Learning to ride a bike is a rite of passage for children. Not only is riding a bicycle healthy and fun for people of all ages, it is one of the first steps a child takes towards independence. While cycling is a great recreational activity, it is not without risks. According to Stanford Children’s Health, 254,000 children are injured and 100 are killed each year in bicycle-related accidents.
If your child has been injured in a bicycle accident, contact Mike Agruss Law for a free consultation. We are a Chicago-based injury law firm representing individuals (and their families) who have suffered an injury in an accident. We will handle your case quickly and advise you every step of the way, and we will not hesitate to go to trial for you. Lastly, Mike Agruss Law is not paid attorneys’ fees unless we win your case. Our no-fee promise is that simple. You have nothing to risk when you hire us – only the opportunity to seek justice.
Bicycle-Motor Vehicle Accidents
Most bicycle accidents are minor, with nothing more than a scraped knee. However, when a motor vehicle strikes a child, the results can be catastrophic. Fractures, head and neck injuries, nerve damage, lacerations, and traumatic brain injuries are among the most serious injuries a child may sustain, however, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), children under the age of 15 accounted for 7% of all cyclists killed in 2017.
When a motor vehicle strikes a bicycle, it isn’t always clear cut as to who is at-fault. Illinois has adopted the Tender Years Doctrine, which states that children under the age of seven (7) are incapable of negligence because they cannot recognize the risks that come with riding a bicycle, nor can they be liable for contributing to an accident.
If children aged seven to 14 are involved in a bicycle accident, the law would still consider them incapable of negligence, but the opposing party could overcome this by presenting sufficient evidence in court. The jury must take into account the age, experience, mental capacity, and intelligence of a child in determining the fault they may have played in the accident.
If your child was injured in a bicycle accident, you, as their parent, have the right to collect compensation on their behalf. This may include compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, emotional distress, lost wages, disability and disfigurement, loss of enjoyment of normal life, punitive damages, and wrongful death.
A bicycle accident can be a traumatic time, especially when your child is injured and in pain. Contact an experienced personal injury lawyer to discuss your child’s case and determine what compensation they may be entitled to.
We at Mike Agruss Law are proud to serve our fellow citizens in personal injury cases, especially when you or a loved one has been injured, and we are fully committed to protecting your rights and ensuring that the other party is held legally accountable when negligence occurs. We will fight until the very end to ensure that you are fully compensated for all injuries and losses resulting from the accident, including medical expenses, property damage, lost wages, and pain and suffering, and you won’t owe us a dime for our services.
We see you as a person, not just a client – and that makes us better at the work we do. We listen. We learn your story. And, as we help you get the money you deserve, we go above and beyond in a way most law firms never could and never would. Because we’re not just lawyers. And you’re not just a client. We’re friends, neighbors, family. We’re all people and here at Mike Agruss Law, we put People, First.
Helping our clients is about counseling, advocating, and ultimately solving problems. With years of experience successfully representing the people, not the powerful, we will take care of the insurance adjusters, your medical bills, your property damage, your lost wages, and monitor your treatment so you can focus on healing and getting your life back to normal. Our unique formula has earned us over 900 outstanding client reviews on our website, an A+ BBB rating, and over 120 five-star reviews on Google. Call 888-572-0176, e-mail us at [email protected], or schedule a meeting with us here. We’re here 24/7.
