Keating
Law Offices has secured a settlement for a
Chicago bicyclist who was injured after being struck by a car in the Logan Square
neighborhood on July 6, 2011. The collision occurred near the intersection of Wrightwood and
Pulaski. The bicyclist was riding
eastbound on Wrightwood when he was hit from behind by a motor vehicle. As a result of the collision, the cyclist was thrown
to the ground and suffered severe injuries, most significantly a broken arm that
required an open reduction internal fixation surgery where a plate and screws were implanted in his arm.
As
soon as Keating Law Offices was retained the firm immediately began to
investigate and prepare our client’s case. Our attorneys assisted our client in his appearance at traffic court where, faced with a prepared client, the offending motorist plead guilty to the traffic ticket she received. The motorist plead guilty to violating Section 9-40-160 of the Chicago Municipal Code, which
states that “every driver shall exercise
due care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian or person operating a bicycle.” Our attorneys were then able to use this plea as
part of our pre-trial negotiation strategy and managed to obtain a successful settlement
for the cyclist. In this case, the
insurance company paid out the entire limits of the motorist’s insurance
policy.
Although
the attorneys at Keating Law Offices were able to negotiate a successful settlement
for our client, this case is a sobering reminder of the dangers facing Chicago’s
bicyclists. After hitting the cyclist, the
driver of the car told the responding officer that she simply “did not see him.” This should serve as a powerful warning for motorists
and bicyclists alike. Motorists must “think
bike,” and always keep an eye out for cyclists.
Bicyclists should use lights and refelctors and even use protective
equipment to minimize the risk of injuries in a collision.
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.
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