Were you injured in a bicycle accident in Waukegan, IL?
At Kass & Moses Personal Injury Lawyers, we provide recognized bicycle accident representation for injured clients throughout Waukegan.
If you were hit while riding a bicycle in Waukegan, our Waukegan, IL bicycle accident lawyer can reconstruct how the driver failed to account for you, whether through a right turn across your path, an opened car door, or an unsafe pass, and pursue compensation for your injuries. We gather the physical evidence, witness accounts, and video that show where you were riding and what the driver should have seen.
Kass & Moses Personal Injury Lawyers was founded by attorneys who ride bicycles themselves and have represented injured cyclists for decades. You will get an honest evaluation of whether the evidence supports a claim. Book a free consultation with our office.
Bicycle Accident Lawyer Waukegan, IL
A bicycle accident lawyer represents cyclists injured by negligent drivers, unsafe road conditions, and defective equipment. Most of these cases involve a motor vehicle, and most depend on a single question: where was the cyclist, and why did the driver fail to see or yield? Cyclists and families in Waukegan, IL often contact a bicycle accident lawyer when the driver’s insurer disputes where the rider was positioned.
IDOT’s 2022 Waukegan crash summary records nine bicyclist crashes, and every one resulted in injury, according to IDOT city crash data. Nationally, nearly 1,000 bicyclists die each year in crashes involving a motor vehicle, according to CDC bicycle safety data. A bicycle accident attorney in Waukegan, IL treats each of these claims as a serious injury case from the start.
Types of Bicycle Accident Cases We Handle in Waukegan
Bicycle crashes follow recognizable patterns, and each pattern points to a specific driver error. Our Waukegan bicycle accident lawyer represents riders in each of these situations.
- Trail crossing collisions. The Robert McClory Bike Path crosses several busy Waukegan roads, and Lake County has scheduled crossing improvements at Belvidere Road, Grand Avenue, and Golf Road. We examine signage, sight lines, and driver speed at these crossings.
- Car accidents. Drivers pulling out of driveways and parking lots often look left for oncoming cars but don’t look right for an approaching cyclist. These crashes are common along commercial corridors with frequent business entrances.
- Construction accidents. Work zones can close bike lanes, leave steel plates and loose gravel in the road, and force cyclists into traffic lanes. The contractor responsible for the work zone may share fault when detours or warnings were inadequate.
- Catastrophic injuries. A cyclist thrown from the bike can suffer spinal cord damage, severe brain trauma, or injuries that require amputation. These claims require a projection of lifetime medical care and lost earning capacity.
- Rideshare accidents. Rideshare drivers who stop abruptly or let passengers out into a bike lane create serious hazards for riders. We determine whether the driver was logged into the app at the time of the crash.
- Truck accidents. Delivery and box trucks making right turns can trap a cyclist against the curb. These cases involve the trucking company and its records.
- Wrongful death. Families who lose a cyclist may pursue the driver and any other party whose negligence caused the death.
Why Choose Kass & Moses Personal Injury Lawyers as My Bicycle Accident Lawyer in Waukegan, IL?
Founders With Firsthand Cycling Experience
Andrew Kass is an avid cyclist and a League Cycling Instructor certified to teach the League of American Bicyclists’ Smart Cycling program. He has spent more than 30 years representing accident victims, particularly bicyclists and motorcyclists, and he earned his undergraduate degree at Syracuse University. Joel Moses, who rides two e-bikes, has practiced personal injury law for more than 34 years and represents people injured in bicycle, motorcycle, and auto accidents. He studied economics at Michigan State University. Andrew also received a 2024 Elite Lawyer recognition for brain injury work, an injury common among cyclists struck by vehicles. Both founders earned their law degrees at the University of Illinois Chicago in 1991.
Cyclists across Lake County turn to us when they need a personal injury lawyer in Waukegan, IL who understands how bicycle crashes happen.
Recoveries for Injured Cyclists
The firm has recovered more than $125 million for injured clients and is recognized by The National Trial Lawyers. Bicycle accident results include:
- $100,000 in a bicycle crash claim
- $90,000 for an injured rider
- $64,500 in a cycling injury case
Understanding Bicycle Accident Cases
What Is the Bicycle Accident Case Timeline?
The length of a bicycle claim depends largely on how long medical treatment lasts. A Waukegan bicycle accident attorney keeps the claim moving while you focus on recovery. A typical case moves through these stages:
- Medical care. Concussions can cause a delayed headache that appears hours or days after the crash, so prompt evaluation matters.
- Evidence collection. We preserve the bicycle, your helmet, and your clothing, and we request any video before it is deleted. Riders who are hit by a car should also keep photographs of the vehicle and the driver’s insurance card.
- Investigation. We review the crash report, interview witnesses, and examine the scene for sight lines and lane markings.
- Demand and negotiation. Once treatment has progressed, we present the claim to the driver’s insurer and any other available coverage.
- Litigation. Cases that do not settle proceed to a lawsuit, and we prepare each one as if it will be tried.
What Are Important Aspects of a Bicycle Accident Case?
Several issues determine how much a cyclist recovers.
- Fault disputes. Insurers frequently argue that the cyclist was riding unpredictably or outside the bike lane. Those arguments are common in dooring and right-hook claims, where cyclist rights and the physical evidence usually favor the rider.
- Insurance coverage. Your own auto policy may provide coverage even though you were on a bicycle, including hit-and-run coverage when the driver cannot be identified.
- Helmet and equipment. A damaged helmet is evidence of the forces involved in the crash. Riders also ask whether they should replace the helmet, and we recommend keeping the original until the claim is resolved. Photographs of the helmet’s exterior and interior show where the impact occurred.
- The filing deadline. Most injury claims must be filed within two years under the two-year filing deadline. A family’s claim after a fatal crash generally must be filed within two years of the death under the Wrongful Death Act.
- Road and trail conditions. Potholes, debris, and poorly marked crossings may shift part of the responsibility to the party that maintains the roadway or path.
Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Bicycle Accident Cases
Cyclists absorb the full force of a collision, and the injuries reflect that. Common injuries include wrist fractures, clavicle injuries, head trauma, and road rash. Wrist and collarbone fractures alone can keep a cyclist off the bike and out of work for months. A claim may include:
- Medical expenses, including surgery, physical therapy, and future treatment
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Pain, suffering, and loss of normal life
- Emotional harm, including PTSD after a crash
- Replacement or repair of your bicycle, helmet, and gear
Liability usually rests with the driver who failed to yield, check mirrors, or leave enough room. Our Waukegan bicycle accident attorney also considers whether a vehicle owner, an employer, or a party responsible for road maintenance shares responsibility.
What Should You Bring to Your Bicycle Accident Consultation?
These items help us reconstruct the crash and value the claim.
- The crash report number, if police responded
- Photographs of the scene, your bicycle, and your injuries
- Your helmet and any damaged gear, or photographs of them
- Medical records and bills
- Your auto and health insurance information
- Names and contact information for witnesses
- Receipts for your bicycle and gear, which help establish their value
- Data from a bike computer or fitness app showing your route and speed, if available
Missing items can be gathered after the first meeting, and we can request the crash report directly from the responding agency.
Reach Out to Kass & Moses Personal Injury Lawyers to Schedule a Consultation
Our Waukegan bicycle accident lawyer offers a free review of the crash and the recovery ahead. Kass & Moses Personal Injury Lawyers represents injured cyclists on a contingency basis, and no attorney fees are owed unless we recover compensation. We will outline the evidence that still needs to be gathered and how long the claim is likely to take. Contact us to book your consultation.
