Illinois Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Every year, thousands of Illinois residents suffer injuries or lose their lives in motorcycle accidents because of another driver’s negligence. If the motorcycle rider is not wearing a helmet, the situation can worsen, leading to severe outcomes like traumatic brain injuries, fractured bones, or internal bleeding. The journey of dealing with accident injuries and seeking compensation for the resultant financial losses can be overwhelming.
At the Injury Lawyer Team, we are dedicated to advocating for justice for motorcycle accident victims in Illinois by holding negligent parties liable.
Contact our experienced motorcycle accident lawyer to schedule a free consultation and understand your legal options.
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Contact our Illinois motorcycle accident lawyers to schedule a free consultation. All confidential or sensitive information shared with your Illinois motorcycle accident lawyer remains private through an attorney-client relationship.
Prevalence of Motorcycle Accident Cases in Illinois
Motorcycles are an extremely popular type of vehicle in Illinois. According to the Illinois Secretary of State, there are 315,000 registered motorbikes in the state. With a burgeoning number of registered motorcycles, accidents are frequently being recorded, due to driver negligence, poor infrastructure, and human error.
As per data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), over 80% of all documented motorcycle accidents lead to either injuries or fatalities.
Nearly 6,084 individuals in the United States died in motorbike crashes in 2021, the highest number recorded and a 21% increase since 2019.
The following statistics related to Illinois motorbike crashes show the current state of road safety and the need for stricter traffic laws.
The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) publishes motorcycle statistics in Illinois every year to address the prevalence of these collisions in the state, including:
- There were 2,973 motorcycle accidents throughout Illinois; of which 2,266 motorcyclists were injured and 119 lost their lives.
- Motorcyclist deaths totaled 11.5 percent of all Illinois traffic-related fatalities for the recent year.
- Motorcycles comprised 3.1% of Illinois motor vehicle injury crashes and 12.1% of fatal crashes, despite being involved in less than 1% of total statewide crashes.
- In fatal Illinois motor vehicle crashes involving alcohol, motorcycle riders represented 10.2% of all fatalities.
- Rural areas witnessed 4% of all motorcyclist injury crashes and 47.9% of fatal crashes in Illinois.
- Illinois motorcyclists not wearing a helmet resulted in 57 percent of fatalities and 69 percent of all fatal motorbike collisions.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents and Fatalities
Motorcycle accident fatalities most commonly occur because of driver’s misjudgment or carelessness. Around 22.2% of accidents occur as a result of a car making a left-hand turn. Consulting an experienced motorcycle accident attorney will help you receive a fair settlement offer and much-deserved justice.
Other common causes of motorcycle crashes are:
- Distracted driving
- Alcohol influence
- Speeding
- Dooring
- Blind spots
- Head-on collisions
- Left-hand turn collisions
- Dangerous road conditions
- Lane splitting or sudden lane changes
- Motorcycle production or design flaws
- Lack of helmet use
- Lack of experience in safe riding
What Injuries Do Motorcycle Accident Victims Usually Sustain?
Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) such as concussions, skull injuries, and hemorrhage are the most common motorcycle accident injuries that victims sustain. In an NHTSA study on 104,472 injured motorcyclists, 15% of helmeted and 21% of unhelmeted riders suffered traumatic brain injuries. About 54% of these injured motorcycle riders died. Wearing a helmet decreases the risk of TBIs or fatalities.
Besides traumatic brain injuries, other common Illinois motorcycle accident injuries may be:
- Spinal Cord and Neck Injuries – The thoracic spine often gets damaged in motorcycle crashes. Other spinal injuries cause partial paralysis, quadriplegia, nerve damage, or even death. Due to constant whiplash, riders damage their bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and nerves of the neck.
- Feet and Leg Injuries – According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 30% of non-fatal motorcycle accident injuries occur to the legs and feet. When a motorcycle weighing hundreds of pounds crushes the rider, lower body parts like knees, calves, ankles, and legs are most injured.
- Broken Bones – Fatal crashes lead to fractured or broken bones like femurs, forearms, elbows, knees, and pelvic bones. Such accident injuries can require expensive replacement surgeries or limb amputation.
- Abdominal Injuries – The most common abdominal injuries sustained in a crash are damage to the chest, lung lacerations, rib fractures, and organ damage to the liver or spleen.
- Burns – Spilled gas from a vehicle crash can cause dangerous fires, leading to severe burns. Burns can be repaired by performing skin grafts.
- Muscle Injuries – Common injuries in motorcycle crashes are muscle injuries, ranging from minor strains to severe tears or ruptures, affecting an individual’s mobility.
- Road Rash – A type of skin abrasion that happens when a motorcyclist is thrown off the vehicle and skids on the road. Serious road rash can result in infections or nerve damage. A study by the Bulletin of American College of Surgeons proves that every year 20,000 motorcycle riders are treated for road rash.
What Should You Do Following a Motorcycle Crash in Illinois?
Follow these ten essential steps after a motorcycle accident in Illinois to ensure you receive a favorable outcome for your injury case.
- Following a motorbike accident in Illinois, call an ambulance to receive the necessary medical treatment.
- Move your vehicle to a safer place, away from traffic.
- Call the police immediately so that they can record the whole accident scene.
- Take photographs and videos of the accident scene, including the vehicles, road signs, traffic signals, and witnesses.
- Preserve critical evidence like witness statements, traffic camera recordings, and police records for your motorbike accident claim.
- Never admit that the motorcycle crash was your fault.
- Refrain from sharing any information about the Illinois motorbike crash on social media platforms or with an insurance agent.
- Gather names and contact numbers of the drivers and eyewitnesses present at the crash scene.
- To prove liability and seek maximum compensation in an Illinois accident case, you have to keep medical records of your injuries, including copies of hospital bills, doctor visits, and documentation of therapy or rehabilitation services.
- Lastly, the most important step to take after a motorcycle accident is hiring a qualified lawyer who has experience in handling motorbike crash claims in Illinois. Don’t discuss your situation with insurance companies unless you have engaged the services of a law firm.
Illinois Motorcycle Safety Laws
Motorcyclists, just like other motorists in Illinois, must obey state traffic laws. Illinois has outlined specific regulations for motorcycle riders in the Illinois Vehicle Code. The most fundamental provisions of Illinois motorcycle safety laws are:
- An individual aged 18 or older must have a driver’s license, motorcycle license, or a motorcycle endorsement on his/her driver’s license to become a motorcyclist in Illinois.
- Every motorbike must have a valid license plate.
- Even though motorcyclists are not required to wear a helmet in Illinois, the Illinois Secretary of State highly recommends wearing one for safety.
- Every motorcyclist shall be protected by shatter-resistant glasses, goggles, or a transparent shield.
- Illinois street law says that a motorcycle should be equipped with a side-view mirror, brakes, muffler, horn audible 200 feet away, headlights, taillights, stoplights, and hand grips.
- Passengers must have their seats and footrests.
- Riding on one wheel (wheelies) is illegal under Illinois law.
- Motorcyclists in Illinois are prohibited from passing between 2 vehicles traveling in the same direction (lane splitting) unless a clear traffic lane is available for safe passing.
- Motorcyclists cannot pass vehicles on the right unless there is a clear 8-foot wide pavement to the right of the vehicles.
- To ride a motorcycle in Illinois, you need minimum liability insurance: $25,000 bodily injury per person, $50,000 per accident, and $20,000 property damage per accident.
What is the Modified Comparative Negligence System in Illinois?
Under Illinois law (735 ILCS 5/2-1116), the state follows the modified comparative fault law in personal injury cases. This means that an injured party in a personal injury case including a motorbike accident, is eligible to recover damages only if they are determined to be less than 50% at fault.
If the injured party’s negligence or fault exceeds 50% or more, they will not be recovering any compensation from at-fault parties. Skilled Illinois motorcycle accident lawyers accurately prove your degree of fault and increase your chances of securing damages.
How Long Do I Have To File an Illinois Motorcycle Accident Claim?
A statute of limitations is the limited period within which an accident victim has to file a civil claim or lawsuit.
Illinois Compiled Statutes (735 ILCS 5/13-202) provide anyone who has been harmed in a motorbike crash two years from the date of the accident or injuries to file a lawsuit against the at-fault party.
Given the fact that Illinois does not state a minimum age for motorbike passengers, minors are at heightened risk of bike crash injuries. In such cases, the statute of limitations begins when the minor turns 18, allowing them two years to file their motorcycle accident claim in Illinois.
Hiring an Illinois motorcycle accident attorney is important to initiate legal proceedings right away so that you don’t lose your rightful compensation.
What Types of Damages Can I Recover in an Illinois Motorcycle Accident?
The amount of compensatory damages depends on the extent of your injuries, property damage, and the coverage that the negligent driver possesses. Illinois motorcycle accident damages are categorized into: economic and non-economic damages, which may be:
- Medical or hospital bills
- Rehabilitation and therapy expenses
- Nursing home costs
- Lost wages and lost capacity to earn income
- Temporary or permanent disability
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of quality of life
- Property damage
Each motorcycle collision occurs under unique circumstances. Hence, it’s difficult to calculate the average amount of compensation from a motorbike crash due to the varying nature of injuries. Consult an Illinois motorcycle accident lawyer to explore legal options, types of damages, and expected settlements through insurance claims or lawsuits.
Why Hire a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Illinois?
Suffering injuries from a motorbike crash is incredibly exhausting, both physically and mentally. Our Illinois motorcycle accident attorneys will fight your case, deal with insurance companies, and if needed, represent you fiercely in court. This will ensure you seek medical treatment rather than handling legal complexities.
Illinois motorcycle accident lawyers will perform the following responsibilities:
- Investigate the accident thoroughly and prove negligence of the other party.
- Gather evidence to strengthen your motorcycle accident claim, including physical evidence, medical records, police reports, witness testimonies, and statements from accident recreation specialists.
- Communicate with insurance companies on your behalf.
- Negotiate for a fair settlement that compensates your medical bills, lost wages, emotional distress, and other accident damages.
- Advocate for the client using tactics and strong arguments if the motorbike accident case reaches trial.
Having several years of experience in fighting motorcycle accident cases in Chicago, Rockford, Peoria, Joliet, and other regions in Illinois, we are capable of obtaining the maximum amount of recovery for your losses.
Schedule a Free Initial Consultation with Our Illinois Motorcycle Accident Attorneys
Did you or your loved one were harmed in a motor vehicle collision? Are you ready to file a motorcycle accident claim or lawsuit against negligent parties and seek maximum compensation for your damages?
Our experienced motorcycle accident lawyers at the Injury Lawyer Team sponsored by Rosenfeld Law offices, have years of experience representing injured motorcyclists and drivers in Illinois. We will file a motorbike accident lawsuit on your behalf.
Contact us today at (888) 424-5757 for a free initial case evaluation. We accept all motorbike accident cases on a contingency fee agreement. This guarantees you pay nothing until your motorcycle accident attorney resolves your claim through a negotiated settlement or jury award.