Another Bicyclist Injured Near Chicago's "Most Crash-Prone" Intersection

Milwaukee, Ogden and Chicago

Another Chicago bicyclist has been injured near the intersection of North Milwaukee Avenue and Odgen Avenue.  At around 6:30 p.m. on April 5th a 41 year old male cyclist was struck by a left turning motorist as he rode northbound in the Milwaukee Avenue bike lane, about 30 feet south of the intersection with Ogden.  Northbound traffic was backed up in the main travel lane when the driver of a southbound 1999 Nissen turned left, squeezing between northbound traffic, to enter the parking lot of the CVS Pharmacy located at the intersection.  When she did she slammed into the left side of the cyclist throwing him onto the hood of the vehicle, then to the street where he suffered a fractured rib.  The cyclist was wearing a helmet and his bike was properly equipped with an operating headlamp.

My law firm has been retained to represent the injured cyclist. Initially, the driver stopped and apologized for striking him.  She offered her name, address and telephone number.  However, she refused to provide him with auto insurance information and left the scene when he pressed her for it.  We are in the process of tracking her down.

The intersection of Milwaukee and Ogden, which is also intersected by Chicago Avenue, is generally considered one of the most treacherous in Chicago.  At the same time, it is a part of the busiest corridor for cyclists, especially bicycle commuters, in the city.  A investigative piece appearing in the Chicago Sun-Times in September, 2012 called that intersection "the most crash-prone" in the city.  The article noted 38 crashes between motorists and cyclists or pedestrians between 2005 and 2010.  Streetsblog writer and bicycle advocate Steven Vance has also documented how crash prone the intersection is.  I have personally represented several cyclist injured at that intersection.