P&N BLOG | What To Do If You Are Injured in a Bicycle Accident

This article is for informational purposes only, and does not constitute legal advice.

If you have been injured in a bicycle accident in Illinois, it is important to take certain steps in order to protect your legal rights and ensure that you receive the compensation you are entitled to for your injuries.

First and foremost, seek medical attention as soon as possible. Even if you do not think your injuries are serious, it is important to be evaluated by a medical professional to ensure that there are no hidden injuries that may manifest later. Additionally, seeking medical attention will create a record of your injuries, which can be important evidence in any legal proceedings related to the accident.

Once you have received medical attention, it is important to document the accident as thoroughly as possible. This includes taking photographs of the accident scene, any damage to your bicycle or other property, and your injuries. If there were any witnesses to the accident, be sure to obtain their contact information, as their testimony may be helpful in establishing liability.

Next, report the accident to the police. In Illinois, any accident involving injury or property damage in excess of $1,500 must be reported to law enforcement. The police will investigate the accident and create a report documenting their findings. This report can be important evidence in any legal proceedings related to the accident.

After reporting the accident to the police, it is important to contact an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible. The personal injury attorneys at The Law Offices of Parente & Norem P.C., can advise you on your legal rights and help you navigate the complexities of the legal system. Additionally, an attorney can help you gather and preserve evidence, negotiate with insurance companies, and represent you in court if necessary.

In Illinois, the law allows injured parties to seek compensation for their injuries through a personal injury lawsuit or an insurance claim. In either case, it is important to establish liability for the accident in order to recover damages. Liability can be established in a number of ways, including by showing that the driver of a motor vehicle was negligent or that a defective road or bicycle was a contributing factor in the accident.

If the accident was caused by a driver of a motor vehicle, the injured party may be able to recover damages from the driver’s insurance company. Illinois law requires all drivers to carry a minimum amount of liability insurance, which provides coverage for injuries and damages caused by the driver. An experienced personal injury attorney can help injured parties negotiate with insurance companies to ensure that they receive the compensation they are entitled to under the law.

If the accident was caused by a defective road or bicycle, the injured party may be able to recover damages from the municipality or the manufacturer of the bicycle. In such cases, it is important to work with an attorney who has experience in product liability or premises liability law in order to establish liability and recover damages.

In addition to compensation for medical expenses and property damage, injured parties may also be entitled to compensation for lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages related to the accident. Our attorneys at The Law Offices of Parente & Norem, P.C. can help injured parties determine what damages they are entitled to and negotiate with insurance companies or represent them in court to recover those damages.

In order to ensure that injured parties receive the compensation they are entitled to, it is important to act quickly and seek the advice of an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible after the accident. The sooner our attorneys can begin working on a case, the better the chances of a successful outcome.

In conclusion, if you have been injured in a bicycle accident in Illinois, it is important to seek medical attention, document the accident, report it to the police, and contact an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible. By taking these steps, injured parties can protect their legal rights and ensure that they receive the compensation they are entitled to for their injuries.

If you have been involved in a bicycle accident and would like to speak with one of our personal injury attorneys, call The Law Offices of Parente & Norem, P.C. today at 312.641.5926 or fill out a contact form here on our website.