Bicycle Accident Statistics

Illinois bicycle accident statistics demonstrate the serious risks that cyclists undertake when they head out in the Chicago suburbs or along the Lakefront Trail. Dangers like poorly maintained roads, distracted drivers, and unprotected bike lanes all increase the risk of bike crashes.

Cyclists injured in bike crashes need an experienced Chicago bicycle accident lawyer to help them recover compensation and heal in comfort. Contact our personal injury lawyers for a free consultation about your legal rights.

Common Bicycle Accident Causes

Bicycle crashes happen for a variety of reasons, with some of the most common bicycle accident causes including the following:

• Truck collisions: Light trucks are among the top causes of bicyclist fatalities.
• 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.
• Traffic violations: Inattention and failing to stop at red lights or stop signs are all additional causes of bicycle crashes in Illinois.
• Cyclist error: Cyclists carried a fair amount of responsibility due to not knowing or inattention to bike lane rules.
• Driver dooring: Many bicycle accidents result from “dooring,” which is when a driver opens their door into a bicycle or pedestrian lane without looking. This is illegal in Chicago (§9-80-035), but people do it anyway.
• Speeding: Speeding is a common cause of traffic fatalities. Better enforcement of a city’s speeding laws can reduce the number of pedestrian and cyclist fatalities. Data shows that strict speed limit enforcement can reduce traffic deaths by as much as 46%.

Where and When Do Cyclist Injuries Occur the Most?

Cyclists 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 like Chicago

Cycling is an easy way to get around major urban areas like Chicago, especially because there are many dedicated bike lanes. However, the increased number of drivers also increases the risk of crashes, particularly because most motorists aren’t familiar with cyclist safety. The Chicagoland area reports around 1,400 bike crashes annually.

Summer Months

The City of Chicago Data Portal shows that in recent years, the majority of bike crashes happen in July and August. Children and adults may turn to this fun summer activity to relax and enjoy the city’s many sights, such as Lincoln Park Zoo, the Art Institute, or Navy Pier. However, this also makes crashes more likely, especially among tourists using Divvy Bike rentals.

Busy Intersections

Certain intersections in Chicago are far more prone to traffic crashes than others, including:

• North, Damen, and Milwaukee: Milwaukee Avenue alone has been the site of over 50 serious crashes, as it’s considered a cycling highway. However, this becomes even more dangerous when it intersects with two other major roadways.
• Lincoln and Clark: Though a small intersection, this area is located right next to the popular Lincoln Park Zoo.
• Irving Park, Cicero, and Milwaukee: Milwaukee Avenue is again a culprit at the Six Corners in Portage Park. Drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists all struggle to navigate the blind corners and confusing lights, and it’s also near hot destinations like parks and shopping centers.

High Pedestrian Areas

Bicycle safety is even more important when there are many pedestrians. Those walking many cause bike crashes when they rush out in front of cyclists before they’ve come to a complete stop. Some common crash hotspots in Chicago include the following.

• College Campuses: Chicago is home to many major colleges, including the University of Chicago, the University of Illinois-Chicago, the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT), Loyola University, Northwestern University, and DePaul University. Young adults may not be as aware of their surroundings, making them more likely to cause bike crashes.
• Schools: A student at Carl Schurz High School on the north side was killed in a cycling accident about a mile away from the school. Heavy foot traffic and minimal bike lanes make these tragedies more likely.
• Popular Attractions: The Museum Campus is home to the Field Museum, Adler Planetarium, and Shedd Aquarium, making it a very busy area. Sadly, this can lead to fatal accidents. In 2021, a 70-year-old man was struck and killed on Museum Campus Drive.

Even with advancements in bicycle safety, cyclists must still be cautious and follow all the rules of the road to help reduce the risk of bicycle accidents. For example, stay alert, use routes with protected bike lanes, come to a complete stop at intersections, and make eye contact with drivers so they are aware you are there.

Bicyclist Injuries

A bicycle accident can cause a range of injury types, from minor cuts to life-changing disabilities. Here are a few statistics to know about bicycle crash injuries:

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

Cyclist 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

While some bike crashes lead to minor injuries, others sadly result in death. One report found that cyclists are 2.3 times more likely to be killed than motor vehicle drivers, and it has a higher injury rate than other common recreational activities like basketball or soccer.

However, fatal accidents are not evenly distributed amongst cyclists, and some populations are more vulnerable than others. Statistics reveal the common trends amongst fatal crashes, including dangerous locations and cyclist attributes that put them more at risk.

• The highest number of bicyclist deaths was reported in 2022. There isn’t any data showing that more people are cycling than before.
• Most cyclist fatalities are not at intersections.
• Cyclist fatalities are more common in urban cities than in rural locations.
• The occurrence of cyclist fatalities decreased in the early 2000s and then increased yearly until peaking in the early 2020s.
• In Illinois, approximately one-third of cyclist traffic fatalities happened outside of the Chicago area in 2023.
• The Chicago area reported an annual total of seven fatal bike crashes.
• A total of 1,084 motor traffic fatalities involved cyclists in 2022, which is the highest number ever recorded.
• The majority (89%) of bicyclist deaths are those with an average age of 20 years or older.
• Males are more likely than females to suffer fatalities from a bike accident.

Illinois continues to improve bicycle safety through projects like the Vision Zero campaign, which also focuses on preventing bike accidents. To prevent more crashes, the city has commissioned specific Vision Zero studies for different sectors, such as on the Northwest side.

Additionally, enforcing an injury reporting system tool helps state officials and lawmakers better understand how bicycle use in the state correlates to cyclist fatalities. This is another reason why all cyclists must report bike accidents to the police as soon as possible.

Notable Cyclist Accidents

Even with the best bicycle safety and more bike lanes, fatal bicycle accidents have still happened with alarming frequency in recent years. One particularly tragic case is of Elizabeth “Lily” Grace Shambrook, who was only three years old when she was killed in 2022. Lily was in a child seat carrier on mother Kate Snow’s bike when they were forced to ride in the street due to an illegally parked utility truck.

As they approached the intersection, a semi-tractor-trailer knocked Snow’s bike to the ground and ran over Lily, killing her. The family sued the tractor-trailer driver, the utility company, and the City of Chicago in a wrongful death suit.

In 2023, an injured cyclist filed a negligence complaint against the city of Chicago for suffering permanent injuries after hitting a pothole. The case was elevated to the Illinois Supreme Court Aleve v. City of Chicago where a majority decision ruled that the city is not liable.

Compensation Available to Cyclists

Injured cyclists and pedestrians can seek compensation for the recovery of damages following driver negligence, including:

• Medical bills
• Lost wages
• Future medical expenses
• Future loss of income
• Property damage
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress

However, you must act quickly. Illinois law has a statute of limitations of just two years for personal injury (§735 ILCS 5/13-202). Contact our bike accident attorneys as soon as possible for a free consultation by calling (888) 424-5757 or using our online contact form.

All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.