When Taxis Attack

In August and September, 2011 a 25 year old female graduate student was struck by two taxi cabs in Chicago from the same company.  Different drivers were involved in the incidents.  In the August incident, the bicyclist was riding southbound on North Clark Street at the intersection with West Ontario.  She passed through the intersection with a green light at around 12:20 p.m.  At the same time a taxi owned by American United turned left onto southbound Clark Street from westbound Ontario, running the light.  The driver struck the bicyclist when she reached the southern most crosswalk at the intersection.  After the collision the driver allegedly attempted to flee, but a nearby female witness began beating the cab with her purse insisting that the driver stop.  He did.

The bicyclist was treated at nearby Northwestern Memorial Hospital for a back injury and numerous scraps and bruises.

By the end of September the woman's condition had improved and she was back on her bicycle.  At around 10:15 a.m. on September 29th she was again riding her bike southbound on Clark, this time just south of Division Street.  She was on her way to deliver a completed school assignment.  At the same time a taxi driver with American United came up behind her and became impatient.  The driver attempted to pass her on the left crossing the center lane of traffic into northbound Clark.  When he did he passed so close that his passenger side view mirror hooked the cyclist's backpack and dragged her hard to the ground.  The incident re injured the cyclist's back.  She continues to work toward recovery more than three months following these incidents.

My law firm is representing the bicyclist against the cab company.