On Bike, Hit by news Currier, independent contractor?

Question

I was hit by a car that was delivering news papers (in IL) She was at fault. Her insurance claims she was an independant contractor there fore they are not liable. I have heard that the US court handed down a decision that prevents insurance companys from hiding behind the "independant contractor " thing. Does anyone have info or website on this or advice as to what to tell her insurance company?
Thanks for any info.

Answer 1

You may have to sue. Look for the bicycle coalition website for your area. They are a great source of information. The below is from Wisconsin but the San Francisco rules say the same thing.

Here are some sites for Illinois: http://www.bikelib.org/index.htm
http://www.stlbikefed.org/DesktopDefault.aspx

What to do after a traffic collision

If you're hurt in a traffic collision, don't ride away or shake off what seems like a minor injury. You might find later that it's worse than you thought. If you're a victim of, or a witness to a traffic collision, here are the steps to take:

* Call the police. If needed, get medical help immediately.
* Get the following information from every vehicle: driver name, address, phone number, driver's license number, license plate number, make of car, insurance company name and policy number.
* Get the names and phone numbers of witnesses.
* Get the police report number from police on the scene.
* Write down how the crash happened while it's fresh in your memory.
* Keep (or photograph) any damaged clothes or equipment. Also, if you're a victim:
* Don't get mad at the scene. Keep a level head so you can ask questions and take notes.
* If you're injured, don't move unless you're sure you won't injure yourself more