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Chicago Bicycle Accident Lawyer

We represent cyclists hit by drivers in Chicago, and we build these cases around Illinois road rules rather than the assumption that the rider must have done something wrong, because that assumption shows up in crash reports and adjuster notes with remarkable consistency.


When cyclists get hurt, we stand up for your rights. Call before you talk to the driver's insurer.

Why Cyclists Bring Us Their Cases

The firm holds an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.

Firm attorneys have earned Super Lawyers recognition, Top 40 Under 40, and Litigator of the Year honors.

Recoveries across the firm's injury practice range from $525,000 to $7,925,000.

Every case is personally overseen by Managing Partner R. Joseph Kramer, who litigated multi-billion-dollar mass tort claims against major corporations before founding the firm in 2018.

One cyclist this firm represented went through two surgeries and months of physical therapy before the case resolved. Dooring injuries and bike lane collisions routinely require that level of treatment, and the insurer's opening position rarely reflects it.

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On Two Wheels, You Still Have the Right of Way

Riding in Chicago should be safe, and one careless moment from a driver can end that in a second. Cyclists absorb impacts with no crumple zone and no airbag, which is why bike crashes produce fractures, head trauma, and worse from collisions that leave the vehicle barely marked.


The harder problem is what happens afterward. Riders get blamed by default, and the version of events in the crash report is often the driver's, because the cyclist was being loaded into an ambulance when the officer took statements.

What Illinois and Chicago Law Actually Say About Your Rights

Cycling crashes are not car accidents with a different vehicle. The cases we handle most often involve:

  • Dooring, where a driver or passenger opens a door into the bike's path.
  • Right-of-way disputes at intersections, driveways, and parking lot exits.
  • Right hooks and left crosses, where a driver turns across a rider already in the lane.
  • Bike lane collisions, unsafe passing, and unsafe street conditions.
  • Hit-and-run crashes and drivers who claim they never saw the cyclist.


The rule underneath most of these is 625 ILCS 5/11-1502. A person riding a bicycle on a highway is granted the rights, and carries the duties, of the driver of a vehicle, except where a bicycle-specific provision applies or a rule cannot sensibly apply to a bike. A pedal bicycle is not itself within the Vehicle Code's definition of "vehicle," which is a distinction insurers sometimes exploit, but the rights it grants a rider are the same ones a driver has.

  • Dooring

    Chicago addresses this directly. Municipal Code Section 9-80-035 prohibits opening a vehicle door on the traffic side until it is reasonably safe to do so, and prohibits leaving that door open longer than loading or unloading requires. A driver who swings a door into a bike lane has violated a specific local ordinance, which is a materially stronger starting point than a general negligence argument.

  • Unsafe passing

    Illinois requires drivers to leave at least three feet when overtaking a cyclist. Passes that violate that distance produce sideswipes and forced-off-the-road crashes where the driver often never stops.

  • Comparative fault

    Under 735 ILCS 5/2-1116, sharing some fault reduces a recovery rather than ending it, and bars a claim only above 50%. Illinois has no adult bicycle helmet requirement, and helmet use is not a legal bar to recovery, though insurers raise it constantly.


    Vehicle-strike cases share the same evidence problems whether the person hit was riding, walking, or driving, and we handle car accident claims and pedestrian accident claims out of the same practice.

How We Counter the Bias Against Cyclists

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Thorough Investigations

We pull traffic camera footage, reconstruct the collision, and take witness statements rather than accepting the police report's version.

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Challenging Insurance Bias

Adjusters shift blame to riders as a matter of routine. We push back with ordinance violations and physical evidence rather than argument.

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Documenting complex injuries

Cycling injuries often mean surgery, rehabilitation, and long stretches away from work. We claim every consequence, including lost earning capacity and the bike itself.

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Standing with Chicago Cyclists

Whether the crash happened on Milwaukee Avenue, in Logan Square, or anywhere else in the city, the preparation is the same.

Questions Chicago Cyclists Ask Us

  • Who is liable if a cyclist gets doored in Chicago?

    Generally the person who opened the door. Chicago's ordinance requires that a door not be opened on the traffic side until it is reasonably safe, so a dooring collision usually establishes a violation on its face. Liability can extend to a rideshare or delivery company where a passenger or employee was involved in the course of that work.

  • What are my rights as a cyclist hit by a car in Illinois?

    On a public roadway you hold the rights of a vehicle driver, including the right of way at intersections and the right to occupy a lane where conditions require it. A pedal bike is not classified as a "vehicle" under the Vehicle Code's definitions, but that does not reduce those rights. A driver's failure to yield, turn safely, or pass at a safe distance is negligence exactly as it would be if you had been in a car.

  • Do I need a lawyer for a bike accident?

    If you were treated at a hospital, missed work, or the driver's insurer has contacted you, yes. Bike cases draw more aggressive fault-shifting than car cases, and the police report often reflects the driver's account by default.

  • Does not wearing a helmet hurt my claim?

    Illinois has no adult bicycle helmet requirement, and helmet use is not a legal bar to recovery. Insurers still raise it to argue comparative fault, which is one of the arguments we prepare for from the outset.

  • What compensation can I recover after a cycling crash?

    Medical costs, lost income, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, and the bike and gear. What the claim is actually worth depends on the severity of the injury and the coverage available, which is what a case review establishes.

  • What if the driver left the scene?

    You may still have a claim through uninsured motorist coverage on your own auto policy, which can apply to a cyclist struck by an unidentified driver. Nearby camera footage also resolves a meaningful number of hit-and-run bike cases when it is pulled quickly.

This is a great firm that helped me a lot and gave me great legal advice. Joe was very very helpful, he is an amazing expert who guides you very well and assists you in everything. Everybody is reachable at the firm which is very important for me.

Yasemin K.

This is a great firm that helped me a lot and gave me great legal advice. Joe was very very helpful, he is an amazing expert who guides you very well and assists you in everything. Everybody is reachable at the firm which is very important for me.
Joe and his staff really went above and beyond to help our family during a difficult time. He took the time to get to know us and our family. His genuine compassion for people is evident each time you speak to him. He responds quickly and efficiently. Months after our case was closed, I reached out to him regarding matters that unexpectedly arose. He helped me to remedy the situation without hesitation. I would recommend him to everyone! He was recommended to us by an attorney friend of ours from Alabama.

Toni B.

Joe and his staff really went above and beyond to help our family during a difficult time. He took the time to get to know us and our family. His genuine compassion for people is evident each time you speak to him. He responds quickly and efficiently. Months after our case was closed, I reached out to him regarding matters that unexpectedly arose. He helped me to remedy the situation without hesitation. I would recommend him to everyone! He was recommended to us by an attorney friend of ours from Alabama.
I was in a car accident and after a couple x-rays confirmed there were no broken bones I assumed I was ok. However, it didn’t take long to figure out I needed further attention. I have a son with special needs who needs help getting dressed and bathing. It was getting more difficult to do this. After trying to ignore the pain I was experiencing I finally realized it wasn’t going to go away without some medical attention. I didn’t know where to begin. The insurance company representing the driver who had hit me made me feel as if my claims weren’t veritable. Feeling overwhelmed I gave Joe at Kramer Injury Law a call. A friend we trusted had recommended him. His team immediately offered not only the legal help I needed but compassion and validation. I am now getting the medical attention I need to be able to care for my son the way I did before I was in the car accident. There are many attorneys in the Chicago land area but finding the right one can be intimidating. In my opinion Joe from KRAMER INJURY LAW has got to be the BEST CAR ACCIDENT LAWYER in the CHICAGOLAND area. I would in good conscience recommend him to anyone with a similar need.

Sharilyn D.

I was in a car accident and after a couple x-rays confirmed there were no broken bones I assumed I was ok. However, it didn’t take long to figure out I needed further attention. I have a son with special needs who needs help getting dressed and bathing. It was getting more difficult to do this. After trying to ignore the pain I was experiencing I finally realized it wasn’t going to go away without some medical attention. I didn’t know where to begin. The insurance company representing the driver who had hit me made me feel as if my claims weren’t veritable. Feeling overwhelmed I gave Joe at Kramer Injury Law a call. A friend we trusted had recommended him. His team immediately offered not only the legal help I needed but compassion and validation. I am now getting the medical attention I need to be able to care for my son the way I did before I was in the car accident. There are many attorneys in the Chicago land area but finding the right one can be intimidating. In my opinion Joe from KRAMER INJURY LAW has got to be the BEST CAR ACCIDENT LAWYER in the CHICAGOLAND area. I would in good conscience recommend him to anyone with a similar need.
Testimonials

What Our Clients Say

Hit While Riding? Let's Set the Record Straight

The driver's insurer has already started building a story about what you did wrong. We build the other one, using ordinance violations, physical evidence, and footage that is still recoverable if someone asks for it now. Free case review, no fee unless we win.