Support Your Local Bike Shop on Black Friday

While throngs of shoppers head out on "Black Friday" to chase deals, instead consider visiting your LBS (Local Bike Shop) for your winter riding needs and gift ideas for the cyclists in your life. When you support your LBS, you are directly impacting your local economy and helping contribute to a stable "bicycle economy" made up of store owners, store clerks, mechanics and other jobs. This, in turn, helps continue to foster a community that values bicycling. So simply by "shopping local" you are helping bicycling overall.

Here is a list of Local Bike Shops from the Chicago Bike Shop Database. Feel free to add any shops to the comments below.

Keating Law Offices is the premiere personal injury law firm representing victims of bicycle accidents in Illinois. The firm is based in Chicago, Illinois and represents clients throughout Illinois. If you have any questions regarding this post or have a question regarding personal injury law, please contact Illinois Bicycle Attorney Mike Keating at 312-239-6787 (Office) or 312-208-7702 (Nights/Weekends). Our staff and operators are available around the clock. You can also email Mike@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.

Kona Announced A Recall of Kona Wo Mountain Bikes

The United States Consumer Products Safety Commission has announced a recall of Kona Wo bicycles due to the risk of a bicyclist being injured in a fall due to issues with the fork on the Kona Wo. The concern is that the bicycle fork on the Kona Wo bicycles can crack or break at the junction of the crown. A failure of the fork obviously poses a substantial fall hazard which could lead a bicyclist to sustain serious injuries. The recall includes approximately 530 2014 Kona Wo bicycles with a charcoal black frame and silver decals. The word “Wo” is on the top tube of the frame and the word “Kona” is on the down tube of the frame on the side of the seat.

Kona Bicycles Sold Throughout United States

The recalled 2014 Kona Wo bicycles were sold at authorized Kona dealers nationwide from September 2013 through July 2014 for approximately $1,700. The CPSC recommends that riders who have a Kona Wo bicycle that is affected by this recall immediately stop using the bicycle and to contact Kona or an authorized Kona dealer for a free replacement and installation of the bicycle fork.

Recalls occur in an effort to proactively prevent bicycle accidents from a potentially defective product before that accident takes place. In this case, Kona issued the recall even though there were no injuries reported from the issue with the bicycle fork. When a manufacturer discovers a potential product defect, it is required to recall the defective product immediately. 

Illinois Law Protects Bicyclists From Defective Products

Manufacturers of defective products are liable for all foreseeable injuries that occur as a result from use of the defective product. This is known as "strict liability" under Illinois law. The law in Illinois is very clear when it comes to product defects: if a bicyclist is using a bicycle and its components in a normal manner, and the bicycle product fails to work and a bicycle accident occurs, the manufacturer is liable. Under Illinois law, a liable manufacturer would have to compensate the injured bicyclist for their "damages" which would include their personal injuries such as medical expenses, pain and suffering, disfigurement and lost wages.

Illinois Bike Attorneys At Keating Law Offices

Keating Law Offices is the premiere personal injury law firm representing victims of bicycle accidents in Illinois, including bicyclists injured as a result of a defective bicycle or bicycle component. The firm is based in Chicago, Illinois and represents clients throughout Illinois. If you have any questions regarding this post or have a question regarding personal injury law, please contact Illinois Bicycle Attorney Mike Keating at 312-239-6787 (Office) or 312-208-7702 (Nights/Weekends). Our staff and operators are available around the clock. You can also email Mike@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.

Bicyclist Killed In Crash With Semi-Truck Near North Shore Channel Trail

Eastbound Howard St. at McCormick Blvd. Near North Shore Trail

An Evanston bicyclist was killed near the North Shore Channel Trail in Skokie during rush hour on Friday evening. According to news reports, James C. Hinton of Evanston was riding his bicycle around 5:00 p.m. Hinton was riding eastbound on Howard Street at its intersection with McCormick Boulevard when he was struck by a semi-truck. McCormick Boulevard runs immediately adjacent and parallel to the North Shore Channel Trail at this location. The trail is to the immediate east of McCormick Boulevard.

No further details have been released in the media. The Chicago Tribune quoted a Skokie police officer as saying that both the bicycle and the semi-truck were traveling eastbound at the time of the crash. As of yet, no citations have been issued to any person involved in the crash. Skokie police continue to investigate the crash with the assistance of the North Regional Task Force Major Crash Assistance Team. Major Crash investigation units routinely investigate fatal crashes such as this where there are major injuries or death as the result of a crash. 

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of James C. Hinton and all those affected by this crash.

Crash That Killed Joliet Bicyclist Remains Under Investigation

Attorneys Representing Illinois Bicyclists

Joliet police are awaiting the toxicology results and conducting a further investigation into a bicycle crash that left a Joliet bicyclist dead. The fatal crash took place at around 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 11th. The collision between the motor vehicle and the bicyclist took place when the driver of a Chevrolet Avalanche turned from northbound Boulder onto Westbound Washington in Joliet. According to reports, the motorist only became aware of the collision when he heard a noise. The motorist reported that he never saw the bicyclist. 

The driver found the fatally injured bicyclist underneath the Avalanche truck and called 911. Joliet fire department personnel that responded to the scene had to use a jack to lift the Avalanche in order to extract the bicyclist from underneath the truck. The bicyclist was taken to Silver Cross Hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later.  The bicyclist was identified as 57-year old Joliet resident Raul Weeks. Our thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Weeks's family and friends and all those affected by this tragic event. 

The Joliet Police Department has yet to issue any citations as they await the results of toxicology results and conduct a further investigation into the crash. Because the motorist claims that he did not see the bicyclist prior to the crash it is currently unknown as to what direction the bicyclist was traveling and his location on the roadway prior to the crash. Police departments typically conduct major accident investigations when a crash involves a fatal injury or death. The police department will then issue a final Illinois Traffic Crash Report that summarizes their investigation and will state whether any traffic citations were issued.

Keating Law Offices is the premiere personal injury law firm representing victims of bicycle accidents in Illinois. The firm is based in Chicago, Illinois and represents clients throughout Illinois. If you have any questions regarding this post or have a question regarding personal injury law, please contact Illinois Bicycle Attorney Mike Keating at 312-239-6787 (Office) or 312-208-7702 (Nights/Weekends). Our staff and operators are available around the clock. You can also email Mike@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.

Denied Claim for Rockford Bicyclist Ultimately Results in $100,000.00 Settlement

Illinois Bicycle Law

In 2011 a Rockford bicyclist was out on a ride for exercise. A diagnosed diabetic, the bicyclist had used bicycling as a way to stay in shape and maintain his weight. Through proper diet and regular exercise from bicycling, the bicyclist's doctor said that his diabetes was "under control" and the bicyclist was a "model patient." However, his life took a drastic turn when he was struck by a car and suffered a nerve injury to his face. 

Failure to Stop At Stop Sign Leads to Collision

The crash occurred when the bicyclist approached the roadway from a bike path. There was a stop sign for bicycle traffic on the path and the bicyclist came to a complete stop. He rode into the intersection to continue onto the bike path and was struck by a car that made a quick lane change from across another lane in a last-second attempt to turn. The motorist later admitted he was late in realizing he wanted to make a turn and crashed into the bicyclist. 

Serious Injuries from Bicycle Crashes

The impact from the crash threw the bicyclist from his bike and he landed face first. The impact was so substantial that the bike helmet was completely destroyed. The impact of the helmet pushed into the bicyclist's upper face and caused a nerve injury to what is known as the trigeminal nerve. This nerve helps control function in the bottom, middle, and top of a person's face. It is a slow-healing injury that has an unknown recovery. 

The offending motorist, although accountable for his actions, was nonetheless responsible for violating numerous Rules of the Road. The responding police office cited the motorist for failing to yield the right-of-way to the bicyclist in the intersection. In addition, the motorist
violated Section 11-1003.1 of the Illinois Vehicle Code in causing the collision. Section 1003.1 requires that drivers of vehicles exercise due care to avoid colliding with any person operating a bicycle. (625 ILCS 5/11-1003.1).

Bicycle Accident Case

What seems like a "clear cut" case became complicated when the insurance adjuster handling the claim for the motorist's insurance company denied the claim. Her reason for denying the claim? She thought it was not possible that a bike helmet forced into a person's face could cause nerve damage. Her personal opinion (keep in mind the claims adjuster is not a doctor) was that the diabetes most likely caused the nerve injury even though there was nothing in the medical records to substantiate this "diagnosis." 

The Illinois Bicycle Lawyers at Keating Law Offices were forced to file a lawsuit in Winnebago County to protect the interests of the bicyclist. After two years of litigation the case finally settled after the bicyclist's doctor and the expert neurologist hired by our firm testified that the nerve injury was from the bike crash. The expert neurologist was even able to demonstrate how the point of injury was exactly aligned with where the helmet impacted the bicyclist's face in the crash. 

The case ultimately settled for $100,000.00 which represents the full amount of the motorist's insurance policy. This was also the very same amount that the injured bicyclist agreed to accept - before the insurance company forced him to file a lawsuit against their own insured. 

The case is another example of how when a crash happens and you are injured, even if it is not your fault, that does not mean the insurance company will look out for your best interest. The people handling your claim are claims adjusters, not claims payers. Their job is to do what they can to try and convince you to take less than you are owed. The insurance company will always do what it can to protect its own interest. But Keating Law Offices will always do what we can to make sure that every opportunity is given to injured bicyclists. We will do what we can to assist any bicyclist injured anywhere in Illinois at any time.

Illinois Bicycle Attorneys at Keating Law Offices

Keating Law Offices is the premiere personal injury law firm representing victims of bicycle accidents in Illinois. The firm is based in Chicago, Illinois and represents clients throughout Illinois. If you have any questions regarding this post or have a question regarding personal injury law, please contact Illinois Bicycle Attorney Mike Keating at 312-239-6787 (Office) or 312-208-7702 (Nights/Weekends). Our staff and operators are available around the clock. You can also email Mike@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.

Illinois Law Requires A Bike Light - Daylight Savings Time Is A Reminder To Get One If You Don't Have One

Daylight Savings time is in effect again and until the Winter Solstice on December 22nd the days will get continually shorter. Even after the solstice it is many weeks before we get out of long nights and commutes home will again be in daylight. 

Lights Are Important

There is no way around the fact that Illinois bicyclists who commute to work via their bikes will be riding home in the dark. Because of this bike lights are critically important for all bicyclists. A headlight in particular provides the rider greater visibility and makes you more visible to motorists. A simple set of bike lights can categorically affect the risk of getting injured in a bicycle accident. Thinking "well, there's streetlights, I'll be ok" is an unreasonable and unnecessary risk. It is also illegal. 

Illinois Law Requires Lights And Reflectors

Lights for bicyclists riding at nighttime are required by Illinois law. According Section 11-1507 of the Illinois Rules of the Road, bicyclists must have the following on their bikes:

1. A lamp on the front that emits a white light that can be seen for 500 feet; and
2. A red reflector visible from 100 to 600 feet by a car with its headlights on. A rear red light may also be used.

The fact that the law says that a bicyclist may use a rear red light in addition to a rear reflector is probably just due to some less than precise legal drafting. The bottom line is a red reflector AND a rear red light are better than a reflector alone. This is why the Illinois Bicycle Lawyers strongly recommend that all bicyclists use a rear red light in addition to a red reflector and a bright light in the front. 

Jason Jenkins of the Active Transportation Alliance has put together a very helpful and informative short video on bike lights and what a difference they can make. Jason's advice regarding buying the most durable and bright light you can afford is solid advice. No one wants unnecessary expenses, but bike lights can make the difference between getting in a bike crash and getting home safely. 

Illinois Bike Law Attorneys

Keating Law Offices is the premiere personal injury law firm representing victims of bicycle accidents in Illinois. The firm is based in Chicago, Illinois and represents clients throughout Illinois. If you have any questions regarding this post or have a question regarding personal injury law, please contact Illinois Bicycle Attorney Mike Keating at 312-239-6787 (Office) or 312-208-7702 (Nights/Weekends). Our staff and operators are available around the clock. You can also email Mike@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.