Keating Law Offices Reaches Settlement in Arlington Heights Bicycle Collision

Keating Law Offices has secured a settlement for an Arlington Heights man who was struck on his bicycle by a teen-aged driver on April 23, 2011. The attorneys at Keating Law Offices were able to comprehensively investigate the bicyclist's claim and present overwhelming evidence and legal analysis to the insurance company prior to filing a lawsuit. Faced with such a challenge, the insurance company for the teenage driver offered a large enough settlement that the injured bicyclist was able to choose to avoid the legal system.

At the time of the collision, the injured bicyclist was riding his bicycle near the intersection of Dunton Avenue and Oakton Street in Arlington Heights, Illinois. The evidence in the case showed that the driver failed to meet her legal duties under the Illinois Rules of the Road to yield to the bicyclist as he traveled on his bicycle, to keep a proper lookout, and to exercise due care to prevent striking the bicyclist.

As a result of the collision, the bicyclist sustained bruising to his stomach, neck and back. Most significantly, the bicyclist was diagnosed with a concussion. For years insurance companies have argued that concussions were not serious, but advances in science and medicine in recent years have shown that there is no such thing as a "minor" traumatic brain injury. Keating Law Offices takes a hard stance in cases involving collisions and refuse to accept insurance companies' arguments that concussions are not serious.

If you have any questions regarding this post or an issue involving Illinois personal injury law, please contact Illinois Bicycle Attorney Mike Keating at 312-208-7702 or MKeating@KeatingLegal.com 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All e-mails and phone calls are returned promptly. All initial consultations are confidential and free.

Chariot Carriers Recalls Child Trailers

Chariot Carriers, a company that distributes bicycle trailers for transporting children, has issued a recall on two of their products. The recall was announced because the company learned that the hitch, the piece that connects the trailer itself to the bicycle, can crack and break. In this event the trailer could detach from the bike.

Under Illinois law, a manufacturer can be held liable for a defective product if the consumer was using the product in a foreseeable manner and the product fails. This simply means that if a consumer was using this product in its intended matter, i.e. attached the trailer to a bike correctly and the hitch broke and there was an injury, Chariot Carriers could be liable under the law for the injury.

The first recall is on 44,000 bicycle trailers that were sold at nationwide specialty bike shops and online between December 2005 and August 2010. The second recall is on 70,000 bicycle trailer conversion kits. These conversions kits were also sold at nationwide specialty bike shops and online between December 2005 and August 2010.

Keating Law Offices has significant experience and success with product liability cases. If you have any questions regarding this post or an issue involving Illinois personal injury law, please contact Illinois Bicycle Attorney Mike Keating at 312-208-7702 or MKeating@KeatingLegal.com 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All e-mails and phone calls are returned promptly. All initial consultations are confidential and free.

This blog post was written with the assistance of Jason Lee, a Law Clerk at Keating Law Offices and 3rd Year Law Student at DePaul University College of Law.

Attorney Mike Keating Again Named a "Rising Star" by "SuperLawyers Magazine"

Press Release:

Attorney Michael S. Keating of Keating Law Offices, P.C. in Chicago, Illinois has again been named to SuperLawyers Magazine's annual list of "Rising Stars." Only 2.5% of the Lawyers in the State of Illinois are named to this list which will be published in the annual edition of Illinois SuperLawyers Magazine and in an upcoming edition of Chicago Magazine. Mr. Keating was previously named a "Rising Star" in 2011 and last month was named to the "40 Under 40" list of top young trial attorneys in Illinois by the National Trial Lawyers Association.

Mr. Keating was nominated by fellow attorneys and that nomination was reviewed by an attorney-led research team that reviews the credentials of potential candidates and assigns points based on a set of defined evaluation criteria. The point totals from the general survey and research process are then added to arrive at a final tally.

Mr. Keating practices with the Chicago-based firm of Keating Law Offices, P.C. which he founded in 2008. The firm specializes in personal injury and wrongful death cases stemming from transportation negligence, nursing home negligence and abuse, medical malpractice, premises liability and product liability. Keating Law Offices, P.C. may be found on the internet at www.KeatingLegal.com. The firm is located at 79 West Monroe, Suite 1024 in Chicago, Illinois. Phone: 312-239-6787.

Performance Bikes Recalls 2011 Fort Pro Carbon Pedals

Performance Bikes of Chapel Hill, North Carolina has recalled nearly 3,000 sets of its 2011 Fort Pro Carbon Pedals. The pedal body, made of a lightweight carbon injected thermoplastic, can break or crack. This could result in the rider losing control and crashing. In Illinois the manufacturer of a product can be held liable when their product fails and the person was using the product in a reasonably foreseeable manner. Obviously, if would be reasonably foreseeable for a rider to expect a bike pedal to not break so any injury that occurred could be the basis for a claim against the manufacturer.

The attorneys at Keating Law Offices have handled numerous product liability cases. Earlier this year the firm settled a significant product liability case for a rider who suffered a severe injury when the fork on her mountain bike failed while landing a jump. The specifics of the case and the terms of that settlement are confidential pursuant to the settlement agreement.

If you have any questions regarding this post or an issue involving Illinois personal injury law, please contact Illinois Bicycle Attorney Mike Keating at 312-208-7702 or MKeating@KeatingLegal.com 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All e-mails and phone calls are returned promptly. All initial consultations are confidential and free.

Attorney Mike Keating Named "Top 40 Under 40" by the National Trial Lawyers Association

Press Release:

Attorney Michael S. Keating of Keating Law Offices in Chicago, Illinois has been named to the National Trial Lawyers Association's "Top 40 Under 40" listing of the top trial lawyers in Illinois under the age of 40. This is the second such accolade Mr. Keating received in 2011. Earlier this year he was named a "Rising Star" in Illinois by SuperLawyers and Chicago Magazine. In addition, Mr. Keating's verdict in February in the matter of Sullivan v. Twelve Pins, Inc. was eligible for inclusion in the National Jury Verdict Reporter.

Mr. Keating, who practices with the Chicago-based firm of Keating Law Offices, P.C., has rapidly ascended through the competitive ranks of the Chicago personal injury field. In less than a decade of practice he has successfully handled hundreds of cases and in the process recovered millions of dollars for his clients. Mr. Keating has a reputation for being a skilled litigator in the courtroom and has made a reputation early in his career as an attorney who is not afraid to handle difficult and complicated cases.

Keating Law Offices, P.C. may be found on the internet at www.keatinglegal.com.

Pfizer Donates Equipment to Clear Snowy Bike Lanes

Pfizer Consumer Healthcare, makers of such products as Advil, recently came to Chicago as part of an ongoing advertising campaign. Pfizer representatives appeared with Chicago Bears legend Richard Dent on Wednesday to help with the promotion. Pfizer has donated snow removal trucks and equipment designed specifically for the new bicycle lanes being installed throughout the city. Also, Pfizer gave away 100 new all-terrain bicycles that are specifically built to handle inclement weather.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel hopes the addition of this snow removal equipment will encourage cyclists to continues to bike throughout the winter months. The Mayor and CDOT officials also hope that the increased use of bicycles during the winter will help alleviate traffic during bouts with snow. Clear, snow and ice free bike lanes should reduce the number of crashes and collisions experienced by the hardy souls that brave Chicago's winters on bike.

Source: Wall Street Journal

If you have any questions regarding this post or an issue involving Illinois personal injury law, please contact Illinois Bicycle Attorney Mike Keating at 312-208-7702 or MKeating@KeatingLegal.com 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All e-mails and phone calls are returned promptly. All initial consultations are confidential and free.

Is it a coincidence that NYC and Chicago's Transportation Czar's Support Biking?

New York’s Transportation Comissisioner, Janet Sadik-Khan was recently profiled on NBC’s news magazine program, Rock Center with Brian Williams. Sadik-Khan is leading a transformation of the way New York deals with traffic and safety in their streets. One of Sadik-Khan’s first initiatives was closing a full lane of traffic in Times Square to make it safer for the thousands of pedestrians that traverse it each day. However, she is making her biggest headlines for her plans to get more New Yorkers to ride bicycles.

In four short years as Transportation Comissioner, Sadik-Khan has overseen the implementation of over 260 miles of bike lanes throughout New York. While some New Yorkers detest the bike lanes, Sadik-Khan has the full support of Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Bloomberg and Sadik-Khan have helped double the amount of people using bicycles in Manhattan in the last few years. While that number has doubled, Sadik-Khan still hopes more will make the change, as only 0.6% of New Yorkers choose to bike in Manhattan. In anticipation of increased biking, Sadik-Khan has installed over 12,000 bicycle racks in New York City.

Another supporter of Sadik-Khan is Chicago Department of Transportation Commissioner Gabe Klein. Klein, like Sadik-Khan, is an avid cyclist who uses his position to help make Chicago more bicycle-friendly as well. Klein agrees with Sadik-Klein that encouraging their residents to use bicycles can help on many levels stating, “There’s the congestion problem.The pollution problem. The obesity problem. The gas problem.”

It is no coincidence that the transportation commissioners of two of the biggest cities in the United States have dedicated their agendas to bicycle proliferation. With more cities likely to follow suit, Sadik-Khan and Klein are two visionaries that can help provide a bright future for cyclists.

If you have any questions regarding this post or an issue involving Illinois personal injury law, please contact Illinois Bicycle Attorney Mike Keating at 312-208-7702 or MKeating@KeatingLegal.com 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All e-mails and phone calls are returned promptly. All initial consultations are confidential and free.

8-Year-Old on Bike Killed in Hit-and-Run on Dangerous Street

View Larger MapThe Chicago Tribune is reporting on a particularly tragic and unfortunate story of 8-year old Mariella Crisostomo who was killed while riding her bike in front of her house in the Chicago Lawn Neighborhood. According to reports, Mariela was killed when she was struck by a gray or silver SUV who then fled the scene. The driver of the SUV was a female who then fled east on West 62nd Place.

Equally troubling are new reports from the Chicago Sun-Times that neighbors had petitioned the city for speed bumps to slow traffic in the 3300 block of West 62nd Place on the Southwest Side. Neighbors report that the narrow residential street has been part of a traffic pattern in vehicles circle the neighborhood while waiting to pick up shoppers on 63rd Street.

Speed bumps are a type of what are known as "traffic control" or "traffic calming" measures. Not only do speed bumps cause the vehicles to slow down, but they also act as a visual warning and reminder for vehicles to be alert and aware. Attorney Mike Keating of Keating Law Offices successfully representing an Aurora family whose son was killed in the parking lot of the apartment building where the family lived. Just like in this instance neighbors had complained of traffic problems and requested speed bumps. That case resolved in a financial settlement for the family in 2009.

The City of Chicago has some difficult questions to answer in light of these developments. Speed bumps, signs, marking on the street and other traffic calming measures are neither expensive nor difficult to install. These measures can transform entire neighborhoods. Given the warnings, it is difficult not to ask if this tragic collision would have been avoided with traffic calming measures in place.

As a parent and an attorney representing victims of collisions, this is a particularly sad story. Mariella did nothing wrong and was merely doing what she loved, riding her bike in the neighborhood. Also troubling is that reports reflect that the Chicago Police were slow in responding to the scene. The thoughts and prayers of everyone at Keating Law Offices is with the Crisostomo family.

If you have any questions regarding this post or an issue involving Illinois personal injury law, please contact Illinois Bicycle Attorney Mike Keating at 312-208-7702 or MKeating@KeatingLegal.com 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All e-mails and phone calls are returned promptly. All initial consultations are confidential and free.

Crosswalk from Buckingham Fountain to Lakefront Installed

After nearly six years, the City of Chicago has finally opened back up the crosswalk that connects Buckingham Fountain to the lakefront. The crosswalk, named “Queen’s Landing” after Queen Elizabeth II’s visit to Chicago in 1959 had been closed since 2005. Back then, City officials installed bollards and chains in order to improve vehicular traffic on Lake Shore Drive.

The project began on November 10, and was completed early Thanksgiving morning. The City removed the bollards and now pedestrian and bicycle traffic can once again cross Lake Shore Drive between Buckingham Fountain and the Lakefront. The City also placed pedestrian light buttons and lowered the curbs for wheelchair access. In all the project cost only $125,000 and the removed bollards are to be used at different locations.

City officials originally planned to create a pedestrian bridge over the traffic lanes much like the one near North Avenue Beach, but planning costs piled up too high and the plan was scrapped. While the crosswalk may slightly impede vehicular traffic, the safety it will provide to thousands of pedestrians and cyclists will far outweigh any inconvenience it may cause.

In representing pedestrians and bicyclists who are the victims of collisions in crosswalks, the attorneys at Keating Law Offices have seen the need for traffic control measures such as these are obvious. The cost is minimal when considering the drastic increase in safety for those crossing Lake Shore Drive from the fountain to the Lakefront.

If you have any questions regarding this post or an issue involving Illinois personal injury law, please contact Illinois Bicycle Attorneys at Keating Law Offices at 312-239-6787 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All e-mails and phone calls are returned promptly. All initial consultations are confidential and free.

Bike 2015 Meeting on 12/14 at City Hall

Back in 2001, Bicycling Magazine named Chicago the best city for bicycling in North America. Instead of standing still and lauding this accomplishment, city officials saw this as an opportunity to do more for cycling. In 2002, Mayor Daley began to formulate the Bike 2015 plan. Bringing civic groups, cyclists and government agencies to the table, the plan was officially instituted by the City Council on September 1, 2005.

Since Mayor Emanuel took office, Bike 2015 has been of prime importance in his agenda. In the mere months Mayor Emanuel has been in office he has already overseen Chicago’s largest bike path on Kinzie Street, increased numbers of bike rental stations, and the recent 18th Street bike path. Mayor Emanuel has stated on numerous occasions that he plans to build 25 miles of protected bike lanes each year in the city.

The Bike 2015 plan however is far more ambitious. In May of this year, Mayor Emanuel reorganized the Bicycle Advisory Council in order to focus more time and energy on Bike 2015. Since May, there have been monthly meetings at City Hall to gauge the progress of the plan, and to bring new ideas to the Council.

For more information on Bike 2015, visit their website. The website is full of information about the goals and plans of Bike 2015, and provides information on past meeting of the Bicycle Advisory Council.

The next meeting of the Mayor’s Bicycle Advisory Council is December 14, 2011, at 3:00 P.M. in room 1103 at City Hall. All are invited to the meeting and representatives from Keating Law Offices will be in attendance.

If you have any questions regarding this post or an issue involving Illinois personal injury law, please contact the Illinois Bicycle Attorneys at Keatinjg Law Offices at 312-239-6787 or MKeating@KeatingLegal.com 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All e-mails and phone calls are returned promptly. All initial consultations are confidential and free.