Keating Law Offices Retained to Represent Severely Injured Skokie Bicyclist

The Illinois Bicycle Lawyers at Keating Law Offices have been retained by a Skokie man to represent him for the severe injuries he sustained in a motor vehicle vs. bicycle collision. The collision occurred on April 19, 2012 at the "T" intersection of Dempster Street and Kenton Avenue in Skokie, Illinois. At this intersection a "T" is formed where Kenton stops and does not connect through Dempster. Dempster is a four lane major roadway at this intersection and does not have stop signs at Kenton.

The bicyclist was struck by the driver of a 2006 Buick when the driver did not yield the right of way to the bicyclist at the "T" intersection. The driver came to Dempster while traveling southbound on Kenton. The bicyclist was travelling eastbound on Dempster which does not have a stop sign at Kenton. The Illinois Rules of the Road required the motorist to stop at the stop sign and yield to all traffic (including bicycles) as well as pedestrians. The driver was issued a citation by the Skokie Police Department for his failures.

As a result of the collision the bicyclist suffered a massive injury to his left leg. The client has been bedridden since the collision on April 19th. This injury required an open-reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) surgery. This is a procedure where an orthopedic surgeon implants surgical hardware, typically a plate and screws, into the bone of the injured person in an effort to restabilize the leg. This is a very serious surgery that will require extensive rehabilitation and may result in a permanent disability.

Within 24 hours of being retained by the injured bicyclist, the Illinois Bicycle Law attorneys at Keating Law Offices were able to conduct an extensive investigation of this collision. If you have any knowledge of this incident please contact Keating Law Offices. 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 always confidential and free.

Logan Square Bicyclist's Case Settled for Insurance Policy Limits

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.

Recall Alert: Specialized Recalls Brake Levers

Specialized Bicycle Components, Inc., the company that manufactures and distributes bikes and bike components under the "Specialized" brand, has announced a recall of 600 bicycle brake levers.  

This recall was done because the adjuster cap on the brake lever and the brake cable within it can slide out of position. When out of position the brake can't engage the cable and cause the brake to slow and stop the bicycle. Non-working brakes can obviously cause serious and dangerous problems for a bicyclist.

 The recalled products are Tektro TL-83 brake levers. TL-83 levers are designed exclusively for use with aerodynamic handlebars (aerobars) sold as original equipment on 2010 and 2011 S-Works Shiv bicycle frame modules and 2012 S-Works Shiv TT bicycle frame modules. The brake levers were also sold as aftermarket service parts for the Shiv modules. The levers are modified versions of the TL-720 brake lever. The brake levers are black aluminum and have a quick release slot at the top of the lever arm. Model number TL-720 can be read on the side of the lever arm when the lever is engaged.

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.

Why Do So Many Bicyclists Fracture Their Collarbone In An Accident or Crash?

The Illinois Bicycle Attorneys at Keating Law Offices have seen first hand that one of the most common injuries for bicyclists hurt in an accident or crash is a fractured collarbone. Even 7-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong suffered a broken collarbone which required surgery.

The collarbone, or clavicle, is probably the most susceptible bone on the body of a cyclist but not for the reason most people think. Many cyclists break their collarbone not by the bone itself hitting the pavement, but from the fall of their bike. When a cyclist is thrown from a bicycle, their immediate and instinctive reaction is to put their hands out to break their fall. However, when their hands hit the pavement the jarring force causes the collarbone to buckle under pressure. This event is known as the "mechanism of injury."

An Australian doctor who deals primarily with cyclist injuries, Dr. Dominic Briscomb, says that 95% of collarbone injuries can be diagnosed by touch. Most cyclists can feel a noticeable bump in the area and the arm on the side of injury can go numb. Should you feel a bump or sharp pain, you should IMMEDIATELY go to the hospital. Most minor collarbone breaks can be treated by simply placing your arm in a sling for 3-6 weeks, however more serious collarbone breaks can require surgery. The most common surgery is an open reduction - internal fixation surgery (ORIF) where a surgical plate and screws are used to secure the fracture. Finally, after the break has healed, physical therapy is a required.

It is important to attempt to regain full range of motion after a collarbone injury and physical therapy is a valuable tool to not only get back on the road, but to get 100% physically. Most avid cyclists will want to get back on the road as soon as possible following a collarbone break, but these cyclists should proceed with caution and wait until they have clearance from their treating physician. 

Keating Law Offices currently represents numerous cyclists who have suffered broken collarbones after being struck by motor vehicles. 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.

The Issue of Concussions in Bicycle Accident Litigation

A while back I was sitting in a deposition of a neurosurgeon who treated my client for her injuries in a motor vehicle collision. The attorney representing the defendant driver in the case asked this doctor if he agreed that my client's concussion was a "minor" injury. The neurosurgeon responded that "a concussion is a form of a traumatic brain injury. There is no such thing as a "minor" traumatic brain injury."

Bicyclists, even those wearing a helmet, are very vulnerable and at a high risk for a concussion or other traumatic brain injury when they are involved in a bicycle accident or collision. An injury to the brain can even occur from the force of the head being jerked around; a direct impact is not necessary to suffer a brain injury. And the results of a concussion or other brain injury are severe. Common side effects of a concussion may include a variety of symptoms:

Physical Symptoms: Nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headache, blurred vision, sleep disturbance, quickness to fatigue, lethargy or other sensory loss;

Cognitive Deficits: Attention and concentration lapses, perception issues, memory loss, speech/language difficulties; and

Behavioral Changes: Irritability, anger management issues, disinhibition or emotion lability.*

Since the time of that neurosurgeon's deposition there have been numerous news reports about retired NFL football players suffering from long-term consequences of concussions. Due to these stories the public has learned what my client's neurosurgeon testified to years ago: There is no such thing as a "minor" traumatic brain injury.

However, in spite of these serious symptoms most insurance companies continue to view concussions the same way they view unspecified muscle pain or other relatively minor, subjective complaints. As such, insurance companies often do not offer to provide adequate compensation for victims of concussions or other head injuries from a bicycle accident or collision.

It has always been the firm contention of the attorneys at Keating Law Offices that concussions are serious and therefore require a high level of care and attention. The attorneys at Keating Law Offices have experience in handling these types of claims and know how to prove to the insurance companies that concussions and other "closed head" injuries are serious. In some instances, it is necessary to retain an expert neurologist, neuro-psychologist or other expert to detail the effects of an injury sustained in a bicycle crash or 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. Free case investigations may be available.

*Source: "Rethink Cross Exams in Traumatic Brain Injury Cases," Bruce H. Stern, American Association for Justice's Trial Magazine, April 2012.

Chicago Dept. of Transportation Needs Stories of Bicycle Crashes

The Chicago Department of Transportation is looking for stories about bicycle-related traffic crashes. CDOT plans to use these stories as a part of a traffic-safety video it is creating in conjunction with the Chicago Police Department. Here is a link to the downloads for the forms to submit a testimonial to CDOT.

It is important that the city receive as many testimonials as possible from responsible, safety-minded cyclists who have been a victim in an accident. There is always a concern that CDOT would receive an inordinate number of testimonials that "crazy bikers" were the cause of most bicycle-related traffic crashes.

If you have any questions regarding this post or you have been the victim of a bicycle-related traffic crash, please contact Mike Keating at mkeating@keatinglegal.com.