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Legally Reviewed by:

Jonathan Rosenfeld
J.D

March 2, 2023

Over $400 Million worth of case results

Awarded The Best Lawyer in 2024 by U.S. News

Nationally Recognized in Legal Community

As seasoned motorcycle accident attorneys, we have worked with people across Illinois to bring their personal injury cases to resolution through motorcycle accident settlement or jury verdicts.

Unlike typical car accident cases, many motorcycle riders sustain serious injuries in motorcycle accidents resulting in ongoing pain and disability.

Were you or a loved one injured in a motorcycle crash? Did a loved one suffer a wrongful death in a motorcycle accident?

Our personal injury attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC can discuss the potential settlement amount of your motorcycle crash case. On this web page, we discuss the components of the average motorcycle accident settlement.

Contact a motorcycle accident lawyer at (888) 424-5757 (toll-free phone number) or complete the contact form to schedule a free consultation.

Average Motorcycle Accident Settlement

How Do I Calculate a Chicago Motorcycle Accident Settlement?

Generally, the value of motorcycle injury cases is dependent on a combination of economic and non-economic damages, such as:

  • Medical bills for past and future medical treatments (emergency room treatment, surgical fees, physical therapy, prescription medications)
  • Lost wages
  • Pain and suffering, such as post-traumatic stress disorder
  • Disability
  • Disfigurement
  • Punitive damages
  • Property or motorcycle damage

Of course, every motorcycle accident claim is decided on its merits, but you need a starting point as you pursue financial recovery through motorcycle accident settlement or verdict.

Illustrated below, we have summaries of other cases broken down by injury type to show the average settlement amounts, along with general information regarding an Illinois motorcycle injury case.

Impact of Insurance Companies in Determining the Settlement Amount of Motorcycle Injury Cases

Unfortunately, as an injured motorcyclist, many factors related to the average settlement of your motorcycle injury claim are entirely outside your control.

A primary factor is the insurance company for the at-fault driver. Many insurance companies hold accident scene statements against victims and what is said to insurance companies at the accident scene or just after the motorcycle accident can severely affect a case.

We have experience negotiating motorcycle accident settlements with auto insurance companies at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers. With motorcycle and car accidents, we can evaluate your personal injury case to determine if you can file an uninsured motorist insurance claim with your carrier.

A personal injury attorney can act on behalf of clients with severe injuries and advise on legal options regarding pursuing an injury settlement via pretrial negotiations or case litigation.

How Much Are Average Motorcycle Accident Settlement for Soft Tissue Injuries Cases Worth?

They can return tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars. The key areas to focus on are your expenses, pain, and disability.

These summaries will show more about your potential recovery.

Daddio vs. Ogunbekun, Cook County Motorcycle Accident Case – $78,000 Jury Award

An unemployed man was cruising around on his motorcycle when a car suddenly turned into him. The car driver tried to turn left into the motorcyclist’s lane but hit him instead.

After he fell off his bike, he suffered soft tissue injuries and a broken wrist. The motorcycle rider sued the car driver for negligence and claimed the defendant caused those injuries with a 35% loss in his hand and he acquired arthritis.

The defendant countered that the plaintiff motorcycle rider was drag racing with other motorcyclists; thus, his contributory negligence barred him from recovering.

The jury found that the plaintiff should be 30% responsible for the crash. Since it was less than 51%, he could still recover, but his $78,000 motorcycle accident case award was reduced to $54,600.

Roberts vs. Robertson, Madison County Motorcycle Accident Claim – $6,415,000 Jury Verdict Award

There were several parties involved in the motorcycle accident. A man and a woman were riding on a motorcycle when a truck towing a boat changed lanes and obstructed their passage.

The result was a severe collision because the bikers could not stop fast enough to avoid a crash. The female suffered a leg injury, and the male motorcycle rider sustained a herniated disc in his back.

The two motorcycle riders sued the truck driver and argued that he negligently changed lanes and should have been more cautious in preventing a motorcycle crash.

The defendant denied that he was at fault and made no settlement offer toward the accident victims. The matter went to trial. The jury returned a final settlement of $6,415,000 for the following damages:

  • Medical expenses: $172,000
  • Lost wages: $526,000
  • Pain and suffering: $2,717,000
  • Punitive: $3,000,000

Wyk vs. Graf, Cook County Motorcycle Accident – $14,000 Jury Award

A man in his mid-forties was riding his motorcycle between two cars when he was rear-ended, pushing his bike right into the vehicle at the front.

Due to the incident, the motorcycle injuries sustained soft tissue damage throughout his body. He filed a motorcycle injury case against the at-fault driver who initiated the chain-reaction crash.

The defendant admitted to starting the collision but denied that the incident caused the plaintiff’s injuries.

Despite the evidence of the plaintiff’s prior pains, the jury still returned a $14,000 verdict for the man –

A motorcycle rider may be entitled to compensation from the other person who caused the car accident or their insurance company. Contact a motorcycle accident lawyer for a free consultation if you sustained property damage, medical costs, or other damages and losses.

How Much is the Motorcycle Accident Settlement for Bone Fracture Cases?

Typically, motorcycle accident victims with broken bones recover the value they spent on medical costs, lost wages, or bike damage.

However, the average settlement amounts can vary and depend on your actual damages and negotiations with the insurance company after the motorcycle crash.

Consult these settlement summaries for more guidance on the average motorcycle accident settlement.

Grady vs. Venugopal, Cook County Motorcycle Accident – $495,000 Jury Award

The plaintiff in the motorcycle crash case, Mr. Grady, was driving his motorcycle around a small town in northern Cook County when a trucker immediately and unexpectedly turned into his lane and caused a collision.

Grady had just entered a left-turn lane and was about to turn when the truck merged into the same path without signaling, without yielding, and while on his cellular phone.

The motorcycle crash caused significant breaks and tears in Grady’s knees, wrists, hands, and shoulders, requiring extensive medical treatment and surgery.

He sued the driver and the driver’s employer; however, because the driver’s conduct was deemed wanton and willful (talking on the phone while driving), it was not within the course of his employment, and the employer was dismissed as a defendant.

The jury returned a $495,000 verdict for Grady to be paid by his auto insurance carrier.

Miller vs. Cotton, Will County Motorcycle Accident – $50,000 Jury Award

Ms. Miller was riding her motorcycle on a busy road in Bolingbrook, Illinois when she noticed a car closely tailing her. The car drove right up to the rear of her bike and then tried to go around her.

However, in the process, the car clipped her motorcycle and caused a motorcycle crash. The incident left Miller with a fractured clavicle and other injuries all over her body.

Both sides claimed that the other driver was at fault, failed to slow down, did not keep a proper lookout, and was otherwise negligent.

The jury believed Miller and awarded a $50,000 payout with 45% of the responsibility for the crash. Due to comparative negligence laws, it left her with just over half of the settlement.

Paul vs. Soulides, Kane County – $100,000 Motorcycle Accident Settlement Claim

Both drivers in it incident were driving down a busy road, Route 64, in Kane County. Soulides turned left to enter a Dairy Queen and cut off Paul. They crashed right into each other, and Paul suffered a broken bone and other injuries.

Paul and his wife brought a negligence action against Soulides, claiming damages related to loss of income, medical bills, and related items. They settled out of court for the insurance policy maximum of $100,000.

Murawski vs. Liang, Cook County – $250,000 Motorcycle Accident Settlement

The motorcycle accident settlement involved a head-on collision. The plaintiff, Mr. Murawski, was riding his motorcycle down a state highway when the defendant’s car crossed the median line and ran into him. Among various injuries, the rider sustained, Murawski also broke his leg, which eventually deteriorated to the point where he needed an amputation.

Murawski sued the other driver for negligence. While the defendant did proffer a defense, it did not last long, possibly because of the precise nature of who was at fault in the case. Thus, both sides quickly settled for the insurance company policy to claim a maximum amount of $250,000.

Contact an attorney from our law firm if you have been involved in a motorcycle accident and have queries about which insurance policy applies to your accident. A personal injury lawyer may help raise motorcycle accident settlement values after negotiating with insurance companies.

Rankin vs. Williams, Will County – $50,000 Motorcycle Accident Settlement

Mr. Rankin attempted to drive his motorcycle through an intersection when he was hit broadside by another vehicle trying to turn left. Among other bruises all over his body, he also sustained a severe leg fracture.

At trial, both parties contended that the other was driving too fast and not keeping a proper lookout. Possibly because of the ambiguous circumstances of fault in the particular incident, the parties decided to settle for $50,000 rather than risk losing even more in court.

Contact a motorcycle accident attorney from our firm if you have questions about a motorcycle accident settlement or insurance companies’ communications.

Karas vs. Young, Cook County Motorcycle Accident Claim- $159,000 Jury Award

Karas was riding a motorcycle around Blue Island, Illinois when a truck veered into his lane and collided with him. He reportedly suffered various personal injury harms, including broken bones; therefore, he sued the truck driver and the driver’s employer under a respondeat superior theory of vicarious liability.

His suit alleged that the truck driver was driving too fast, turned without signaling, and turned without determining if anyone was in the other lane. The defendants said much of the same things about the motorcycle rider, Karas.

The jury often sided with the aggrieved in the motorcycle accident claim, finding the plaintiff to the amount of $159,000.

Contact a motorcycle accident lawyer for a free consultation when wanting to file motorcycle accident claims. We could seek financial recovery on your behalf if you sustained property damage, medical expenses, or other losses.

Motorcycle Accident Case Values

How Much Are the Average Motorcycle Accident Settlement with Back and Neck Injuries Worth?

The value of your claim with back, neck, or spinal cord injuries will largely be based on your hospital bills, including surgery, pain and disability, and ability to work again. To understand the issue in greater detail, read these back and neck injury case summaries.

Ross vs. City of Chicago, Cook County – $3,317,000 Jury Award

The motorcyclist, Mr. Ross, was driving down Lake Shore Drive near downtown Chicago a little after midnight. Unknown to him, there was a traffic official watching traffic in a hidden location in the vicinity. Without signaling or using his lights, the traffic official turned into traffic and collided with Ross.

The incident left Ross with neck and head injuries, and he sued the traffic official and the police department. He claimed the official negligently turned into traffic and failed to avoid the crash.

Both defendants shot back that Ross was driving too fast, should have kept better watch of the road, and was the real culprit in the accident. The jury found for the plaintiff – $3,317,000 for damages related to medical bills, pain and suffering, and disfigurement.

However, the jury found that Ross was 10% responsible for the incident, according to the police reports, and lowered the recovery accordingly.

Motorcycle accident cases are complex, and their settlement value depends upon several factors. Contact our law firm to speak to a committed personal injury lawyer who can negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf for a fair motorcycle accident settlement amount.

Chilton vs. Uhlir, Lake County – $53,000 Jury Award

Peter Chilton was riding his motorcycle around a town in northern Illinois when a car from behind clipped him, causing him to fall forward and injure his back and neck.

He sued the driver, Joshua Uhlir, for negligence and sought damages for his medical bills and associated injuries. Uhlir agreed that he was negligent but denied that he caused Chilton’s injuries. The jury returned a $53,000 verdict for the plaintiff.

Lally vs. Arrp Paving, Cook County – $35,000 Jury Award

The plaintiff in the case, Ivan Lally, was driving his motorcycle down the highway when a tractor-trailer rear-ended him. The force of the crash sent him flying nearly a hundred feet down the road and gave him severe neck and other injuries.

Lally claimed he needed to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to medically repair these injuries and sought over $1 million at trial from the other driver.

In response, the defendant claimed that most of the plaintiff’s harm came from injuries he received while working as a cop the year before the incident. Also, he claimed the plaintiff was negligent by swerving into his lane right before the crash so that the defendant could not avoid the incident.

The strong arguments offered by the defense allowed the jury to only return a verdict of $35,000 in the face of the plaintiff’s large demand and steep medical bills following the crash.

Reed vs. St. Louis Cab Company, St. Clair County – $63,000 Jury Award

Steven Reed was riding his motorcycle down a quiet road in southern Illinois when the accident happened, and a cab changed lanes right in front of him. He was left with hardly any time to slow down, and he collided with the cab suffering extensive injuries to the neck, back, and pelvis.

He sued the cab driver and company, but only the former remained at trial in the motorcycle accident case. He argued in court that the defendant should have signaled his turn, changed lanes at a slower speed, and checked before turning, among other things.

For his part, the defendant retorted that Reed was driving too fast and should have kept a better lookout to avoid the crash.

The jury gave a sizable verdict to the plaintiff and almost half of the responsibility, which cut the award by nearly 50%.

A motorcycle rider may be entitled to compensation from the other person who caused the car accident or their insurance company. Contact personal injury lawyers in a free consultation if you were injured in a motorcycle accident and sustained brain injuries, medical expenses, or other losses.

How Much is the Average Motorcycle Accident Settlement in Brain Injury Cases?

On average, these cases can return hundreds of thousands of dollars due to the devastating impact of brain injuries in a motorcycle crash on victims’ physical, emotional, psychological, sexual, and financial lives.

These summaries of brain injury accident cases and injury settlement reviews reflect that fact.

Butler vs. Beegle, Jo Daviess County – $500,000 Motorcycle Accident Settlement

The plaintiff was on his motorcycle riding along a country road when he came upon livestock. Unfortunately, he could not avoid colliding with some of the animals, and the force of the crash sent him off his bike.

He sustained brain and spinal cord injuries, which led to paraplegia, suing the owner of the animals for negligence. The suit cited a failure to control his livestock and prevent the accident.

The owner shot back that the plaintiff exaggerated his injuries. He said the motorcyclist was responsible for the crash in the first place and his subsequent accident injury or accident injuries. Eventually, both sides decided to settle for $500,000.

The final settlement of the motorcycle accident involved the respective insurance companies. The law firm of the riders involved in motorcycle accidents derived the settlement value in consultation with the insurers.

Shreve vs. Swalec, Cook County – $3,209,000 Jury Award

A motorcyclist, Larry Shreve, was driving down a road. A Verizon truck attempted to turn left into a driveway right in front of Shreve. Unfortunately, before that happened, both crashed into each other.

The incident left Shreve with significant brain damage. He sued the truck driver and the driver’s employer, Verizon North Incorporated.

Interestingly, the defendants both agreed the truck driver was negligent. They said his negligence caused the plaintiff’s injuries. They both denied the extent of the plaintiff’s claimed injuries.

However, their arguments in court were not effective. The jury returned a $3,209,000 award for Shreve for pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of earning capacity, disfigurement, medical bills, and loss of normal life.

Bidinger vs. Collins, Kane County – $100,000 Settlement

A motorcycle collided with a car. The car attempted to make a left turn into the motorcycle’s lane. He did not leave enough time for the latter to pass before hitting it.

The plaintiff was a passenger on the motorcycle. She was thrown off the bike and into a metal sign. She claimed she suffered head injuries as a result. She sued both drivers as well as the owner of the sign.

Her lawsuit contended that the drivers were negligent in not slowing down and staying alert.

All sides agreed to short-circuit the litigation, and the female received a $100,000 settlement.

Contact a motorcycle accident attorney if you have questions about motorcycle accident settlements or insurance company negotiations. A personal injury lawyer from our law firm can assist you with a motorcycle accident case.

Hill vs. JM Irrigations Inc., Cook County – $5,750,000 Motorcycle Settlement

The defendant motorcyclist turned left into the plaintiff motorcycle accident victim. The crash left the victim with a severe head injury and other injuries.

Under the vicarious liability theory, he sued the driver and the driver’s employer. At trial, he claimed damages of medical bills, pain and suffering, personal injuries, and reduced quality of life. He also claimed lost wages.

He brought expert economic testimony to project his loss of earning capacity due to the incident. The defendants agreed to compromise on a $5,750,000 motorcycle accident settlement.

McCloud vs. Goodyear, Cook County Motorcycle Accident – $15,000,000 Jury Award

In the products liability case, a motorcyclist sued the manufacturer of her bike tire. They gave out, and the malfunction led to her injuries. She was thrown to the ground on an interstate highway and the force of the fall gave her an extreme head injury. She required constant medical attention for the rest of her life.

In her suit, she claimed the tires were not fit for their intended use as made and distributed. The defendant countered that the tires were fine but that the plaintiff did not correctly fill them with air before departing.

The defendant refused any liability, but the jury disagreed. They awarded $15,000,000 for pain, suffering, and other damages.

Vitha vs. Staples, McHenry County Motorcycle Accident – $151,000 Jury Award

The plaintiff was hit head-on while driving his motorcycle down a busy public street. The defendant’s vehicle tried to make a left turn through his lane and collided with him.

He claimed the incident left him with significant head injuries and lumbar pains. The defendant denied it and claimed that the plaintiff exaggerated his injuries. The jury returned a $151,000 award for the plaintiff for medical bills, pain, and suffering.

You can settle your case online with the insurance company for the insurance policy claim value. However, speaking to a personal injury lawyer with experience in motorcycle accident cases and injury claims beforehand is advisable.

Contact our personal injury lawyers for a free consultation about motorcycle accidents with sustained property damage, brain injuries, medical expenses, or other losses.

Chicago Motorcycle Accidents Case Value

How Much is the Motorcycle Accident Settlement in Wrongful Death Worth?

Motorcycle accident-preventable death cases may be worth much more than other types because loved ones often will bring their claims for support or companionship in addition to the decedent’s claims.

It can double or even triple the settlement for a motorcycle accident or physical personal injury lawsuit. The following case summaries illustrate its pattern.

Schaafsma vs. Gonzalez, Will County – $1,050,000 Jury Award

A 53-year-old man was riding his motorcycle when he was unexpectedly hit by a truck at an intersection. The motorcyclist was driving east, and the truck was going south. However, as the former entered the intersection, the latter refused to yield, and the two collided.

The man died from injuries related to the motorcycle crash. Representatives for the motorcyclist later brought an action against the truck driver for negligence because they claimed he should have slowed down and yielded to the other driver.

They also sued the truck driver’s employer under vicarious liability because he was working at the time of the incident. Both defendants denied that they were at fault and argued that the motorcyclist was driving too fast.

The opposing sides could not reach an agreement. The case went to trial, where the jury awarded the plaintiff $1,050,000 for wrongful death damages.

Pieczkowski vs. Rietveld, Will County – $200,000 Settlement

A motorcycle driver tried turning left through a lane to enter another when a truck hit him on his broadside, sending him to the ground. Complications from the incident later led to his death.

He was survived only by his sister, and she eventually brought a wrongful death action on his behalf against the truck driver who hit him. The suit alleged, among other things, that the defendant was driving too fast and should have yielded to the motorcyclist.

The defendant denied any liability but settled out of court after the plaintiff filed a lawsuit for $200,000.

A motorcycle accident attorney from our firm can assist with any questions about motorcycle accident settlements or communication with the insurance companies in motorcycle accident cases.

Donahue vs. Hilt, Lake County – $1,040,000 Settlement

In the incident, a truck driver left the bar and grill he was employed at, with the company’s truck. According to allegations later made at trial, the driver was intoxicated as he left the bar and grill.

While driving, he made a left turn into the plaintiff’s lane and hit him head-on. The plaintiff died from the impact of the crash. In the wrongful death action that followed, the next-of-kin to the decedent claimed that the driver was driving drunk and was negligent by turning into the plaintiff’s path.

The plaintiff also instituted a dram shop action against the bar and grill as the driver’s employer and server. The defendant driver defaulted in the case and could not be found, but the company settled with the plaintiff for $1,040,000.

Shirkey vs. Flad, Dupage County – $1,350,000 Settlement

The defendant, in its case, was hopping around bars in DuPage County before he decided to head home. When he did, he came upon a motorcycle driver and tried to go around him. While doing so, he clipped the back of the motorcycle and sent the other driver into a tailspin.

The motorcyclist later died from complications related to the motorcycle accident. His representatives brought a lawsuit against the other driver for negligence and the two bars he had visited before the crash under dram shop laws [1].

All sides reached an agreement at $1,035,000 for medical bills, funeral expenses, and loss of consortium under the Funeral Expense Act and Survivor Act.

McChrystal vs. Morgenthaler, Cook County – $1,060,000 Jury Award

The victim was only 21 years old. He was struck and killed when a motorist in the opposite direction ran right into his broadside.

He died immediately upon impact. In the subsequent lawsuit, representatives of the decedent alleged that the other driver was negligent in failing to yield to the plaintiff and failing to adequately control his vehicle to avoid the crash.

The defendant quickly responded that the motorcyclist was the party at fault with similar allegations to the plaintiff. The jury awarded the plaintiff approximately $60,000 in damages for medical bills and $1,000,000 for pain and suffering.

Mercier vs. Corranza, Lake County – $380,000 Motorcycle Accident Settlement

In a gruesome motorcycle accident, a woman was riding on the back of a motorcycle when another vehicle crashed right into it as the car attempted to make a left-hand turn through the motorcycle’s lane.

She was thrown off the bike and dragged by the car in the immediate aftermath of the incident. She was seriously injured and died from the injuries.

The next-of-kin of the plaintiff brought a lawsuit against the drivers of the motorcycle and the car. They claimed both were negligent in driving too fast, failing to keep a proper lookout, and not yielding to each other.

The final agreement forced the car driver to pay $360,000 and the motorcycle driver to pay $20,000. More was apportioned to the former, probably because he initiated the crash and was perhaps more at fault by not yielding to the other driver.

Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Helping Clients Maximize the Value of Settlements for Motorcycle Accidents

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC is committed to protecting the rights of injured motorcyclists on Illinois roads and highways. Our attorneys have successfully prosecuted cases on behalf of injured motorcyclists in all areas of Illinois.

Call our experienced personal injury attorney in motorcycle accident cases at  (888) 424-5757 (toll-free phone number) or use the contact form for a free case evaluation and legal counsel on financial recovery. We can discuss how your incident relates to the average motorcycle accident settlement of motorcycle riders.

Everything you share with your motorcycle accident lawyer remains confidential in an attorney-client relationship.

Contingency Fee Agreement

The Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC attorneys accept all serious injury claims and preventable death cases on a contingency fee agreement. The arrangement immediately ensures a client has legal representation for a motorcycle accident lawsuit without paying any upfront out-of-pocket expenses.

Our law firm advances all expenses in resolving motorcycle or car crash claims and only gets paid when negotiating a settlement or winning a jury trial award. Our “No-Win/No-Fee” Guarantee is simple: We do not get paid if you do not win!

A personal injury case can help with compensation for lost income, medical treatment, physical therapy, future medical expenses, non-economic damages (pain and suffering or post-traumatic stress disorder), property damage, reduced value of a motorcycle, and other accident injuries, and settlement amounts of the accident victim.

Resources: [1] illinoiscourts.gov

Client Reviews

Jonathan Rosenfeld was professionally objective, timely, and knowledgeable. Also, his advice was extremely effective regarding my case. In addition, Jonathan was understanding and patient pertaining to any of my questions or concerns. I was very happy with the end result and I highly recommend Jonathan Rosenfeld.

- Michonne Proulx

Extremely impressed with this law firm. They took control of a bad motorcycle crash that left my uncle seriously injured. Without any guarantee of a financial recovery, they went out and hired accident investigators and engineers to help prove how the accident happened. I am grateful that they worked on a contingency fee basis as there was no way we could have paid for these services on our own.

- Ethan Armstrong

Jonathan helped my family heal and get compensation after our child was suffered a life threatening injury at daycare. He was sympathetic and in constant contact with us letting us know all he knew every step of the way. We were so blessed to find Jonathan!

- Giulia

This lawyer really helped me get compensation for my motorcycle accident case. I know there is no way that I could have gotten anywhere near the amount that Mr. Rosenfeld was able to get to settle my case. Thank you.

- Daniel Kaim

Jonathan did a great job helping my family navigate through a lengthy lawsuit involving my grandmother's death in a nursing home. Through every step of the case, Jonathan kept my family informed of the progression of the case. Although our case eventually settled at a mediation, I really was impressed at how well prepared Jonathan was to take the case to trial.

- Lisa
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