Most Common Reasons For Illinois Bicycle Accidents

 Posted on February 12, 2024 in Bicycle Accidents

Bicycle accidents occur far too often, mostly due to the negligence of another vehicle sharing the road. Most bicycle accidents can be avoided if citizens follow established traffic laws, such as not driving distracted or under the influence of alcohol. Sadly, there are many common ways in which accidents happen to cyclists out on the roadways. If you or a loved one have been injured due to someone else’s negligence, you should reach out to a personal injury attorney as soon as possible.

Distracted Driving

A common occurrence in more than just the state of Illinois, distracted drivers are responsible for a large number of accidents across the entire United States. Drivers who choose to stare at their smartphones, eat or shave while driving, or those who simply take their eyes off of the road for any reason are a detriment to traffic safety and anyone driving a bicycle.

Impaired Drivers

Driving under the influence (DUI) of either alcohol or drugs can have a serious impact on the safety of everyone on the road. Impaired drivers are less likely to react fast enough to a cyclist who may swerve, they may disregard a cyclist signaling to switch lanes, or be too sleepy and incoherent to notice the cyclist at all.

Lack of Bike Lanes 

Without bike lanes, cyclists are forced to share the road with motor vehicles, which places them at risk for collisions. Cyclists are also difficult to see, especially when vehicles may not even be aware they are sharing the same stretch of road. A person driving a car could easily attempt to switch a lane and bump into a bicyclist without ever seeing them at all.

Riding at Night

Bicycles are already difficult to see for some drivers in the daylight. With limited vision, the nighttime only increases the difficulty. Bike riders should try to wear bright-colored and reflective clothing while riding at night but even then, a distracted or impaired driver may still not notice them until it is too late.

Dooring

When an occupant of a motor vehicle opens their door as a cyclist is approaching, it could cause the cyclist to swerve into traffic, into another obstacle, or make a direct impact with the door itself. A smart driver should already be on the lookout for other cars approaching before opening their door. Cyclists should also receive the same level of attention.

Failure to Yield

Sometimes a car or truck will fail to yield to a cyclist at an intersection or crosswalk regardless of who has the right of way. This is often likely because drivers do not often acknowledge bicycles as vehicles for roadway use. The results can be catastrophic, especially considering it could have been avoided if the driver had been following the law.

Contact a Lake County, IL Personal Injury Attorney

Bicycle injuries can be severe and costly to the injured party. Compensation is available to anyone with a personal injury case. With a simple phone call to an experienced Waukegan, IL bicycle accident lawyer from Salvi & Maher, LLP, we can discuss your case in a free consultation to determine how best to move forward. You can reach our office by dialing 847-662-3303 and setting up an appointment right now.