Bicycle Accident Attorneys Who Handle Right Hook Crashes

If you’ve been hurt in Chicago, our lawyers can help

One type of bicycle accident seen at intersections are right hook crashes. These accidents can leave bicyclists seriously injured and have a significant impact on their lives. The bicycle accident attorneys at Keating Law Offices, P.C. fight to help injured bicyclists recover the financial compensation they need and deserve.

A right hook accident happens when a car and a bicycle are traveling in the same direction on the road, each in their own lane. The bicyclist is to the right of the car, which is slightly ahead. At an intersection, the car takes a right turn – directly into the path of the bicycle. The bicyclist has no time to react and crashes into the moving vehicle.

Drivers have a responsibility to be aware of other vehicles near them and to take precautions to avoid a crash. The city of Chicago has a specific law addressing these types of crashes. Section 9-16-020 of the Municipal Code of Chicago states:

“When a motor vehicle and a bicycle are traveling in the same direction on any highway, street, or road, the operator of the motor vehicle overtaking such bicycle traveling on the right side of the roadway shall not turn to the right in front of the bicycle at that intersection or at any alley or driveway until such vehicle has overtaken and is safely clear of the bicycle.”

Drivers still cause right hook accidents with bicycles at intersections, usually because they were negligent. They may have been distracted or under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. They may have been driving recklessly. Whatever the reason, they were not being responsible.

If you’ve been injured, our lawyers can help

If you were hurt in a right hook accident with a negligent driver, you deserve financial compensation for your injuries. Recovering compensation can be difficult. Negligent drivers typically deny any responsibility for the crash and deny doing anything wrong. They may even try to blame you for what happened.

Don’t expect much help from insurance companies. They have their own best interests in mind, not yours. They try to keep payouts low in order to keep their profits high. So, they may dispute your claim. They may question the extent of your injuries, or your account of how the crash happened. They have lawyers working on their behalf.

That is why you need an experienced bicycle accident attorney working on your case. We are known for our work helping injured bicyclists. We know the tactics that insurance companies use to try to avoid responsibility and how to fight back. We’re proud to have helped hundreds of injured bicyclists recover financial compensation.

Attorneys with the experience that gets results

We begin by getting the facts for ourselves. Our legal team investigates your intersection crash. We review accident reports, medical records and other documents. We gather evidence, such as traffic camera video footage. We identify and interview witnesses. If needed, we consult with accident reconstruction experts.

Our attorneys know how to build strong cases that the insurance companies can’t ignore. When they see that we are ready to fight for you in court if necessary, they usually agree to talk about a settlement. Our lawyers are skilled negotiators and are only interested in a resolution of your case that meets your needs.

Learn more about how one of our bicycle accident attorneys can help you with your case. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.