful death claim against a trucking company. The company denied they were involved in the collision.
$660,000
Recovery for a truck driver that was injured while unloading his trailer.
$550,000
Recovery for a person who slipped and fell in a grocery store.
$550,000
Recovery for a woman who injured her neck in a motor vehicle collision.
$500,000
Recovery for a pedestrian that was struck by a vehicle while standing on the sidewalk.
$500,000
$500,000 Policy limit settlement for a 48-year-old woman injured in a Cook County head-on collision after another driver made an unsafe left turn into traffic.
$460,000
Recovery for a truck driver that tripped and fell in the parking lot while making a delivery.
$450,000
Recovery for a dental assistant who slipped and fell at work on an unnatural accumulation of ice.
$425,000
Recovery for a union worker struck by a speeding vehicle.
$425,000
Recovery for a passenger in a vehicle struck by an inexperienced driver.
$415,000
Recovered for a woman that required neck surgery after aggravating an existing neck injury in a truck accident.
$400,000
Recovery for a lab technician injured while transporting equipment.
$370,000
Recovery for a construction worker injured on faulty equipment at a construction site.
$315,000
Recovery for a motorist struck by a falling utility pole.
$310,000
Recovery for a person injured in a motor vehicle collision.
$300,000
Recovery for a bicyclist struck by a vehicle.
$250,000
Recovery for a young woman struck by another vehicle.
$250,000
Recovered for a woman who sustained a partial finger amputation and other injuries in a rollover car accident. (Policy Limits)
$250,000
Recovered for a man injured in a motor vehicle collision.
$250,000
Recovered for a 60-year-old woman involved in a car accident. (Policy Limits)
$250,000
Recovered for a man hit by a semi-truck while operating a go-cart.
$240,000
Recovery for the injured party struck by another vehicle.
$235,000
Recovery for a person injured in a motor vehicle collision.
$235,000
Recovery for an inventory clerk injured when shelving toppled onto her.
$219,000
Recovery for a restaurant patron that slipped and fell in the bathroom.
$200,000
Recovered for an airline employee struck on the runway at O’Hare International Airport.
$190,000
Recovery for a person injured in a motor vehicle collision.
$175,000
Recovered for a child injured by fireworks at a fourth of July celebration.
$170,000
Recovered for a person injured when she slipped and fell exiting a major retail store.
$150,000
Recovered for a woman who fractured her leg when she was struck by a vehicle.
Latisha S.
Great service. They helped me get my money, and everyone was very pleasant even though the health insurance took a while. Everything was on point on Kryder’s side.
(312) 223-1700