Knowing and implementing bicycle accident tips can help you stay safe on Naperville roadways. These tips include understanding your rights, properly using safety equipment, riding defensively, and taking the right steps after an accident. The odds are often against you (the cyclist) in bicycle accidents due to the limited protection offered by bicycles. The injuries sustained are usually severe and life-changing.
You may have grounds to pursue compensation if you or a loved one has suffered bodily injuries and property damage in a bike accident because of another driver’s negligence. Our bicycle accident attorneys at Chute, O’Malley, Knobloch, and Turcy, LLC, are prepared to fight for your rights. Call our offices at 312-775-0042 to schedule a free case evaluation.
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Bicycle Accident Tips
One of the main differences between a bicycle accident and a car accident is the high risk of injury or fatality that bicycles carry. Bicycle accident statistics by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) show that the state recorded 2,512 bicycle crashes in 2022, an 8% increase from 2021. Thirty-two of these were fatal, while 339 cases involved severe injuries.
Unlike motorists, bicyclists do not have the protective barrier of an enclosed vehicle. As such, even low-speed crashes can leave bicyclists with life-altering injuries. With bicyclists exposed to higher risks of catastrophic injuries or fatalities, it is critical to know some bicycle accident tips to ensure you’re safe when cycling.
Know Your Rights
The Illinois Vehicle Code considers bicycles as vehicles. Therefore, bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as other motorists. In other words, the same traffic rules and regulations that apply to cars also apply to bicycles. Knowing when you have the right of way and when you should yield can help you avoid accidents.
Intersections With Traffic Lights
Traffic flows at intersections are mostly controlled by traffic lights. Because cyclists are essentially motorists under the law, they are required to stop at red lights. If you intend to turn right at a red light, you must completely stop and yield to all oncoming vehicles and pedestrians before turning.
Uncontrolled Intersections
Some intersections lack traffic signals and stop signs. In such a place, you must follow traffic rules to prevent accidents.
- At a four-way intersection – Usually, the vehicle/cyclist that arrived at the stop first has the right of way. If a driver and a bicyclist arrive at the intersection at the same time, the car should proceed first. Motorists and cyclists must communicate through eye contact or other signals to safely turn at intersections.
- At a two-way stop – Only one direction of traffic has to stop at a two-way intersection. Bicyclists approaching these intersections must completely stop and give way to cross traffic before proceeding.
Cycling Lanes and Passing
If a bike lane crosses a road, drivers must yield to the cyclists in the designated lane. It’s crucial to pay attention to this rule, especially when making right turns. Additionally, a motorist overtaking a cyclist must do so at a safe distance. Traffic laws dictate that cyclists must stick to the right of their lanes unless making a left turn.
Driveways and Parking Facilities
Cyclists usually have the right of way at parking lots and driveways. Any vehicle exiting or reversing on a driveway, parking lot, or alley must yield to cyclists on the sidewalk or roadside. Even so, bikers must make themselves visible to motorists in such circumstances.
Use Safety Equipment
Ensuring you and your bike have proper protective equipment minimizes the risk of getting into an accident. Some examples of safety equipment include reflectors on the bike (when there’s poor visibility), a functional white front light, reflective gear, and a red rear light.
Wear a Helmet
When cycling in Illinois, your level of safety is at your discretion. It’s upon you to decide whether to wear a bicycle helmet or any other safety equipment. While there is no statewide law mandating you to have a helmet while cycling, it’s recommended that you always have one for safety.
According to the American College of Surgeons (ACS), a bicycle helmet reduces the risks and hazards of head injuries and trauma by about 48%, fatal injury by 34%, and facial injury by 23%. But to be safe and comfortable, the helmet must fit you properly. Helmet sizes vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, and you should get one that fits your head after adjusting the straps.
Ride Defensively – Be Focused and Vigilant
When negotiating roads and passageways with other motorists, bikers must always ride defensively with the highest level of focus and alertness. When we speak of defensive riding, we mean riding with a sharp awareness of your surroundings, such that you can pick the smallest potential for conflict. The quicker you react in such a situation, the quicker you distance yourself from a collision. To ride defensively, you must ensure you:
- Move in the same direction as traffic.
- Assume that you’re invisible to other motorists.
- Avoid objects and situations that may topple you, such as train tracks, toys, potholes, and pebbles.
- Always adhere to traffic signs and signals and road striping.
- Avoid texting, using your earphones/ear pods, or any other device that may shift your eyes and ears from the road and activities in the surroundings.
Take the Right Steps After Your Accident
Getting into a bicycle accident can leave you with serious injuries and property damage. It’s important to know the right steps to take after your accident to solidify your claim and receive the maximum bicycle accident settlement. Take the following steps when injured in a bicycle accident:
Move to Safety and Call 911
If you’re in a position to move, do so and call 911 to report the incident. That will ensure paramedics and police officers rush to the accident scene to offer medical attention and compile a report.
Get Immediate Medical Care
Your health and safety are paramount. So, be sure to request emergency medical assistance if you get seriously hurt in a bicycle accident.
Even if you do not suffer visible injuries immediately after the crash, you should still get medical attention. Doing that will create a medical record that links your injuries to the accident, which is highly valuable to your case.
Document the Accident Scene
After contacting the police, document the scene as extensively as you can. Take videos and images of your injuries, skid marks or debris on the road, and damage to your bicycle. Also, take pictures of other traffic-related objects in the area, such as stop signs and traffic lights. The images and videos will help reconstruct the accident to understand the circumstances that led to the crash.
Gather the Driver’s and Eyewitness Information
Obtain the other driver’s information, including license details, phone number, and insurance information. If there were witnesses to the accident, obtain their phone numbers and names. Their testimonies and statements will help you file a strong claim.
Obtain a Formal Report
After getting cleared by the paramedics, ensure you get the name and badge number of the responding police officer. That information will be crucial in getting a copy of the police report. This report will detail how the accident occurred, including information about the parties involved, the time and location of the accident, and the statement provided by the other motorist.
Partner With a Bicycle Accident Lawyer
People often downplay the need to seek legal counsel and help after their involvement in bicycle accidents. Sometimes, they avoid filing claims because they think they might have contributed to the accident. The laws and statutes regulating personal injury claims can be confusing for the ordinary Illinois resident. Hiring an experienced bicycle accident attorney is your best bet to win your claim.
A seasoned bicycle accident attorney has handled a litany of bicycle accident lawsuits. Your lawyer can assist you with what to do and say in court and when negotiating with the insurance company. He or she can help you understand the legal procedure for filing claims and the documents required.
Your lawyer will conduct a case review, determine if you are eligible for compensation, and discuss your rights. Your lawyer will investigate the accident, gather the necessary evidence to build a strong case, and determine your bicycle accident claim’s value. He or she will then send a demand letter to the at-fault party’s insurer, negotiate with the insurer, and go to trial if an out-of-court settlement fails.
Don’t suffer alone after getting injured in a bicycle accident. At Chute, O’Malley, Knobloch, and Turcy, LLC, we are passionate about helping bicycle accident victims exercise their legal rights after suffering injuries due to other parties’ negligence. We understand the unique nature of each case. Therefore, the attorney you speak to will tailor the legal services to suit the unique circumstances of your claim and get you full compensation. Contact us today to set up a free case review.