I came across this news item on The Chicago Bike Advocate blog and realized it’s the perfect follow-up to “NY Bike Accident Lawyer Angered by So-Called “Joke” “ my recent post about the patently UNFUNNY practice of joking about hitting bicyclists with cars.

I guess drivers won’t think it is so funny when they end up sitting in jail!

“Ten Days in Jail for Intentionally Striking a Bicyclist”

(Via The Chicago Bicycle Advocate by Brendan Kevenides )

“Yesterday, a Chicago man was sentenced to 10 days in jail, followed by probation, for intentionally striking an unlucky bicyclist with his car in Brookfield. The sentence was handed down by Cook County Judge Carol Kipperman. The driver and his buddy were intoxicated at the time of the incident and allegedly took turns behind the wheel hunting down cyclists. The other driver is scheduled to be in court Monday and is also charged with striking a bicyclist. Neither of the two bicyclists struck in the attacks on May 31, 2009 sustained life-threatening injuries. This story was reported by chicagobreakingnews.com.

This matter is hard to swallow. To say that this is a light sentence for what sounds like attempted murder is putting it mildly. I hope there is more to the story than is being reported. Otherwise, this is the sort of outcome that may chip away at the public’s faith in our courts.”

I wholeheartedly agree with Brendan’s sentiments about this case and applaud him for spreading the word about it. Jail time serves the jerk driver right. My only criticism is that the jail sentence should have been MUCH longer.

Thanks for reading and RIDE SAFELY,

Jim

_______________________________________
James B. Reed, Esq.

NY & PA Bicycle Accident Lawyer
Ziff Law Firm, LLP
303 William St., Elmira, NY 14901
Tel: (607) 733-8866
Fax: (607) 732-6062
Toll Free: 1-800-943-3529
Email: jreed@zifflaw.com
Web: www.zifflaw.com

Please visit the New York Injury Law Blog at www.NYInjuryLawBlog.com
E-mail me at FreeReports@zifflaw.com for two free books:
NY Car Accidents and NY Car Insurance Secrets YOU Need to Know.

As an attorney who handles many bike accident cases every year and is also an avid bicyclist, I have seen a growing hostility toward cyclists from the motorist community in the last few years.

Sometimes I begin to think that my opinion about this is just my imagination, caused by the fact that I ride almost every day and meet with cyclists every day, so I am just exposed to it more than others.

But I just learned of a Facebook FanPage that confirms it is NOT my imagination and that there are MANY, MANY, MANY motorists who are willing to openly declare war on cyclists.

This page is called: “There’s a perfectly good path right next to the road you stupid cyclist!” and it features gems like these:

• “No matter how far to the left you are, you’re taking up my road.”
• “My car is hard, and I am not slowing down!”
• “Cars are hard, cyclists are not.”

Lest you think this is an isolated phenomena, this FanPage has more than 36,000 fans! It’s sickening to me that anyone would become a “fan” of such a demented page.

It’s truly frightening (and sad) that there are more than 36,000 people who are willing to publicly proclaim that cyclists have no right to be on the roads.

Let me be clear: In New York, a bicyclist has a perfect legal right to be on the road. Motorists may not like that fact but that’s the law.

I represent injured cyclists every day and I know first-hand the devastation a car vs. bike collision can cause — death, paralysis, fractures, huge lacerations — are common. I have no hesitation at all to pursue the insurance and every asset of any motorist who disregards New York state law and hits one of my clients.

I truly wish motorists would learn to respect bicyclists rights and treat them with respect. Sad to say, there are many ignorant people who consciously disregard the safety of vulnerable cyclists.

Thanks for reading and RIDE SAFELY,

Jim
_______________________________________
James B. Reed, Esq.
NY & PA Bicycle Accident Lawyer
Ziff Law Firm, LLP
303 William St., Elmira, NY 14901
Tel: (607) 733-8866
Fax: (607) 732-6062
Toll Free: 1-800-943-3529
Email: jreed@zifflaw.com
Web: www.zifflaw.com

Please visit the New York Injury Law Blog at www.NYInjuryLawBlog.com
E-mail me at FreeReports@zifflaw.com for two free books:
NY Car Accidents and NY Car Insurance Secrets YOU Need to Know.