Have you been seriously injured in a bicycle accident in DuPage County, IL? It is possible you are entitled to recover compensation from the at-fault party. An experienced DuPage County bicycle accident attorney at the Law Offices of Mathys & Schneid can help you recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Collectively, our lawyers have more than 74 years of experience. We’ve already used our experience to help our clients recover over $150 million in settlements and verdicts.
Let us use our experience to your advantage. Contact our law offices in DuPage County, Illinois at (630) 428-4040 to schedule a free consultation today.
How the Law Offices of Mathys & Schneid Can Assist After a Bicycle Accident in DuPage County
The aftermath of a bicycle accident can be stressful and overwhelming. To add insult to injury, you’ll probably have to fight with an uncaring insurance company to receive compensation for your injuries. You deserve an experienced DuPage County personal injury lawyer with the skills to stand up and fight for you.
At the Law Offices of Mathys & Schneid, our lawyers have been recognized as Super Lawyers and Rising Stars. Since we founded our law firm back in 2005, we’ve helped countless accident victims and their families recover meaningful financial settlements and verdicts.
When you trust our team to protect you, our lawyers will:
- Provide the legal advice and guidance you deserve
- Investigate to find out who is responsible for your injuries
- Compile evidence to prove your case
- Calculate the full value of your personal injury claim
- Bring in experts who can strengthen your case and prove causation
- Negotiate with the other side on your behalf
Our DuPage County personal injury attorneys will fight to protect your rights in court if the insurance company refuses to offer a fair settlement offer. You can get started today by calling our team for a free consultation.
How Common Are Bicycle Accidents in DuPage County?
According to data published by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), 2,141 bicycle accidents were reported across the State of Illinois in 2020. Of those, 1,964 caused at least one injury. Unfortunately, at least 28 bicycle accidents were fatal.
While bike accidents are less common in Illinois than in other states, it’s important to remember that the vast majority of all bicycle accidents in the state cause an injury. That’s not entirely surprising because bicyclists have very little to protect them in a car accident.
How Much Is My DuPage County Bicycle Accident Case Worth?
All bicycle accident claims are different. Before we can estimate your case’s value, our lawyers will examine the merits of your case.
During that process, our lawyers will examine factors such as:
- Whether your injuries were severe or likely to cause long-term or permanent damage
- The cost of your current medical treatment
- The anticipated cost of your future medical care and rehabilitation
- How the injury impacts your quality of life
- The value of any lost wages and income during retirement
- Whether your future earnings will be impacted
- Whether you contributed to the accident or failed to mitigate damages
No two personal injury cases are the same. Still, the insurance company will compare your losses to similar cases when evaluating the value of your case. Our lawyers are here to make sure your case’s value is accurately assessed.
To learn more about how we can maximize the value of your compensation award, call our law firm for a free case review today.
What Kinds of Damages Are Available to Bicycle Accident Victims?
Your compensatory damages may include compensation for economic damages, which are designed to cover your financial losses. Your award may also include non-economic damages to compensate for non-financial losses, such as pain and suffering.
Examples of the specific types of damages you may be entitled to receive include:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning potential
- Loss of consortium
- Physical therapy
- In-home assistance or long-term care
- Property damage
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Physical disfigurement and scarring
- Mental health disorders, including anxiety and depression
- PTSD and fear
- Pain and suffering
If you were hit by a car while riding your bike, it’s very likely that you sustained serious injuries. Recovering fair compensation can be extremely important to your future. Our lawyers are here to help you document your financial losses. We can also help you prove the value of your non-financial losses.
Can I Still Recover Damages Even If I’m Being Blamed for a Bicycle Accident in Illinois?
Bicyclists are often blamed for contributing to an accident. If you were distracted, intoxicated, or riding outside of a designated bike lane, the insurance company will try to use that to reduce your compensation award.
Illinois has a modified comparative negligence law with a 51% bar to recovery. That means you can recover partial compensation if you were less than 51% responsible. You will be barred from recovering any compensation at all if your share of fault is 51% or more.
Shared fault laws are important even if you were less than 51% responsible. If you were even slightly to blame, your settlement can be reduced in proportion to your share of fault.
We’ll Fight To Recover Compensation for All of Your Bicycle Accident Injuries
Even when they are responsible and wear a helmet, bike riders have almost nothing to protect them in a crash. That means they’re particularly prone to suffering the most serious injuries in a motor vehicle accident.
At the Law Offices of Mathys & Schneid, our DuPage County bicycle accident attorneys often represent injured cyclists who have sustained:
- Crushing injuries
- Neck injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Amputations
- Multiple broken bones
- Nerve injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
- Degloving injuries
- Soft tissue damage
- Concussions
- Catastrophic injuries
- Back injuries
- Internal organ damage
- Burns
- Road rash
- Paralysis
- Spinal cord injuries
You’re much more likely to recover the maximum compensation you deserve with a skilled attorney by your side. We’re always available to discuss your case, so call to schedule your free case evaluation today.
What Causes Most Bicycle Accidents in DuPage County, Illinois?
Auto accidents involving bicyclists often occur because of:
- Distracted driving
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Lack of designated infrastructure and bike lanes
- Aggressive driving
- Failure to yield the right-of-way to cyclists
- “Dooring,” or opening a car door into a cyclist’s path
- Passing too close to the shoulder
- Speeding
- Dangerous left-hand turns
- Other traffic violations
- Drunk or intoxicated driving
- Hazardous road conditions, including potholes and crumbling pavement
Drivers are required to share the roads with bicycles in Illinois. If you were injured due to another person’s negligence, our lawyers are here to help you find out what happened. Just call our DuPage County personal injury law firm to schedule a free case evaluation to get started.
How Do I Prove Negligence After a Bicycle Accident in Illinois?
Negligence is the root cause of most bicycle and traffic accidents. These types of accidents typically happen because someone failed to use reasonable caution given the circumstances.
To prove negligence, our lawyers will gather evidence to establish each element of a negligence claim, including:
- The at-fault party’s legal duty of care
- A breach of duty
- The breach was the direct and proximate cause of the accident
- The precise damages you suffered due to the accident
Types of evidence that can help prove your case include:
- Police and accident reports
- Video surveillance footage
- Eyewitness statements
- Cell phone records
- Citations issued by law enforcement officials
- Evidence from the accident scene, including vehicle placement and skidmarks
- Your medical records and testimony from your doctors
- Expert witness testimony in particularly complex cases
Investigating and gathering evidence can take significant time and energy. Our lawyers have the experience and resources to conduct a full investigation. That way, you can focus on your physical health and emotional well-being.
How Long Do I Have To File a Lawsuit After a Bicycle Accident in Illinois?
The statute of limitations is a deadline for filing a personal injury lawsuit. Under Illinois law, accident victims have only two years to take legal action. Once the two-year anniversary of your bicycle accident passes, you will lose your right to seek compensation in court.
That doesn’t mean you should wait two years to contact an attorney. Our lawyers will need time to build your case and gather evidence. Insurance companies also require victims to file a claim within a reasonable amount of time after an accident.
If you were injured, don’t wait to reach out for legal advice. Call our team today to learn more about how our lawyers in DuPage County can protect you.
Contact a DuPage County Bicycle Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
the Law Offices of Mathys & Schneid is an award-winning personal injury law firm dedicated to fighting for accident victims like you. If you have questions about your rights, call to schedule a 100% free consultation with a DuPage County bicycle accident lawyer today.
