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The Chicago Bicycle Accident Injury Attorneys of Zneimer & Zneimer P.C. take note of recently announced plans to further expand the Divvy bike-sharing program throughout the Chicagoland area. Funded by a $3 million state grant, the expansion, planned to take place in 2015, will provide Evanston residents with 8 new docking stations, and Oak Park with 12 new stations. As stated in the Chicago Tribune, the funding will also help pay for 50 additional docking stations in Chicago’s West and far North Sides, including Rogers Park, West Rogers Park, Austin and Garfield Park.

Divvy Bike Share, commonly referred to as ‘Chicago’s newest transit system,’ has been quite successful since its launch last June, with nearly 2 million trips occurring this year alone, according to Divvy Trip Data. Further, membership to the program has almost doubled since last year, from 12,186 active members in 2013, to its more than 23,000 current members. In addition to the 70 new stations in Evanston, Oak Park, and Chicago’s West and North Sides, Divvy reports plans to add more than 100 more docking stations in 2015, for a total of 175 new stations and 1,750 more bikes. Upon completion, these expansions would provide Chicagoans with the most bike stations and largest service area in North America.

As bicycling enthusiasts ourselves, the attorneys of Zneimer & Zneimer P.C. are pleased to see the growth of bike sharing in our communities. In addition to its health and environmental benefits, bike sharing contributes to economic growth, and has become an important component of the tourism industry. While we certainly support expansion efforts, riders are reminded to remain aware of the dangers of bicycling in the Chicagoland area, particularly when traveling along roadways shared with motorists.

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The Chicago Dog Bite Attorneys of Zneimer & Zneimer P.C. represent clients in a wide range of dog-related incidents, including those in which a person sustained injury while trying to prevent or intercept an animal-on-animal attack. Any animal lover would agree that ensuring the safety of their beloved pets, which are often considered to be members of the family, is an important concern. However, it is also necessary to consider your own safety, particularly when a dog owned by another bites, attacks, or attempts to attack your own dog or cat. Prompted by a recent dog attack in a Chicagoland suburb, we feel compelled to remind dog owners of the risk for injury or fatality caused as a result of intercepting a potential or presently occurring attack on your animal.

In September, a McHenry man and his wife, Steven and Annette Cuda, were both injured while attempting to save their 6-month-old golden retriever puppy, Addie, from being mauled by two pit bulls. According to reports, the two dogs either escaped or were allowed to roam from the owner’s premises, and subsequently charged at the retriever as Mr. Cuda was taking Addie on an evening walk. Mrs. Cuda, who was driving home at the time of the attack, heard her husband yelling around the corner, and joined her husband in an attempt to stop the attack.

In the aftermath of the incident, three victims required emergency medical treatment. Both of Addie’s owners sustained injuries to their hands, and Mr. Cuda reports that he separated his shoulder, when he tripped over one of the pit bulls during the attack. In addition, Addie sustained multiple dog bite related puncture wounds, and has already undergone two surgeries. Mr. Cuda described the attack as the most terrifying thing he has ever gone through, further stating that “the more my dog screamed or cried, the more vicious the pit bulls became.”

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The Trucking Accident Attorneys of Zneimer & Zneimer P.C. take note of a recent investigation, as provided in a broadcast on ABC’s 20/20 regarding the deadly consequences of fatigued drivers, and the manner in which trucking companies contribute to these dangers through their negligent and unlawful practices.

As ABC’s Matt Gutman points out, “In 2012 alone there were over 300,000 large-truck crashed, with over 4,000 fatalities…the industry points out that truckers are not usually at fault in these accidents-but police do warn of a particular danger-tired truckers. While in some cases, it is the truck driver’s themselves that engage in risky behaviors, such as driving while fatigued, speeding or tailgating-in other cases, it is the trucker’s employer/trucking companies that are encouraging/supporting such recklessness. Consider both Truck Driver Negligence as well as Employer/Truck Industry Actions, as you view the following clip from the above-referenced ABC special:

http://abcnews.go.com/2020/video/fatigued-truckers-deadly-consequences-25639370

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The Pedestrian Accident Attorneys of Zneimer & Zneimer P.C. take note of a concerning problem that continues to plague those that travel by foot in the Chicago area-crosswalk safety. According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, pedestrian fatalities in Chicago were more than double the nationwide average in 2012. Many of these fatalities occurred at pedestrian crossings. As Accident & Injury Lawyers, we find this highly troubling, particularly given the 2010 revisions to right-of-way laws in Illinois, which many expected would have significantly enhanced the safety of pedestrians throughout the city.

As suggested by an article in the Chicago Tribune, failure to comply with pedestrian crossing laws can at least, in part, be attributed to drivers’ unawareness of the law, as it was revised in 2010. Under the old law, drivers were only required to yield to pedestrians. However, in finding that this yield-only requirement was a law that was difficult to interpret, as well as difficult to enforce, the state amended it in 2010 to include a provision requiring drivers to both stop and yield at crosswalks. The 2010 revisions to Illinois Vehicle Code regarding ‘Pedestrians’ right-of-way at crosswalks,’ as set forth in 625 ILCS 5/11-1002(a), provides that:

“When traffic control signals are not in place or not in operation the driver of a vehicle shall stop and yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a crosswalk when the pedestrian is upon the half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling, or when the pedestrian is approaching so closely from the opposite half of the roadway as to be in danger.”

[emphasis added]

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As Trucking Accident Attorneys, we are well aware of the hazards faced by motorists who are forced to share our roadways with truck drivers that operate semi-tractor trailers. Big-rigs are massive, heavy, dangerous vehicles, capable of mass destruction, as was demonstrated by a tragic accident last month that took the lives of five innocent victims. Zneimer & Zneimer P.C., along with the victim’s family, and residents of our community are pleased to see justice being carried out, at least in the criminal sense, following reports of the truck driver’s indictment for reckless homicide.

As provided by the Chicago Tribune, the crash occurred on the afternoon of July 21, 2014, along Interstate 55, south of Arsenal Road, near Elwood. According to authorities, 51-year-old Francisco Espinal Quiroz was operating a semi-truck, when he crashed into three stopped vehicles. Heartbreakingly, four people were killed immediately due to the crash, and fifth victim died later at the hospital.

Amongst the victims killed as a result of the truck driver’s negligence was an 11-year-old child, Piper Britton, of Urbana. The remaining victims, all adults, were 43-year-ol Kimberly Britton, of Urbana; 54-year-old Vicky Palacios, of Coal City; 48-year-old Ulrike Blopleh, of Channahon; and 64-year-old Timothy Osburn, also of Channahon. In addition to the five fatalities, four other victims were hospitalized due to injuries sustained in the crash.

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As bike sharing continues to expand throughout Chicago, the Attorneys of Zneimer & Zneimer P.C. take note of the growing number of bicycle accidents involving Divvy bikes. Being involved in a bike crash can be stressful experience-so much so, that it can cause a victim to forget what actions need to be taken following an accident. In some cases, the victim may not know what post-accident procedures are necessary and/or appropriate. Our injury lawyers discuss the steps that a bicyclist should take in the event a collision occurs while using a Divvy bike.

Step 1. Call 911 immediately after the incident to obtain emergency assistance. For non-emergency situations, the victim can call 311 instead.

Step 2. Call the police district where the crash occurred, and file a police report. To find the appropriate district, see Police Districts in Chicago. Make sure the officer properly documents all information pertaining to the accident, including the facts of the incident, the parties involved, as well as any potential witnesses.

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Bicycle accidents can occur for a variety of reasons. The Attorneys of Zneimer & Zneimer P.C. represent the victims and family members of bike crashes that occurred in Chicago or a neighboring suburb. As bicycling increases throughout Chicagoland, so have bike-related amenities, including bike-sharing programs, bike rental agencies, and bike shops that sell bicycle parts, as well as new and used bikes. In some incidents, the cause or contributing factor to a bicycle accident was the actual bike being used, such as a bicycle that has recently been purchased, rented from an agency, or part of bike sharing program.

There are a variety of factors that must be taken in consideration in assessing the validity of a claim extending from the use, purchase, or rental, of a bicycle. In addition to evaluating the factual circumstances involved, it is important to identify the law applicable to the matter, whether local, state, federal, or a combination thereof. In newly emerging types of claim, such as those involving bike sharing facilities/programs, rulings in prior cases, referred to as case law, can also play a large part in the outcome of a particular matter.

In understanding the variations in each type of claim-bike sharing, bike rental, and bike sales-it is helpful to distinguish between the purchase of a consumer product and the purchase of a service. The purchase of a product, such as a bicycle, will often depend on whether the product is new or used, in addition to whether the consumer was purchasing a product or a service.

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The Chicago lawyers of Zneimer & Zneimer P.C. represent victims seeking compensation for injuries and losses sustained in bicycle accidents. Personal Injury claims extending from bike crashes can be complex, in the sense that there are numerous variations in prospective defendants, as well available sources of compensation. Below, we have compiled a list of persons and/or entities that can potentially provide a means of financial recovery to the victims of bicycling-related incidents. Examples of some specific issues have also been included.

Motorist. Negligent, reckless, or unlawful actions of a motorist (i.e., speeding; running a red light; failure to yield right-of-way or decrease speed; driver distraction; driving while impaired/intoxicated; dooring a bicyclist).

Homeowner. Failure to remedy dangerous conditions that pose a safety hazard to bicyclist (i.e. driveway maintenance; object obstructions/whether stationary or moving; visual obstructions/trees/hedges; falling trees; unattended children; dog or animal attacks).

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The Bicycle Crash Attorneys of Attorneys of Zneimer & Zneimer P.C. represent the victims and family members of those injured or killed in a bicycling-related accident. According to a study by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, as many as 13% of bike injury incidents are associated with the mechanical failure of a bicycle. While many of these accidents are caused due to improper maintenance or other external factors, many occur as a result of bicycle that was defectively designed or manufactured. Consumers are reminded of the importance of keeping track of safety recalls.

Our concerns extend from the announcement of two separate bicycle recalls in the past month, as reported by the Chicago Tribune.

Youth Bike Recall.

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The Attorneys of Zneimer & Zneimer P.C. have repeatedly voiced our concerns over the safety of bicyclists in our communities. Increased ridership over the past few years has brought not only more accidents, but a wider variation in accident types. While often time we discuss bike crash issues in general terms, our concerns are perhaps better expressed by taking a look back at recent bike crashes that have occurred in the Chicago Metropolitan area.

Motorist kills cyclist at Intersection

On August 18, 2014, a 44-year-old Park Forest resident was struck and killed by a southbound motorist while bicycling eastbound at the intersection of 55th Street on Central Avenue in the Garfield Ridge community. Police cited the motorist for failing to reduce speed to avoid an accident.

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