A Chicago bicyclist who was doored on North Milwaukee Avenue in April of 2015 has received a $60,000.00 settlement from the insurance company for the driver that caused her injuries. The dooring occurred as the bicyclist was riding north on North Milwaukee Avenue towards its intersection with West Haddon Avenue in West Town. At the same time the driver had just parked her vehicle on Milwaukee Avenue. Without looking, the motorist unfortunately made the regrettable decision to swing her driver’s door open into the designated bike lane on Milwaukee Avenue where the bicyclist was unable to avoid the collision.
Chicago Bicycle Laws Outlaw Doorings
"No person shall open the door of a vehicle on the side available to moving traffic unless and until it is reasonably safe to do so, and can be done without interfering with the movement of other traffic, nor shall any person leave a door open on the side of a vehicle available to moving traffic for a period of time longer than necessary to load or unload passengers."
Common Injuries In Bicycle Crashes
As with almost all doorings, this one could have been avoided had the driver simply checked over her shoulder and her mirror and looked for bicycles that could be expected down the dedicated bike lane. This seemingly simple failure resulted in a serious injury to a young professional who ended up with a broken collarbone, a pile of medical bills and missed time from work. This insurance settlement for the bicycle accident will fairly compensates the bicyclist for her medical bills and missed time from work and also compensates her for the pain and suffering she went through while recovering from her injuries. Fortunately the bicyclist did not have to undergo surgery for her fractured collarbone and healed with rest and some physical therapy. Due to this she will be able to use most of her settlement towards getting back to her life and putting this event behind her.
Bicycle Accident Lawyers
If you have been injured in a bicycle accident, it is important that your get as much information as possible right away regarding your legal options. 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.
