Taxi Involved in Hit-and-Run with Bicyclist in Lakeview - Help Requested to Identify Taxicab

Intersection of Halsted Street and Wellington Avenue near where a Chicago bicyclist was injured in a hit-and-run collision on July 19th in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood.

The Illinois Bicycle Lawyers at Keating Law Offices have been retained to represent a Chicago bicyclist who was a victim of a hit-and-run with a taxicab on Saturday, July 19, 2014 at approximately 10:15 p.m. The bicycle accident occurred in the Lakeview neighborhood at 3031 North Halsted Street which is just north of the intersection of West Wellington Avenue and North Halsted Street near Illinois Masonic Hospital.

The bicyclist, a local dog walker who was riding home, was traveling northbound in the marked bike lane on Halsted Street when the driver of a taxicab suddenly swerved the motor vehicle into the bike lane and struck the bicyclist. The driver of the taxicab then fled the scene of the bicycle collision northbound on North Halsted Street towards its intersection with North Clark Street. Three eyewitnesses confirmed that the hit-and-run vehicle was a taxicab. However, the witnesses were unable to identify the taxi number or license plate. There is an unconfirmed report that the taxicab may have been black and white in color, but there is some confusion from the scene as to the accuracy of this report. The Chicago Police Department responded to the scene but have since closed their investigation after the responding officer chose to not notify the police department's Major Accidents Investigation Unit (MAIU).

Keating Law Offices has commenced legal action against the "John Doe" driver on behalf of the injured bicyclist and are in the process of securing a protective order from a judge in the Circuit Court of Cook County to acquire security footage from nearby businesses. Yet, we are respectfully asking for your help to identify the hit-and-run taxicab driver and to identify any Chicago taxicab companies that operate taxicabs that are black and white in color. If you witnessed the bicycle collision or have any information regarding the hit-and-run taxicab driver please contact Keating Law Offices at (312) 239-6787 or email attorney Mike Keating at MKeating@KeatingLegal.com. Callers may choose to remain anonymous. 

The bicyclist sustained multiple severe injuries, including an open fracture to his left forearm. An open fracture is when the fractured bone breaks through the skin. The bicyclist was transported via ambulance to a local emergency room where he underwent open reduction and internal fixation surgery (“ORIF”). ORIF is a two-part surgery in which the broken bone is put back into place and then an internal fixation device (usually screws, plates, rods or pins) is placed on the bone to stabilize and facilitate healing of the fracture. The bicyclist spent four nights at the hospital before being released and has a long road of recovery in front of him.