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Bicycle Accident Statistics

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Jonathan Rosenfeld - J.D

September 5, 2024

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Each year, Illinois bicyclists are injured due to poorly maintained roads and distracted drivers.

Illinois is a popular destination for bicycling. Many residents rely on personal bicycles to get around urban areas. Designated bike lanes in many large cities should make bicycling a safe mode of transportation. But the numbers don’t support that claim. The rate of bicyclist deaths continues increasing year over year.

Bicycle deaths are a real problem in the United States. Here is a quick review of bike accident statistics in Illinois.

bicycle accident statistics

Common Bicycle Accident Causes

Bicycle accidents can occur from various causes, with some of the most common including the following:

  • Truck collisions: Light trucks are among the top causes of bicyclist fatalities [1]. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration considers a light truck an SUV, pickup, or van. 
  • Poor visibility: Due to inclement weather or nighttime driving conditions, poor visibility can lead to more bicycle injury crashes. Most pedestrian fatalities occur at dawn, dusk, or nighttime [1].
  • Traffic violations: Inattention and failing to stop at red lights or stop signs are all additional causes of bicycle crashes in Illinois [2].
  • Cyclist error: Cyclists carried a fair amount of responsibility due to not knowing or inattention to bike lane rules[2]. 
  • Driver dooring: Many bicycle accidents occur due to “dooring,” which is when a driver opens their door into a bicycle or pedestrian lane without looking [3].
  • Speeding: Speeding is a common cause of traffic fatalities. Better enforcement of a city’s speeding laws can reduce the number of pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities. Data shows that strict speed limit enforcement can reduce traffic deaths by as many as 46 [4].

Where and When Do Bicyclist Injuries Occur the Most?

Bicyclists can be injured on any major or rural roadway. However, some roads tend to be more dangerous for bike riders in Illinois, including the following:

  • Major cities: Major cities have more road users, including motor vehicle drivers and cyclists, which also increases the number of accidents. The Chicago area of Illinois reports around 1,400 bike crashes annually [2].
  • Summer months: Most bicycle crashes in urban areas of Illinois occur during the summer months. This may be due to a higher occurrence of riders during the warmer months [2].
  • Busy intersections: Milwaukee Avenue and Halsted Street are some of the most dangerous streets in the Chicago area for bicyclists and pedestrians [2].
  • High pedestrian areas: New data shows that more bike accidents occur in nontraditional locations like the University of Illinois campus. The campus reported 17 bicycle accidents since fall 2021 [5]. 

Bicycle accident statistics by state vary depending on riding conditions, laws, and the setup of the bike system. For example, some states have protected bike lanes, whereas others do not.

Bicyclist Injuries

Bicyclists suffer a wide range of injury types, from minor cuts to life-changing disabilities. Here are a few statistics to know about bicyclist injuries:

  • One hundred forty-five bicycle riders suffered incapacitating injuries in the Chicago area. Another 826 suffered non-incapacitating injuries [2].
  • Studies show that wearing the proper safety gear is the best way to prevent severe bicycle injuries [6].
  • Traumatic head injuries account for more than 60% of bicyclist deaths [6].
  • Only 44% of hospitalized e-bike riders wore a helmet at the time of the accident [7].

Bicycle safety is a priority when preventing injury. However, even with the proper safety gear, a bicycle crash can lead to life-changing injuries.

Bicyclist Fatalities

Some bike crashes lead to minor cuts and lacerations. Others, however, can lead to a loss of life. Bicyclist fatalities are most common in the following:

  • The highest number of bicyclist deaths was reported in 2022. There isn’t any data showing a higher rate of bicyclists to support this increase [8].
  • Most bicyclist fatalities occur on non-intersections [1]. 
  • Bicyclist fatalities are more common in urban cities than in rural areas [1].
  • The occurrence of bicyclist fatalities decreased in the early 2000s and then increased yearly until peaking in the early 2020s [8].
  • In Illinois, approximately one-third of traffic fatalities of bicyclists occurred outside of the Chicago area in 2023 [10].
  • The Chicago area reported an annual total of seven fatal bicycle crashes [2].
  • A total of 1,084 motor traffic fatalities involved cyclists in 2022, which is the highest number ever recorded [11].
  • The majority (89%) of bicyclist deaths are those with an average age of 20 years or older [11].
  • Males are more likely than females to suffer fatalities from a bike accident [11].

Illinois continues to work toward reducing the number of bicyclists killed in accidents through awareness campaigns. Additionally, enforcing an injury reporting system tool helps state officials and lawmakers better understand how bicycle use in the state correlates to cyclist fatalities.

Notable Bicyclist Accidents

Chicago plans to reduce the number of fatalities suffered by bicyclists and pedestrians by increasing bike lane connections and upgrading existing lanes. The city also aims to make bicycling safer for residents by ensuring bicyclists have the proper safety equipment, like bicycle helmets [2].

Illinois has a history of bicycling accidents, including lawsuits against the state. In 2023, an injured bicyclist filed a negligence complaint against the city of Chicago for suffering permanent injuries after hitting a pothole. However, the Illinois Supreme Court found that cities aren’t liable for pothole damage.

However, state law does allow injured bicyclists to seek compensation from negligent drivers or parts manufacturers.

Compensation Available to Bicyclists

Bicycling should be a safe mode of transportation in Illinois. However, crash rates are on the increase. If you or a loved one was injured in a cyclist crash, you may be eligible for compensation.

Injured bicyclists and pedestrians can seek compensation for the recovery of damages following driver negligence. Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers has a team of bicycle accident lawyers ready to investigate and represent your case.

Data shows that bicyclists are at an increased risk. While our law firm may not be able to improve the safety of Illinois’ roads, we are here to help represent you when bicycling leads to injury.

Contact us today at (888) 424-5757 for a free consultation.

Resources: [1] NHTSA, [2] People Powered Movement, [3] Metropolitan Planning Council, [4] Harvard Public Health, [5] CU-CitizensAccess, [6] University of Maryland Medical System, [7] Brain Injury Association of America, [8] The League of American Bicyclists, [9] StreetsBlogChicago, [10] IIHS, [11] PedBikeInfo

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“Jonathan Rosenfeld was professionally objective, timely, and knowledgeable. Also, his advice was extremely effective regarding my case. In addition, Jonathan was understanding and patient pertaining to any of my questions or concerns. I was very happy with the end result and I highly recommend Jonathan Rosenfeld.”

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