Bike Safety and Illinois Biking Laws: Briskman Briskman & Greenberg Sponsors the Northbrook Grand Prix

Briskman Briskman & Greenberg is sponsoring the Northbrook Grand Prix on Thursday, July 23, one of ten criterium races the Chicago Grit Series packs into ten days across Chicagoland. Competitive cyclists, recreational riders, and spectators will gather in Northbrook to watch racers attack a closed-course circuit with barriers, marshals, and not a single car in sight.

Our Chicago bicycle accident lawyer has represented injured riders for decades. The firm’s own review of city crash records found that bicycle involvement in Chicago bike crashes rose 29.2% this May compared with a year earlier, and 54.1% since 2023, even as total crashes fell.

Chicago and Illinois Biking Laws Every Cyclist Should Know

Traffic laws do double duty in an injury case. They keep riders safe and determine who pays when a serious bike collision occurs.

• E-Bike and Micro-Mobility Safety Rules in Northbrook

Illinois municipalities may layer additional e-bike and micro-mobility rules on top of state law, and riders in suburbs like Northbrook should check local ordinances. Village ordinances cover where each device class can operate, which paths and sidewalks are off-limits, and what equipment each vehicle type requires. Class 3 models reach 28 miles per hour under assist, quick enough that a crash carries consequences closer to a motorcycle wreck than a spill off a beach cruiser.

• How Chicago Bike Rules Shape a Personal Injury Claim

Every one of those ordinances can surface later in a claim. A driver’s insurer will comb through the rulebook in search of any violation to pin on the rider, then argue comparative fault to shrink what it owes. 

• What does Modified Comparative Negligence Mean?

Illinois follows modified comparative negligence, so a rider found more than 50% responsible for their own injury is barred from recovering any damages; a rider found at exactly 50% or less at fault may still recover, but their award is reduced in proportion to their share of fault. Compliance closes that door before it opens.

• Illinois Biking Laws: Why They Can Work in Your Favor

An attorney who handles bicycle crashes can flip those rules the other way. A driver’s failure to yield, an unsafe passing distance, or a rolled stop sign becomes the backbone of your liability case, shifting full responsibility for the harm where it belongs. Documented violations by the motorist carry the same weight in court that alleged violations by a rider do, and a thorough investigation makes sure yours get documented.

• Bike Accidents Beyond Chicago: Evanston and Illinois Claims

Not every case starts on a Chicago street. Our firm also represents injured riders in Evanston and other Chicagoland suburbs, and the same Illinois traffic code and modified comparative negligence rule applies wherever the crash happens. Whether you’re searching for a Chicago bike accident lawyer or an Illinois bike accident attorney closer to home, the same standard applies: document the violation, preserve the evidence, and hold the at-fault driver accountable.

What Kinds of Bike Crashes Lead to Injury Claims?

A short list of collision patterns produces most of the cases we see, and each one carries its own liability questions:

• Doorings. A parked driver swings a door into the bike lane with no time for the rider to react. Illinois law prohibits opening a vehicle door on the traffic side until it is reasonably safe to do so and it will not interfere with moving traffic, per 625 ILCS 5/11-1407.
• Rear-end impacts. Rear-end bicycle accidents cluster where traffic backs up suddenly, and a driver never registers the rider ahead.
• Bike lane intrusions. Vehicles merging, parking, or idling in marked lanes force riders into traffic. Chicago’s bike lane laws exist because of exactly these conflicts.
• Left crosses and right hooks. Turning drivers misjudge a cyclist’s speed at intersections, which is the single most common crash setting.
• E-bike collisions. Heavier frames and higher speeds change both injuries and insurance questions. Our bike accident attorney has broken down how these claims differ from standard bicycle cases.
• Trail and path crashes. From the lakefront trails to suburban routes, crowded mixed-use paths at crossings lead to collisions with pedestrians, other riders, and vehicles.

Fault in every one of these turns on evidence gathered early, a theme that runs through the rest of this page.

How Many Cyclists Are Injured in Chicago Bike Accidents Each Year?

Fatal crashes involving bicyclists on Illinois roads climbed from 12 in 2019 to 41 in 2023, per IDOT figures compiled by Ride Illinois.

• Preliminary counts put 2024 at 35 riders killed. 
• Four years later, the annual toll hit 41, and preliminary counts put 2024 at 35 deaths, per IDOT figures compiled by Ride Illinois.
• Zoom out, and the picture stays grim. 
• Nationwide, 1,110 riders were killed in traffic crashes during 2024, a 31% increase since 2019.

Illinois has averaged 30 cyclist deaths a year since 2018. None of those figures count the far larger group of riders who survive with broken bones, road rash, and head injuries that follow them for years. July lands square in the middle of peak riding season, too, so the racing calendar and the crash statistics overlap in an uncomfortable way.

Bike Safety Checklist: The First 24 Hours After a Crash

According to the firm, bicycle injury cases often turn on what happens in the hours immediately after a collision. Cases get won or lost on details that seem small at the time, and a handful of proof categories tend to decide these claims:

• The bike. A bent fork tells a story. Frame damage and impact points can back up a rider’s account or expose holes in a driver’s.
• Vehicle data. Most newer cars record speed, braking, and steering inputs right up to the moment of impact.
• The road itself. Potholes get patched. Paint fades. Sightline obstructions come and go with the seasons, so photos taken that week preserve what a jury will need to see later.
• People. Witnesses scatter fast, and memories go soft. Names and phone numbers collected at the scene keep the record honest.

At Briskman Briskman & Greenberg, we have handled numerous bicycle crash cases and know how quickly an insurance carrier may dispute liability for its insured, particularly in crashes involving multiple vehicles, conflicting accounts, or claims that the cyclist contributed to the collision. 

Defense lawyers tend to reach for a familiar script here. The rider wasn’t visible. Speed gets blamed next, followed by an alleged failure to keep a proper lookout. Preserved evidence shuts those arguments down before they gain traction, and prompt investigation is what preserves it.

What Is the Northbrook Grand Prix?

The Northbrook Grand Prix is an exciting criterium race held on a short, closed loop, allowing spectators to easily follow the action as cyclists pass the same corners every minute. This event is part of a ten-stop series that transforms mid-July into a lively celebration of cycling in the Chicagoland area, drawing families and fans who create an enthusiastic atmosphere while local businesses thrive.

Briskman Briskman & Greenberg is proud to sponsor the Northbrook Grand Prix. Managing member Paul A. Greenberg states, “Having worked closely with cyclists and their families following serious accidents, we understand the real impact when a routine ride becomes a crisis.” Supporting this event allows us to stand with the cycling community in a context that celebrates the sport and highlights the importance of safety and accountability on the road.

Our involvement is about more than race day; it’s a commitment to fostering conversations to make local streets safer for cyclists and drivers in Northbrook and beyond. By promoting safe biking practices, we aim to contribute to a culture that prioritizes safety for everyone on the road.

Talk to a Chicago Bicycle Accident Lawyer Near You Today

Come out to Northbrook on the 23rd, ring a cowbell, and cheer for a sport that has earned safer streets. Briskman Briskman & Greenberg, located at 205 W Randolph St., as well as in Northfield and Joliet, serves its clients as individuals rather than just another case file. 

If you or a loved one has suffered injuries in a crash, contact Briskman Briskman & Greenberg at (312) 222-0010 for a free consultation. We are focused on understanding our clients’ stories while preparing a compelling case for financial recovery. 

*Disclaimer: This blog is for informational and educational purposes only. Past case results do not mean that future case results will be the same, and results are not guaranteed.