Over recent years, Chicago has seen a significant increase in walkers and bicyclists during any given day. This could very well be due to the increase in gas prices over the last decade. This occurrence could also be due to the increased awareness by the general population of health issues and the need for exercise for the body. Though, it is certainly recommended for the people of Chicago and surrounding suburbs to exercise and practice good and healthy habits, being a pedestrian or bicyclist in a bustling city such as this one can be a dangerous feat.
Know Your Rights
When considered a bicyclist or pedestrian in any city, town, or even rural area, it is imperative that you know your legal rights as such. Consulting a law firm that specializes in pedestrian and bicyclist rights and accident cases is an important step in the right direction. As an auto accident lawyer in Chicago, Kryder Law deals with all things involving auto accident law suits between two vehicles, as well as cases involving pedestrian and bicycle collisions with automobiles.
Kryder Law’s associates can help you become informed as to what rules and regulations are in place that you need to know about and take action with in order to be safer on the roadways for which they share with vehicles. Many vehicle drivers do not know what these rules and regulations are because they operate a car or truck most of the time as they go to and from work every morning and evening. It is, essentially, your responsibility to be informed and knowledgeable about your rights as a pedestrian or cyclist.
Be Aware of Your Surroundings
What is commonly referred to as “dooring” is one of the most, if not the most, dangerous causes of vehicle/cyclist accidents because very rarely with the vehicle owner and cyclist realize what is going to happen until the very last minute. In today’s ever more frenzied world, people are always in a hurry to get somewhere other than where they are at the moment due to appointments, meetings and the like.
You can imagine a car circling the street that they need to find a parking space on. When they finally find one, they struggle to parallel park and then switch the car off. Grabbing whatever they need, they grab the door handle and swing the door open as fast as they can. Just as they set their left foot onto the pavement, you are flying over the crushed handlebars of your bicycle and come crashing down hard, breaking your pelvic area in multiple places and shattering some discs in your lumbar area.
This scenario happens all too often and is something that Kryder Law is, unfortunately, all too familiar with. Awareness is your best friend when braving the busy streets of Chicago. Though the city has areas set just for pedestrians and cyclists to ride through, cars can still get into those specified lanes if they need to make a turn or cross over. It is very important to have the tools under your belt that can make you safer on the road.
John Doe has been dealing with and settling pedestrian and bicycle vehicle collisions for many years as an auto accident lawyer in Chicago and is a supportive and knowledgeable associate of the Kryder Law Firm based out of the Windy City.