Chicago Accident and Injury Lawyer Blog

CHICAGO PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY SPEAKS ON JURY PERSUASION

Mon, 14 May 2012 10:43:45 -0600

Chicago personal injury attorney, Jeffrey J. Kroll has had outstanding success in the courtroom in a variety of personal injury matters, including car accidents, truck accidents and medical malpractice. Jeff spoke to the Kane County Public Defender's Office on May 11, 2012. Jeff spoke on the topic of "Using Life Experiences to Persuade Juries." The presentation was at the Kane County Judicial Center.

ILLINOIS BOATING ACCIDENT ATTORNEY SAYS KEEP SAFE WHILE BOATING

Wed, 09 May 2012 12:44:59 -0600

A friend recently purchased a new boat. He has two young sons and thought that the boat would provide them with endless father-son bonding time. One of his sons is two years old, the other is five. He asked my thoughts on bring the boys out on the water with him without another adult. Having just read an article on this very issue, I advised him against it. How could he possibly safely man the boat and make sure his very young children are safe? Even if both children were wearing their life jackets, there is no guarantee that the children will not suffer an injury.

As Illinois boat accident and injury attorneys, we know that many variables must be considered when boating with or without children. While little children can sustain injuries if they are not strapped down properly, older children, teenagers and adults can also suffer injuries if adequate precautions are not taken. According to the Illinois Department of National Resources, the primary causes of boating accidents are "operator inattention, alcohol use, careless/reckless operation and operator inexperience."

Boating accidents can result in serious personal injury or death. According to the recreational boating statistics compiled by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the United States Coast Guard for 2009:

- There were 4730 accidents that involved 736 deaths, 3358 injuries and approximately $36 million dollars of damage to property as a result of recreational boating accidents.

- The fatality rate was 5.8 deaths per 100,000 registered recreational vessels.

- Compared to 2008, the number of accidents decreased 1.23%, the number of deaths increased 3.81% and the number of injuries increased 0.81%.

- Almost three-fourths of all fatal boating accident victims drowned, and of those eighty-four (84) percent were not reported as wearing a life jacket.

- Operator inattention, operator inexperience, excessive speed, improper lookout and alcohol rank as the top five primary contributing factors in accidents.

- Alcohol use is the leading contributing factor in fatal boating accidents; it was listed as the leading factor in 16% of the deaths.

- Eighteen children under age thirteen lost their lives while boating in 2009. 50% of the children who died in 2009 died from drowning. 44% of those who drowned were wearing a life jacket as required by state law.

CHICAGO PREMISE LIABILITY ATTORNEY: HOW TO AVOID INJURIES ON THE PLAYGROUND

Tue, 08 May 2012 08:48:24 -0600

Thanks to the great weather we've had in March, many families have already had the opportunity to take advantage of all the many parks and playgrounds that Chicago has to offer. Hopefully, the rains will stop soon so my children can once again hit our local park. This year, my family is hoping we don't have the bad luck that we had last year when my three-year-old daughter broke her arm after falling off the mini-zip line equipment at the park. She wore a cast on her little arm for most of the summer.

According to the Boston Globe, the three most preventable playground injuries include: (1) leg fractures from riding down a slide with a parent; (2) head injuries and fractures from multiple kids jumping on trampolines; and (3) elbow fractures from falling off monkey bars. At all costs, parents should refrain from riding down slides with their children. (Of course, parents should not allow young children to ride down slides alone if the slide is too high for the child. Rule of thumb: keep the child within your reach.) In terms of trampolines, they simply are not safe for children under six years of age. Despite their popularity, trampolines cause many unnecessary head injuries. When opting to play on the monkey bars or other climbing apparatuses, choose parks for your children with rubber mats or deep wood chips under equipment. In the event that your child does fall while playing, the additional padding provided by wood chips and mats may minimize injuries.

Sometimes regardless of the steps parents take to keep their children safe, accidents happen. Parks Districts have a duty to use reasonable care to maintain their park equipment. A Park District may be held liable for an injury that occurs on its properties. The subject of immunity often comes up when dealing with lawsuits against entities like Park Districts; however, Jeffrey J. Kroll has successfully defeated immunity defenses in numerous cases by demonstrating willful and wanton misconduct on the part of a defendant. Playing at playgrounds and parks should be fun and safe for children, parents and caregivers.

CHICAGO MOTORCYCLE CRASH ATTORNEY: STAY SAFE

Mon, 07 May 2012 10:41:21 -0600

Over the weekend, there were at least two reported fatal motorcycle crashes in the Chicagoland area. In one bike accident, a Blue Island motorcyclist died in a crash with a car in Alsip, Illinois. In another accident, a Justice motorcyclist died in Woodridge, Illinois, in a crash with a semitrailer. We extend our deepest sympathies to the families of those involved in both fatal crashes.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the number of motorcyclist crash-related fatalities has more than doubled over the past ten years. The Chicago motorcycle and scooter accident attorneys at the Law Offices of Jeffrey J. Kroll have experience representing motorcycle and scooter riders and their families with personal injury and wrongful death claims. Motorcycle crashes often cause devastating, life-long injuries. Victims of a motorcycle accident may suffer physical pain, mental suffering, chronic disability, disfigurement, head trauma, brain injuries, paralysis and even death. There may also be economic losses due to job loss and medical expenses following a motorcycle crash. The Cook County motorcycle crash attorneys at the Law Offices of Jeffrey J. Kroll can file a lawsuit on your behalf against the individual who caused the crash to maximize monetary compensation for your injuries. Jeff Kroll has a plethora of experience representing victims of motorcycle accidents. For example, he resolved a lawsuit arising out of a serious motorcycle accident that took the life of a DuPage County sheriff. The motorcycle accident case settled for $1.1Million. He also resolved a case involving a Naperville man who was seriously injured when the driver of another vehicle lost control, drove in the opposite lane of traffic and collided with the motorcyclist who was patiently waiting at a red light on his stopped Harley Davidson. The case settled for the policy limits of $300,000.00.

Our Chicago motorcycle accident attorneys are also presently working on a number of serious motorcycle accident matters, actively pursuing justice for those who were wrongly injured. Some of our current motorcycle accident cases include assisting a Tinley Park woman, who suffered a fractured elbow, femur and tibia requiring the placement of a rod in her leg after she was involved in a serious motorcycle accident in Joliet while riding on the back of a Harley Davidson; and a St. Charles resident, who nearly needed his leg amputated, due to the multiple ankle fractures he sustained in a motorcycle crash.

The accident and injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Jeffrey J. Kroll also have experience representing individuals injured in scooter accidents. In fact, our scooter accident attorneys are currently representing the operator of a Vespa scooter, who was struck by a church van in a Chicago intersection. Sadly, our client suffered serious head injuries. In another scooter accident case being handled by our Chicago scooter accident attorneys, a female scooter operator fractured bones in her leg requiring placement of hardware in her leg.

WHEN DOCTORS SAY "I'M SORRY"

Thu, 03 May 2012 16:31:24 -0600

In Jeff Kroll's March 2012 Chicago Daily Law Bulletin article What does I'm sorry mean?, he discussed the meaning of "I'm sorry" in the litigation setting. A number of States have adopted or looked into adopting "apology" statutes, which shield a doctor or medical facility from liability in the event that the doctor, nurse or other healthcare provider says "I'm sorry" after making a medical mistake.

According to one news report, Massachusetts is one of the most recent State governments to explore the issue. There, the governor has introduced an "apology" statute as part of a "health care cost control bill." Several Massachusetts hospitals have already enacted what they call "apology programs." Proponents of such statutes believe that if doctors apologize for mistakes up front, those injured or wronged will be less inclined to sue. However, the issue is not as transparent as it seems.

Gabriel Teninbaum, an associate professor at Suffolk University Law School, in an interview with WBUR’s All Things Considered stated that the opposite, in fact, could be true. Professor Teninbaum states that "after suffering a terrible injury as a result of an accident, [a patient] will confuse a communication they have with their doctor as being intended to heal, when in fact it's intended to keep them from pursuing money damages." Often, when a doctor offers an apology in a hospital setting, the hospitals risk manager -- typically an attorney -- will make sure that the doctor is shielded from any potential liability. Perhaps the risk manager will offer the doctor's apology along with some sort of monetary compensation. The money may sound great to the injured patient at the time, but in most situations it will not reflect the true value of the injured patient's claim.

Anyone injured by a doctor or hospital staff member should contact an experienced medical malpractice attorney to help you decide if the health care provider failed to provide adequate care. In Illinois, individuals injured by doctors' negligence may sue for medical costs, loss of income and non-economic losses, such as pain and suffering, disability and disfigurement.

The medical malpractice attorneys at the Law Offices of Jeffrey J. Kroll acknowledge that apologizes could be a good thing. Many patients who suffered injuries at a doctor's hand would like to hear the doctor say "I'm sorry." However, an apology should not preclude an injured patient from seeking monetary damages in a lawsuit, if they so choose.

CHICAGO CAR CRASH ATTORNEYS SUPPORT DISTRACTED DRIVING AWARENESS MONTH

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 20:45:40 -0600

As Distracted Driving Awareness Month comes to a close, the Chicago accident and injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Jeffrey J. Kroll would like to remind everyone of the importance of driving cell free and encourage others to do so throughout the year. According to the National Safety Council, National Distracted Driving Awareness Month was enacted by the U.S. House of Representatives in a 410-2 vote on March 23, 2010. The resolution mentions 9-year-old Erica Forney, who was struck and killed by a distracted driver in Fort Collins, CO, in November 2008. Erica’s mother, Shelley Forney, is a founding board member of FocusDriven – Advocates for Cell-Free Driving. Each April, FocusDriven, a non-profit organization comprised of mothers, fathers, daughters, sons, sisters, brother, spouses and friends of individuals who have died as a result of the actions of distracted drivers, attempts to increase its efforts to educate the public about the dangers of cell phone-distracted driving and support victims and their families.

The personal injury and wrongful death attorneys at the Law Offices of Jeffrey J. Kroll are also dedicated to spreading the message about the dangers of distracted driving and supporting the families of victims affected by distracted driving. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), twenty percent of injury crashes in 2009 involved reports of distracted driving. In 2008, nearly 6,000 people died in crashes that involved distracted driving. Distracted driving does not only mean driving while using a cell phone. In fact, any activity that causes you to take your eyes off of the road, your hands off the steering wheel, or interrupts your concentration while driving, can be considered distracted driving. It also includes putting on makeup while driving, tending to children in the back seat or any other activity other than watching the road ahead of you.

Although Illinois, along with many other states, has made it illegal to operate a motor vehicle on a roadway while using an electronic communication device to compose, send, or read an electronic message, it is not unusual to see people engaging in this risky behavior on a daily basis. In a lawsuit, an attorney may subpoena a driver's cell phone records to see if they were talking on the phone at the time of the collision. The accident and death attorneys at the Law Offices of Jeffrey J. Kroll will do everything they can to ensure that victims of distracted driving are fairly compensated. Our attorneys can help you if you have been injured in an accident as a result of someone driving distracted.

SIGNING A RELEASE NAMING A DEFENDANT DRIVER IN A CAR ACCIDENT CASE GENERALLY EXTINGUISHES VICARIOUS LIABILITY

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 13:10:46 -0600

In Ahle v. D. Chandler, Inc., a recent Illinois Appellate court case from the 5th District involving an automobile accident, the appellate court reversed and remanded the circuit court's entry of summary judgment in favor of the defendant. Plaintiff was injured in a car accident with a pizza delivery man. The pizza delivery man had an insurance policy with Allstate. The pizza place, D. Chandler, Inc., d/b/a, Pizza Man, was insured by State Farm. Plaintiff's attorney submitted a joint demand to Allstate and State Farm. Allstate offered its policy limits. State Farm's adjustor responded to the demand stating, "As I previously explained, the State Farm policy would be excess to the liability coverage provided by Allstate." Plaintiff signed a release discharging the defendant driver and Allstate Insurance Company, but wrote in "excluding Pizza Man, Dennis Chandler." Plaintiff then filed a complaint naming D. Chandler, Inc. as a defendant.

The defendant filed a motion for summary judgment arguing that the plaintiff's settlement with Whitelaw, the driver, extinguished liability on the part of the defendant. The trial court granted the motion for summary judgment on the basis that the plaintiff signed a release that named the defendant driver.

The appellate court held that a genuine issue of material fact existed as to whether the plaintiff was misled when he settled for the policy limits of the delivery person's insurance based on the incorrect information he received from a State Farm adjustor that the employer's policy was an excess policy that would apply only after the delivery person's insurance was exhausted.

U.S. DOT REQUIRES MEDICAL EXAMINERS TO CONSIDER THE DEMANDS OF OPERATING LARGE TRUCKS AND BUSES

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 17:30:40 -0600

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) will now require healthcare professionals performing medical examinations on interstate truck and bus drivers to be trained, tested and certified regarding physical qualifications that specifically affect a driver's ability to safely operate a large vehicle, such as cardiovascular fitness, respiratory and muscular functions and vision and hearing issues. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and his staff have also made available an online registry database -- the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners -- which will provide the names of medical examiners nationwide that have submitted to and completed the certification process. By May of 2014, all certified medical examiners must be listed in the database and drivers must obtain medical examinations only from those so listed. As Illinois trucking accident attorneys, we were encouraged to hear this news earlier this month.

In an April 18, 2012 press release, the DOT stated that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) developed the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners final rule as part of the agency's commitment to enhancing the medical oversight of interstate drivers, and preventing commercial vehicle-related crashes, injuries and fatalities." Medical examiners who fail to maintain federal standards will be removed from the registry. The website will begin accepting registrations this summer.

To maintain a valid commercial driver's license, the DOT requires all commercial drivers to submit to and pass medical examinations every two years at a minimum. Medical examiners nationwide perform nearly three million medical examinations of commercial truck and bus drivers each year.

If you or a family member have been injured in an accident with a commercial truck or bus driver, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit against the driver and/or the driver's employer. Lawsuits may alleviate the costs of damages, such as physical pain and mental suffering, medical costs, loss of income, disability and disfigurement. Cases involving trucking and bus accidents are often very complex; therefore, victims and their families should contact an experienced accident attorney before making any serious decisions. There are many factors that may contribute to accidents with semi trucks, tractor-trailers and buses, including driver fatigue, distracted driving, unqualified drivers, under-ride problems, speeding and missed inspections.

BULLYING AND AUTISM LINKED

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 17:17:31 -0600

Over the past week, many newspapers and magazines have run stories regarding the increased risk of bullying affecting children and adolescents who have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Most of the stories derive from the results of a new study out of the Interactive Autism Network, which surveyed families with autistic and non-autistic siblings across the United States. Nearly two-thirds of the autistic children surveyed by the study's researchers had been the victims of some sort of bullying at one point in their lives. According to one article, the

"three most common types of bullying were …: “being teased, picked on, or made fun of” (73%); “being ignored or left out of things on purpose” (51%), and “being called bad names” (47%). But almost a third of autistic children also experienced physical bullying – being shoved, pushed, slapped, hit, or kicked."

Bullying happened most in regular public schools (43%). Having represented victims of bullying and hazing, the school liability attorneys at the Law Offices of Jeffrey J. Kroll were very interested in the results of the study.

The study further found that autistic children might also bully others (nearly 20% of kids with autism bullied.) Special needs children with development or emotional problems may not fully understand when they are bullying others. As a result, it is important for parents and caregivers of special needs children to maintain an open dialog with teachers and administrators to make sure the school is meeting all of the child's educational, emotional and developmental needs.

Unfortunately, bullying at school and hazing in high school and college have become a serious issue in this country. Children have suffered serious injuries, and even death, at the hands of other children who bully. Students who are bullied, hazed or otherwise injured while on -- and sometimes off of -- school property have certain rights and may be entitled to file a personal injury lawsuit if they can show the school or university failed to take reasonable steps to prevent the accident. The subject of school immunity often comes up when dealing with lawsuits against schools since Illinois generally provides teachers and other certified educational employees with limited immunity from negligence actions. However, Jeffrey J. Kroll has successfully defeated immunity defenses in numerous cases by demonstrating willful and wanton misconduct on the part of the school or school district.

$4.4 MIILION SETTLEMENT FOR CAR ACCIDENT BRAIN INJURY VICTIM

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 13:04:03 -0600

A $4.4 million dollar settlement was obtained by brain injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Jeffrey J. Kroll. Jeffrey J. Kroll and Heather A. Begley settled the matter for the brain-injured plaintiff in this matter who will now have sufficient funds to maintain 24-hour care and assisted living.

The car accident occurred in Chicago on I-57, just north of 103rd Street. The plaintiff was a passenger in the vehicle. Defendant lost control of the vehicle and the car left the roadway. The vehicle traveled across a grassy median, struck a guardrail fence and continued across the northbound lanes of traffic on I-57 and struck a northbound vehicle. The plaintiff - who was unemployed and a high school drop out - was thrown from the vehicle and sustained a permanent traumatic brain injury.

A master sergeant with the Illinois State Police reconstructed this collision. The reconstruction revealed that the defendant’s vehicle s traveling at least 79-mph in a 55-mph zone. Defendant was also traveling too fast for the existing conditions. Defendant was driving at an excessive speed with a blood alcohol well in excess of the legal limits (.144 BAC) and also tested positive for cocaine. Defendant died as a result of the collision. The defense contended that the plaintiff was contributorily negligent for voluntarily traveling in a vehicle with an intoxicated and high driver.

After the accident, the plaintiff received emergency care at Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn, Illinois. His Glasgow Coma Scale was 3, which demonstrates a severe brain injury. He was in a coma for over four months. He had a tracheostomy, a G-tube and was quadriplegic for an extended period of time. He still has a permanent scar on his neck and abdomen. He has scars on both forearms where tendon release surgery was performed at John Stroger Hospital. The tendon relief surgery was necessitated as neurological damage caused severe contractures to his upper extremities. The plaintiff was evaluated by a neuropsychologist who diagnosed the plaintiff with a diffuse cerebral brain impairment. Plaintiff has permanent impairments with problem solving and permanent cognitive deficits which require a supervised living situation for the remainder of his life. The neuropsychologist opined that the plaintiff is not employable, cannot operate a car, cannot shop independently, cannot make financial decisions, not permitted to cook, has a speech impairment, walks very slowly and has difficulty using both hands. He will require daily support and care for the rest of his life.

Judge Riley approved the settlement in the Circuit Court of Cook County on April 4, 2012.

NUMBER OF PRODUCT RECALLS IN CHILDREN'S PRODUCTS HAS DROPPED

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 08:22:15 -0600

KidsinDanger.org has released its annual report on children's product recalls from the Consumer Products Safety Commission. There was a drop in the number of recalls involving children's products. In 2010, there were 160 recalls involving children's products and in 2011, there were 121 products. It is clear that the number of recalls for lead has dropped.

Most of the products were nursery products or toys. Other types of products recalled included: clothing, sports equipment, furniture and jewelry. Our Chicago products liability attorneys are experienced at representing families whose loved ones have been injured as a result of negligence and faulty product design.

A recall is often a massive undertaking. Three of the items recalled in 2011 involved more than a million units. However, when the hazards involved include suffocation, strangulation, falls and amputations, it is a necessary step to protect children. Dangerous toys, cribs and products are a major concern to our children's safety.

JURORS MAY ASK WITNESSES QUESTIONS IN CIVIL TRIAL

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 08:54:43 -0600

As a Chicago personal injury attorney, I have wondered at trial if the jurors have questions for the witnesses. I may find out the answer to that question beginning this summer. The Illinois Supreme Court, on April 3, 2012, approved Rule 243 in permitting questions from jurors in civil cases. The questions will be submitted in writing and directed towards witnesses. However, the court will have the discretion as to which questions are asked. As an additional safeguard, the judge with admonish jurors that they should not worry about the omission or alteration of questions, because procedures are taken by the court in following the rules of evidence.

More than half of the states and all of the federal circuits have a rule similar to Rule 243, in submitting questions by jurors. The new rule will go into effect July 1, 2012. The Committee Comments explain, and our Chicago trial lawyers agree, that the new rule is a way to “improve juror comprehension, attention to the proceedings, and satisfaction with jury service.” Ill. Sup. Ct. R. 243(e), Committee Comment (April 3, 2012).

Once a question is allowed to be directed towards a witness, the court will ask the witness the question and then provide counsel with a chance to ask any follow-up questions. However, both the witness and counsel will be restricted in scope in only asking and answering the specific question posed. Once a question is permitted, the question itself will be marked as an exhibit and made a part of the record. Ill. Sup. Ct. R. 243(b)

Another supporter of Rule 243, Chief Judge James F. Holderman of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, explained that he has been using questions from jurors for more than five years and once the jurors are deliberating, it appears that fewer questions come out of the jury room. John B. Simon, chair of the Rules Committee, believes the scrutiny given to the proposal before its adoption will benefit not only jurors, but lawyers, judges and the entire system of justice.

All counsel will get to review the written questions and will also get a chance to object. Chief Justice Kilbride assured attorneys, at a public hearing in May 2011, that the execution of this rule rests with the discretion of the trial judge and that the testimony the rule extracts will comport with the rules of evidence. Press Release, Supreme Court of Illinois, New Rule Will Allow Jurors to Submit Questions to Witnesses in Civil Trials (Apr. 3, 2012).

TEEN DRIVERS INVOLVED IN FEWER FATALITIES

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 11:11:04 -0600

The number of teen fatalities caused by automobile crashes in Illinois has significantly decreased. There was a 48 percent decrease in the number of teen fatalities in 2011 compared to 2007.

The decrease in teen fatalities may be attributed to an Illinois program aimed at improving the safety of teen drivers on the road. The program, Operation Teen Safe Driving, was implemented in 2007. While there is always room for improvement, our Chicago car accident attorneys concur with Illinois Transportation Secretary Ann Schneider who has stated,

“Illinois is a national leader in teen safety. The innovation, dedication and collaborative efforts of IDOT and partners in successful programs like OTSD have significantly impacted and improved roadway safety across the state. The peer-led program creates student ownership and allows participants to analyze traffic safety issues, utilize problem solving skills, generate and implement creative solutions directly within their community.”

Parents and schools are an essential part of the link in keeping teen drivers safe. Teen drivers should be reminded to never drive distracted. Remind teenagers to wear seat belts anytime that they are in the car.

MAKE BICYCLE SAFETY A PRIORITY THIS SPRING

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 13:56:24 -0600

As Chicago bicycle accident attorneys, we know that this unseasonably warm Spring weather will inevitably call many to get their bikes out of storage and hit the countless miles of bike paths and pavement available throughout Chicago and beyond. It is critical for all bicycle riders, novice or seasoned, to ensure that they have the essential bicycle safety equipment, including a properly fitted bicycle helmet. According to the Illinois Secretary of State, other important safety equipment includes the addition of a front light with visibility up to at least 500 feet (especially for night riders); clear front reflectors; red rear reflectors visible from 100 to 600 feet; a horn or bell that can be heard up to 100 feet; reliable, properly adjusted brakes; wheel-mounted side reflectors; reflector pedals; adjusted and smoothly operating gears; a properly adjusted seat; and properly secured attachments on any other bike feature, such as handlebars.

Bicyclists, young and old, must obey the same traffic laws, signs and signals as motorists. Last year, the Chicago Accident and Injury Lawyer blog posted an informative piece on bicycle "dooring" accidents. "Dooring" accidents, which occur when motorists open car doors into bike lanes thereby knocking down bicyclists, can cause serious and life-threatening injuries.

Bicyclists must take steps to protect themselves. They must ride in the same direction as other traffic, not the opposite side. If a bicyclist is riding on a sidewalk, he must obey all pedestrian signs and signals and yield the right-of-way to pedestrians. It is advisable to audibly signal pedestrians when approaching them from behind to avoid any unnecessary pedestrian accidents or injuries. It is vital to pay attention to your surroundings when biking. Watch motorists and pedestrians and make sure that you are visible to them as well. When approaching school buses, bicyclists, like motorists, must come to a complete stop if the bus has activated its flashing signal lights and its STOP arm.

Motorists also have obligations to bicyclists. In Illinois, those driving vehicles must put at least 3 feet of space between their vehicle and a bicyclist in the event of passing. The Illinois Secretary of State has published a plethora of information on bicycle safety, including proper arm signals, turning procedures, explanations of pavement markings, parking procedures, right-of-way laws, and signage information.

To prevent injuries to bicyclists and pedestrians, automobile, truck and bus drivers must keep their eyes on the lookout for bicyclists and pedestrians, especially as the weather warms up throughout Spring and Summer. No texting, emailing, facebooking or tweeting while driving please. The same goes for bicyclists. It is essential that bicyclists keep their eyes on the road at all times. Although the road may appear to be wide open one moment, a motorist, bicyclist or pedestrian can appear at any time.

CHICAGO BICYCLE ACCIDENT ATTORNEYS DISCUSS RECALL OF GORE BIKE BRAKES

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 09:50:22 -0600

As Chicago bicycle injury attorneys, we are always on the lookout for information that could enhance the safety of the biking community. We just recently learned that the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Health Canada announced a voluntary recall of Gore Bicycle Brake Cables for Road Bikes. The CPSC recommends that all consumers stop using bicycles with these recalled Gore brake cables if they are installed on a Campagnolo-style brake lever. The specific hazard listed by CPSC states that the Gore brake cables may detach from Campagnolo style brake levers, causing brakes to fail and posing a fall hazard. It suggests that consumers contact the manufacture W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc. (Gore) of Elkton, MD, toll free at (888) 914-4673 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday or visit the firm's website at www.rideoncables.com, for a free replacement cable kit. CPSC's website states that Gore will reimburse consumers for the repair cost.

Approximately 9,700 Gore bike brake cables have been made available in the United States and about 200 have been made available in Canada. At this point, Gore is aware of only one report of a detached brake cable. So far, no injuries have been reported. CPSC's website has a list of UPC codes affected by this recall. CPSC also states that it is interested in learning about other incident or injury reports that relate to this product recall or involve any other type of hazard related to this product.

As bicycle crash attorneys, we know that individuals involved in any type of bicycle-related accident may suffer severe head and body injuries, and possibly death. The bicycle accident and injury attorneys at Law Offices of Jeffrey J. Kroll have over twenty years experience in handling every type of bicycle accident case imaginable. Many bicycle accidents in Chicago involve vehicles and occur at intersections, near alleys, cross walks, school areas, playgrounds, bike lanes, sidewalks and bike paths. Too many devastating accidents are caused by distracted drivers who are not watching the road carefully. Bicyclists may minimize injury by using proper equipment, such as a bicycle helmet.

To prevent injuries, automobile, truck and bus drivers must keep their eyes on the lookout for bicyclists and pedestrians, especially as the weather warms up during Chicago's Spring months. No texting, emailing, facebooking or tweeting while driving please. Although the road may appear to be wide open one moment, a bicyclist or pedestrian can appear at any time. Illinois requires that drivers exercise due care to avoid colliding with anyone operating a bicycle, with a pedestrian, or with any other device propelled by human power. 625 ILCS 5/11-1003.1