Key Takeaways
- Bicycle crashes in Joliet frequently occur when drivers fail to share the road, pass too closely, or drive while distracted.
- Bicycle accident injuries often include both physical trauma and long-term psychological effects such as anxiety or post-traumatic stress.
- A personal injury claim may include compensation for property damage, lost earning capacity, and long-term care needs in addition to medical costs.
As every cyclist knows, there’s nothing better than hopping on a bike to enjoy exercise and fresh air. Joliet offers plenty of great spots for riding, from Hadley Valley to Rock Run Preserve. But even in these beautiful areas, cyclists face real risks. Many so-called “accidents” are actually preventable, often caused by drivers failing to exercise proper caution or obey traffic laws.
When a crash does occur, it can result in serious injuries, long-term pain, and significant medical bills or lost wages. If you’ve been hit while riding, the Joliet bicycle accident attorneys at Power Rogers can help you pursue compensation for these and other damages through a personal injury claim.
Do You Need a Lawyer After a Bicycle Accident in Joliet?
After a bicycle accident, reaching out to a lawyer can feel like an extra step during an already stressful time. But handling insurance companies on your own can be even more overwhelming. Insurers often downplay injuries, delay payments, or try to limit your compensation, leaving you with medical bills or lost wages. A bicycle accident lawyer steps in to manage communications, gather evidence, prove liability, and negotiate with insurers, making sure you have the best chance at a fair recovery without adding to your stress.
How Our Bicycle Accident Attorneys Can Help
If you’ve been injured in a bicycle accident in Joliet, every moment counts. At Power Rogers, we have represented injured cyclists and other accident victims in Joliet and the surrounding communities since 1993. Over the years, we have helped our clients secure more than $6 billion in verdicts and settlements, using our experience and resources to fight for every dollar they deserve.
We handle every part of your bicycle accident case so you can focus on your recovery. Our experienced personal injury attorneys can investigate how your accident happened, preserve critical evidence, work with medical and accident reconstruction experts, and calculate the full extent of your damages. We communicate and negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf and are fully prepared to take your case to trial if insurers refuse to offer fair compensation.
What Causes Bicycle Accidents in Joliet?
In most cases, bicycle-vehicle collisions can be traced back to driver negligence, whether from an unwillingness to share the road or simply not paying attention. Some of the most common causes of bicycle accidents in Joliet include:
- Reckless driving, such as speeding or driving under the influence, which can prevent the driver from slowing down in time and increase the likelihood of severe injuries
- Passing too closely or attempting to overtake cyclists in narrow lanes
- Distracted driving, such as texting or adjusting GPS systems
- Not watching for oncoming bike traffic when opening car doors
- Failing to yield
However, not every bicycle accident in Joliet is caused solely by a driver. Potholes, poorly maintained streets, and defective bike or vehicle parts can all contribute to a crash and make injuries far worse. An experienced bicycle accident lawyer can thoroughly investigate the accident, piece together how it happened, and identify every party that may be responsible.
What Are the Most Common Injuries in Bike Accidents?
Because bicycles offer very little protection to the rider, getting struck by a vehicle, even at low speeds, can result in serious injuries. The most common types of bike accident injuries that our firm sees include:
- Concussions and traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones, torn ligaments, and fractures
- Internal bleeding and organ injuries
- Paralysis and coma
- Road rash
Bicycle accidents can also leave lasting emotional and psychological scars. Many injured bicycle riders experience anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, or fear of getting back on a bike. These mental and emotional injuries can affect daily life, work, and personal relationships, and they are just as real as physical harm. Recognizing these impacts is important because they are also considered when pursuing compensation for your accident.
Because bicycles provide little protection, even low-speed collisions with vehicles can cause severe and lasting injuries.
What Damages Can Bike Accident Victims Pursue?
Medical bills are often the first expense that bicycle accident victims think about when it comes to filing a claim, but other damages may also be available. In addition to current and future medical expenses, our bike accident attorneys help victims pursue compensation for:
- Lost wages, if they were unable to work while recovering from their injuries
- Lost earning potential, if it is determined that they cannot work in the same capacity as before the accident
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage, such as the cost of repairs to their bicycle and safety equipment
- In cases involving serious accidents, the cost of assistive devices, such as wheelchairs and crutches, as well as long-term care
Tragically, many bicycle accidents result in fatalities. If your loved one was involved in a fatal bicycle accident, you may be eligible to file a wrongful death claim and recover compensation for funeral and burial expenses as well as other damages.
How Does a Bicycle Accident Claim Work?
At Power Rogers, we start with a free consultation to review your accident, assess the full scope of your injuries, and explain your legal options in plain terms.
Once you retain us, our attorneys launch a thorough investigation. We collect police reports and medical records, interview witnesses, reconstruct the accident when necessary, and consult experts to document the cause and extent of your injuries. We also calculate all damages you may be entitled to, from the cost of your medical treatment to lost income and pain and suffering.
With a complete case built, we present our findings to the at-fault party’s insurance company and negotiate aggressively for a fair settlement. If the insurer refuses to offer appropriate compensation, we are fully prepared to file a bicycle accident lawsuit and take your case to court. Throughout the legal process, our team keeps you informed, manages deadlines, and ensures every aspect of your case is handled with precision and care.
Steps to Take After a Joliet Bike Crash
Being involved in a bicycle accident can be stressful and disorienting, but taking the right actions right away can protect your safety and your legal rights.
- Call 911 if you require emergency medical intervention. If not, call the Joliet Police Department’s traffic line at 815-724-3010 and seek medical attention later on, but as soon as possible.
- If safe to do so, collect as much evidence from the accident scene as you can. Take pictures of your bike, the other vehicle, and the surrounding area. Take down contact and insurance information from the driver, as well as any eyewitnesses.
- Answer questions from the responding officer truthfully, but do not offer unrequested, detailed information to them or insurance, and do not post about the incident online.
- Contact a lawyer as soon as you are able to do so.
Joliet Bicycle Accident Lawyer: FAQs
How much does it cost to work with a Joliet bicycle accident law firm?
At Power Rogers, we offer our legal services based on contingency, which means that you pay nothing unless we secure compensation for you. If we are successful, our fees are taken as a percentage of your total settlement amount.
Can I file a bicycle accident claim if I wasn’t wearing a helmet?
Yes. While your lack of helmet use may be examined when determining how much you may be owed, it typically will not exclude you entirely from receiving damages.
What happens if I am partially at fault for the accident?
You may still be eligible to receive compensation for your injuries. Illinois follows a modified comparative negligence rule, which means that as long as you are found less than 50% at fault, you can recover damages. If you are partially responsible, your settlement will be reduced by your percentage of liability. For example, if you are found 40% at fault, you would receive 60% of the total damages. Working with a lawyer helps ensure that your share of responsibility is fairly determined and that you are not assigned more blame than the evidence actually supports.
Get in Touch With a Joliet Bicycle Accident Lawyer at Power Rogers Today
Regardless of how your bicycle accident happened or who may have been involved, the bottom line is that you don’t have to face it alone. If you or a loved one was injured by a negligent driver, we encourage you to contact Power Rogers today for a free consultation. Our bicycle accident attorneys have decades of experience in handling the nuances of these challenging and devastating cases, and are committed to pursuing maximum compensation for your losses.
