By: Alex Salinas
CHICAGO (July 17, 2019) – A 25-year-old woman riding a Divvy bike was critically injured when she was struck from behind by a Honda Civic that fled the scene.
The collision occurred in the 2600 block of West Chicago Avenue in Humboldt Park around 11 p.m. Sunday night. According to Chicago Police, the woman riding the Divvy bicycle was seriously injured when the car jumped a curb and hit a tree. The driver did not stop and was last seen fleeing westbound on Chicago Avenue.
The woman was transported to Stroger Hospital in critical condition. The Chicago Police Major Accidents Unit is investigating the crash but currently, no one is in custody.
Chicago is home to the Divvy bike share system, which provides riders with a convenient and affordable transportation option for getting around. But despite its perks, cycling can be very dangerous. For example, less than a month before this hit and run accident, a man riding a Divvy bike in the River North neighborhood was also the victim of a hit-and run.
According to the City of Chicago’s 2012 Bicycle Crash Analysis, on average there was at least one bicycle crash per day involving a hit-and-run motorist – and for pedestrians, the rate was double this amount. This data further shows that pedestrian and bicycle accidents, when combined, account for approximately two-thirds of all injuries and well over half of all fatalities associated hit-and-run crashes in Chicago.
As more people take advantage of the activity of biking in the city, they increase the risk of being involved in collisions between cyclists and vehicles. The National Highway Safety Transportation Administration (NHSTA) reports that in 2013 approximately 48,000 people were seriously injured nationwide, and 743 people were killed in crashes between bicycles and motor vehicles. Illinois was the site of 30 of those deaths, making it the state with the fifth highest bicycle crash fatality rate.
If you do encounter the unfortunate event of being involved in a biking accident, and the driver responsible for the collision fails to remain at the scene, then there are some important things that cyclists should keep in mind. For instance, if you are able, try to remember as much information as possible as that can be highly valuable to investigators. Details such as the make, model, color of the car, and any other details that you can remember may also be useful in identifying the person responsible for the collision.
If you or a loved one is injured in a biking accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. At Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard, P.C., our lawyers are here to serve you. Contact us today for your free consultation with a knowledgeable bicycle accident lawyer.
