Bicycle riding is a great way to enjoy the outdoors and get some exercise. But each year more than 500,000 people in the U.S. are treated in emergency rooms as the result of bicycle-related injuries. Children are at an especially high risk. In 2001, children 15 years of age and younger accounted for 59% of all bicycle-related injuries seen in US emergency rooms.Riding carefully and in control, along with wearing proper protective gear is only part of the equation for safety. Here are some Illinois bicycle safety laws you may not be aware of:
- When riding on public roads, bicyclists are required to ride in the same direction as other traffic. Riding in the opposite direction is against the law.
- When riding on public roads, bicyclists are required to obey the same rules as automobiles. This means that bicyclists must obey the same signs and traffic control devices that cars must obey.
- Bicyclists must ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the road (except in certain situations such as when turning left).
- It is illegal to ride a bicycle while carrying anything that prevents you from using both hands to control and operate the bike. The law also requires a bicyclist to keep at least one hand on the handlebars at all times.
- When riding on a sidewalk, where permitted by law, bicyclists must yield to pedestrians and give audible signals before passing pedestrians.
- When riding at night, bicyclists are required to use a front lamp with a white light visible from at least 500 feet to the front and a red reflector on the rear visible from 100 feet to 600 feet.
Of course, even the most careful bicyclist can still be injured by a careless driver. So Illinois law requires automobiles to leave a “safe distance” when passing a bicycle, but never less than 3 feet. To view the Illinois Vehicle Code dealing with bicycles, click here.
If you have been injured while biking by a negligent driver or a defective condition in a roadway or sidewalk, the attorneys at DeBlasio Law Group can advise you whether you have a claim for compensation against the responsible party. For a free consultation, contact the lawyers at DeBlasio Law Group at (630) 560-1123 or through our website at http://DGLLC.net/contact. We are here to help.
The injury attorneys at DeBlasio Law Group pride themselves on taking care of their clients and their loved ones. Clients who have sustained personal injuries (physical, mental and/or emotional) will be represented by experienced attorneys who have the skills to pursue claims for damages arising from another person or entity’s negligence, willful and wanton (reckless) conduct, intentional conduct. Injuries and death can arise in many different contexts, including car, motorcycle and truck accidents, bicycle accidents, work-related injuries, nursing homes or sporting events. You or a family member may be entitled to recover damages for various forms of losses and injuries, including, but not limited to:
- Medical Expenses
- Past / Future Wage Loss
- Past / Future Pain and Suffering
- Disfigurement / Scarring
- Past / Future Loss of Normal Life
- Past / Future Loss of Enjoyment of Life
- Loss of Bodily Functions
- Loss of Consortium / Loss of Society
- Long-term care