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In order to provide networking and ease of accessibility between communities, bike planning and infrastructure in Chicago, and surrounding suburbs is comprised of several key components-protected bike lanes along roadways; unprotected lanes which connect routes; and the off-road scenic and throughway paths, which are both protected and serve the purpose of linking communities. However, when considering all the cities that comprise Chicagoland, as a whole, and the current plans in place, we can’t help but wonder if the city’s bike planning efforts have failed to fully incorporate many of Chicago’s northern suburbs.

According the Department of Transportation’s, Chicago Streets for Cycling Plan 2020, “It was developed using three key principles:

1. Provide a bicycle accommodation within 1⁄2 mile of every Chicagoan. The network should achieve the Bike 2015 Plan’s goal of having a bicycle accommodation within 1⁄2 mile of every Chicagoan. These accommodations should connect to the destinations identified in the public input phase of the planning process.

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The Bicycle Accident attorneys of Zneimer & Zneimer P.C. remind residents to use caution over the next week and half, as our roadways become inundated with the thousands of cyclists expected to take part in Chicago’s annual Bike Week. This year’s events, part of Bike Chicago 2014, are set to begin on June 13th and continue through until June 20th. Aimed at promoting the environmental and health benefits of biking, as well as safety awareness, this long standing tradition continues to gain popularity, as is shown by the substantial increase in attendance rates since the initiation of bike Chicago more than two decades ago. As stated by Mayor Emanuel in a Press Release:

“Every day more and more people are using bike share programs or their own bikes to get around City streets and the lakefront path, whether it’s to work, to shop, or for fitness. Bicycling is a reliable, fast, affordable, healthy and great alternative form of transportation that all residents and visitors can utilize and enjoy.”

One of the central focal points to Bike Chicago 2014, is Bike-to-Work week, in which residents are encouraged to forego the use of motorized vehicles, and bike to work for the entire week between the 13th and 20th of June. As a means of motivating participation in Bike-to-Work week, the Bike Commuter Challenge, [link to http://bikecommuterchallenge.org/ ] allows commuters to sign up to compete for prizes with other businesses and organizations, based upon ridership rates. In addition, participants may also challenge their colleagues, and team leaders can challenge other teams.

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As a resident of Chicago, it would be hard not to notice efforts over the past couple of years aimed at making the city more bike-friendly. While Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C. supports the health, environmental, economic, and many other benefits that bicycling offers the city and its residents in general, at the same time, as bike injury attorneys, we are compelled to reflect upon whether the city’s intense efforts to promote bicycling has perhaps given riders a false sense of security. This is particularly concerning given that commuting by bike is gaining traction in Chicago, as recently reported by the Chicago Tribune.

Despite Chicago’s notable recognition for their infrastructure, planning, and safety efforts, the truth remains, that bicycling accidents continue to remain a huge issue in our city. Although the infrastructure is nowhere near full completion, the city continues to focus primarily on the positive aspects of bicycling, and in recent times, perhaps even downplaying the negative. Just last year, Mayor Emanuel commented on how bicycling safety is a genuine issue in our city, but now, a little more than eight months later, it seems there has been a shift in focus-from promoting bicycling safety-to simply promoting bicycling in general.

How might this actually be putting bicyclists at even greater risk? For residents, all the recent hype over bicycling in Chicago may be giving cyclists the general perception that it is safer to ride in the city. However, for visitors, the promotion of bike sharing programs, along with the multitude of visible indicators which relay a message that the city is highly ‘bike-friendly,’ seems most problematic of all. This is because visitors, especially those unfamiliar with the city, may not be aware of the risks that accompany bicycling in Chicago-namely, the potential for accident or injury. This concept-that the city is perhaps instilling a false sense of security-also extends to new residents, and in some cases, even parents that are attempting to educate and prepare children bicyclists to navigate along Chicago’s busy roadways.

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As you travel in the city, you may have noticed more bicyclists with bike cameras strapped to their helmets, handlebars, and even their bodies. Referred to as ‘bike-cams’ for short, the use of such devices offers a number of benefits to cyclists. The Cycling Injury Lawyers of Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C. are pleased to see that bicyclists are taking the initiative to improve their own safety, as well as protect their interests by ensuring that evidence is preserved in the event an accident occurs. In addition, an individual’s awareness that they are being videotaped, has been shown to be a deterrent to negligent or reckless conduct. The following discusses the effect that bike-cams can have on three primary groups of individuals-Bicyclists, Motorists, and Attorneys.

While, for bicyclists, the purpose of using a bike-cam is less likely to be associated with monitoring their own bicycling habits, these devices can actually allow cyclists the ability to observe their own riding practices, which can aide in the prevention of serious injury or fatality. Perhaps more important to accident prevention, though, is the potential effect that bike cams can have on motorist conduct. When a driver knows that they are being recorded, that motorist might be far more inclined to: Ensure cautious overtaking and yield; Maintain the statutory 3 foot distance; and Demonstrate more vigilant driving in general. In accordance with the foregoing, it is easy to see the manners in which bike-cams can both contribute to the prevention of bike collisions, as well as to the prevention of other types of accidents.

Although bike cams can certainly aide in reduction of bike collisions, bike-cams play an entirely different role once an crash has occurred. As recently reported by the Chicago Sun, “Attorneys say the cameras could be useful in the event of an accident but that bicyclists should use the cameras with caution.” While partly in agreement with this statement from the media, the use of bike-cams-when considered from the legal perspective-is actually a bit more complicated. Stated simply, bike-cams can have both positive and negative attributes. In assessing the potential use and application of bike-cam footage following an accident, it is important to take into consideration two key factors: (1) Value / Effect of Liability Determination; (2) Legality; (3) Admissibility.

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The Chicago injury lawyers of Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C. take note of the growing use of Divvy-Chicago’s first large scale bike sharing program. The program, which began in July of 2013 with just 750 bikes and 75 stations, has grown significantly over the past year, to its current status of 3000 bikes and 300 stations. Divvy, which represents the idea of “dividing and sharing” the use of bicycles, is a concept that appears to be catching on, as can be seen by increased presence of Divvy bikes throughout the city. As stated in an April 15, 2014 report by the Chicago Tribune:

“Following a brutal winter, Chicagoans have embraced the blue-colored bikes at the first signs of spring. Riders, for example, took more than 25,000 trips during the first week of April as temperatures rose above 40 degrees.”

According to a city estimate, the number of trips taken on Divvy bikes is approaching nearly a million since the program’s initiation nearly 10 months ago. The program’s success is good news for Chicagoans, many who were worried about whether the program would continue, following a report in January that the company had filed bankruptcy. Despite this, the bike share program appears to be thriving, and although it fell short of its original expansion goal of ‘4000 bicycles and 400 bikes by Spring of 2014,’ with the program’s continued success, Divvy may very well reach this goal in the near future.

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Despite the abundance of media attention following the recent recalls of GM vehicles, many of the more than 6 million consumers affected by the recall, are still left with unanswered questions. Even more concerning-many motorists are entirely unaware that they may be the owner or operator of a recalled GM vehicle. As attorneys that practice both personal injury law, as well as product liability, Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C. observe that the aggregate effect of consumer confusion and/or unawareness, has placed an immeasurable number of motorists at risk for loss of life or limb.

Although the media has been, and continues to be, an important means of providing notification to consumers, our team of injury lawyers are left wondering if the necessary information has been properly received by all person affected. While initial media reports focused on the ignition related recall for older model GM vehicles, the recall was subsequently expanded to include several newer model vehicles as well. Further, the initial ignition-related recalls were not the only major recall recently announced by GM. Late in March, GM reported its intent to recall several additional vehicles, due to issue with faulty power steering. As Accident & Injury attorneys, we find this sequence of recalls highly problematic, and for several reasons.

First, the original ignition recall may have led many consumers to conclude that their vehicle was not included within the class of vehicles affected. Therefore, when the ignition recall was later expanded to include newer models, many may have failed to reconsider, or simply overlooked, that their vehicle may indeed be subject to the recall. Second, the subsequent recall of the power steering issue, which affected many of the same vehicles that were listed in the ignition recall, may have also led to further confusion amongst consumers. Many may have failed to heed to recall warnings, because they were unaware that this was a separate and distinct recall, or that it affected multiple other GM vehicles, and, in some cases, both.

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Our Chicago Train Accident and Injury Attorneys are amongst the many residents that remain in astonishment following the recent CTA derailment, which many say mirrors the type of event that you would see only in movies. With more than 30 victims transported to area hospitals, and the operator’s recent admission that she “dozed-off” prior to the collision, in addition to doing so on a previous occasion, multiple lawsuits are expected to be filed as a result of this horrendous incident.

The accident occurred in the early morning hours on Monday, March 24, 2014. According to the National Transportation Safety Board, a CTA Blue Line Train was pulling into O’Hare International Airport, when it jumped the platform, causing the front car to derail and travel up onto an escalator at the station. Officials estimate the train was traveling approximately 25 mph prior to the derailment, but it is unclear at this time how fast train was traveling upon reaching the end of the platform. It is also unclear why the train’s automatic braking system failed to stop the train.

While no individuals on the platform or escalator were injured, more than thirty passengers aboard the train, ranging in age from 38 to 72, sustained varying degrees of injury , including whiplash, headache, bruising, knee injuries, as well as emotional trauma. Victims were transported to four area hospitals for medical treatment.

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The Chicago Wrongful Death Attorneys of Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C. send our condolences to family and loved ones of Jason West, as they mourn the tragic death of a resident of our community.

Authorities say, the accident occurred on March 9, 2014 at approximately 1:25 a.m., as Chris West, 29, of Chicago, was traveling along Interstate 57, near West 99th Street. The victim, who was the sole occupant of a 2000 Ford Explorer, apparently lost control of his vehicle, causing it to crash and then subsequently roll-over.

According to officials, West was ejected from the vehicle. It was reported that other drivers stopped in an attempt to help the victim. West was transported to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where, tragically he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead shortly after 2 a.m. While the investigation continues into this tragic wreck, officials say that it does not appear that alcohol was a factor in the collision. However, we do hope that the ultimate cause of the accident is discovered.

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The Chicago Personal Injury Lawyers of Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C. have noticed a string of auto accidents recently occurring along Dan Ryan Expressway, including multiple-vehicle crashes, as well as roll-over collisions.

Amongst the most recent incidents was a four-vehicle collision involving a daycare van, a bus, a SUV, and another automobile, that occurred on March 5, 2014, and sent 8 children and an adult to the hospital, as stated in one of our previous posts, South Side Crash Sends Nine Victims to Hospital.

The day care van collisions came just four days following a three-vehicle crash on Dan Ryan that left several injured. Officials say this accident occurred on March 1, 2014 near 69th street. Seven people were transported to the hospital, with varying degrees of injuries. According to a spokesperson for Fire Media Affairs, two victims were listed in fair-to-serious condition, and the remaining five victims were listed in good condition.

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The Chicago Wrongful Death Attorneys of Zneimer & Zneimer, P.C. take note of the tragic loss of 6-month-old baby boy that lost his life at the hands of a hit-and-run driver. As the members of our community mourn this loss, we remain certain that the same thoughts are shared—how could a motorist be so callous as to cause a collision and then leave the scene of the accident?

As attorneys, we wish we could provide the mother of 6-mos-old Yeshua Shaford, with an answer. To hold your child in your arms as the mother reported, ‘as he took his last breath,’ is simply unimaginable.

With the help of witnesses to the accident, including the boy’s father, authorities were able to identify the hit-and-run-driver. In what we see as a merely a partial redemption in justice, the hit-and-run driver did in fact later turn himself to authorities. It was also discovered that the motorist was operating his vehicle with a suspended license.

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