- How big is the pothole?
- How deep is the pothole?
- Where is the pothole?
- What color is the pothole compared to the surrounding roadway?
- Is something blocking the view of the pothole?
- What were the lighting conditions around the pothole?
- Was the pothole filled with material that disguised its dangerous size or depth?

Keating Law Offices are the premiere personal injury lawyers representing bicyclists injured in an accident in Illinois. The firm offers free consultations and there are no fees unless we win for you. Our attorneys have a long history of success representing clients injured in bike accidents in Chicago, the suburbs and throughout Illinois. The Illinois Bicycle Lawyers are committed to advocating for the rights of bicyclists and fighting for bicyclists injured in bike accidents.
Illinois Bicycle Law Pages
Thursday, February 25, 2021
The "Open and Obvious" Defense In Pothole and Roadway Defect Bicycle Crash Cases
Friday, February 5, 2021
Settlement Obtained for Bicyclist Injured By Construction On Halsted Street Bike Lane
Thursday, February 4, 2021
Chicago Bicyclist Injured In Hit And Run Receives Settlement from Chicago Transit Authority
Monday, February 1, 2021
All Keating Law Offices Attorneys Named SuperLawyers for 2021
Monday, January 25, 2021
Keating Law Offices Is Proud To Be The Presenting Sponsor of the 2021 Active Trans Winter Bike Challenge
Once registered participants can track your trips, challenge riders and win prizes. And its not just bike commutes that count, ANY trip on your bike between January 25th and February 7th counts!
Keating Law Offices is a long time supporter of the mission of the Active Transportation Alliance. As part of its commitment to Chicagoland's cycling community the firm has been a sponsor of Bike The Drive, the Bike Commuter Challenge and the Winter Bike Challenge. Keating Law Offices was the first law firm in Chicago to sponsor Active Transportation Alliance events and is proud to continue to do so.
To learn more about Keating Law Offices, please click here.
Tuesday, December 1, 2020
Keating Law Offices Supports Equiticity on Giving Tuesday 2020
- Racial Equity Training Academy: A training and leadership development program for residents, organizers, advocates, activists, academics, philanthropists, and policymakers, designed for people to explore a foundational understanding of racial equity and its operational implementation.
- Bike design and fabrication: A job creation and workforce development program for young adults.
- The Go Hub: A Community Mobility Center as a physical space for community- and power-building, providing access to the necessary hardware (mobility devices and infrastructure) and software (community mobility rituals and socialization programs) to increase mobility.
- The Equiticity Bike Team: Engaging young people in the vast world of bikes, and related careers, competitions, tours, and programs.
- Community Mobility Rituals: Inclusive of three distinct series of community bicycle rides, neighborhood walking tours, and public transit excursions, designed to increase social cohesion and collective efficacy, as tools to reduce violence at the hyperlocal, neighborhood level.
Monday, November 16, 2020
75-Year Old Cyclist Killed in Crash with Driver of Motor Vehicle in Cicero
75-year-old cyclist, Efren Avitia, was killed in a crash in near west suburban Cicero on Friday, November 13, 2020. According to a Chicago Sun-Times article, the victim was struck by a vehicle when he was biking near 31st Street and Austin Boulevard at about 10:00 a.m. The victim was transported via ambulance from the scene of the crash to Northwestern Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead early Saturday morning.
“[E]very driver of a vehicle shall exercise due care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian, or any person operating a bicycle or other device propelled by human power and shall give warning by sounding the horn when necessary . . . .”
Aurora Police Request Help in Identifying Driver in a Fatal Hit-and-Run
- Even if the at-fault driver has fled the scene, it is essential to still file a police report. Police resources will greatly increase your chances of identifying and locating the hit-and-run driver. Additionally, when it comes to filing a claim, an insurance company providing uninsured motorist coverage will almost always require that an investigation was initiated in an effort to identify the at-fault individual.
- Taking care of yourself and your health is the most important thing after any type of injury. Likewise, it is crucial that you seek medical attention immediately following the collision, as there need to be records and documentation of the injuries, in order to be able to recover later.
- Lastly, identifying any potential witnesses to the collision and taking down their contact information is key. Individuals who were present at the collision scene might not only be able to help identify the fleeing motorist, but they can also help with identifying what exactly happened during the collision.
- Stay at the scene of the crash long enough to provide the injured party with their information; and
- If necessary or if requested to arrange for medical care for the injured bicyclist.
Tuesday, November 10, 2020
Keating Law Offices - A Nationally Recognized Bicycle Law Firm
Among Keating Law Offices’ most notable successes this year, the firm’s attorneys secured $1,250,000 for the family of a bicyclist who was tragically killed in a motor vehicle collision in Chicago. The firm has been consistently recognized as a leading legal authority on cyclists’ rights in Illinois and for obtaining significant settlement money for their clients with injuries to any extent.
Notable 2020 results by Keating Law Offices include:
- $1,250,000.00 for the family of a Chicago bicyclist killed in a crash with a motor vehicle on Chicago's north side.
- $500,000.00 for a Chicago bicyclist who suffered a broken arm when doored while biking in Chicago.
- $400,000.00 for a West Suburban bicyclist who suffered a broken leg when struck by an uninsured driver.
- $300,000.00 for a Chicago bicyclist who suffered a concussion after being struck by a delivery truck.
- $300,000.00 settlement for a Northern Illinois bicyclist who was struck by a driver while on a training ride.
- $300,000.00 for a Northwest Suburban girl injured in a bicycle crash. The money was placed in a structured settlement to help pay for college.
- $200,000.00 settlement for the victim of a crash.
- $175,000.00 for a bicyclist who was doored by a driver exiting a semi-truck.
Keating Law Offices’ attorneys have consistently secured significant settlements for a wide variety of cases ranging from personal injury, wrongful death, and nursing home abuse while specializing in securing settlements for injured bicyclists. Over the years, Keating Law Offices has helped hundreds of injured clients recover financial compensation and have been recognized for their success in the field. In 2020 alone, Leading Lawyers Magazine named attorney Michael Keating as a Leading Personal Injury Plaintiff’s Lawyer and also named attorneys Thomas Reuland and Catelyn Viggiano as Emerging Personal Injury Plaintiff’s Lawyers, a considerable achievement and honor in the field. In addition, SuperLawyers Magazine and Chicago Magazine named Michael Keating a 2020 SuperLawyer and Tom Reuland and Catelyn Viggiano as "Rising Stars" within the SuperLawyers network.
With decades of experience, Keating Law Offices is honored to serve the bicycling community and earn the reputation of national leaders in bicycle law. The firm is proudly active in the Chicagoland area’s cycling community and will continue to fight for the rights of injured cyclists.
Monday, November 9, 2020
Illinois Bicyclist Killed in Crash with Passing Truck in Southern Illinois
Last Thursday, November 5, 2020, a bicyclist was killed in a collision with a truck while cycling in southern Illinois. According to reports, 58-year-old David Coleson was riding a bicycle southbound on Illinois 3 near its intersection with Airport Road in Alexander County. Alexander County is best known for being the southernmost county in the State of Illinois.
The Illinois State Police reported that Mr. Coleson was killed after we was struck by a truck while riding his bicycle. According to the Illinois State Police the collision occurred when both Mr. Coleson and the driver of the truck were both travelling southbound on Illinois 3. The driver reported that Mr. Coleson turned left into the truck at the moment the truck passed and the driver of the truck was unable to avoid striking the bicycle.
The Illinois State Police continue to investigate this fatal crash.
(625 ILCS 5/11‑703) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11‑703)Sec. 11‑703. Overtaking a vehicle on the left. The following rules govern the overtaking and passing of vehicles proceeding in the same direction, subject to those limitations, exceptions, and special rules otherwise stated in this Chapter:
(d) The operator of a motor vehicle overtaking a bicycle or individual proceeding in the same direction on a highway shall leave a safe distance, but not less than 3 feet, when passing the bicycle or individual and shall maintain that distance until safely past the overtaken bicycle or individual.
Thursday, November 5, 2020
The Difference Between "Riding in Front of a Vehicle" and the Vehicle Not Yielding to a Bike
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Left Hook Crashes are prohibited by both the Chicago Municipal Code and the Illinois Vehicle Code. The prohibition against Right Hook Crashes is specific to the Chicago Municipal Code. |
Wednesday, October 28, 2020
The Duty of "Due Care" in the Chicago Municipal Code and Illinois Vehicle Code
The City of Chicago has garnered a great deal of attention for its efforts in making Chicago more friendly to cyclists. A large part of the city's efforts have been in enacting new laws designed to try and protect bicyclists. What is interesting is that one of the most explicit laws in Illinois is nearly forty years old. On August 12, 1981 Public Act 82-132 became law when it amended the Illinois Vehicle Code. It stated:
Every driver of a vehicle shall exercise due care to avoid colliding with any person operating a bicycle or other device propelled by human power…and shall exercise proper precaution upon observing any child or any obviously confused, incapacitated or intoxicated person.
Thirty years ago in 1990 the City of Chicago incorporated this language into its own specific Municipal Code and thus made the "duty of due care" the clear law in Illinois generally and the City of Chicago specifically. This law can be found in Section 11-1003.1 of the Illinois Motor vehicle Code and Section 9-40-160 of the Chicago Municipal Code.
Witnesses relayed to responding officers that Mr. Kosman was riding his bicycle near the 6200 block of West Higgins Avenue in Chicago when he was struck by a westbound driver of a 2005 Nissan Pathfinder SUV. Eyewitnesses allegedly observed Mr. Kosman riding his bicycle in circles and veering into traffic.
However, responding officers issued the motorist citations for failing to reduce speed to avoid the accident and for no insurance. Interestingly, this 40-year old law might have been the most precise allegation against the driver given the reports of the cyclist's riding in circles and engaging traffic. If the reports are accurate, these actions would clearly fall under any definition of a "confused" person's actions and the driver holds to duty to avoid a collision.
Under the law, "due care" means the "care that an ordinarily reasonable and prudent person would use under the same or similar circumstances." In this case, the driver upon observing an apparently confused Mr. Kosman who was veering into traffic on his bicycle, failed to exercise due care by swerving to avoid or simply altogether stop and wait for the cyclist to clear the roadway.
Sunday, August 2, 2020
Bartlett Woman Killed In Elgin Hit-and-Run
Friday, July 17, 2020
13-Year Old Niles Bicyclist Killed In Crash By Marked Bike Route
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Cleveland Avenue at Waukegan Road in Niles, IL |
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Waukegan Road at Cleveland Avenue in Niles, IL |

Tuesday, July 14, 2020
Walter Williams, Jr., Chicago Bicyclist, 72, Killed in Hit-and-Run Crash In Lawndale
Tuesday, June 30, 2020
Vigil to Be Held for Isaac Martinez, a 13-year Old Cyclist Killed In A Hit And Run
(625 ILCS 5/11‑703) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11‑703)Sec. 11‑703. Overtaking a vehicle on the left. The following rules govern the overtaking and passing of vehicles proceeding in the same direction, subject to those limitations, exceptions, and special rules otherwise stated in this Chapter:
(d) The operator of a motor vehicle overtaking a bicycle or individual proceeding in the same direction on a highway shall leave a safe distance, but not less than 3 feet, when passing the bicycle or individual and shall maintain that distance until safely past the overtaken bicycle or individual.
- Stay at the scene of the crash long enough to provide the injured party with their information; and
- If necessary or if requested to arrange for medical care for the injured bicyclist.
"The driver of any vehicle involved in a motor vehicle accident resulting in personal injury to or death of any person shall immediately stop such vehicle at the scene of such accident, or as close thereto as possible and shall then forthwith return to, and in every event shall remain at the scene of the accident until the requirements of Section 11-403 have been fulfilled."
Tuesday, June 23, 2020
Chicago Cyclist Critically Injured in Right Hook Crash with City of Chicago Truck
Sec. 11-1505. Position of bicycles and motorized pedal cycles on roadways - Riding on roadways and bicycle paths.
(a) Any person operating a bicycle or motorized pedal cycle upon a roadway at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing shall ride as close as practicable and safe to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway except under the following situations:
1. When overtaking and passing another bicycle, motorized pedal cycle or vehicle proceeding in the same direction; or
2. When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway; or
3. When reasonably necessary to avoid conditions including, but not limited to, fixed or moving objects, parked or moving vehicles, bicycles, motorized pedal cycles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards, or substandard width lanes that make it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or edge. For purposes of this subsection, a "substandard width lane" means a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle or motorized pedal cycle and a vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane; or
4. When approaching a place where a right turn is authorized.
(b) Any person operating a bicycle or motorized pedal cycle upon a one-way highway with two or more marked traffic lanes may ride as near the left-hand curb or edge of such roadway as practicable. (Source: P.A. 97-813, eff. 7-13-12.)
“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.”