If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident — whether car, truck, or motorcycle — we can help you recover the compensation you deserve.

McHenry County Bicycle Accident Lawyers

With the increase of popularity of bicycling on the roadways in McHenry County and Lake County, it is not surprising that there are more and more bicycle accidents involving serious injury. According to the National Highway Traffic Administration for the year 2010 there were 618 bicyclists killed in the United States. Bicycle fatalities represented 2% of all of the traffic crash deaths in the United States and also 2% of the peoples injured in all traffic accidents. In 2010, 52,000 bicyclists were hurt in traffic accidents. According the Illinois Department of Transportation, in 2010 there were 2,922 bicycle crashes throughout Illinois, 17 of those crashes involved fatalities. For the seven years between 2004 and 2010, 2007 was the year in which most bicycle crashes occurred, totaling 3,164.

It may be surprising to learn that according to the 2009 report from the National Highway Traffic Administration, the average age of the bicyclist killed on the roadway was 41 years old, 87% of those killed were male, 64% of those killed were between the ages 25 and 64, and the average age for a bicyclist injured in a crash was 30 years of age. Alcohol was involved in more than one-third of all the bicycle accidents reported. The actual number of bicycle accident fatalities has decreased from 1997 to 2007. This decrease in fatalities could be attributed though to the increase use of bicycle helmets and the awareness of bicyclist by the motorist using the roads.

If you were injured in a bicycle crash, there are several things you can do to improve your chances of winning your personal injury case.

One: After you obtain the best medical treatment possible, obtain a copy of the police report

Two: Photograph your bicycle

Three: Photograph your injuries. Keep a photographic journal of your injuries throughout the healing process

Four: Photograph the scene where the accident occurred. You will need to take numerous pictures of the scene depicting all angles of the crash site. Photographs should be taken from the way you were traveling, the opposite way you were traveling, photographs should be taken approximately the same time of day of when the injury occurred and shortly after the incident to get a clear picture of what the roadway looked like at the time of the crash.

Five: Get names and addresses of all the witnesses. If you were riding with family or friends, make sure you get all of their contact information. If possible photograph the witnesses at the scene.

Six: Write down anything you remember regarding the defendant driver’s statements to you or the police or your fellow cyclists.

Bicycle crashes are often followed by emergency room treatment, doctor office visits, medical expenses, lost wages, and loss of a normal life, and hardships. If a negligent driver caused your bicycle accident, that person’s automobile insurance carrier may be liable for your damages. Injuries from a bicycle crash vary greatly from case to case. Common bicycle crash injuries include, herniated discs, bulging discs at all levels including L5-S1, C5, C6 and C7 and rotator cuff tears, knee injuries including ACL tears, meniscus tears and MCL tears. The medical treatment for the injuries may include epidural injections, trigger point injections and physical therapy.

Bicyclists who use the Illinois roadways are required to obey all traffic laws. If you or a loved one is an avid cyclist or just a week-end warrior and was injured on a Crystal Lake, Huntley, Algonquin, or on any McHenry County, Illinois roadway, call Franks, Kelly, Matuszewich, and Andrle Attorneys at Law to discuss your potential personal injury claim.