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Hit by a Car on Your Bike in Illinois? (2026)

Mon 23 Feb, 2026 / by / Bicycle Accidents, Car Accidents

Last Updated: October 24, 2026

625 ILCS 5/11-1502 grants a person riding a bicycle on a highway all of the rights and all of the duties of the driver of a vehicle, except the special regulations in Article XV and provisions which by their nature can have no application. 625 ILCS 5/11-1511 requires the bicycle turn signal during not less than the last 100 feet, and the hand signal need not be continuous when the hand is needed to control the bicycle. 735 ILCS 5/2-1116 bars recovery when the plaintiff’s contributory fault is more than 50 percent of the proximate cause.

The Rights and Duties on a Highway

Section 11-1502, source P.A. 99-785, effective January 1, 2017, includes the rights under Article IX. The exceptions are the special regulations in Article XV and the provisions which by their nature can have no application.

Passing Distance and an Open Door

625 ILCS 5/11-703(d) says the operator of a motor vehicle overtaking a bicycle going the same direction on a highway shall, when another same-direction lane is available, change lanes before passing if that change is practicable and not prohibited by law. The operator shall leave a safe distance, but not less than 3 feet, and keep that distance until safely past the bicycle. The source is P.A. 104-260, effective August 15, 2025.

625 ILCS 5/11-1407 says no person shall open the door of a vehicle on the side available to moving traffic unless and until it is reasonably safe to do so and can be done without interfering with the movement of other traffic, and no person shall leave that door open longer than necessary to load or unload passengers. The source is P.A. 79-1069. The section does not use the word bicycle.

The Turn Signal

625 ILCS 5/11-804(b) requires a vehicle’s turn or lane-change signal continuously during not less than the last 100 feet in a business or residence district, and not less than the last 200 feet outside such a district. The source is P.A. 104-577, effective July 16, 2026. Section 11-1511(a) says that, except as provided in that section, a person riding a bicycle shall comply with section 11-804. Subsection (b) says a required right or left turn signal shall be given during not less than the last 100 feet traveled by the bicycle before turning, and while the bicycle is stopped waiting to turn. A signal by hand and arm need not be given continuously if the hand is needed in the control or operation of the bicycle. The source is P.A. 82-132.

Roadway Position and Sidewalks

625 ILCS 5/11-1505(a) says a person operating a bicycle on a roadway at less than the normal speed of traffic shall ride as close as practicable and safe to the right-hand curb or edge, with the four stated exceptions, including a left turn, passing, and avoiding a listed hazard or a substandard width lane. Subsection (b) permits riding near the left-hand curb on a one-way highway with two or more marked lanes. The source is P.A. 97-813, effective July 13, 2012.

625 ILCS 5/11-1512 says a person riding a bicycle on a sidewalk, or across a roadway on a crosswalk, shall yield to any pedestrian and give an audible signal before passing a pedestrian. The person shall not ride where official traffic-control devices prohibit that use. The person has the rights and duties of a pedestrian under the same circumstances. The source is P.A. 82-132.

A Low-Speed Gas Bicycle

The current text of 625 ILCS 5/1-140.15, source P.A. 103-706, effective January 1, 2025, defines a low-speed gas bicycle as a two-wheeled or three-wheeled device with fully operable pedals and a gasoline motor of less than one horsepower or 15 cubic centimeters, operated at speeds of less than 20 miles per hour. The compilation also prints a later text, P.A. 104-854, effective January 1, 2027, which uses speeds up to 28 miles per hour and treats any other gas-powered bicycle as a motor driven cycle. 625 ILCS 5/1-146 excludes a low-speed gas bicycle from the definition of a motor vehicle. Neither section states a weight.

Night Equipment

625 ILCS 5/11-1507(a) says every bicycle in use at nighttime shall have a front lamp emitting a white light visible from at least 500 feet to the front, and a red reflector on the rear visible from 100 feet to 600 feet when directly in front of lawful lower headlamp beams. A steady or flashing red lamp visible from 500 feet to the rear may be used in addition to or instead of that reflector. Subsection (b) prohibits a siren, except a bicycle that is a police vehicle or fire department vehicle. Subsection (c) requires a brake that will adequately control movement of and stop and hold the bicycle.

The Rider’s Share of Fault

Section 2-1116 diminishes the damages in proportion when the plaintiff’s contributory fault is not more than 50 percent of the proximate cause. Fault above that share bars recovery. The comparison is the plaintiff’s share of the proximate cause. Instruction 60.01 says that if the jury decides a person violated a statute, the jury may consider that fact with the other evidence. The comment says a violation is not negligence per se.

The Filing Period

735 ILCS 5/13-202 is two years next after accrual for the injury action that section describes. 745 ILCS 10/8-101(a) is one year from the date the injury was received or the cause of action accrued, for a civil action against a local entity or any of its employees, other than the patient-care action in subsection (b).

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to wear a helmet to bike in Illinois?

Sections 11-1502, 11-1505, 11-1507, 11-1511, and 11-1512 do not state a helmet requirement. Those sections do not decide whether a missing helmet may be considered on damages.

How long do I have to file a bicycle accident lawsuit in Illinois?

Section 13-202 is two years next after accrual for the injury action that section describes. Section 8-101(a) is one year from the injury or from accrual against a local entity or any of its employees, other than the patient-care action in subsection (b).

The driver’s insurance is calling me. Do I have to give a recorded statement?

The sections cited on this page do not address a recorded statement to an insurer. The fault share remains the section 2-1116 measure.

Can I still recover if I was partly at fault for the bike crash?

Section 2-1116 allows a diminished recovery when the plaintiff’s contributory fault is not more than 50 percent of the proximate cause. A larger share bars recovery.

Does my car insurance cover me when I’m on my bike?

Section 1-146 excludes a low-speed gas bicycle from the motor-vehicle definition. Section 143a coverage is for a person insured under the policy. The policy states who that person is.

What if the driver who hit me drove away?

Section 143a includes a hit-and-run motor vehicle in the bodily-injury coverage for a person insured under the policy who is legally entitled to recover damages. The policy states who is insured.

Does it matter if I was riding on the sidewalk?

Section 11-1512 requires a sidewalk rider to yield to a pedestrian, to give an audible signal before passing a pedestrian, and to stay off a sidewalk where an official traffic-control device prohibits bicycle use. The rider has the rights and duties of a pedestrian under the same circumstances. Section 11-1505 is the roadway-position rule.

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