Personal Injury Law

Hit-and-Run Driver Seriously Injures Bicyclist

By Kristina Labanauskas

A hit-and-run driver stuck a bicyclist Wednesday afternoon while she was riding on the shoulder of Huntley Road in West Dundee, Illinois. The Carpentersville woman was seriously injured and was taken to the hospital. Witnesses believe the car was a silver Honda Civic.

In Illinois, it is not only against common sense and decency, but it is also against the law for a driver to not stop at the scene after an accident. In fact, the driver's failure to stop can result in a felony conviction.

As for the injured party, don't lose all hope. Sadly, you might never get the justice you deserve in seeing the at-fault driver suffer the criminal consequences of his or her wrongful and callous conduct. However, you may be able to recover for your injuries and cover the expenses of your medical treatment and other losses through your uninsured motorist (UM) coverage, which Illinois drivers are required by law to carry.

UM coverage is used when there is no coverage at all on the other vehicle. This can apply not just when the other driver has no insurance but also when a driver is the victim of a hit-and-run accident.

So, take care of yourself and your injuries, and discuss your options with your insurance company and a licensed attorney.

Full post as published by Cook County Personal Injury Lawyer on September 18, 2008 (boomark / email).