Cook County Bicycle Accident Lawyers

Experienced Attorneys For Cyclists Hit By Cars in Cook County

Bicycling is growing across Cook County, both as transportation and recreation, but with growth have come persistent safety challenges. Cyclists are exposed road users: when a motor vehicle and a bicycle collide, the cyclist usually suffers the more serious harm. Recent data show that Chicago (the largest city in Cook County) records hundreds to over a thousand reported bicycle crashes per year and that several dozen bicyclists suffer fatal or severe injuries each year across the county and city. These collisions often have serious personal, medical, and economic consequences for victims and their families.

At John J. Malm & Associates, we have dedicated our practice to representing individuals and families who have been seriously injured in accidents throughout Cook County and the greater Chicagoland area. With decades of combined experience handling complex Cook County personal injury and wrongful death cases, our attorneys understand the unique challenges that injured bicyclists face, from proving liability against negligent drivers to overcoming the insurance industry’s attempts to minimize claims. Our team of dedicated Cook County bike accident attorneys has successfully represented victims in bicycle accident cases, securing meaningful recoveries that help clients pay medical bills, replace lost wages, and rebuild their lives. We are committed to standing up for cyclists and their families, ensuring their voices are heard and their rights are protected.

“Cyclists shouldn’t have to accept life-altering injuries as the price of choosing a healthy, car-light commute or an everyday errand,” says Cook County bicycle accident lawyer, John J. Malm. “When negligence causes that harm, our job is to secure evidence, hold responsible parties accountable, and help victims put their lives back together.”

How Big Is the Problem of Bike Accidents in Cook County?

Cook County and Chicago bicycle crash numbers vary by year and by reporting source, but a few consistent facts emerge from official and local analyses:

• In 2023 the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) recorded thousands of traffic crashes statewide, with Cook County accounting for a substantial share of urban crashes in Illinois.
• Chicago reported roughly 1,440 bicycle crashes reported to IDOT in 2023, with about 1,270 resulting in injury and several bicyclist fatalities that year.
• Streetsblog’s review of CPD and CDOT records counted five bicyclist fatalities on Chicago surface streets in 2024, and other compilations place 2022–2023 bicyclist deaths in the single-digit to low-double-digit range for Chicago depending on inclusion criteria.
• As bicycling volumes rise, CDOT/Replica analysis shows major increases in bike trips from 2019–2023, the absolute number of crashes can rise unless infrastructure and speed controls keep pace. Chicago saw dramatic increases in bicycling trips over recent years.

These figures make clear that bicycle crashes are a measurable, recurring public-health and transportation safety issue in Cook County.

Cook County Bicycle Accident Trends

Two trends matter for interpreting the data. First, increased bicycling can create the paradox of “more riders, more crashes” even as safety per trip improves. Second, vehicle size and speed trends influence crash severity: larger, heavier vehicles and higher travel speeds dramatically increase the chance that a bicyclist’s injuries will be severe or fatal.

• CDOT’s traffic safety reports identify vehicle speed and vehicle size (including SUVs and trucks) as leading contributors to the people killed or seriously injured (KSI) on city streets; engineering countermeasures have delivered measurable safety gains on corridors where they’ve been installed.
• Local media and advocacy groups compiling police and CDOT records show a small but steady number of bicyclist fatalities each year (for example, five bicyclist deaths in 2024 on Chicago surface streets as documented by Streetsblog). These fatalities often occur at intersections, during night hours, or when turning vehicles strike cyclists.

Taken together, the data support a two-pronged approach: (1) infrastructure and policy that reduce motor vehicle speeds and limit vehicle dominance of roadway space, and (2) enforcement, education, and treatment of drivers and cyclists that reduce risky behaviors.

Where and When Bike Accidents Happen in Cook County

Bicycle collisions are not evenly distributed across Cook County. They concentrate in places with heavy traffic, high crossing demand, and incomplete bicycle or pedestrian infrastructure.

• High-risk corridors and neighborhoods: lakefront and central business districts (where cycling and pedestrian densities are high), major arterials with high vehicle speeds, and corridors with frequent curb cuts and commercial driveways. Chicago’s bike infrastructure is densest along the lakefront and on many North Side routes, but crashes also occur in South and West Side neighborhoods where roadway conditions and enforcement vary.
• Time of day and month: summer months and warmer weather tend to show higher crash volumes; peak commuting times and evening hours show elevated crash risk. Many crash datasets show increases in July through September crash counts.
• Intersection vs midblock: intersections, where turning vehicles interact with through cyclists, are a frequent site of severe crashes (right-hooks, left-turn conflicts). Midblock crashes are common on arterials without safe crossing opportunities.

Who Is at Risk?

Crash outcomes show demographic and geographic disparities in serious Cook County bicycle accidents:

• Frequent victims are local residents who use bicycles for commuting, errands, and work. Data indicate many people killed while bicycling lived within a short distance of the crash site, underscoring the local, everyday nature of the risk.
• Racial and socioeconomic disparities: CDOT and public health analyses show that traffic violence is concentrated in areas with higher economic hardship and populations of color, reflecting unequal exposure to hazardous streets and less investment in safe infrastructure.
• Vehicle factors: collisions involving larger motor vehicles (SUVs, trucks) are more likely to be fatal for a cyclist.

Understanding these patterns is essential to targeting investments and interventions where they will prevent the most harm.

Common Cook County Bike Crash Types and Causes

Bicycle crashes result from a mix of human, vehicle, and infrastructure factors. Common collision types include:

• Right-hook collisions: a driver turning right strikes a through bicyclist on their right side.
• Left-turn collisions: a turning vehicle conflicts with a bicyclist going straight.
• Dooring: a parked car occupant opens a door into a passing cyclist.
• Rear-end and angle collisions: often where cyclists merge or use travel lanes.
• Low-visibility nighttime crashes: inadequate lighting or conspicuity leads to drivers not seeing cyclists in time.

Contributing causes typically include excessive speed, failure to yield, distracted driving, riding against traffic, impaired drivers or cyclists, and insufficient or confusing infrastructure. Infrastructure design (long crossings, lack of protected bike lanes), motor vehicle speeds, and mixed traffic conditions exacerbate the risk.

Legal Considerations After a Cook County Bicycle Crash

When a bicyclist is injured in Cook County as a result of someone else’s negligence, several legal issues commonly arise:

• Liability: determining whether the driver, another road user, the municipality (for negligent road design or maintenance), or even a third party (e.g., a commercial vehicle fleet) is legally responsible.
• Evidence preservation: obtaining crash reports, witness statements, security or traffic camera footage, medical records, and photos of the scene and injuries.
• Comparative fault: Illinois follows modified comparative negligence rules; a bicyclist’s compensation may be reduced proportionally to their fault, and a bicyclist barred from recovery if found greater than 50% at fault.
• Insurance: claims against at-fault driver policies, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (if applicable), and potential third-party or municipal claims require a careful approach and timely notice.
• Statute of limitations: personal injury suits must be filed within Illinois’ statute of limitations (generally two years for personal injury, with exceptions); missing this deadline can forfeit legal rights.

Because these issues can be fact-intensive, injured bicyclists often benefit from prompt legal advice to secure evidence and pursue the correct claim path.

What to Do After a Bicycle Accident in Cook County

If you are injured or involved in a crash in Cook County, these steps can protect your health and legal rights:

• Seek medical attention immediately, even if injuries seem minor, get assessed and documented.
• Call the police and make sure a crash report is created; collect the investigating officer’s ID and report number.
• Get witness names and contact information; take photos of the scene, vehicle damage, road markings, lighting, and your injuries.
• Preserve clothing and the bicycle (do not repair the bike until instructed if possible).
• Report the crash to your insurer if relevant and consult a Cook County attorney experienced in bicycle crashes.
• Keep a detailed record of medical visits, expenses, lost time from work, and how injuries affect daily life.

Taking these actions early helps preserve evidence and supports potential insurance or legal claims.

Frequently Asked Questions about Cook County Bicycle Accidents

Q: Where are bicyclists most likely to be struck?
A: Intersections and arterials with high vehicle speeds are common sites. Right-hook and left-turn conflicts, dooring on streets with curbside parking, and nighttime crashes are recurring patterns.

Q: Who pays my medical bills if I’m hit by a car while biking?
A: You may use your own health insurance, then pursue reimbursement from the at-fault driver’s auto insurer through a liability claim. If the driver is uninsured/underinsured, uninsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage, if you have it, may help. Talk with a lawyer and your insurer promptly.

Q: Can the city be liable if poor road design contributed to my crash?
A: Possibly. Lawsuits against municipalities involve special notice and timing rules and often fewer damages in some cases; consult an attorney quickly because claim deadlines and notice requirements differ when suing a public entity.

Q: Should I talk to the other driver’s insurance company?
A: Be cautious. Insurers often seek early recorded statements or quick settlements. Speak with a Cook county bicycle accident attorney before giving recorded statements or accepting settlement offers so you do not inadvertently waive rights or accept less than your claim’s value.

Contact the Top-Rated Cook County Bicycle Accident Lawyers at John J. Malm & Associates

Bicyclists in Cook County deserve safe streets, but when negligence causes a crash, the consequences can be devastating. If you or a loved one has been injured in a bicycle accident, you do not need to face insurance companies or legal battles alone. The dedicated Cook County bicycle accident attorneys at John J. Malm & Associates are here to investigate your case, preserve critical evidence, and fight tirelessly to secure the compensation you deserve. Contact our office today for a free, no-obligation consultation. Let us help you hold negligent drivers accountable and protect your future.