Injured Lake In The Hills Bicyclist Receives $9M From ComEd

LAKE IN THE HILLS, IL — ComEd's failure to repair a bike path where crews were conducting a "pole swap-out project" in November 2016, which lead to a local bicyclist crashing and suffering serious injuries, will cost the power company $9.05 million, attorneys said this past week.

A jury reached the verdict Wednesday in the lawsuit filed in McHenry County Circuit Court against Commonwealth Edison, according to a news release from Romanucci & Blandin, LLC. The law firm represented the bicyclist, Andrew Farley, who was awarded $9.05 million.

Farley, of Lake in the Hills, was riding on a bike path new Miller Road and Lakewood Road in November 2016 when his bike hit the damaged asphalt. He was ejected over the handlebars of his bike and hit his head, according to a news release.

According to the lawsuit, ComEd field personnel and parked their utility trucks on the bike path near Miller and Lakewood roads during the pole swap-out project where they lifted the utility poles into place and inadvertently demolished the path underneath.

Farley's attorney, Michael R. Grieco, said the "life-changing incident" never should've happened.

"It was completely preventable and ComEd had the responsibility to complete the work at this location by properly returning the bike path to a reasonable condition for residents like Mr. Farley to use without suffering significant psychological injuries," he said. It is the responsibility of a company to do the careful thing and respect the lives and well-being of the community at each work site."

Farley suffered a mild traumatic brain injury and was hospitalized for five days after the accident, according to the news release. He has undergone years of psychological treatment since the injury.

Farley claims the brain injury aggravated prior cognitive, social, and emotional deficits caused by his pre-existing conditions of Chron’s disease, hypertension, diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis, according to the news release.

“We are very proud to have obtained this verdict for the Farley family after the debilitating emotional distress this man experienced after this bike crash,” said attorney Bruno R. Marasso. “ComEd had the duty to leave that bike path in a safe condition for the public who had the freedom to use that path. Because of ComEd’s negligent actions, Mr. Farley will never have the same cognitive, emotional, and social abilities as he did before this incident, and we are honored that twelve jurors recognized ComEd’s improper actions and provided justice to Andrew and his wife.”