Chicago Bicycle Accident — $100,000 Settlement in Chicago
Key Takeaways
- Allstate denied liability and made no settlement offer after receiving our demand package.
- The insurer relied on its insured’s assertion that our client had been riding northbound in a southbound bicycle lane.
- Our client suffered fractures of the left tibial plateau and fibular head that required surgery.
- His documented medical expenses totaled $102,669.73.
- After we filed a lawsuit and pursued the case through discovery, the matter settled for $100,000.00.
What Happened
On a Wednesday evening in June, our client was riding his bicycle near 7599 South South Shore Drive in Chicago. A motorist making a right turn collided with his bicycle.
Our client initially received emergency evaluation at South Shore Hospital. He later underwent additional treatment for significant orthopedic injuries, including surgery on July 6, 2022.
Liability remained contested. The driver maintained that our client had been traveling northbound in a bicycle lane designated for southbound traffic, and Allstate relied on that account when denying the claim.
The Injury
The collision caused a fracture of the upper left shinbone, medically identified as a tibial plateau fracture, as well as a fracture of the fibular head. Medical evaluation also identified a small effusion in the injured knee joint.
The tibial plateau fracture required corrective surgery. Our client continued treating through December 2022, and his documented medical expenses totaled $102,669.73.
The Insurance Company's First Offer
After receiving our demand package, Allstate denied liability and made no settlement offer. The insurer relied on its insured’s assertion that our client had been riding northbound in a southbound bicycle lane.
Why That Offer Was Too Low
Allstate’s denial treated the driver’s account as controlling even though the collision occurred while the driver was making a right turn across the path of a bicyclist. The directional bike-lane allegation created a genuine comparative-fault dispute, but it did not necessarily eliminate the driver’s responsibility for observing surrounding traffic and executing the turn safely.
The denial also left no compensation available for fractures requiring surgery and $102,669.73 in documented medical expenses. Because Allstate maintained its position after receiving our demand, litigation became necessary to continue developing the liability evidence and pursue compensation.
What We Did
Our firm obtained and reviewed the medical records, medical bills, and available collision information. We documented the tibial plateau fracture, fibular head fracture, knee-joint effusion, surgery, and subsequent treatment. We then submitted a demand presenting the injuries and our client’s account of the collision.
When Allstate denied liability based on the directional bike-lane allegation, we filed a lawsuit in the Circuit Court of Cook County. We pursued the case through the discovery process, requiring the disputed liability positions to be addressed within formal litigation.
The case settled for $100,000.00 on December 20, 2023, less than two months after the lawsuit was filed and without proceeding to trial.
Timeline
- Accident occurred June 15, 2022
- Emergency treatment began June 15, 2022
- Surgery occurred July 6, 2022
- Claim opened October 19, 2022
- Treatment completed / maximum medical improvement reached December 19, 2022
- Demand sent September 8, 2023
- Lawsuit filed October 27, 2023
- Settlement agreement reached December 20, 2023
Total duration: 18 months
Why This Case Matters
This case involved more than a disagreement over the value of the injuries. Allstate denied the entire claim based on its insured’s assertion that our client had been traveling in the wrong direction within the bicycle lane. That allegation created a comparative-fault issue capable of preventing any recovery if it went unchallenged.
The injuries were nevertheless substantial. Our client sustained two fractures near the left knee, underwent surgery, and incurred $102,669.73 in documented medical expenses. When the demand package did not change Allstate’s liability position, we filed suit and moved the dispute into formal discovery.
The case settled for $100,000.00 less than two months after the lawsuit was filed. The result demonstrates how litigation can move a serious-injury claim forward when the principal obstacle is a disputed account of how the collision occurred.
The Final Result
$100,000.00
The case settled for $100,000.00 after Allstate initially denied liability and made no monetary offer. The insurer relied on its insured’s claim that our client had been riding in the wrong direction within the bicycle lane.
Our firm filed a lawsuit in the Circuit Court of Cook County and pursued the case through discovery. The settlement was reached less than two months after filing suit and approximately 18 months after the collision, resolving the disputed-liability claim without a trial.
Frequently Asked Questions
An insurance company’s liability denial is its evaluation of the evidence, not a binding determination of fault. A bicyclist’s direction of travel, roadway position, visibility, and compliance with traffic laws may affect comparative fault, but the motorist’s conduct must also be evaluated. Here, Allstate initially relied on the driver’s account and denied the claim, but the case later settled for $100,000.00 after litigation began.
Discovery is the formal process through which the parties exchange information and obtain evidence after a lawsuit is filed. It may include written questions, document requests, subpoenas, depositions, photographs, video, medical records, and testimony about how the collision occurred. In a disputed bicycle case, discovery can help examine the driver’s and bicyclist’s competing accounts rather than allowing the insurer’s initial interpretation to control the claim.
About the Attorney
Get a Free Consultation
Talk to a lawyer about your case
If you or a loved one was hurt in an accident anywhere in Illinois, don't wait. The sooner we get involved, the stronger your case. Call us for a free consultation — we'll listen to what happened, give you an honest assessment of your options, and tell you exactly what comes next.
No runaround. No fees unless we win.