As fuel prices continue to soar in the various cities all over the world, people have incentives to explore other modes of transportation. Many use scooters, mopeds, or bicycles, all of which are cost-effective and clean forms of getting around from place to place. In fact, bicycles can transform the way transportation is affected in major cities, such as New York City, New York, Chicago, Illinois, and Los Angeles, California.
This article will focus on such transformation in Chicago and what a bicyclist in the city can do if he or she is injured after a bicycle accident.
How Bicycles Transform Transportation in Cities
The increased usage of bicycles, scooters, or mopeds in a city can be enhanced by a city's traffic engineering department modifying the streets towards walkers and cyclists. This would include but not be limited to increasing the width of the bicycle lanes, making travel by bicycle safer for the cyclist. There will also be a lesser opportunity for injuries to cyclists because of automobiles and the bicycles coming into contact with each other. Modifying the traffic signals to coordinate with more time for bicycles will also help.
Reasons Bicyclists Are Involved in an Accident
Bicycling is not just for recreation anymore in the United States, as many people are making it their choice to commute to work by bicycle or go to other places. Subsequently, the opportunities for more accidents are likely, and in Chicago, Illinois, the bicyclist will want to know how to approach the accident from a legal standpoint. Many of these accidents occur because motorists fail to remember that cyclists have the right to share the road with them. Others happen because of drunk drivers or otherwise reckless drivers.
What Cyclists Need to Know Legally About Accidents
Cyclists in Illinois generally have two years after the accident occurs to file a personal injury lawsuit in an Illinois civil court, otherwise, their case may not be heard. When it comes to being awarded damages, there are two types the cyclist can get: economic damages and non-economic damages. The first type refers to compensation for loss of wages, medical bills, and damage to the bicycle. The other type refers to pain and suffering or emotional suffering because of the accident.
More Things to Know About Bicycle Accident Lawsuits in Illinois
The bicyclist should also keep in mind the comparative fault rule that Illinois uses, which means that if the bicyclist can be found to be partially at fault for the accident, any percentage he or she is found at fault will be reduced from any damages received. However, if the bicyclist is found to be 50 percent or more at fault, no damages will be awarded. It is essential that a bicyclist gets a competent attorney to represent him or her in the case.
Final Thoughts About Bicycling and Bicycling Accidents
It is certain that bicycles will only continue to get more popular as people are paying attention to the cost of fuel, simultaneously looking for ways to improve their health. Bicycling takes care of the need for both saving money and improving health, which also means, however, that the chances of being involved in accidents will also increase. Many attorneys are in Chicago, Illinois who will advise bicycling clients on what to do after they are involved in accidents in the city.
