Hancock Co, IL (August 18, 2020) – A collision involving a motorbike and a cyclist in Hancock County on Sunday afternoon, August 16, left two people injured. The collision took place on N. County Road 150 near Tioga at around 5 p.m.
According to reports from the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office, 23-year-old Ruben Gerhardt of Sutter, Illinois was traveling southbound on a dirtbike when he rear-ended a cyclist, identified as 67-year-old John Stewart of Warsaw, Illinois.
Gerhardt was transported to a medical facility in Carthage by ambulance for the treatment of sustained injuries. Stewart was transported by ambulance to Blessing Hospital for treatment. Gerhardt was later released and charged with multiple counts, including lacking a valid driver’s license, operating an uninsured vehicle, and failure to provide immediate notice of an accident.
At this time, no updates on the conditions of the crash victims have been provided. An ongoing investigation into the cause of the crash is currently in progress. More details will be released as it continues.
Our thoughts are with John Stewart, Ruben Gerhardt, and their families at this time. We hope for their full recovery.
Bicycle Accidents in Illinois
Cyclists are at risk of suffering serious injuries in the event of a crash, and riders are more exposed to the full impact of a collision due to a lack of safety protections. Across the United States in 2018, there were 857 cyclists killed in vehicle collisions. In crashes involving cyclists and other vehicles, the bicycle rider is much more likely to suffer serious injuries. The majority of bicycle accidents take place in the early evening hours from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and in urban areas, which are the location of nearly 75% of reported bicycle crashes each year.
Bicycles are much smaller than other motor vehicles and lack adequate protection for their riders, leaving them at serious risk of injury, and many drivers are constantly distracted by passengers, other drivers, and technology, making them more likely to ignore a cyclist and cause a devastating accident. Bicycle riders are at greater risk of suffering life-threatening injuries in the event of an Illinois bicycle accident, and the resulting damages can change a victim’s life forever. It is important to have someone on your side aggressively representing your rights after being injured in an Illinois bicycle accident.
The team of Illinois bicycle accident attorneys at Kent M. Lucaccioni, Ltd., passionately represents injury victims and their families after an accident, and we have years of experience pursuing claims for cycling accident victims. Our Illinois personal injury lawyers can thoroughly investigate your case to obtain compensation from the party responsible for the accident and make sure that the at-fault party is held responsible. If you or a loved one has been recently injured in an Illinois bicycle accident, contact our offices today at 877-930-2551.
Note: As a result of the secondary sources that were used to complete this post, the information included within has not been independently verified by our own staff and may include misinformation. If you read something that, to your knowledge, is incorrect, please contact us as soon as possible and we will correct the inaccuracy.
Disclaimer: As members of the local Chicago and broader Illinois community, we hope everyone in our community is safe and protected. We cover the events included in this blog as a way to offer support to the victims in similar circumstances and to provide relief during these difficult times. This is not a solicitation for business, and this information should not be misconstrued as medical or legal advice. You should speak with a trained legal professional for more information regarding your situation. The photographs depicted in these posts are not representative of the actual accident scene.
