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Berwyn Bicycle Accident Lawyer

If you ride your bike through Berwyn, you know the streets can get busy fast. Whether you’re pedaling down Ogden Avenue, crossing near Proksa Park, or cutting through a neighborhood on your way to the Metra station, you share the road with drivers who don’t always pay attention. When a crash happens, the injuries can be serious, and the legal questions can be just as overwhelming. That’s where Briskman Briskman & Greenberg comes in. We help injured cyclists in Berwyn and across the Chicago area get the compensation they deserve under Illinois law.

Bicycle Accidents in Berwyn and the Chicago Area
Your Rights Under Illinois Law After a Bike Accident
Illinois Laws That Affect Your Bicycle Accident Claim
What to Do After a Bicycle Accident in Berwyn
Compensation You Can Recover in a Berwyn Bicycle Accident Case
FAQs About Berwyn Bicycle Accident Claims

Bicycle Accidents in Berwyn and the Chicago Area

Berwyn sits just west of Chicago along the Eisenhower Expressway (I-290) corridor, sandwiched between Cicero and Oak Park. It’s a dense, walkable suburb where many residents rely on bikes for short trips and daily commutes. That mix of foot traffic, car traffic, and cyclists creates real risks on streets like Cermak Road, Roosevelt Road, and Harlem Avenue.

According to data reported by IDOT, the number of fatal bicycle crashes in Illinois increased from 12 in 2019 to 41 in 2023, and preliminary data from 2024 notes that 35 bicyclists died on Illinois roads. Those numbers reflect a real and growing danger for people on bikes throughout the state, including communities like Berwyn.

Under Illinois law, bicyclists riding on a highway are granted all of the rights, including right-of-way protections, and are subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle, with certain exceptions. That means if a driver hits you while you’re riding lawfully, you have legal rights. You can pursue compensation for your injuries, your medical bills, your lost wages, and more.

Common causes of bicycle accidents in the Berwyn and Chicago area include distracted driving, failure to yield, speeding, and “dooring,” which happens when a driver opens a car door directly into a cyclist’s path. Any of these situations can send a cyclist to the emergency room. If you were hurt because a driver was careless, you should not have to pay for that out of your own pocket. Contact Briskman Briskman & Greenberg to find out what your case may be worth.

Your Rights Under Illinois Law After a Bike Accident

Illinois law gives cyclists strong protections on the road. Knowing those rights matters when you’re dealing with insurance companies and trying to recover from an injury.

A motorist shall not, in a reckless manner, drive unnecessarily close to, toward, or near a bicyclist. Depending on whether great bodily harm results, this is a Class A misdemeanor or a Class 3 Felony. That’s a serious criminal consequence for drivers who endanger cyclists.

Drivers are required to pass people on bicycles with at least 3 feet of space and at a slow speed. Many drivers in Berwyn and throughout Cook County violate this rule, especially on high-traffic roads near commercial areas. When a driver passes too close and clips a cyclist, the results can be catastrophic.

Drivers are prohibited from crowding or threatening people who are biking on the roadway. Drivers are also prohibited from stopping or parking in a designated bike lane. These protections exist to keep you safe, and when a driver ignores them, they may be held liable for any injuries that result.

Illinois also follows a modified comparative fault rule. That means you can still recover damages even if you were partly at fault for the crash, as long as you were not more than 50% responsible. A skilled Chicago bike accident lawyer from Briskman Briskman & Greenberg can help you build a strong case and protect your rights from the very start.

Illinois Laws That Affect Your Bicycle Accident Claim

Several specific Illinois statutes directly shape what happens after a bicycle accident. Understanding them helps you make smarter decisions about your case.

First, there’s the statute of limitations. Under 735 ILCS 5/13-202, you generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit in Illinois. Miss that window and you likely lose your right to sue. Two years sounds like a long time, but it goes fast, especially when you’re focused on recovering from your injuries. Don’t wait to speak with an attorney.

Second, Illinois has a joint and several liability rule under 735 ILCS 5/2-1117. This law says that all defendants found liable are jointly and severally liable for a plaintiff’s past and future medical and medically related expenses. If one defendant’s fault is 25% or greater of the total fault, they are jointly and severally liable for all other damages too. This matters in bicycle accident cases where more than one party, such as a driver and a municipality with a defective road, may share responsibility for your injuries.

Third, if your bike was damaged in the crash, under 735 ILCS 5/13-205, you have five years to file a claim for property damage. That’s a longer window, but acting quickly is still important so evidence doesn’t disappear.

Finally, under 625 ILCS 5/11-401, a driver involved in a crash that causes personal injury must immediately stop at the scene. Leaving the scene is a serious felony in Illinois. If the driver who hit you fled, that is a crime, and it strengthens your case. A bicycle accident attorney at Briskman Briskman & Greenberg knows how to handle hit-and-run situations and pursue every available avenue for compensation.

What to Do After a Bicycle Accident in Berwyn

The steps you take right after a bike accident can make or break your case. Here’s what you should do if you’re ever hit while riding in Berwyn or the surrounding Chicago area.

Call 911 right away. Get police and medical help to the scene. A police report creates an official record of what happened. If you’re near landmarks like MacNeal Hospital or the Berwyn Police Department on Oak Park Avenue, emergency responders can reach you quickly. Do not refuse medical attention, even if you feel okay. Adrenaline can mask pain, and some injuries, like internal bleeding or a concussion, don’t show up immediately.

If you can, take photos. Photograph the scene, the vehicles involved, your bike, your injuries, and any road conditions that may have contributed to the crash. Skid marks, potholes, missing signage, and broken bike lane markings are all relevant. Get the driver’s name, insurance information, and license plate number. Collect contact information from any witnesses.

Do not give a recorded statement to the at-fault driver’s insurance company. Insurance adjusters are trained to minimize payouts. What you say can be used against you. Contact Briskman Briskman & Greenberg before you speak with any insurer. We handle all communication with insurance companies on your behalf so you can focus on healing.

Keep records of everything. Save all medical bills, prescription receipts, and documentation of missed work. These records form the foundation of your damages claim. The more thorough your records, the stronger your case will be.

Compensation You Can Recover in a Berwyn Bicycle Accident Case

If you were injured in a bicycle accident in Berwyn, you may be entitled to significant financial compensation. Illinois personal injury law allows injured cyclists to recover for a wide range of losses.

Medical expenses are usually the largest part of a bicycle accident claim. This includes emergency room visits, surgeries, hospital stays, physical therapy, prescription medications, and any future medical care you’ll need because of the crash. If your injuries require long-term treatment, those future costs are part of your claim.

You can also recover lost wages. If your injuries kept you out of work, you deserve to be compensated for every paycheck you missed. If your injuries affect your ability to work in the future, you may also recover damages for diminished earning capacity.

Pain and suffering damages are also available. Bicycle accidents can cause broken bones, spinal injuries, traumatic brain injuries, road rash, and emotional trauma. These non-economic damages can be substantial, especially when the injuries are severe or permanent.

In cases where a driver’s conduct was especially reckless, such as drunk driving near Berwyn’s Depot District or speeding through a school zone on 26th Street, Illinois courts may award punitive damages on top of compensatory damages. These are meant to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar conduct in the future.

If your loved one died in a bicycle accident, the Illinois Wrongful Death Act (740 ILCS 180) may allow surviving family members to pursue a wrongful death claim. Under that law, a beneficiary whose own fault contributed more than 50% to the wrongful death is barred from recovering. For everyone else, compensation for dependency, grief, and financial loss may be available. Briskman Briskman & Greenberg handles wrongful death cases with the care and attention they deserve.

As a Chicago personal injury lawyer firm with deep roots in the Chicago area, Briskman Briskman & Greenberg fights hard to maximize every dollar of compensation our clients are entitled to. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless we recover for you. Call us today for a free consultation and let us start working on your case.

FAQs About Berwyn Bicycle Accident Claims

How long do I have to file a bicycle accident lawsuit in Illinois?

Under 735 ILCS 5/13-202, you generally have two years from the date of your accident to file a personal injury lawsuit in Illinois. If you miss this deadline, you will likely lose your right to seek compensation entirely. It’s best to contact an attorney as soon as possible after your accident so evidence can be preserved and your claim can be built properly from the start.

Can I still recover damages if I was partly at fault for the bicycle accident?

Yes, in many cases. Illinois follows a modified comparative fault rule. You can still recover compensation as long as your share of the fault is 50% or less. However, your total damages will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you were found 20% at fault and your damages total $100,000, you would recover $80,000. An attorney can help you fight back against attempts by insurance companies to unfairly assign you a higher share of blame.

What if the driver who hit me fled the scene?

Hit-and-run accidents are unfortunately not uncommon in the Chicago area. Under Illinois law (625 ILCS 5/11-401), a driver who leaves the scene of a crash involving injury commits a serious felony. Even if the driver is never found, you may still be able to recover compensation through your own uninsured motorist coverage. An attorney can help you explore all available options for recovery in a hit-and-run situation.

What kinds of injuries do bicycle accident victims commonly suffer?

Bicycle accidents can cause a wide range of injuries, from minor scrapes to life-altering trauma. Common injuries include broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, road rash, internal bleeding, and torn ligaments. Because cyclists have no protective shell around them the way car occupants do, even a low-speed collision can cause serious harm. Seeking immediate medical attention after any crash is critical, both for your health and for your legal claim.

Does Briskman Briskman & Greenberg handle bicycle accident cases outside of Chicago proper?

Yes. Briskman Briskman & Greenberg represents injured cyclists throughout the Chicago metropolitan area, including Berwyn, Cicero, Oak Park, and other Cook County communities. Our team is familiar with the local roads, courts, and conditions that affect bicycle accident cases in the western suburbs. We handle cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning there is no fee unless we recover compensation for you. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation.

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Briskman Briskman & Greenberg Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers (BBG) is a legal team you want on your side.

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I cannot say enough good things about the attorneys at Briskman Briskman & Greenberg Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers.

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