Chicago Bicycle Accident Attorney
Bicycle accidents can cause catastrophic injuries and change the course of a victim’s life forever. Our experienced Chicago bicycle accident lawyers help victims pursue meaningful compensation for the costs of medical treatment, loss of income, and pain and suffering.
- How Can Levin & Perconti Help Me After a Bike Accident in Chicago, Illinois?
- What Is My Bicycle Accident Claim Worth?
- Why Do Bicycle Accidents Happen?
- Understanding Liability for a Bicycle Accident in Chicago
- Common Bicycle Accident Injuries
- Steps to Take After a Chicago Bicycle Accident
- What Types of Damages Are Available to Bike Accident Victims?
- What Is the Deadline to File a Lawsuit After an Illinois Bicycle Accident?
- Chicago’s Bicycle Accident Injury Statistics
- Award-Winning Chicago Bicycle Accident Lawyers Ready to Fight for You
- Chicago Bicycle Accident FAQs
As Chicago’s cycling scene continues to grow, staying safe while biking is more important than ever. However, cyclists are often vulnerable to dangers outside of their control, including reckless drivers.
If you have been injured while cycling because of someone else’s negligence, the award-winning Chicago bicycle accident lawyers at Levin & Perconti can help. We’ll take on insurance companies and at-fault parties to fight for the maximum financial recovery. We’re dedicated to relentlessly pursuing justice for bicycle injury victims like you. Contact us online or call (312) 332-2872 today for a free consultation.
How Can Levin & Perconti Help Me After a Bike Accident in Chicago, Illinois?
Even though you may have the legal right to seek compensation, pursuing a claim on your own can be challenging. Insurance companies handle bicycle accident cases like yours every day, and they have experienced adjusters and defense attorneys working for them. They will draw from their considerable resources and search for any reason to deny your bicycle injury claim or limit your payout.Â
You can give yourself the edge to win your case by enlisting the help of our Chicago personal injury lawyers.Â
Levin & Perconti are known and respected Chicago litigators who have dedicated their careers to leveling the playing field for accident victims like you. For decades, we’ve gone toe-to-toe with powerful insurance companies and corporations, winning millions in life-changing compensation in the process.Â
When you trust us after your bicycle accident in Chicago, we will:
- Explain your legal rights and options.
- Investigate your bike accident to identify how and why it happened.
- Obtain evidence, such as photographs, video recordings, witness statements, police reports, medical records, clothing and safety gear, or physical evidence from the scene, to build and support a claim for compensation.
- Work closely with accident and injury experts. Â
- Anticipate and defend against victim-blaming tactics.Â
- Negotiate with at-fault parties and their insurance carriers on your behalf.Â
If you don’t get a fair settlement offer, our award-winning Illinois trial attorneys will be more than ready to bring your case to a Chicago jury. Â
We are ready to put our experience, resources, and skills to work for you to get you the results you deserve. We work on a contingency fee basis, so hiring our Chicago bicycle accident attorneys comes at no cost unless we win your case.Â
Give us a call, and schedule a free case evaluation to get started.
What Is My Bicycle Accident Claim Worth?
No two bicycle accident cases are alike. Every crash victim will suffer different injuries, and the trauma will affect their lives in different ways. So, the value of your bicycle accident case will ultimately come down to factors relevant to your specific situation.Â
However, you can get an idea of how much money you might recover in a bicycle accident claim by considering these questions:Â
- What types of bicycle accident injuries have you suffered?
- Are you able to continue working?
- Has your bicycle accident caused a disability?Â
- Did the accident aggravate a preexisting medical condition?Â
Don’t underestimate the importance of hiring an experienced bicycle accident attorney in Chicago to represent you. At Levin & Perconti, we are nationally recognized attorneys who have secured life-changing results for clients like you, including many million-dollar awards. Call our Chicago personal injury law firm to see how we can maximize your compensation.
$3.8 million
Settlement
61-year-old man who was struck by a vehicle while cycling in Lake County.
$90,000
Settlement
Client who was riding his bike on the Lake Shore Drive bike path and went into the construction zone with a 12 inch drop off in cement and flipped over his handlebars.
$265,000
Settlement
Plaintiff was pedestrian walking through crosswalk and was struck by bicyclist who proceeded through intersection without stopping.
Why Do Bicycle Accidents Happen?
Most bicycle accidents happen when someone is negligent. Negligence means that someone acted unreasonably under the circumstances and, as a result, caused another person to get hurt in some way.Â
Some of the most common causes of bicycle accidents include:
- Failing to yield the right of way
- Failing to look for bicyclists before making a right-hand turnÂ
- Distracted drivingÂ
- Drunk drivingÂ
- Speeding
- Rolling stopsÂ
- Failing to leave enough room between a vehicle and a bicycle while passingÂ
- DooringÂ
- Road rageÂ
- Road defects
- Vehicle and safety equipment defects
Our attorneys will carefully examine the facts and evidence of your case to determine all potential causes. With this information in hand, we can move forward and pursue compensation from all liable parties.
Understanding Liability for a Bicycle Accident in Chicago
Under Illinois state law, liability—or financial responsibility—for a bicycle accident can extend to anyone who contributes to it. This includes parties directly involved in the accident as well as parties who might have played a less direct role.Â
Depending on the specific circumstances of your bike accident, liable parties could include:
- Negligent motorist
- Another bicyclist
- PedestrianÂ
- EmployerÂ
- Property ownerÂ
- Bicycle manufacturerÂ
- Vehicle manufacturer
- Government agencyÂ
- Truck driver or trucking companyÂ
Our Chicago bicycle accident attorneys will aggressively fight to recover damages from anyone who put you in harm’s way.
Common Bicycle Accident Injuries
As a bicyclist, you are susceptible to injuries and trauma that can change the course of your life forever. At Levin & Perconti, we represent bicycle accident victims who have sustained:
- Head injury
- ConcussionÂ
- Traumatic brain injury
- Dental injury
- Eye injuryÂ
- Vision or hearing lossÂ
- Neck injuryÂ
- Back injury
- Spinal cord injuryÂ
- ParalysisÂ
- Nerve damageÂ
- Burn injuryÂ
- Joint injury
- Soft tissue injuryÂ
- AmputationÂ
- Catastrophic injury
If a family member has been killed in a fatal bicycle accident in Chicago, we can help you seek compensation through a wrongful death action.
Steps to Take After a Chicago Bicycle Accident
If you have a bicycle accident, the first thing you should do is move out of traffic. Once you’re safe, check yourself for injuries. If you can, it’s important to call the police and report the incident. The police report will create a record that provides critical evidence later.
If possible, take photos of the scene and exchange contact information with any witnesses.Â
Seek medical attention immediately. Even if you don’t believe you’re injured, some injuries are not immediately apparent. Your health is the priority. A doctor will examine you and ensure you receive the necessary care. In addition, the medical records and proactive treatment can strengthen your claims later.
Report the accident to your insurance company, but do not admit fault to your insurer or the other party. Making statements without first consulting an attorney can create headaches for your case, as insurers will often use what you say against you.Â
Contact a knowledgeable Chicago bicycle accident lawyer as soon as possible. Your attorney can help guide you through every step of the claims process, from investigating and gathering evidence to negotiating with the insurance company and litigating your claims if it fails to offer a settlement that fully compensates you for your damages.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Bike Accident Victims?
Chicago bicycle accident victims can receive compensation for monetary losses, known as economic damages, and harder-to-value losses from their crashes, known as non-economic damages. Compensation for bicycle injury cases might cover the following damages:
- Medical expenses
- Physical therapy
- Nursing care and assistanceÂ
- Property damageÂ
- Lost wagesÂ
- Reduced earning capacityÂ
- Chronic physical pain
- Emotional distressÂ
- DisfigurementÂ
- Loss of enjoyment of lifeÂ
- EmbarrassmentÂ
- Loss of consortiumÂ
A Chicago jury might decide that punitive damages are also appropriate if the defendant’s actions were fraudulent, intentional, or willful and wanton.
What Is the Deadline to File a Lawsuit After an Illinois Bicycle Accident?
After a bicycle accident in Chicago, Illinois, you generally have just two years to initiate a legal claim for damages. Once the two-year statute of limitations expires, you will lose the opportunity to recover compensation from negligent parties and their insurance carriers.Â
Two years can pass before you know it, and you don’t want to let much-needed compensation slip away. Protect yourself by calling our experienced bicycle accident lawyers in Chicago as soon as you can.
Chicago's Bicycle Accident Injury Statistics
In 2021, 1,568 bicycle accidents were reported in Chicago, with 971 resulting in injuries. Of those injuries, 145 were incapacitating, and seven were fatal. Chicago bicycle crashes tend to peak in mid to late summer each year, with July typically seeing the most accidents.
Chicago is working to improve cycling infrastructure and ensure the city is safer for biking in years to come. However, being vigilant and cautious is still the best way to prevent accidents—both for bicyclists and drivers.Â
Award-Winning Chicago Bicycle Accident Lawyers Ready to Fight for You
Whether you were hit by a car while riding your bike or got into an accident because of hazardous road conditions, Levin & Perconti is ready to stand beside you. Â
Benefit from a top-rated legal team with 200+ years of experience that has won hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements and jury awards.Â
Contact our Chicago bicycle accident lawyers today for a free, no-obligation case evaluation.
Chicago Bicycle Accident FAQs
display:none;
Accordion Content
What evidence is crucial for building a strong bicycle accident case in Chicago?
Police reports, witness statements, and medical records are all helpful evidence for building a strong bicycle accident case. If you can get footage of the accident, either from a surveillance camera, a bystander, or a dashcam, the video can serve as critical proof of liability.Â
Can I still recover damages for my Chicago bike accident if I am partially at fault?
Illinois’ modified comparative negligence laws allow you to recover damages in an accident you share partial fault for, so long as you’re not more than 50 percent to blame. However, any award you receive will reduced proportionately to your share of liability.Â
How do Chicago bicycle accident lawyers handle cases involving uninsured or underinsured drivers?
If you’re hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver while biking, you can file a claim under your auto insurance policy’s uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. If you’re injured in a hit-and-run, you should still be able to recover damages through your policy. However, if the culprit is found, we can also pursue additional damages from them.
What are the fees associated with hiring a Chicago bicycle accident lawyer?
We work on contingency, meaning we don’t charge any fees upfront. You won’t owe us anything unless we win your case. If we win, we keep a percentage of your award, so you’ll never have to pay anything out of your pocket.Â
If I am an out-of-state tourist who was injured while biking in Chicago, what legal rights do I have?
You have the same rights to file a personal injury claim as any Illinois resident if you’re hit and injured while biking in Chicago. Our skilled bike accident lawyers can help you navigate any legal complexities that arise.Â
Legally Reviewed by
John J. Perconti
Contact Us
- Free Consultation
- (312) 332-2872
"*" indicates required fields
Notable Results
SETTLEMENT
for a 5-year-old boy run over by a fire truck as he played on a fire hydrant, resulting in the loss of his leg and half of his pelvis
SETTLEMENT
for the family of a 32-year-old woman who was killed when their pick-up truck was rear-ended by a semi-truck
VERDICT
for a 23-year-old woman who suffered multiple leg fractures in an automobile collision
Our Office
325 N LaSalle Dr Suite 300
Chicago, IL 60654
312-332-2872
