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Champaign Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, dealing with insurance companies and doctors can be overwhelming. Motorcycle/car accidents are complicated. The moderate to catastrophic injuries sustained by riders often require multiple medical procedures over time to fully heal.
Were you involved in a motorcycle accident in Champaign, IL? Are you seeking financial compensation for your damages from the negligent party?
Our personal injury attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC are legal advocates for motorcycle accident victims like you.
Call our Champaign motorcycle accident injury lawyer at (888) 424-5757 (toll-free phone number) or use the contact form for immediate legal advice and schedule a free consultation. All confidential or sensitive information you share remains private through an attorney-client relationship.
Central Illinois Motorcycle Accidents
According to data managed by the Illinois Department of Transportation, motorcycle accidents in central Illinois occur with increasing frequency.
Motorcyclists are 16 times more likely to die after a motorcycle accident than people traveling in passenger vehicles or trucks. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that in 2019 alone, 4,216 motorcyclists were killed and 90,000 injured in crashes across the United States.
In Illinois, motorcycle/automobile accidents have risen sharply for years. In 2019, 1,128 recorded fatalities from motorcycle accidents in Illinois – an increase of 36% from the previous year. Illinois' motorcyclist fatalities were the fourth-highest in the country, and about one-third of those who died had not been wearing a helmet.
Nationally speaking, motorcyclists are 30 times more likely to die in a car/motorcycle accident than car passengers; they also sustain non-lethal harm at much higher rates.
Champaign/Urbana Motorcycle Accident Statistics
The Champaign County Sheriff's Office oversees the area just west of Urbana and north of I-74. According to information compiled by that office, motorcycle accidents are much more common in this part of the state than most might think.
In 2019, the most recent year for which data is available, 16% of all traffic accidents in Champaign County were caused by motorcycle collisions – a number that has doubled since 2016.
Every year from 2014 to 2020 – inclusive – more than half of all fatal motorcycle and auto accidents were motorcycle crashes. It amounts to 34 fatalities since 2019 alone, representing over half of all traffic fatalities in the region.
The Champaign County Sheriff's Office reports that most motorcycle accidents occur on rural roads; this is true throughout the state. While more than a third of all fatal crashes in cities were caused by motorcycles, more than half of fatal crashes on rural roads were motorcycle-related.
The Champaign County Sheriff's Office suggests that riders have a heightened awareness of their safety while riding and that drivers should check twice before changing lanes or merging with traffic. We couldn't agree more!
Common Motorcycle Crash Injuries
CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) data reveals that a motorcycle accident can leave the biker and passenger with serious injuries. Each year, emergency rooms in Illinois admit between 4,000 and 5,000 patients injured in motorcycle accidents.
A study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that bikers who aren't wearing helmets are more likely to suffer brain injuries resulting in permanent disabilities or death.
The data revealed that most motorcycle accidents occur during daylight hours between 9 AM and 5 PM weekdays.
According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, nearly half of all motorcycle accidents lead to extensive medical treatment at the emergency room.
The most common injuries that bikers sustain in a motorcycle accident, as reported by the American College of Emergency Physicians, include but are not limited to:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Facial or head injury
- Spinal cord injuries
- Cuts and lacerations
- Broken bones and broken teeth
- Punctured organs
- Internal bleeding
- Road rash injuries
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Cracked bones
- Loss of tissue
- Paralysis including paraplegia, quadriplegia, and tetraplegia
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducted a study that revealed that around half of all motorcycle collisions are caused by drivers of other vehicles who misjudge the biker's speed.
Other common causes of motorcycle accidents in Illinois include:
- Car doors opening in front of the biker
- Slippery roads
- Drunk driving or DUI
- Distracted drivers looking at phones, adjusting music, etc.
The lack of proper road markings for motorcycles to show them where they can travel is also a cause of motor vehicle accidents in Illinois and weather conditions such as ice and rain.
Illinois Motorcycle Crash Settlements
Many motorcyclists and passengers have been severely hurt and killed in central Illinois in catastrophic motorcycle accidents in recent years. Many negotiated settlements and jury verdicts have compensated injured bikers and surviving family members who lost a loved one in a motorcycle accident.
Some of these include:
- In 2020, a motorcycle rider with a passenger traveling through Champaign County was killed in a car/motorcycle accident when their motorcycle was struck by another vehicle. The motorcyclist's estate received a settlement of $1,500,000 for his loss.
- In 2019, a motorcycle rider in the Champaign-Urbana area lost his life in a motorcycle accident when he collided with a car. The injured man's spouse and children received a settlement of $1,000,000 for their loss.
After Motorcycle Accidents Occur: How to Get Compensation
If you or someone you love has been hurt in a motorcycle/auto accident, it is important to seek medical attention immediately.
Going to the hospital immediately after an accident can help prevent further serious injuries that the crash could have caused.
After being injured in a motorcycle crash, the next step is to contact an experienced Illinois motorcycle injury attorney who has dealt with many motorcycle accident cases involving severely hurt bikers in motorcycle/automobile accidents.
Accident lawyers can help you receive all of the compensation you deserve so that you can focus on recovering from your serious injuries.
Statute of Limitations
In Illinois, the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit is two years from the date of your accident.
Were you or someone you love hurt in a motorcycle crash? Call an experienced Champaign County motorcycle accident attorney today to schedule a free consultation to learn more about receiving compensation for catastrophic injuries sustained in a motorcycle crash.
It is crucial to receive medical treatment immediately, even if you do not believe you are severely injured in a serious accident. Many common injuries do not present as a problem until days after the crash, such as whiplash, internal bleeding, and road rash infection.
Only a competent attorney with the best diagnostic tools can accurately diagnose your condition and document the extent of your damages and injuries in your medical records.
During these stressful times after the auto accident, only make a verbal, written, or recorded statement to someone after first speaking to a personal injury law firm that has your best interest in mind.
Our personal injury accident lawyers at the personal injury law firm can provide you with immediate legal advice and remain in constant contact until your case is resolved.
Resolving Motorcycle Accidents with Minor to Catastrophic Injuries
To win your case, you need experienced legal representation on your side who knows what they're doing and has experience dealing with these types of motorcycle accident cases.
Our law firm is here for you when someone else's negligence has hurt you on the road, whether it was their fault or yours (or both).
We'll fight for all of your rights as an injured motorcyclist, including:
- Medical payment coverage under Illinois law (which requires insurance companies to pay up-front costs)
- Lost wages from missed time at work
- Damages like pain & suffering and emotional distress caused by severe injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident
- Punitive damages against the party responsible for the motorcycle accident injuries
Our Champaign accident attorneys can determine all defendants with available insurance coverage to resolve your injury case. Potential defendants, including the at-fault driver, might involve other motorists, vehicle manufacturers, or other entities responsible for the injuries and property damage involved in the crash.
We'll provide personalized attention, competitive rates, and effective legal representation throughout negotiations and trials, securing your case's largest possible settlement or verdict.
We are devoted to protecting our client's rights by getting them the compensation they deserve for their injuries. So let us fight hard on your behalf! Call our personal injury lawyers today at (888) 424-5757 (toll-free phone number) or use the contact form to schedule a free initial consultation.
Avoiding a Motorcycle Accident
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motorcycle riders and motorists can take proactive measures to avoid a motorcycle crash.
The steps for motorcyclists include:
- Wear reflective gear
- Ensure all motorists can see you in their blind spots
- Obey all traffic rules
- Maintain a safe following distance from other vehicles
- Give yourself an adequate amount of time to react if traffic slows or stops unexpectedly
- Incorporate safety into all aspects, including parking your bike and refueling it before a ride
- Avoid riding at night when possible
- Drive defensively around motorists making turns and lane changes
- Remain vigilant when moving your bike through heavily congested traffic
- Avoid splitting lanes
- Take a bike rider safety course
For motorists, NHTSA suggests:
- Share the road with motorcycles on Illinois roads
- Keep an eye on motorcycles in traffic, especially when they are making left turns
- Check your blind spot before changing lanes to ensure you do not cut off a motorcyclist
- Motorcycles require addition space on the road due to their small size and maneuverability; allow at least 3 or 4 seconds of travel time between cars and bikes if you want them to stay safe
- Avoid distractions when driving, especially phones, eating, or drinking
- Watch for biker splitting lanes
- Drive defensively when around motorcyclist making lane changes or turns
Proving your Motorcycle Accident Case to Ensure Financial Compensation
Did you suffer motorcycle injuries when involved in an automobile crash? Are other motor vehicles involved in your motorcycle accident case, including numerous insurance companies?
To win your financial compensation case, you'll need to prove how other drivers and motorists were at fault for causing your serious crash.
Winning your case requires proving the four elements of any personal injury case, including:
- The defendant owed you a duty of care to ensure your safety while on the road
- The defendant breached their duty of care, leading to your serious crash
- The serious crash led to your motorcycle injury
- Your damages are provable in a court of law
Proving these four elements could show that reckless driving, distraction or another factor lead to the car accident that caused your damages. A Champaign motorcycle accidents lawyer can ensure you receive maximum compensation.
Our legal team will work to ensure you are compensated for medical bills, lost earnings, temporary/permanent disabilities, pain, suffering, and emotional trauma.
Urbana & Champaign Motorcycle Accidents Lawyer
At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC, our personal injury legal team represents victims injured in automobile/motorcycle accidents.
Call our law office today at (888) 424-5757 (toll-free phone number) or use the contact form to schedule a free consultation to discuss how your motorcycle/auto accident occurred. We'll deal directly with the insurance company on your behalf.
We accept all personal injury cases and wrongful death lawsuits on a contingency fee basis. This promise ensures you pay nothing during the legal process until your motorcycle crash case is resolved through financial recovery through a negotiated settlement or jury award.
Our law offices provide legal options, advice, and representation in various practice areas, including vehicle accidents, medical malpractice, nursing home negligence, defective drugs, product liability, and prevantable death.