Chicago Bicyclist Angela Park Tragically Killed In Crash With Turning Truck

News outlets are reporting that the bicyclist who lost her life in a crash in the West Loop was 39-year old Angela Park of Chicago. The crash occurred at the intersection of Halsted Street and Madison Street. Angela was riding northbound on Halsted where the Halsted Street bike lake has existed for decades. The truck involved in the crash was a dump truck owned and operated by Lakeshore Recycling. The truck was turning right from northbound Halsted onto eastbound Madison when the crash occurred. The exact circumstances of the crash are yet to be determined as there is a major construction project on the southeast corner of Madison and Halsted that has led to frequent changes in the traffic patterns at that intersection. 

The crash was what is known as a “right hook” crash where the truck turned right across the path of the bicyclist. Since the Halsted Street bike lane is to the right of the northbound lane, the truck would cross over the bike lane when turning from Halsted onto eastbound Madison Street. The crash occurred at 7:10 a.m. on a weekday when this area of the West Loop is full of commuters on their way into the Loop for the workday. The presence of a bicyclist on the Halsted Street bike lane is not only common it is constant at this time of the day. Chicago law requires the operators of motor vehicles to utilize “due care” in looking for bike traffic. 

In addition, a “right hook” is strictly prohibited by law.  In Chicago the Municipal Code addresses right hooks. Section 9-16-020 specifically prohibits right turns in front of bicycles. The infographic below details right-hook and left-hook bicycle crashes. The Chicago bicycle law states:

“When a motor vehicle and a bicycle are traveling in the same direction on any highway, street, or road, the operator of the motor vehicle overtaking such bicycle traveling on the right side of the roadway shall not turn to the right in front of the bicycle at that intersection or at any alley or driveway until such vehicle has overtaken and is safely clear of the bicycle.” 

Based on the reports, it appears that the operator of the truck also acted contrary to the Illinois Vehicle Code and also Federal requirements. These requirements provide that 1) the driver of a cement truck like this should "keep a proper lookout" for bicycles but 2) to not turn right until it is safe to do so. It is axiomatic that if a vehicle is "clear" to turn, that a bicycle crash cannot occur.

Here are some of the key laws that apply to a bicycle crash of this nature:

• 49 C.F.R. Section 383.111 of the Code of Federal Regulations requires a professional driver to recognize and avoid potential hazards at all times around a turning tractor truck. 
•  Section 11-1003.1 of the Illinois Motor Vehicle Code states that every driver of a vehicle must 1) always exercise care to avoid colliding with pedestrians and bicyclists, and 2) sound their horn to provide warning of an impending impact. 

Legal analysis aside it is important to remember that Angela Park was a member of Chicago’s bicycling community. This is another unfortunate reminder of the need for not only laws and policies that protect bicyclists, but strict enforcement of those laws. This is beyond sad, it is tragic in the scope of the loss against reality that it could have been avoided. Our thoughts and prayers and most sincerely with the family of Angela Park. 

Details Emerge in Barbie Eno Case

Stock Image of Kenworth W900 Cement Truck

The Chicago Sun-Times has reported additional details regarding the circumstances surrounding the death of 28-year old Barbie Eno of the Portage Park neighborhood. According to the report, based on the position of the Kenworth W900 truck and Barbie Eno's bicycle after the collision, both vehicles were traveling northbound on Cicero Avenue towards Belmont Avenue. Other reports indicated that the Kenworth W900 truck was a "concrete truck," meaning that the truck was pulling a concrete mixer as opposed to a trailer.

Northbound Cicero Avenue at Belmont Avenue

The Sun-Times article further indicates that the driver of the truck did not see the bicyclist prior to impact and only stopped when he noticed people waiving at him. A driver of a tractor truck like the Kenworth W900 is required to adhere to all of the applicable rules of the road, such as the Chicago Municipal Code and the Illinois Vehicle Code, and also to Federal requirements. These requirements provide that 1) the driver of a cement truck like this should "keep a proper lookout" for bicycles but 2) to not turn right until it is safe to do so. It is axiomatic that if a vehicle is "clear" to turn, that a bicycle crash cannot occur.

Here are some of the key laws that apply to a bicycle crash of this nature:

• 49 C.F.R. Section 383.111 of the Code of Federal Regulations requires a professional driver to recognize and avoid potential hazards at all times around a turning tractor truck. 
•  Section 11-1003.1 of the Illinois Motor Vehicle Code states that every driver of a vehicle must 1) always exercise care to avoid colliding with pedestrians and bicyclists, and 2) sound their horn to provide warning of an impending impact.
• Section 9-16-020 of the Municipal Code of Chicago specifically provides that a motor vehicle should not turn right across the path of a bicyclist traveling in the same direction until it is "clear" and safe to make the turn. This is known as a "right hook."

DNAInfo Chicago provided a very thoughtful article on Barbie Eno that also contains service information.

Our thoughts and prayers remain with Barbie Eno's family and friends. God bless all of you at this difficult time.

Chicago Bicyclist Killed in "Right Hook" Crash with Truck on Northwest Side

Intersection of North Cicero Avenue approaching Belmont Avenue where a 28-year old Chicago bicyclist was killed in a collision with a truck on Thursday morning.

 A 28-year old Chicago bicyclist was killed after a industrial truck "clipped" her bicycle while she was riding north on Cicero Avenue near Belmont Avenue. The bicyclist has been identified as 28-year old Barbara Eno who lived on Addison Street not far from the site of the collision. According to reports the truck, described as a large semi-tractor trailer or dump truck, was also traveling northbound on Cicero and was attempting to turn east onto Belmont when the truck came into contact with the bicyclist and she was severely injured. The bicyclist was taken by ambulance where she was pronounced dead at 11:31 a.m. Thursday morning.

As of the time of the publishing of the DNAInfo article, no tickets had been issued to the driver and the article suggests that an investigation was ongoing. However, based on the information from the report the collision occurred when the bicyclist was riding to the right of the truck and was struck by the truck as the driver turned to the right across the path of the oncoming bicyclist. This type of collision is known as a “right hook” bicycle accident.

Section 9-16-020 of the Municipal Code of Chicago specifically prohibits right turns in front of bicycles. The ordinance states:

“When a motor vehicle and a bicycle are traveling in the same direction on any highway, street, or road, the operator of the motor vehicle overtaking such bicycle traveling on the right side of the roadway shall not turn to the right in front of the bicycle at that intersection or at any alley or driveway until such vehicle has overtaken and is safely clear of the bicycle.” 

Given that this was a fatal accident, Chicago Police Department policy is that the Major Accidents Investigation Unit are to conduct a full investigation. More information and details are certain to emerge soon. In the meantime, the family of Barbara Eno have lost a young lady in the prime of her youth. This is a very tragic incident and our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this difficult time.

Evanston Bicyclist Injured in Right Hook Collision on Clybourn Avenue

The Illinois Bicycle Lawyers at Keating Law Offices were recently retained to represent an Evanston bicyclist injured when a motorist cut in front of him as the motorist attempted to enter a driveway. On September 24, 2013, our client was riding his bicycle northwest bound near the edge of the curb on North Clybourn Avenue in Chicago. At the same time, the motorist was driving his vehicle in the same northwest bound lane of traffic on Clybourn. This put the car directly to the left of the bicyclist as they traveled along Clybourn. The motorist suddenly and unexpectedly decided to turn right off of Clybourn into a private driveway, directly in front of the bicyclist. This is an example of a "right hook" motor vehicle vs. bicycle collision where the motorist turning the vehicle right either into or in front of the bicyclist is the cause of the collision.

Due to the sudden action of the motorist, our client had no reason to anticipate the motorist's sudden turn, nor time to react, and the bicyclist collided into the front passenger side of the motorist's vehicle. Upon impact, the bicyclist fell from his bicycle and sustained significant injuries. The Chicago Police Department responded to the scene. Following an investigation, the responding officer determined that the motorist's failure to yield to our client's right-of-way was the primary cause of the collision. Our client was taken by ambulance to the emergency department at Advocate Illinois Masonic Hospital where he was treated for the injuries he sustained in the collision. 

According to the results of the Chicago Department of Transportation's Bicycle Crash Analysis, our new client's recent collision is among the most common type of Chicago bicycle crash. In specific, the CDOT found that 40% of all Chicago bicycle crashes result from motorists' failure to yield to bicyclists. In addition, approximately 37% of all injury-causing bicycle crashes in Chicago occur in the neighborhoods extending north from the Loop through Lincoln Park to Lakeview and extending West from the Loop through Wicker Park, Bucktown, and Logan Square. Accordingly, motorists in these neighborhoods need to be hyper-aware of the presence of bicyclists and need to yield to both other motorists AND bicyclists when navigating turns. 

Chicago Bicyclist Receives Settlement After Injuries From Right Hook Bike Crash

Right hook bicycle collisions are one of the most common types of bike crashes, particularly in busy urban or suburban areas. Right hook collisions occur when the bicyclist and the motorist are traveling in the same direction with the bicyclist positioned on the roadway between the motor vehicle and the curb. The "hook" causes a bicycle accident in two ways: First, the motor vehicles turns right into the path of the bicyclist and the bicyclist cannot stop in time and collides with the motor vehicle. The second way a bicycle accident occurs is when the motor vehicle turns directly into the bicyclist and strikes the rider.

The Illinois Bicycle Lawyers of Keating Law Offices successfully resolved a case on behalf of a Chicago bicyclist who was injured in a right hook collision on December 15, 2012. The bike accident occurred at the intersection of Walton Street and Wells Street in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood. In this case both the bicyclist and the motorist were traveling eastbound on Walton Street alongside one another. Without warning, the motorist suddenly attempted to make a right turn onto Wells Street, striking the bicyclist. This impact threw the bicyclist onto the hood of the motorist's vehicle before the rider crashed to the ground. 

Following the collision, our client did not seek immediate medical attention, hoping to naturally recover from his injuries over his Christmas break. However, when his pain did not subside naturally, he visited a primary care physician in early January of 2013 and was diagnosed with several muscoskeletal injuries and a left leg wound. In addition to his physical injuries, the bicyclist missed multiple days of work while recovering from his injuries, his Lotus Special bicycle was badly damaged, and he was forced to take nearly a month off from bicycling and engaging in his usual workout schedule.

Under Section 5/11-703(d) of the Illinois Vehicle Code, a motorist is required to maintain a safe distance of at least three feet when passing a bicycle proceeding in the same direction. In negotiating a favorable settlement of this claim, the Illinois Bicycle Lawyers emphasized the motorist's violation of this statute in addition to the motorists failure to "keep a proper lookout," legalese for watching where you are going.

A very favorable settlement was reached on the injured bicyclist's behalf. The bicyclist was fully compensated for his injuries, medical expenses, property damage, lost wages, and inability to engage in his usual activities. This inability to engage in one's usual activity is called "loss of a normal life." This doesn't mean that someone is totally disabled, it simply means that a person's life is thrown out of whack for a time while they recover. "Loss of a normal life" is fully compensable under Illinois law. It is very important when working on resolving a personal injury claim stemming from a bicycle accident that ALL chances of receiving compensation from an insurance company are pursued. The attorneys at Keating Law Offices always make sure that they do every single thing possible to maximize the financial recovery for the victims of bicycle accidents that the firm represents.