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Electric bicycles and e-scooters have become a common sight throughout Chicago. They provide a convenient, affordable, and environmentally friendly way to travel, but their growing popularity has also created new safety concerns for pedestrians.

From the Lakefront Trail to neighborhood sidewalks and busy downtown streets, Chicago residents are increasingly sharing space with electric-powered devices capable of traveling at speeds far greater than traditional bicycles. Unfortunately, when riders operate these vehicles recklessly or without experience, the consequences can be devastating.

The bike injury lawyers of  Zneimer & Zneimer P.C., have seen firsthand how serious pedestrian injuries can change lives. As e-bike and e-scooter use continues to increase, so does the importance of understanding the risks and knowing your legal rights after an accident.

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For years, vehicle manufacturers have focused on making cars safer for the people inside them. Unfortunately, recent research shows that many newer vehicles may be becoming more dangerous for everyone outside them.

A recent analysis performed by the New York Times in an article entitled “The Deadly Rise of Giant Trucks and SUVs” and reported by Car and Driver found that the increasing height of vehicle hoods and front ends has contributed to thousands of avoidable pedestrian deaths in the United States. Researchers estimated that between 2,624 and 3,077 pedestrian lives could have been saved between 2016 and 2024 if vehicle front-end designs had remained closer to those commonly seen in the early 2000s. The New York Times study found that every additional inch of hood height increased the risk of a fatal pedestrian crash by approximately 2.8%. (Car and Driver)

Other research has reached similar conclusions. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) found that SUVs, pickup trucks, and vans with hood heights greater than 40 inches are approximately 45% more likely to cause pedestrian fatalities than lower-profile vehicles. (IIHS)

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By Zneimer & Zneimer P.C.

Illinois lawmakers have taken another step in the fight against distracted driving by advancing legislation that would prohibit drivers from wearing AI-powered smart glasses while operating a motor vehicle. The bill, championed by Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, would add smart glasses to the list of electronic devices already prohibited while driving under Illinois law. (Chicago Sun-Times)

The reason is simple: distracted driving continues to cause devastating crashes and life-changing injuries.  The personal injury lawyers of Zneimer & Zneimer P.C. have seen these damages first hand.

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A recent Chicago Sun-Times article highlights the growing popularity, and growing dangers, of e-scooters in Chicago. According to the article, Chicago recorded more than 7 million e-scooter trips in 2025, a record for the city. Even more remarkably, riders had already taken more than 1 million Lime and Divvy e-scooter trips during the early months of 2026. As ridership continues to increase, so do serious accidents and injuries. (Chicago Sun-Times)

The Sun-Times article also reported two heartbreaking fatalities involving teenagers this year. A 17-year-old and a 15-year-old were both killed after being struck by motor vehicles while riding e-scooters on Chicago’s South Side. Those tragedies prompted the City of Chicago to launch a new e-scooter safety campaign. (Chicago Sun-Times)

E-Scooters Are Not Toys

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By Zneimer & Zneimer P.C.

A tragic bicycle fatality in Bridgeport has once again highlighted one of the most overlooked dangers facing Chicago cyclists: “dooring.”

According to recent reports, 35-year-old Riley O’Neil, a Chicago Department of Transportation employee and advocate for safer streets, was riding his bicycle in a marked bike lane when a parked vehicle’s door was opened directly into his path. The impact threw him into traffic, where he was struck by an oncoming truck and killed. (Chicago Sun-Times)

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Electric bikes have become increasingly popular throughout Illinois, providing a convenient and affordable transportation option for thousands of riders. But as e-bike technology has evolved, so have safety concerns. Some of today’s high-powered electric bikes and e-motos can travel at speeds exceeding 28 miles per hour—fast enough to cause catastrophic injuries when collisions occur.

Recognizing these dangers, Illinois lawmakers recently passed legislation that would establish new statewide regulations for high-speed electric bikes, electric scooters, and similar micromobility devices. If signed into law by Governor J.B. Pritzker, the new rules will take effect on January 1, 2027. The legislation creates important distinctions between traditional low-speed e-bikes and faster devices that operate more like motorcycles. Among other requirements, certain high-speed electric bikes will now require registration, insurance, and a valid driver’s license. They will also be prohibited from operating on bike paths and bicycle lanes.

For individuals injured in e-bike crashes, these changes could have a significant impact on liability claims and financial recovery.  The bike injury lawyers of Zneimer & Zneimer P.C. on how devastating it is for a person who is seriously injured by a uninsured person on a high speed electric bike to also be burdened with medical bills and lost income from not being able to work

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Chicago’s streets are becoming increasingly crowded with cars, bicycles, delivery vehicles, buses, scooters, and pedestrians all competing for space. Unfortunately, bicycle accidents involving motor vehicles continue to happen throughout the city, often causing devastating injuries to cyclists.

The experienced bike injury lawyers of Zneimer & Zneimer are often asked:

“What if the accident was partially my fault? Can I still recover compensation?”

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Dogs are beloved companions, and many people naturally approach friendly-looking dogs to pet them. But what happens if a dog suddenly bites you after you try to pet it? Many injured people assume they cannot recover compensation because they voluntarily approached the animal. Under Illinois law, however, that is not always true.

At Zneimer & Zneimer P.C., our Chicago dog bite injury lawyers help people understand their rights after serious dog bite injuries. Illinois law is generally favorable to dog bite victims, but there are important exceptions and defenses that may affect a case.

Illinois Dog Bite Law: The Animal Control Act

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In a busy city like Chicago, pedestrians do not always cross the street at an intersection or inside a marked crosswalk. People often cross “mid-block” — meaning they cross the street somewhere between intersections. Sometimes it happens because the nearest crosswalk is far away. Other times, a person may be walking to a parked car, a bus stop, a restaurant, or simply trying to save time.

But what happens if a pedestrian is hit by a car while crossing mid-block? Does the pedestrian automatically lose the right to bring a personal injury claim?

Under Illinois law, the answer is no.

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FePhoto-65-300x225deral trucking regulations define unsafe equipment with unusual specificity. The law does not merely instruct motor carriers to use “safe trucks” in general terms. It identifies particular components, defects, records, inspections, qualifications, and corrective duties. That specificity matters in trucking litigation because a crash often follows a sequence of preventable mechanical failures.

Part 396 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations governs inspection, repair, and maintenance. It requires motor carriers to systematically inspect, repair, and maintain commercial motor vehicles under their control. It also requires parts and accessories to remain in safe and proper operating condition at all times.

At Zneimer & Zneimer P.C., our Chicago trucking attorneys evaluate unsafe equipment claims by asking a basic question: Did the carrier put a vehicle on the road that federal law required it to inspect, repair, or remove from service?

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