Chicago Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Bicycle accidents in Chicago can leave victims with severe physical injuries, deep emotional trauma, and daunting financial burdens. Illinois law allows those victims to seek compensation from the at-fault drivers and others whose dangerous conduct led to their losses. Obtaining that compensation, though, is neither guaranteed nor straightforward.

If you or someone you care about sustained injuries in a bicycle accident, hiring an experienced Chicago bicycle accident lawyer is the most reliable way to get the money you need to pay your bills and overcome your challenges. Contact our skilled Chicago bike accident attorneys at Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, to learn about your legal options and what we can do for you.

About Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA

Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, is a well-known national personal injury law firm serving clients throughout the United States. Our dedication to serving our clients’ interests and achieving favorable results in even the most challenging, complicated cases is unfaltering. Our firm boasts a team of experienced personal injury trial lawyers who understand the intricacies and challenges of Chicago bicycle accident injury claims.

We invite anyone who suffers harm because of a bicycle accident in the Windy City to contact our team for a free consultation with a knowledgeable legal professional.

Your Right to Compensation for a Chicago Bicycle Accident

Victims of Chicago bicycle accidents have substantial rights under Illinois law to seek compensation for their losses. You can hold various individuals, businesses, and institutions liable for causing a bike crash. Injured cyclists can seek a wide range of damages to compensate for the harm they experience.

Who Can I Hold Liable for a Chicago Bicycle Accident?

Anyone who causes a Chicago bicycle accident through unreasonably dangerous decisions, actions, or inactions is liable for the damages the injured accident victims experience.

Various parties could face liability for a bicycle crash.

They might include, for example:

• Negligent drivers who failed to share the road safely with cyclists.
• An employer if a driver causes a bike accident while working.
• A passenger who opens a car door into the path of a cyclist.
• A government entity responsible for unreasonably hazardous road conditions that make cycling unsafe.

These are just a few examples of the parties who might face liability for an injured bicyclist. At Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, we work hard to identify every party who might be liable in a Chicago bike accident, maximizing your chances of receiving full compensation.

What Compensation Can You Seek?

As a victim of a Chicago bicycle accident, you can seek compensation for the full range of physical, emotional, and financial harm you suffer.

This commonly includes payment for your:

• Medical expenses and future healthcare costs.
• Loss of income, job benefits, and future earnings.
• Property damages.
• Pain and suffering.
• Diminished quality of life.
• Scarring, disfigurement, or loss of bodily function.

A Chicago bike crash victim could also seek punitive damages, which punish an at-fault party for their reckless or malicious misconduct and deter similar misbehavior by others. In the tragic event of a fatal bike crash, the deceased victim's surviving spouse and close family members often have the right to seek compensation for their loss through a wrongful death lawsuit.

At Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, we conduct meticulous investigations into each bicycle accident case. We will calculate the full extent of the damages you have suffered to seek the highest compensation possible for you.

Numbers and Locations of Bicycle Accidents in Chicago

Bike accidents are all too common in Chicago. According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, over 1,000 reported bicycle accidents happened in Chicago in a recent year, killing 11 people and injuring 993. A significant portion of these accidents occurred because of motorist negligence, including failing to yield the right of way to cyclists, not paying attention to the road, and driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Some areas and streets in Chicago are particularly prone to bicycle and other traffic accidents. Certain downtown intersections, notoriously busy streets, and areas with poor infrastructure can increase the risk for cyclists. Streets such as Milwaukee Avenue, North Clark Street, and West Wellington Avenue pose a higher-than-average accident risk for bicyclists.

Bicycle accidents, however, can occur anywhere in Chicago and at any time. While we can identify hotspots using historical data, no street or parking lot is completely safe from the potential for a deadly accident.

Bicycle Accidents and Injuries We Handle

Chicago is famous for its bustling streets and busy lifestyle. This atmosphere can contribute to many on-road mishaps, including bicycle accidents. At Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, we handle a variety of bicycle accident cases, including minor scrapes and fatal collisions.

Every cycling accident is unique. Some common types of bicycle accidents we handle include:

• Collisions with motor vehicles, including cars, trucks, and motorcycles.
• Accidents involving parked car doors opening into a cyclist's path (dooring).
• Cyclist injuries due to road hazards or poor infrastructure.
• Hit-and-run incidents.
• Accidents involving collisions with pedestrians.
• Collisions with buses, taxi cabs, or rideshare cars (Uber and Lyft).
• Bicycle accidents resulting from faulty bicycle equipment.

These and other bicycle accidents can lead to an array of injuries, some of which may result in long-term complications, permanent disability, or fatalities.

Injuries we frequently encounter and secure compensation for in bicycle accident cases include:

• Broken bones and fractures.
• Crush injuries.
• Traumatic brain injuries.
• Spinal cord injuries and paralysis.
• Dislocated joints and other orthopedic injuries.
• Severe road rash and other abrasions or lacerations.
• Internal bleeding or organ damage.
• Facial injuries that cause scarring, disfigurement, or loss of eyesight.
• Post-traumatic stress disorder or other psychological trauma.

This is not a complete list, but it illustrates the variety of bicycle accidents and injuries our team at Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, can handle in Chicago. No matter the circumstances of your bicycle accident, contact us to learn about your rights to compensation.

Battling Insurance Companies After a Chicago Bicycle Accident

Insurance plays a crucial role in compensating the victims of Chicago bicycle accidents. Claiming payment from insurance companies can be challenging, especially when demanding liability insurance damages from an at-fault party.

In the aftermath of a bicycle accident, your insurance policy may provide some relief. Your insurance may pay some of your medical bills and property damage, for example. Your insurance often does not cover the full extent of your damages, though. To secure maximum compensation, it's often necessary to pursue claims against other liable parties.

The at-fault party's liability insurance should primarily cover the most significant damages the bicycle accident victim suffers (failing that, the at-fault party's personal or business assets come into play). This might include a driver's auto insurance, a business's commercial liability insurance, or a property owner's homeowners insurance, depending on who is liable for the bicycle accident.

Liability insurance companies often want to minimize the amount they pay, so they may deny or downplay your claim or employ tactics to undermine your rights. To secure the compensation you deserve, you need an experienced bicycle accident attorney to handle your insurance claim.

At Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, we have a deep understanding of the insurance claim process and are adept at countering the tactics insurance companies use to avoid their obligations to injured Chicago bicycle accident victims. We strive to protect your rights while we fight for the maximum compensation you are eligible for under Illinois law.

Protecting Your Rights After a Bicycle Accident in Chicago

In the wake of a devastating bicycle accident, you must take steps to protect your rights and ability to seek compensation. Here are a few guidelines to keep in mind:

Prioritize Your Healing and Recovery

Your priority following a bicycle accident should be to seek immediate medical attention, regardless of how you feel at the accident scene. You should follow that up by taking all reasonable measures to heal from your injuries. Those measures will set you up for the best possible physical and emotional recovery.

These actions will also protect your legal rights. Medical records of your treatments can serve as critical evidence in a claim for damages in a bicycle accident case. They can also counter accusations by insurers or defense lawyers that you didn't do enough to take care of yourself.

Beware of Lowball Settlement Offers

It's not uncommon for at-fault parties or insurance companies to offer a quick, lowball settlement to avoid paying damages for a Chicago bike accident injury. Accepting that offer, though, could prevent you from obtaining the compensation you need to pay your current and future expenses.

Always hire a knowledgeable Chicago bicycle accident lawyer before accepting any settlement offer, especially if the at-fault party or their liability insurance company approaches you directly with one.

Watch Out for the Pitfalls of Social Media

In the digital age, anything you post on social media could work against you during your accident claim. Insurance companies have learned to scrutinize accident victims’ profiles for evidence that their injuries are less severe than they claim. Stay cautious and limit what you share about your accident and injuries on any social media platform until your Chicago bicycle accident case resolves.

Hire a Chiacgo Bicycle Accident Lawyer as Soon as Possible

Enlisting an experienced Chicago bicycle accident lawyer immediately after your accident can be crucial for securing compensation. Once you hire them, your lawyer can gather evidence to support your claim before it goes missing. A lawyer can take immediate steps to ensure you meet any critical legal deadlines in your case. They can also advise you on overcoming the day-to-day challenges common to bicycle accident victims like you.

Services We Can Provide in Chicago Bicycle Accident Cases

Every bicycle accident case is unique and requires a tailored approach to secure the greatest possible outcome.

At Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, we can take critical steps to ensure compensation for injured Chicago bike accident victims, such as:

• Investigating and identifying liable parties.
• Evaluating your damages.
• Taking over communications with insurance companies.
• Answering questions and offering legal advice.
• Preparing and filing insurance claims and lawsuits for damages.
• Negotiating settlements and offering guidance on settlement offers.
• Representing you in court, including at trial if necessary.
• Ensuring you receive your money quickly and efficiently.

Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, offers these and other high-quality legal services at an affordable rate. We offer a free initial consultation to discuss your case and explore potential courses of action you may have available.

We work on a contingent fee basis, which means you owe us nothing unless and until we secure compensation for you. This makes hiring us risk-free and affordable. We believe everyone deserves access to exceptional legal representation, regardless of their financial situation, and these measures make that possible.

Contact an Experienced Chicago Bicycle Accident Lawyer Today

If you or someone you love recently sustained injuries in a Chicago bicycle accident, don't wait to hire a Chicago personal injury lawyer to handle your compensation claim. Contact us at Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, or call (312) 500-2901 for a free case consultation.