Bicycle Accident Case Illustration
A bicycle accident often leaves cyclists severely injured, possibly even unable to return to work. Bicyclists have virtually no protection when hit by a passing vehicle—or worse, a semi-truck or bus. Many bicycle accidents happen because drivers refuse to yield or the driver does not see the cyclist at all. Most vehicles have common “blind spots,” and motorists are often distracted by electronics and other motorists, failing to notice much smaller vehicles. Consider the following case illustration of a bicycle accident:
Joy rides her bicycle to work and back every day from her home in Springfield. Her office is only a couple of miles from her home and biking allows her to get fresh air and exercise. One day Joy is headed home after work. She knows to be exceptionally vigilant on the busy city streets but is not expecting the nearby car to suddenly speed up to make a yellow light, clipping her as it speeds through the intersection. Joy is thrown from her bicycle, breaking her femur and wrist when she lands.
While Joy’s injuries are not catastrophic, they are painful and will limit her mobility for weeks. Joy’s job requires that she use a computer most of each day, which she cannot do with her broken wrist. She cannot drive to work. The surgical wounds from her surgery sites cause significant scarring that is embarrassing to her. Joy now finds herself—through no fault of her own—injured and unable to work. Joy is unsure what to do to safeguard her health and her financial future.
Should you find yourself in such a position, the best thing you can do is contact the Noll Law Office. The Noll Law Office attorneys are based in the community, for the community. You will meet with an attorney from day one, onward. The experienced litigators at the Noll Law Office enjoy going to trial, and will zealously advocate for you and your family.
Springfield, Illinois Bicycle Accident Statistics
According to Illinois Department of Transportation, there were 2,339 bicyclist injuries from auto accidents and twelve fatalities. All of the deaths occurred in an urban setting rather than in a rural setting. IIHS found that across the nation, about 2 percent of all motor vehicle crash fatalities are bicyclists. While the number of child bicycle deaths has steadily declined since 1975, deaths among bicyclists aged 20 and older have tripled since that time. In 2019, there were 843 bicyclists killed in motor vehicle crashes with many more males dying in bicycle crashes than females.
What Are the Springfield, IL Laws Pertaining to Bicycle Accidents?
In the State of Illinois, a bicyclist has all the rights and responsibilities as a driver of any other vehicle. The Illinois legislature has mandated that bicyclists should ride safely close to the right-hand edge or curb with very limited exceptions. For example, a bicyclist may transition to the left side when preparing for a left turn, avoiding fixed or moving objects, animals, surface hazards, or narrow lanes.
The Illinois Secretary of State has issued Rules of the Road for cyclists. Bicyclists must ride in the same direction as other vehicles, yield to pedestrians, and use known hand signals to show their intention to drivers. If there is a marked bicycle lane, bicyclists should stay in this lane when practical.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents?
Although each bicycle accident is unique in some way, the following are some of the top causes of most bicycle accidents:
- Distracted driving
- Failure by drivers to leave an adequate buffer between their vehicle and the bicyclist
- Excessive speed
- Drivers who weave in and out of traffic
- Unsafe lane changes by drivers who merge into a bicyclist’s lane without really looking
- Making an intersection turn without looking for bicyclists
- Running a red light or stop sign, or attempting to “beat” a yellow light before it turns red
- Driver fatigue or driver impairment
What Are the Most Common Injuries Associated with Bicycle Accidents?
Bicyclist injuries are typically quite severe. A bicyclist has little protection when hit by a vehicle, other than a bicycle helmet (when worn). If the accident occurred at a low speed, the bicyclist may have relatively minor injuries like contusions, strains, sprains, lacerations, abrasions, and small hematomas. Road rash can occur just as it does for motorcyclists involved in an accident. Road rash will generally resolve in a few weeks, but in some cases, infection can set in, causing much more serious problems.
Head injuries like concussions happen in one-quarter to almost half of all bicycle accidents. Indeed, head injuries account for 62.6 percent of all bicycle fatalities. Other serious bicycle injuries include internal bleeding, organ damage, broken ribs, broken femur and arm bones, dental fractures, and spinal injuries.
What Should I Do Following My Springfield Bicycle Accident?
You should immediately seek medical attention after a bicycle accident. According to the Mayo Clinic, spinal cord injuries are not always immediately apparent, but can cause catastrophic injury to persons affected. The adrenaline that floods your body during an accident may mask symptoms of injury. Because of this, it is always best to be checked out by a medical professional. If you are able, call 911 and exchange information with the driver that hit you. Once you are able, contact an experienced Springfield bicycle accident lawyer.
How Do I Choose the Best Injury Lawyer for Me?
Choosing a Springfield bicycle accident lawyer that you trust and feel comfortable with is important. When you meet with an attorney, ask them what percentage of their practice focuses on bodily injury claims. Ask them what attorney will handle their claim, and how many years of experience that attorney has. Ask the attorney about the claims and litigation process, and if they have ever gone to trial on a collision case. Ask them what an un-insured motorist claim is. Ask them about the “make whole” doctrine. Ask them what CPT codes are. If the attorney cannot spout off a wealth of information about these and other routine medical litigation matters – they are not the attorney for you.
The Noll Law Office is your local, central Illinois firm that focuses on bodily injury law. You and your loved ones will meet with an experienced attorney from day one. Its lawyers are successful litigators with strong roots in the community who will give your case the individualized attention it requires. The Noll Law Office aggressively advocates for clients and believes that honest communication combined with strong litigation experience is the key to successful outcomes. Call the Noll Law Office today.
How Noll Law Office Can Help?
The attorneys at the Noll Law Office work hard to solve problems for their clients, and make sure to communicate with clients so that they understand the issues specific to their case. Its attorneys offer free initial consultations to discuss your situation and come up with a strong plan of action.
Once retained, the Noll Law Office will help you evaluate your claim, and push forward with aggressively advocating on your behalf. Its attorneys can even negotiate with medical providers and insurers on your behalf to put more money in your pocket. Simply put, the Noll Law Office in Springfield offers compassionate counseling, and aggressive advocacy. Contact the Noll Law Office today.