Potholes are a fact of life in Chicago just about 365 days of the year. Some of them are deep too. Not only can they damage a car, but they can also cause bicycle accidents and serious injuries. Riders who are thrown off of their bikes can even get hit by a vehicle after landing on the pavement below. Fortunately, a bicyclist claim pursue compensation for their injuries and damages in a pot hole related accident.
What Causes Potholes?
Potholes develop over time from simple deterioration from cars, trucks and buses riding on roadways. Chicago’s brutally cold winters that are combined with snow, ice and salt also contribute to the development of potholes. Then, there’s the heavy equipment that’s used for snow and ice removal. Once spring comes, minor pavement chips or cracks can expand into dangerous craters. Of course, springtime is when most bicycles start coming out too.
Pothole Bicycle Crashes in Chicago
When potholes form on Chicago city streets, they become the responsibility of the City of Chicago. It must repair them as soon as possible. A pothole that’s deep enough can trap the front wheel of a bike and cause it to flip and throw the rider onto the cold and hard pavement. That’s when the rider is helplessly in danger of being hit by a motor vehicle on the roadway.
Liability in Chicago Pothole Bike Crashes
If a pothole on a Chicago city street is the result of repeated wear and tear over a long period of time, the City of Chicago might be determined to be liable for any injuries to a bicyclist who was injured by it. If the pothole only existed for a few days, the likelihood of liability decreases as the city didn’t have sufficient time to warn of or repair the condition.
What to Do if You’re Injured in a Chicago Pothole Bicycle Accident
If you’ve been injured in a Chicago pothole bicycle accident, and you’re physically able to do so, call 911 for assistance and ask that paramedics be dispatched to the scene right away. This call will be logged, and it could be useful evidence in the future. Paramedics can treat you at the scene and take you to a nearby hospital’s emergency room where further care and treatment can be given. If the 911 dispatcher is considerate enough to send police to the scene, a report of the accident will likely be made by the investigating officer. That report will probably be useful in the future too. If possible, have measurements of the pothole’s length, width and depth taken along with photographs. Save any torn or bloodied clothing and take photos of your damaged bike too. If the bike was repaired, keep the repair receipt in a file with your medical bills, reports and the like. If there were any independent witnesses to your accident, their contact information will be important for supporting your case too. After that, report the pothole to the City of Chicago by calling 311.
Reporting a pothole isn’t legal notice of personal injury to the City of Chicago though. Appropriate notice of a personal injury claim must be given to the city’s Claims Unit within one year of the date of the accident. Notice of a personal injury claim isn’t a lawsuit either. Under the circumstances, a personal injury claim notice isn’t a lawsuit either. You should consult with a qualified personal injury lawyer about the claim notice requirement and the possibility of a personal injury lawsuit as soon as you can after your accident.