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.