Shorewood Couple Sues Parent Of Minor In E-Bike Crash That Severely Injured Man

JOLIET, IL — A Shorewood man and his wife are suing after a crash with an e-bike in June caused significant injuries and medical expenses for the man.

John and Andrea Ferak have filed suit against a parent of the minor who was driving the low-speed e-bike at the time of the collision on June 15, attorneys Rathbun, Cservenyak & Kozol, LLC said in a release.

John Ferak is the editor of Patch Media news sites in Joliet, Shorewood and Channahon-Minooka.

According to the complaint, at approximately 9:30 p.m., John Ferak was lawfully riding his bicycle southbound on Wynstone Drive near its intersection with Callaway Court when a low-speed electric bicycle operated by a minor under the age of 16 entered or crossed the roadway and collided with him.

The complaint alleges that Ferak was riding with an illuminated headlight and taillight, was wearing high-visibility clothing, including a neon helmet, and was exercising due care for his own safety and the safety of others.

The young teen failed to maintain a proper lookout, failed to yield the right-of way, failed to maintain proper control of the electric bicycle, entered or crossed the roadway when it was unsafe to do so, failed to provide an adequate warning, and otherwise operated the e-bike negligently, the suit claims.

The allegations have not yet been adjudicated, Ferak's attorneys said, and the defendants have the right to contest them.

Multiple Surgeries and Continuing Hospital Treatment

The collision caused Ferak devastating injuries, the suit states, including serious injuries to his leg and body.

His treatment has required multiple surgeries, extensive medical care and repeated treatment at the University of Chicago hospital. The effects of the collision and his injuries continue.

The complaint alleges that Ferak sustained severe and permanent injuries and seeks compensation for the damages available under Illinois law, including medical expenses, pain and suffering, disability, loss of normal life, and other losses resulting from the collision.

Andrea Ferak has also brought a separate loss-of-consortium claim arising from the effect her husband's injuries have had on their marriage and family life, including the loss of his society, companionship, affection and services.

Negligent Supervision Alleged

The lawsuit does not focus solely upon the conduct of the minor e-bike rider, Ferak's attorneys said.

It separately names the minor's mother, Jennifer M. Lopez, and asserts claims against her for negligent entrustment and negligent supervision.

The complaint alleges that Lopez owned the low-speed electric bicycle and permitted and entrusted its use to the minor. It further alleges that she "knew or should have known that the minor was inexperienced, incompetent, and/or reckless in operating the electric bicycle" and that she "failed to adequately supervise, control, instruct, and restrict his operation of the device."

The lawsuit alleges that these failures led to the collision and Ferak's injuries.

Shorewood's Rules Addressing E-Bikes and Parental Responsibility

The collision occurred in the Village of Shorewood, which had enacted specific regulations governing low-speed electric bicycles, the suit states.

Shorewood's ordinance regulates where e-bikes may be operated, requires compliance with applicable traffic laws, imposes safety requirements for younger riders.and prohibits minors under 16 from operating Class 3 low-speed electric bicycles.

Shorewood's ordinance also specifically addresses the responsibility of parents and legal guardians. The ordinance prohibits a parent or guardian from "permitting, authorizing, allowing or acquiescing in a minor's operation of a low-speed electric bicycle in violation of the ordinance and addresses the negligent failure to exercise reasonable care to prevent improper operation," according to the suit.

"These local requirements reinforce an important safety principle: when children are permitted to operate motor-assisted bicycles on public roadways, parents play a critical role in making sure those children understand the device, understand the rules of the road, and can operate it safely," according to the attorneys' release.

E-Bikes Not the Same As Traditional Children's Bicycles

Electric bicycles have rapidly increased in popularity, including among teenagers and younger riders, the attorneys' release notes.

But modern e-bikes can operate at speeds substantially greater than conventional bicycles and are generally heavier and capable of accelerating more quickly.

Under Illinois law, low-speed electric bicycles are divided into three classifications. Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes generally provide motor assistance up to 20 miles per hour, while Class 3 e-bikes can provide assistance up to 28 miles per hour. Current Illinois law requires a Class 3 operator to be at least 16 years old.

The ability of a young rider to travel at 20 to 28 miles per hour raises concerns very different from those associated with an ordinary child's bicycle, the law firm said.

The release further notes that a child who has never been licensed to drive a motor vehicle may never have completed driver's education, passed a written examination on the rules of the road, or demonstrated an understanding of right-of-way, stopping distance, intersection safety, lookout and the interaction between bicycles and motor vehicles.

Those circumstances make parental training and supervision especially important, the firm said.

Illinois Officials Have Warned Parents About Young Riders and E-Bikes

Illinois officials have specifically cautioned parents to understand what they are purchasing before giving an electric bicycle to a child, the release says.

In July 2026, Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias urged parents to investigate an e-bike's classification, motor power, maximum speed, size.and safety characteristics before allowing a child to operate it. The state's guidance advises parents to ensure that young riders receive training in accelerating, braking, turning, and controlling the device before riding independently.

The state has also emphasized that children should practice under adult supervision until they demonstrate that they can safely control an e-bike and has cautioned parents that knowing how to operate an ordinary bicycle does not automatically mean a child is prepared to safely operate an electric bicycle.

These recommendations are particularly important because many young riders have no formal driver's education or licensing experience before entering public streets on an electric bicycle.

Stronger E-Bike Safety Legislation Coming To Illinois

Illinois has also recently strengthened its statewide approach to electric bicycles and other powered micromobility devices.

In August 2026, Gov. JB Pritzker signed comprehensive micromobility legislation that will impose additional statewide safety requirements beginning Jan. 1, 2027. Among the changes, Illinois will establish a minimum age of 15 for operation of Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes while retaining the age-16 requirement applicable to Class 3 e-bikes. More powerful devices will face additional licensing, registration, insurance, and related requirements depending upon their characteristics.

'This Case Is About Responsibility'

"This case is about responsibility and prevention," said Frank Cservenyak Jr., the couple's attorney.

"An electric bicycle capable of moving a child through a residential neighborhood at 20 or nearly 30 miles per hour should not be treated as though it were simply the bicycle most of us rode as children.

"When a child has never been a licensed driver, has never completed driver's education and has never been tested on the rules of the road, parents have an especially important responsibility. The child needs to understand right-of-way, intersections, speed, braking, stopping distance, lookout and how to safely interact with pedestrians, bicyclists and automobiles."

He added that, "parents need to know exactly what type of e-bike they are giving their child, how fast it can travel, whether the child is legally old enough to operate it, and whether that child has the maturity, training and ability necessary to operate it safely."

A Collision That Changed a Family's Life

Cservenyak described the consequences of the collision.

"John was riding with a headlight and taillight, wearing high-visibility clothing and lawfully using the roadway," he said. "In a matter of seconds his life changed. He suffered horrible injuries to his leg and body, has undergone multiple surgeries, and has repeatedly returned to the University of Chicago for medical treatment.

"This lawsuit seeks accountability for John and Andrea, but there is also a broader public-safety message. Parents need to recognize that putting a powerful electric bicycle in the hands of an inexperienced child and allowing that child to use public streets without sufficient instruction and supervision can expose everyone sharing those streets to serious harm."