Chicago, IL (August 1, 2016) – Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. has filed a lawsuit against a truck driver and his company on behalf of the family of Virginia Murray, who died after she was struck while riding a Divvy bicycle in the Avondale neighborhood.
Virginia Murray, 25, was an experienced bike rider who was wearing a helmet and abiding by the rules of the road on the morning of July 1. According to a police report, Murray and a flatbed truck were both traveling north on Sacramento Avenue when the truck ran Murray over while attempting to make a turn onto Belmont Avenue. Murray suffered head trauma as a result of the accident and was taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.
The deadly crash marks the first known fatality of a bike-sharing rider nationwide and comes as the city of Chicago and more than 100 municipalities around the country are implementing or expanding rideshare programs to attract more riders. In Chicago, Divvy offers more than 5,800 bikes to nearly 2 million Chicagoans.
“The number of bikes on the road is outgrowing the number of bike lanes in the city. This horrific accident sheds light on the fact drivers need to be extra vigilant of their surroundings, especially in a city where biking is such a common mode of transportation,” Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., said.
The lawsuit filed Monday in Cook County Court asserts that the truck driver was negligent in failing to keep a proper lookout for bicyclists on the roadway and failing to yield the right of way to a bicyclist. Divvy, the city of Chicago, and the Chicago Department of Transportation are listed as Respondents in Discovery in the case, meaning the entities have information essential to the case against the defendants, Cosmin A. Radu and A&B Flooring Supplies, Inc.
“Asking bicyclists and motorists to peacefully coexist is a recipe for disaster. Ginny’s death tragically marks the nation’s first bike-sharing death. But if we cannot find a way to safely accommodate bikes on busy roadways, this will not be the last tragedy of this nature,” Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard said.
Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. and the parents of Virginia Murray will hold a press conference Monday at 2 p.m. at the Law Offices of Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., 22 W. Washington Street in Chicago. At the press conference, Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard will discuss the case and rideshare safety in more detail, as well as distribute a copy of the complaint. For questions or more details, please contact Marcie Mangan at (312)-372-1227 or mmangan@salvilaw.com.
