Charity Fundraiser Yard Sale Held To Support Family of 12-Year Old Killed in Bicycle Accident

The family and friends of 12-year old Lorenzo Garcia of Steger are rallying to support the young man's family after his death from injuries sustained in a bicycle accident on July 21st in Chicago Heights. Lorenzo was involved in a collision with a car near 207th Street and Western Avenue. No further details have been released regarding the collision and the death was ruled an accident. 

There is a charity fundraiser yard sale on Sunday, August 9th from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Steger Community Center. There is a Facebook page with more information about the event including details as to how to help these efforts by attending the fundraiser or donating items.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Lorenzo Garcia who left us all much too early. 

2015 Prairie State Cycling Series Finishes Another Successful Year

The Prairie State Cycling Series, sponsored in part by Keating Law Offices, finished the 2015 race season after the Chicago Criterium on Chicago's Near West Side. This is the third year that Keating Law Offices has sponsored the Intelligentsia Cup Prairie State Cycling Series. The firm, which focuses its practices on representing victims of bicycle accidents, joins title sponsors of the event, Intelligentsia Coffee and SRAM, in sponsoring the series.

The 2015 Prairie State Cycling Series included three races in Chicago with stops on July 17th in Beverly, July 18th in South Shore and July 26th near Union Park on the near West Side. In addition, the series had stops on July 19th in Willow Springs for the Illinois State Championship, July 23rd in Waukegan, July 24th in Elmhurst and July 25th in Lake Bluff.

Regarding Keating Law Offices' sponsorship of the PSCC, attorney Michael Keating of Keating Law Offices said:

"The Illinois Bicycle Lawyers of Keating Law Offices are very proud of our involvement with the Prairie State Cycling Series. By sponsoring pro-level cycling we are supporting bicycling at all levels in Illinois by showcasing this exciting sport. In addition, each stop of the race is a popular event in each community where there is a race. This combination provides us an opportunity to promote safe bicycling and work towards safer streets by spreading a message of safe bicycling and sharing the roadways in Illinois. At each stop we were able to participate in live interviews on stage and meet many people to discuss safe bicycling and how we can all work to reduce the number of bicycle accidents in Illinois."

Keating Law Offices is the premiere personal injury law firm representing victims of bicycle accidents in Illinois. The firm is based in Chicago, Illinois and represents clients throughout Illinois. If you have any questions regarding this post or have a question regarding personal injury law, please contact Illinois Bicycle Attorney Mike Keating at 312-239-6787 (Office) or 312-208-7702 (Nights/Weekends). Our staff and operators are available around the clock. You can also email Mike@KeatingLegal.com 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All e-mails and phone calls are returned promptly. All initial consultations are confidential and free.

Chicago Bicyclist Walking Bike Across Western Ave. Killed In Fatal Collision With SUV

News outlets are reporting that a 53-year old man was killed late Saturday night while attempting to walk his bicycle across Western at its intersection with Congress. As the man was walking his bicycle across Western, he was struck by a 2014 Kia SUV that was traveling southbound on Western Avenue. The driver of the SUV was ticketed for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident. 

According to the NBC report, witnesses saw the bicyclist trying to cross the street at the same time as the SUV's driver attempted to swerve around the bicyclist in order to pass the bicyclist. However, the driver of the SUV could not avoid the bicyclist and the tragic collision occurred.

Given the fact that the Chicago Police Department cited the driver for failure to reduce speed, it is a reasonable question to consider the speed of the driver as he approached Congress heading southbound on Western Avenue.  Illinois law also requires all motorists to provide at least three feet of room when passing a bicyclist. Section 11-601 of the Illinois Vehicle Code requires all motorists to reduce speed as they approach an intersection.In addition, Section 11-1003.1 of the Illinois Motor Vehicle Code states that every driver of a vehicle must 1) always exercise care to avoid colliding with pedestrians and bicyclists, and 2) sound their horn to provide warning of an impending impact. The precise language of the statute as it applies to this bicycle accident is as follows: 

Every driver of a vehicle shall exercise due care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian, or any person operating a bicycle or other device propelled by human power and shall give warning by sounding the horn when necessary. 

This is another tragic fatality in the month of July in Illinois where a bicyclist lost his life. Earlier this month, Jose Gomez of Des Plaines was killed in a collision with a motor vehicle operated by a United Airlines employee who fled the scene. Jarod Kyle Shumaker of Olive Branch, Illinois was killed when a vehicle did not provide the required 3-Feet of room when passing and clipped the bicyclist sending him into traffic. Jack Henderson of Waukegan was also killed in a hit-and-run. 

Each of these tragic instances reflect how the failure of a motorist to adhere to the rules of the road can lead to death. It is important for all users of the roadways to remember that bicyclists are vulnerable users of the roadway. 

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of all of these victims. 

Keating Law Offices is the premiere personal injury law firm representing victims of bicycle accidents in Illinois. The firm is based in Chicago, Illinois and represents clients throughout Illinois. If you have any questions regarding this post or have a question regarding personal injury law, please contact Illinois Bicycle Attorney Mike Keating at 312-239-6787 (Office) or 312-208-7702 (Nights/Weekends). Our staff and operators are available around the clock. You can also email Mike@KeatingLegal.com 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All e-mails and phone calls are returned promptly. All initial consultations are confidential and free.

Insurance Claim Settled for USAT Triathlete Injured In Left Hook

A nationally ranked triathlete from Chicago's western suburbs has received a substantial insurance settlement for injuries she sustained in a bicycle accident when she was struck by a school bus while on a training ride. At the time of the crash, the injured triathlete had just competed in the United States of America Triathlon (USAT) Olympic Distance National Championships in Milwaukee in August 2014. The injuries from the bicycle crash caused her to miss several crucial weeks of training. 

The collision with the school bus occurred in October of 2014 in Willowbrook. Immediately prior to the bicycle crash, the bicyclist was on a training ride northbound on Clarendon Hills Road towards 79th Street. This was a well-known route to the rider as a part of her training routine. At the same time, the school bus was travelling southbound in the opposite direction. With no warning, the driver of the school bus made a "left hook" and turned th school bus left immediately in front of the bicyclist as the bus was traveling southbound on Clarendon Hills Road. With no time to stop, the bicyclist crashed into the school bus. 

A "left hook," where an oncoming motorist turns left in front of a bicyclist, is explicitly prohibited by Illinois law. Section 11-902 of the Illinois Rules of the Road requires a motorist making a left-hand turn to yield to oncoming traffic. A left turn may only be made when it is safe to do so. Simple logic dictates that anytime a collision occurs as a result of the "left hook," that was not a safe time for the motorist to make a turn. 

The injured bicyclist sustained a wrist injury in the crash that requires medical treatment as well as bruising and road rash. As significantly, she missed crucial weeks of training leading up to the 2015 competitive season. This lost time from doing life's regular activities is what is known under the law as "loss of a normal life." In the instance of this triathlete, her normal life was very different from the average person's normal life. This bicyclist's normal life involved daily training and intense physical activity. As a result, we were able to make a very persuasive argument to the insurance company for the school bus that this was a significant claim. Ultimately, this insurance settlement compensated the injured bicyclist for all of her medical bills, pain and suffering, and contributed to compensating her for her loss of a normal life. 

Keating Law Offices is the premiere personal injury law firm representing victims of bicycle accidents in Illinois. The firm is based in Chicago, Illinois and represents clients throughout Illinois. If you have any questions regarding this post or have a question regarding personal injury law, please contact Illinois Bicycle Attorney Mike Keating at 312-239-6787 (Office) or 312-208-7702 (Nights/Weekends). Our staff and operators are available around the clock. You can also email Mike@KeatingLegal.com 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All e-mails and phone calls are returned promptly. All initial consultations are confidential and free.

Police Seek Help In Finding Vehicle Involved in Hit-and-Run in Waukegan

 

Waukegan Police are asking for the public's help in locating a two-door green sedan that was involved in a fatal hit-and-run in Waukegan on Tuesday morning. The fatal bicycle accident took place at Washington Street and Martin Avenue in Waukegan around 8 a.m. in the morning.

The offender was caught on nearby security camera footage wearing a red jacket and fled eastbound on Washington Street. 54-year old Jack Henderson of Waukegan was killed in the fatal collision. Mr. Henderson was taken to Vista Medical Center after the collision where he was pronounced. The police are also asking for help in locating any next of kin to Mr. Henderson. Anyone with any information should contact the Waukegan Police at 312-599-2631.

This is another tragic example of a bicyclist who was not only a victim as a vulnerable user of the roadway, but left by the offender. Illinois law requires that any motorist who is involved in a collision involving personal injury or death to not only stay at the scene, but to take reasonable measures to assist the victim in obtaining medical assistance.

Illinois Bike Lawyers at Keating Law Offices Proud to Sponsor the Intelligentsia Cup

For the third year in a row, Keating Law Offices is sponsoring the Intelligentsia Cup Prairie State Cycling Series. The title sponsors of the event are Intelligentsia Coffee and SRAM. The 2015 Prairie State Cycling Series has three races in Chicago with stops on July 17th in Beverly, July 18th in South Shore and July 26th near Union Park on the near West Side. In addition, there are stops on July 19th in Willow Springs, July 23rd in Waukegan, July 24th in Elmhurst and July 25th in Lake Bluff.

The Prairie State Cycling Series is put together by the same team behind Tour of America's Dairyland (ToAD). 2015 is the third year for the Prairie State Cycling Series in Illinois. The goal of the promoters is that the PSCC would be a premiere event every July to complement the racing of ToAD every June. 

Regarding Keating Law Offices' sponsorship of the PSCC, attorney Michael Keating of Keating Law Offices said:

"The Illinois Bicycle Lawyers of Keating Law Offices are very pleased to sponsor the Prairie State Cycling Series. Taking part in events like this is an opportunity to give back to the bicycling community in Illinois and showcase bicycling as not just a recreational activity but a pro-level sport. This is the third straight series we have sponsored an it is incredibly rewarding to see this series continue to grow. As advocates of Illinois bicyclists, we are committed to promoting bicycling in Illinois, whether it be advocating for safer streets, fighting for our clients who were injured in a bike accident, or even supporting pro-level bicycling in Illinois. We look forward to the 2015 series."

Keating Law Offices is the premiere personal injury law firm representing victims of bicycle accidents in Illinois. The firm is based in Chicago, Illinois and represents clients throughout Illinois. If you have any questions regarding this post or have a question regarding personal injury law, please contact Illinois Bicycle Attorney Mike Keating at 312-208-7702 or Mike@KeatingLegal.com 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Happy Hour Returns To Illinois. Will The Streets Be Less Safe For Bicyclists?

Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner has signed into law new legislation that will return "Happy Hour" to Illinois. Prior to this change, bars and restaurants were prohibited from selling alcohol at a discount during a short time frame. "Happy Hour" was previously outlawed because of concerns that it promoted a "drink as much as you can while you can" mentality during the short time frame that then put intoxicated motorists on the roads in Illinois. 

The new law basically provides a few changes:

• Bars and restaurants may advertise "Happy Hours" for up to four hours a day or 15 hours a week;
• The bars and restaurants must post the "Happy Hour" specials a week in advance to prohibit "flash specials" to get patrons already in the establishment to drink more;
• The "Happy Hour" can't go past 10 p.m.;
• The "Happy Hour" can't promote "2 For 1" drinks specials or give away booze; 
• They also can't do "all you can drink" specials for a fixed price unless it is done as a private party. 

As an attorney who handles wrongful death cases involving drunk drivers and seeing first hand the toll these crimes take on families, we know the harm that comes from intoxicated motorists on the roadways. In 2013 Chicago saw the deaths of Hector Avalos and Bobby Cann in incidents where the drivers involved were allegedly intoxicated. (Disclaimer: Keating Law Offices represents the Estate of Hector Avalos in the civil case against the alleged drunk driver, his employer, and the establishment where he was allegedly drinking prior to the collision). In both of those cases, the drivers were allegedly drinking at establishments that sold alcohol immediately prior to the fatal collisions. 

The concern, of course, is that the idea of a "time limit" would create a mindset in people who have already had too many drinks to "drink as much as they can" while they can get a deal. Proponents of this legislation argue that this change helps Illinois remain competitive with tourism and helps businesses expand their marketing opportunities. But the risk on the opposite of more drinking causes great concern for vulnerable users of the roadway like bicyclists and pedestrians.

Here is a direct link to Senate Bill 398 which outlines all of the changes under Illinois law.

Keating Law Offices is the premiere personal injury law firm representing victims of bicycle accidents in Illinois. The firm is based in Chicago, Illinois and represents clients throughout Illinois. If you have any questions regarding this post or have a question regarding personal injury law, please contact Illinois Bicycle Attorney Mike Keating at 312-208-7702 or Mike@KeatingLegal.com 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All e-mails and phone calls are returned promptly. All initial consultations are confidential and free.

Illinois Bicyclist Killed In Alexander County - Driver Charged With Violation of the 3-Foot Rule

Illinois bicyclist Jarod Kyle Shumaker of Olive Branch, Illinois was killed Sunday night while on a bike ride on Route 3 in Alexander County. According to news reports, Shumaker was riding his bicycle northbound on Route 3 along the right side of the road when the driver of a Buick Century attempted to pass Shumaker. The driver of the Buick struck Shumaker with the passenger side mirror. This impact caused Shumaker to lose control and end in the path of a following Toyota Corolla that was driven behind the Buick. Shumaker was fatally injured in the collision with the Corolla after the initial collision with the Buick.

Illinois law requires motorists to provide at least three feet of room between their vehicle and a bicycle when passing the bicyclist. The "3-Foot Rule" comes from sub-paragraph (d) of Section 11-703 of the Illinois Rules of the Road. This law states:

(625 ILCS 5/11‑703) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11‑703) Sec. 11‑703. Overtaking a vehicle on the left. The following rules govern the overtaking and passing of vehicles proceeding in the same direction, subject to those limitations, exceptions, and special rules otherwise stated in this Chapter:(d) The operator of a motor vehicle overtaking a bicycle or individual proceeding in the same direction on a highway shall leave a safe distance, but not less than 3 feet, when passing the bicycle or individual and shall maintain that distance until safely past the overtaken bicycle or individual.

The driver of the Buick was cited by the police for improper overtaking of a bicyclist. There are no other reports of any additional charges at this time. Tragically, the "3-Foot Rule" law exists to attempt to stop this very kind of collision that resulted in the death of Jarod Shumaker. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Jarod Shumaker.

Below is an infographic from the Illinois bicycle attorneys at Keating Law Offices that outlines Illinois' bicycle law known as the "3-Foot Rule."

Bicycle Attorney Michael Keating of Keating Law Offices Presides Over National Meeting of Bicycle Lawyers

Attorney Michael S. Keating of Keating Law Offices, P.C. in Chicago recently attended the annual conference of the American Association for Justice. This year's conference took place over the past week in Montreal. At the convention, Mr. Keating led the meeting of the Bicycle Litigation Committee. The Bicycle Litigation Committee is made up of attorneys from around the United States who dedicate part of their practice to representing injured bicyclist. The committee exists to promote laws that create safer streets for bicyclists and to support the attorneys in their practices to prosecute cases on behalf of injured or wrongfully killed bicyclists. 

Attorney Keating has served as the Chair of the American Association for Justice’s Bicycle Litigation Committee since 2013. The American Association for Justice (AAJ), is also known as the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. AAJ is the world's largest trial bar and works to defend the right of accident victims.

Michael S. Keating is considered a national leader in the field of bicycle litigation. He currently handles numerous bicycle accident cases in courtrooms throughout Illinois including several high profile cases involving wrongful death and serious personal injuries. Keating Law Offices focuses its practice on representing victims of bicycle accidents and their families and is dedicated to the sole mission of obtaining justice on their behalf.

Keating Law Offices is the premiere personal injury law firm representing victims of bicycle accidents in Illinois. The firm is based in Chicago, Illinois and represents clients in wrongful death and personal injury cases throughout Illinois. If you have any questions regarding this post or have a question regarding personal injury law, please contact Illinois Bicycle Attorney Mike Keating at 312-208-7702 or Mike@KeatingLegal.com 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All e-mails and phone calls are returned promptly. All initial consultations are absolutely confidential and free. Please feel free to contact the firm at any time. We are committed to helping our clients.

United Airlines Employee Charged in Fatal Hit-and-Run of Bicyclist in Elk Grove Village

Police have arrested 54-year old Daniel Wehr of Morton Grove with a felony in the fatal hit-and-run of a bicyclist on Monday night. According to news reports, 25-year old Jose Gomez of Des Plaines was killed in the collision with the vehicle driven by Wehr. According to reports, Wehr was driving a United Airlines vehicle at the time of the crash near his work at a United Airlines facility.  

Wehr fled the scene but police were able to locate a license plate at the scene of the fatal crash. The license plate led police to a vehicle and the subsequent investigation led them to be able to identify it as the vehicle in the fatal bicycle crash. The vehicle, described as a large SUV, was owned by United Airlines and was located at a nearby United Airlines facility where Wehr worked as a maintenance worker. Wehr was arrested within hours of the fatal bicycle accident. 

Wehr apparently has claimed that he "didn't see" the bicyclist until the crash. Illinois law requires that all motorists "keep a proper lookout" for other vehicles on the roadway. Under Illinois law, a bicycle is a vehicle on the roadway. There are no reports, however, that detail how the collision on Algonquin Road occurred. Wehr could face additional legal charges as the investigation continues. Wehr has thus far only been charged with fleeing the scene of a fatal collision. Illinois law specifically provides that a motorist must not flee the scene of a collision. Section 11-401(a) of the Illinois Vehicle Code states: 

"The driver of any vehicle involved in a motor vehicle accident resulting in personal injury to or death of any person shall immediately stop such vehicle at the scene of such accident, or as close thereto as possible and shall then forthwith return to, and in every event shall remain at the scene of the accident until the requirements of Section 11-403 have been fulfilled."

Section 11-403 of the Illinois Motor Vehicle Code also states the law as to what a driver in a fatal bicycle crash must do: 

"The driver of any vehicle involved in a motor vehicle accident resulting in injury to or death of any person or damage to any vehicle which is driven or attended by any person shall give the driver’s name, address, registration number and owner of the vehicle the driver is operating and shall upon request and if available exhibit such driver’s license to the person struck or the driver or occupant of or person attending any vehicle collided with an shall render to any person injured in such accident reasonable assistance, including the carrying or the making of arrangements for the carrying of such person to the physician, surgeon or hospital for medical or surgical treatment, if it is apparent that such treatment is necessary or if such carrying is requested by the injured person."

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Jose Gomez. 

Keating Law Offices is the premiere personal injury law firm representing victims of bicycle accidents in Illinois. Attorney Michael S. Keating is the Chair of the national trial lawyers association's bicycle litigation committee. The firm is based in Chicago, Illinois and represents clients throughout Illinois. If you have any questions regarding this post or have a question regarding personal injury law, please contact Illinois Bicycle Attorney Michael S. Keating at 312-208-7702 or Mike@KeatingLegal.com 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All e-mails and phone calls are returned promptly. All initial consultations are confidential and free.