Motorcycle riders share the road with cars and trucks, but they do not have the protection that drivers of other types of vehicles take for granted. A person on a motorcycle is not surrounded by a metal shell and does not have a seatbelt or an airbag that can deploy in the event of a collision. In an accident, a motorcyclist is likely to be thrown onto the road or to collide with another vehicle.
A head-on collision between a motorcycle and a larger vehicle can be fatal for the person on a motorcycle. In Illinois, motorcycle riders are not legally required to wear a helmet, but drivers and passengers must wear eye protection, which may include glasses, goggles, or a transparent shield. Even if the helmet protects their head, other parts of the body can be seriously injured.
If you were hurt in a crash that happened while you were riding a motorcycle, you might have had to spend several days or weeks in the hospital. You may have needed one or more surgeries, and you may have to continue to receive ongoing treatment. You may have difficulty walking and completing tasks that used to be easy.
The accident may have left you unable to work and struggling to support your family. The physical pain and financial and emotional stress may be affecting your relationships with your loved ones.
A Chicago motorcycle accident lawyer may be able to help. The team at Ben Crump Law, PLLC, can investigate to identify any factors that caused or contributed to the accident and can pursue financial compensation to cover your past and future medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering. Call our office at 800-959-1444 to talk to a member of our staff about how we may be able to seek justice for you.
Why Motorcycle Accidents Often Lead to Serious Injuries
Any motor vehicle collision can result in significant harm, such as head trauma, whiplash, and broken bones. For someone on a motorcycle, the risk of suffering these types of injuries is much greater.
A motorcycle is less stable than a car or a truck because of its design. When traveling at high speeds, turning a corner, or braking suddenly, a two-wheeled vehicle can be more difficult to control than one with four wheels.
Hazards that a driver in a car or a truck might not be concerned about can cause a person on a motorcycle to lose control and crash. Potholes, leaves, sand, and wet roads can all be extremely dangerous to motorcyclists.
Drivers in cars generally have a harder time seeing a motorcycle than they do another four-wheeled vehicle. A person behind the wheel of a car may not see a motorcycle in the rearview mirror, may make a turn without checking to make sure the coast is clear, or may speed and collide with a motorcycle. In those cases, the driver may be found negligent and held liable for the accident and resulting injuries.
A Chicago motorcycle accident lawyer can review the accident report, interview witnesses, watch any video of the crash that may exist, and possibly even reconstruct the collision to figure out exactly what happened. That can allow an attorney to build a case and seek justice.
For a free legal consultation with a motorcycle accidents lawyer serving Chicago, call 800-924-3113
How a Rider May Contribute to an Accident
In some cases, a motorcycle rider shares at least some of the responsibility for a collision, as established by 625 ILCS 5/10. A rider who is inexperienced or who takes risks, such as driving too fast or weaving between cars, may get involved in a collision if a person in a car cannot see the motorcycle.
A motorcyclist who passes a car in the same lane can create a dangerous situation. Lane splitting, the practice in which a motorcyclist drives between two lanes of cars that are stuck in traffic or moving slowly, can lead to an accident since drivers in cars may not see the motorcycle. If a car begins to move when the motorcycle is close by, it can result in a collision.
Driving a motorcycle while drunk or on drugs can dramatically increase the risk of an accident. Being intoxicated can affect a rider’s balance and coordination and can delay reaction time.
If you made a mistake that was partly responsible for the accident, you might still be entitled to financial compensation for your injuries. According to the Illinois Circuit Court, Illinois has a modified comparative negligence law. That means that a person who was injured in a motor vehicle accident can receive compensation even if the injured person’s negligence contributed to the crash, as long as that person was not more than half responsible.
Chicago Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Near Me 800-924-3113
Contact a Chicago Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
People who ride motorcycles are more likely to be seriously injured or killed in collisions than drivers in other vehicles. If you were hurt in a crash while riding a motorcycle, the team at Ben Crump Law, PLLC, can investigate to find out who was liable for the accident and file a lawsuit to seek justice for you.
While personal injury cases related to motor vehicle accidents are often settled out of court, in some cases, negotiations with the other party do not lead to an agreement that we consider fair to our client. In those cases, we can take a case to trial to seek justice.
People who have been injured in motorcycle accidents sometimes hesitate to contact an attorney because they are worried about the cost. At Ben Crump Law, PLLC, we believe that concerns about legal fees should not stop an injured person from seeking justice. Our firm operates on contingency. We cover upfront costs ourselves and only collect a fee if we obtain a financial award for a client.
You do not have a lot of time to act. According to 735 ILCS 5/13-202, the statute of limitations to file a personal injury lawsuit in Illinois is two years. While that might seem like plenty of time, investigating a motorcycle accident can be a complex process, especially if multiple parties give conflicting accounts of what happened. Contact Ben Crump Law, PLLC, today at 800-959-1444 so we can begin investigating as soon as possible.
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