Bicyclist Injured In Yorkville Police Car Accident By Route 34 and Game Farm Road

Personal Injury - August 20, 2022

Woman Injured In Yorkville Bicycle Accident With Police Vehicle Near The Intersection of Route 34 and Game Farm Road

Bicyclist Injured In Yorkville Police Car Accident By Route 34 and Game Farm Road

YORKVILLE, ILLINOIS (August 20, 2022) – A woman riding a bicycle was injured in a car accident with a Yorkville police officer by Route 34 and Game Farm Road.

Kendall County officials are saying that the collision took place around 2:32 a.m. on Wednesday. A woman was riding a bicycle when she entered an intersection and was struck by a police officer making a right turn.

Paramedics were called to the scene of the collision in order to help the victim. The bicyclist was transported to a local hospital in order to receive treatment for her injuries.

The police officer remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators. It remains unclear if the officer will receive any citations for the crash.

Liability In Yorkville Police Car Accidents

Far too many pedestrians are killed or seriously injured every year in car accidents. According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, “Crashes involving pedestrians accounted for 1.3% of total crashes, 15.8% of fatal crashes and 5.8% of injury crashes. Crashes involving pedalcyclists accounted for less than 1.0% of total crashes, 2.6% of fatal crashes and 3.8% of injury crashes.” Police vehicles can be particularly dangerous to pedestrians for a number of reasons.

  • Police officers are exposed to numerous potential distractions including service calls and their computer.
  • Police officers could be responding to an emergency in which they may need to violate traffic laws.
  • Police officers are often asked to work long hours at all times of the day and may naturally become fatigued.

Depending on the facts of any case, a police department could potentially bear liability for an accident. In many situations, police departments involved in car accidents have immunity from civil suits under the Illinois’ Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act. However, the police officer must have been responding to an emergency call. They must have also had their lights and sirens on. Even when all of these conditions are followed, a police officer could be liable for a crash if they showed a “willful and wanton” disregard for the safety of others. See, for example, Supreme Court of Illinois case Wilkins v. Rhonda Williams, Indiv. And, Inc.

When an officer is not responding to an emergency, they must follow all of the rules of the road like any other driver. They must exercise due care in order to avoid hitting any pedestrian. Pursuant to Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/11-1002), the driver of any vehicle must yield the right of way to a pedestrian or cyclist crossing in a lawfully marked crosswalk. If a police officer fails to reduce their speed to avoid hitting a pedestrian, this could form the basis of a negligence claim. There are a number of steps that should be taken after any pedestrian accident with a police vehicle.

  • Dashcam footage from the police officer involved in the crash should be examined.
  • Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
  • Medical records should be preserved.
  • A thorough, independent investigation should be conducted.

Any person that is injured due to the negligence of a police officer may have legal recourse through a bodily  injury claim. Damages in a civil claim can help cover lost wages, medical bills and pain and suffering. Sadly, though, police departments will often work hard to deny liability for any crash. A pedestrian accident attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.

Investigating A Illinois Police Car Accident

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our best wishes to the woman injured in this Yorkville  accident. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. There needs to be a thorough investigation for the sake of the victim.

Have you or someone that you care about been injured due to the negligence of an Illinois police officer? You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. Our team of bicycle safety advocates are here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into an accident we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.