Bike Messenger and Courier Messenger Accidents

Bike messengers and courier messenger employees face tremendous risk of injury every day. Weaving through traffic and congested streets throughout the city poses a great deal of danger for many. Not only must they meet a required number of deliveries, but they must do so in a timely manner, thus adding further risk for injury.

Numerous companies, franchises and food chains have resorted to using courier messengers and bicycle delivery services as a result of increased gas prices. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 116,200 bike messengers and couriers for the year of 2010. That number is expected to increase by as much as 13% in less than 10 years.

Reasons for Courier Messenger and Bicycle Messenger Accidents

There are many reasons why bike messengers and courier messenger accidents may occur. Like car accidents, one of the greatest causes of courier accidents is driver negligence. For bike messengers and courier service agents this negligence can be far more fatal since they do not possess the heavy-duty protection of an aluminum body, like that of a vehicle. Bike messengers may also suffer greater damage from the powerful impact of a hefty vehicle collision.

Common reasons for courier messenger and bike messenger accidents are:

Negligence of drivers by violating traffic laws and designated bike lanes
Hit a bicycle messenger from behind
Driving Under the Influence (DUI)
Motorists driving impaired from drug intoxication
Failure to ignore a changing traffic light
Failure to stop at a stop sign and hitting a biker
Sudden stop in front of a biker, causing the biker to crash into another vehicle

Bicycle accidents and courier messenger collisions occur on far more frequently than expected. Despite the rise in bike messenger popularity and usage, bike messengers still face a great level of peril on the roads and streets. Although, myriad of safety regulations and laws have been enacted and set in to place, drivers and motorists continue to fail to acknowledge and respect lanes and traffic signs.

Bike Messenger Injury Advice

If you have been injured as a result of a bike messenger or courier messenger accident, there are some important steps you must take:

Photograph the scene of the accident immediately
Contact your employer and report your injury
Call an experienced messenger injury attorney
Provide police with your account of the events that took place in the accident

If you have suffered injury as a result of a bike messenger or courier messenger accident, immediate action is imperative. You may be entitled to compensation and even have your medical bills and expenses paid. An experienced personal injury lawyer will gather evidence, compile hospital records, and speak to witnesses. Call the personal injury lawyers at The Horwitz Law Group at (312) 641-9200 for a free consultation today.

Meet Your
Winning Team

MARK J. HORWITZ

Managing Partner

JARED J. DUGGAN

Managing Attorney

ANGIE GALAVIZ

Legal Assistant

LAURINE SARGENT

Legal Assistant

Client
Testimonials

I’m so grateful to this firm especially Attorney Duggan and his assistant Ms. Sargent. I was injured in a car accident. They were very informative, they took the time to listen, respond to emails, explained things to me in detail and were readily available to answer any and all questions I may have had. One of the things I’m most appreciative of is how they kept me in the loop pertaining to my case! Thank you both!!!!

Dominica J.

The Horwitz Group has earned a 5 star review from me for being a firm par excellence.To be perfectly honest, I was a little hesitant to use them in the beginning, because of stereotypes that are often associated with personal injury lawyers. They are sometimes painted as being sharks. It is indeed a misnomer to ever see Mark and Jared viewed in this light! I love that they were Zealous, but not Vicious! The Horwitz Group brought their A-Game which resulted in a Big "W"...The Win! Would I recommend them to others? Yes, A Resounding Yes! They are great at what they do!!! After listening to the way they prepared my case, I was confident that Winning was my only option! My mother always said...if you want to win, surround yourself with WINNERS! So grateful to have been surrounded and seated at the winning table of The Horwitz Group!

Iris R.

Very helpful with my experience!! Everyone was friendly and very helpful definitely recommend this law firm!

Jasmine C.

They really did they best with my case seeing this is the first time having them and going through with this process. Thank you guys for all you've done.

Vee W.

Mark Horowitz is a very professional and knowledgeable lawyer. Our case lasted 5 years due to specific circumstances and throughout the entire time he remained efficient and consistent. Responded to all calls and text within minutes and really stayed on top of all things. That aside I find that he does have compassion and empathy towards our horrible situation, which you don’t get from a lot of lawyers. Overall great experience, highly recommend.

Selma S.

Mark is a fantastic attorney! Would highly recommend.

Becky K.

The Horwitz Law Group did an amazing job. They not only took care of our case but they also made sure me and my family were doing well. For them, it’s not only a job. They put time and effort in to solve these cases as quick as possible. It was a long and stressful process but Mark and his team made sure we knew that the case wasn’t just sitting in a desk office, they kept us updated on everything. Thank you Horwitz Law Group!

Emilia G.

Mark and his team were working on our settlement case and they are awesome. Always kept us posted on what's going on with the case. They got us $6,900.000.00 in the settlement. Thank you so much Mark Horwitz and your team.

Janusz G.

I love the Horwitz Law Group. One of the best law firms in Chicago. Got me the most for my settlement and worked with me every step of the way. Thank you so much.

Joseph B.

Great service and a great team, I'm really truly very very satisfied with the outcome of my case, I really appreciate all the work Mr. Duggan and his team have done on my case, I highly recommend him to anyone, great job.

Kelly S.

Jared was AMAZING! I highly recommend his service. He was fast to answer my questions and concerns. I appreciated the fact that he made me feel like I was a priority. He worked diligently to assist me and I am well pleased. Thank you, Jared D… You ROCK!!

Annisha W.

He is absolutely the best lawyer ever !!! Works fast and is always ready

Danny F.

I would like to thank The Horwitz Law Group. Thanks for everything they have done for me. It was a very long case. But they never gave up on me. Anyone that is in need of help, please contact them. Special thanks to Lulu and the best Jared Duggan ❤️. Thanks for everything.

Darlene W.

Type of Case: Mass Transit Accident (Metra) Result: $2.1 million dollars “I was in a Metra Train Accident in September 2005, and I hired Mark Horwitz as my lawyer. My experience with Mark has been wonderful. He’s very considerate. He’s caring. Every time he calls me, the first thing that he says is, how are you feeling and how is your family, and I really, really appreciate that. If I didn’t have Mark Horwitz as my lawyer, I think I’d be lost. I don’t think any other lawyer would give me the information that I needed to feel comfortable that the case is moving in the right direction.” – Marie B. The Chicago Daily Law Bulletin released an article detailing the $2.1 million settlement for Marie shortly after it was announced.

Marie B.

Former Chicago Police Officer Type of Injury: Premises Liability Accident Resulting in Below the Knee Amputation Result: $1,400,000.00 “After all my experiences with attorneys, Mark Horwitz was one of the finest attorneys I’ve ever met. He not only was my attorney, he was my friend. He extended himself far more beyond the attorney/client relationship. I couldn’t ask for a better attorney. I couldn’t ask for a better friend. And I would definitely, without question, recommend him to anyone who needs a professional, qualified attorney because he’s the guy.” – Charles Brown

Charles B.

Type of Injury: Personal Injury Initial Offer: $50,000.00 Jury Verdict:$1,197,000.00 Johnnie B. W. Jr. was a professional basketball player back in the 1970s. In 2002 while getting off a CTA red line train, the trainman closed the doors on Mr. Williams while he was exiting the train. At the time, Mr. Williams was wearing a backpack that became lodged in the doors. The train began to move and Mr. W. ran along the platform until the train’s speed prevented him from doing so. At that time, Mr. W. lost his footing and his long legs began striking the platform while he fought to free himself of the train’s doors and/or his backpack. In the process of doing so, Mr. W. fractured a bone in his wrist. Luckily he was able to free himself of the doors just before the car reached the end of the platform. Mr. W. went to several law firms who refused to take his case holding that he was at fault for his own injuries. Mr. W. then came to see Mark J. Horwitz, of The Horwitz Law Group. Mr. Horwitz instantly filed suit against the CTA and began an investigation to obtain information regarding any…

Johnnie W.

Type of Injury: Personal Injury Final Offer: $75,000.00 Final Judgment: $100,000.00 On October 7, 2007, Ms. Bogan was driving her automobile on Interstate 57 when she noticed a car stopped in one of the moving lanes. When she looked to see what was happening, she saw a man slumped over his steering wheel who was not moving. Being a good Samaritan, Ms. Bogan parked her vehicle in front of the disabled vehicle and got out to see if the driver of that car needed assistance. After determining that the man was not conscious, Ms. Bogan called the Illinois State Police. The police arrived and told Ms. Bogan to get back into her car. While going between the two cars, the man suddenly awoke, hit his gas and crushed Ms. Bogan between the vehicles. Ms. Bogan’s leg was nearly severed from her body. It turned out that the man causing the accident had no auto insurance. Mr. Horwitz then had to file an uninsured motorist claim with Ms. Bogan’s own insurance company who initially found Ms. Bogan at fault for her own injuries. After fighting and threatening to file a vexatious delay and bad faith claim against Ms. Bogan’s own insurance…

Kimberly B.

Type of Injury: Personal Injury Final Offer: $60,000.00 Final Settlement: $100,000.00 In the summer of 2008, the father of a minor child (whose name is withheld because he is 5 years old) backed over his son while leaving his home. The child had gone under the car to retrieve a Mr. Potato Head doll that had rolled under the car. The father, not knowing his son was under the car, started it and backed down the driveway. Hearing screams, he stopped his vehicle and drove forward. It was every parent’s worst nightmare. This person, believed he had killed his son. Luckily, his son survived but had both legs broken as well as damage to his skull. “Mark J. Horwitz of The Horwitz Law Group took care of us as though we were family. He handled this very delicate situation with finesse and was able to obtain the maximum amount available for my son while reducing his fees. I would recommend Mr. Horwitz and The Horwitz Law Group to anybody who ever needs a high-powered, kind, efficient lawyer.” -Tanya Mustafa

Tanya M.

Type of Injury: Car Accident Final Offer: $60,000.00 Final Judgment: $175,000.00 Rosetta Glover was a passenger in her husband’s car traveling on Martin Luther King Drive. A cab came around their car and made a sudden U turn in front of them causing the accident. Ms. Glover sustained an injury to her shoulder which required an immediate surgery. She hired another Chicago lawyer who obtained a settlement offer from the cab company for $60,000.00 and told Ms. Glover to accept it despite the fact her shoulder continued to give her problems. Ms. Glover then contacted Mark J. Horwitz of The Horwitz Law Group. Mr. Horwitz filed suit and litigated against the cab company for nearly three years. During that time, it was determined that Ms. Glover required an additional surgery on her shoulder. The case was set and ready to proceed to trial in October of 2008. Facing trial and a certain verdict, the cab company offered $175,000.00 on the day of trial and the case settled for $115,000.00 more than the original attorneys wanted Ms. Glover to settle her case for.

Rosetta G.

I wanted to thank for all the work you have done to help me with my situation. I really appreciate you not giving up despite my indecisive attitude in the beginning . I’m glad to have met you and that represented me. You changed my perspective on lawyers and I cannot repay you for the hard work you did in the past year. You made my situation easier and not only do I respect you as the hard working lawyer that you are but as a friend as well. I hope you have a great new year and thanks to you my 2013 started out great. I apologize for my attitude in the beginning but after meeting you I trusted you. You haven’t disappointed your client…keep up the great work! I’m glad and grateful that you have found me and helped me!

Lamiela P.

My daughter was severely injured in a car accident and I was nervous about finding a personal injury attorney, but from the start, I felt confident with my choice in the Horwitz Law Group. Mark was completely professional, trustworthy, communicative, honest and helpful. He kept my daughter focused throughout her entire recovery, both emotionally and medically. He was extremely attentive and responsive answering each and every question I had in a timely manner and explained everything in laymen terms - always keeping me informed of every step along the way. Mark was honest with us and didn't make outlandish promises but most of all he wanted what was best for my daughter and not just a paycheck. He and his team were instrumental in saving us huge amounts in medical bills as well as garnering a settlement award that was very much welcomed. Not only did they resolve the case beyond our satisfaction, they also were very caring and supportive thru my daughter's recovery. I couldn't ask for a better attorney and I couldn't recommend him more. It is my hope that I will never need legal representation again, but should I find that I do Mark J Horwitz will…

Steve Vasile S.

Case Results

$6,900,000.00

for a motor vehicle wrongful death case.

$5,300,000.00

for a 75-year-old woman who suffered an above the knee amputation due to being run over by a private school bus.

$4,500,000.00

for a young lady who was run over by a private waste hauling company while crossing the street.

$3,600,000.00

for a trucking accident resulting in the death of the driver.

$3,000,000.00

for a 70 year old man who died, without any living relatives, seven months after being hit by a car while crossing the street.

$2,300,000.00

for a client whose family was killed by a street sweeper that ran a red light.

$2,100,000.00

for a client injured in a 2005 Metra train derailment case.

$1,600,000.00

for a minor rear-ended on an expressway in Kankakee.

$1,400,000.00

for a premises liability accident resulting in below the knee amputation.

$1,200,000.00

for a woman who was hit by a car while crossing the street.

$1,197,000.00

for a client who was injured on the CTA red line train.

$900,000.00

for a bicyclist hit by a car.

$800,000.00

for a passenger injured in a rideshare rollover accident.

$750,000.00

for a rideshare accident injury.

$600,000.00

for a low-speed rear-end accident.

$500,000.00

for injuries in a van accident pulling a trailer.

$500,000.00

for a minor injured in a ride-share accident.

$495,000.00

for a pedestrian injured due to a sidewalk defect.

$350,000.00

for a passenger injured in a rideshare rollover accident.

$289,000.00

for a driver injured in an auto accident.

$270,000.00

for injuries from a right-turning truck.

$260,000.00

for a family injured in an auto accident.

$255,000.00

for a law enforcement officer rear-ended by a truck.

$250,000.00

for a motorcyclist rear-ended.

$233,000.00

for an individual injured by a dog.

$225,000.00

for a bicyclist hit by a car while crossing the street.

$201,000.00

for a driver rear-ended on the expressway.

$175,000.00

for a client who had lawyers at another law firm trying to settle the accident case for only $60,000.

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