John Greenfield Injured In Marion Bicycle Accident By West Deyoung Street and North Russell Street
Automobile Accidents - April 25, 2023
Streetsblog Co-founder John Greenfield Injured In Marion Car Accident While Riding Bicycle By The Intersection of West Deyoung Street and North Russell Street
MARION, ILLINOIS (April 25, 2023) – A bicyclist identified as John Greenfield was injured in a Marion bicycle accident involving an object that fell from a pickup truck.
Williamson County officials are saying that the accident took place around 12:30 p.m. on Friday near the intersection of West Deyoung Street and North Russell Street. John Greenfield was riding a bicycle during some type of tour when he was struck by a culvert that fell from a pickup truck.
Paramedics were called to the scene in order to help the victim. An ambulance took John Greenfield to the Memorial Hospital of Carbondale where he was placed in a medically induced coma.
The victim’s brother said he hasn’t fully regained consciousness following the accident. Police cited the driver of the truck for having an unsecured load.
John Greenfield is well-known for being a co-founder of Streetsblog Chicago. He has been particularly interested in helping efforts to make the infrastructure of the city safer for bicyclists.
Streetsblog Chicago is a daily source informing Chicagoans about dangerous streets and roads.
Liability For Marion Bicycle Accidents
Thousands of people are seriously injured every year in bicycle accidents. According to the Centers for Disease Control, “Nearly 1,000 bicyclists die and over 130,000 are injured in crashes that occur on roads in the United States every year. The costs of bicycle injuries and deaths from crashes typically exceed $23 billion in the United States each year.” There are a number of steps that city’s can take in order to help prevent bicycle accidents.
- Cities should help ensure that intersections are well illuminated.
- Cities should study which roads and intersections have a history of accidents.
- Cities should install traffic calming measures along roadways and intersections to reduce speeding.
Accidents involving road debris are much more common than many people realize. According to one study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, over a four year period there were more than 200,000 crashes caused by debris in the roadway. Drivers are legally obligated to take action to prevent objects in or on their vehicles from falling into the road.
Pursuant to Illinois 625 ILCS 5/15-109 b, “No person shall operate on any highway any vehicle with any load unless said load and any covering thereon is securely fastened so as to prevent said covering or load from becoming loose, detached, or in any manner a hazard to other users of the highway.” If a driver fails to properly secure a load which hits another person, this could form the basis of a negligence claim.
Depending on the facts of any case, liability for a bicycle accident could extent beyond any driver. Pickup trucks are often used for commercial purposes. If a pickup truck driver was working and failed to secure their load, the company that they were working for could be held at fault. Generally speaking, companies are liable for the wrongful actions of their employees – insofar as those employees were working within the course and scope of their job duties. Victims of car accidents tend to suffer very serious injuries including:
- Broken bones
- Head injuries
- Lacerations
- Spinal cord injuries
It can be hard to know where to begin after any car accident. Victims may be forced to contend with serious injuries and take time off work. Any person that is injured due to the negligence of a driver that failed to secure their load may have legal recourse through a civil claim. Sadly, though, drivers will often do everything in their power to deny liability for any accident. This is why it is so important that all evidence is properly preserved after any collision.
Investigating A Marion Bicycle Accident
We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our best wishes to John Greenfield. It is our sincere hope that he will be able to make a full recovery. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to police. There needs to be some accountability for what happened.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured due to the negligence of another driver? Our team of bicycle safety advocates are here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and city officials are doing everything in their power to help make our streets safer for bicyclists and pedestrians. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support after a collision we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.
