Chicago Accident and Injury Lawyer Blog

It won’t be long before we roll back the clocks and roll up the windows. With earlier nightfall comes an increased risk for bicycling accidents in the Chicagoland area. As an attorney in the Chicagoland area with experience in pedestrian and bicycle accident cases, I have seen individuals become victims due to darker road conditions. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that nearly one-third of all cycling fatalities during a ten-year time-frame of 1991-2001 occurred between the hours of 4:00pm and 8:00pm. In 1999 alone, 39% of bicycle deaths nationwide occurred between 6pm and midnight. This statistic is linked not only to less visibility at nighttime, but also to alcohol. In fact, in 2001, the NHTSA reports that alcohol was involved in more than one-third of the traffic crashes that resulted in cyclist fatalities. What does this mean for you as a cyclist? Perhaps, more importantly, what does this mean for you as a motorist?

As a cyclist, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recommends the following precautions:

• Be sure your bike has reflectors required on all new bicycles by the CPSC bicycle regulation. This includes front and rear reflectors, pedal reflectors and side rim or wheel reflectors. You may even want to consider front and rear lights to help make your bicycle more noticeable to drivers at night. • Wear reflective clothing, such as reflective bands on your arms and legs, to make yourself more visible to drivers. • Always wear a helmet with a rigid (but crushable) interior material which may help absorb the force of an impact. • Never allow your children to ride at night. • Avoid riding on dark, narrow roadways where the posted speed limit is more than 35mph.

As a motorist, always remember that cyclists have an equal right to the road. The more motorists know about cycling safety, the safer the streets will be for everyone. Bicycling Info.org offers the following tips to motorists:

• Learn to look for cyclists in traffic just as you would check for cars, especially when changing lanes or proceeding through an intersection. • Anticipate cyclists at night and learn how to detect them. Wait until traffic conditions are clear and safe enough to comfortably pass a cyclist, allowing at least 3 feet between the vehicle and the bicycle.

For more information on cycling safely in the city, visit www.biketraffic.org.