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Every motorcycle accident attorney at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers knows the uphill battle injured motorcyclists face when trying to recover compensation for their injuries from the insurance companies of drivers who have caused crashes. Many auto insurance carriers will take a “deny and defend” posture when handling claims involving injured or deceased motorcyclists. But a lawyer from our firm can get the maximum compensation for injury and fatality cases that Illinois law allows. In fact, in 2016, we settled a case on behalf of a motorcyclist who lost his leg when a truck merged into his lane of traffic before trial for $4.15 million.
Our motorcycle accident cases are always handled on a contingency fee basis. No fee is charged unless there is a financial recovery for you. Complete our online intake form and get a free case evaluation with a Chicago motorcycle lawyer today.
Motorcyclists at Risk
With little protective equipment to absorb the impact of a collision with a vehicle, motorcyclists receive some of the most significant injuries of any person traveling on the road. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 4,976 people were killed and 88,000 people were injured in motorcycle crashes in 2015. That fatality rate was an increase of more than 8.3% from the previous year. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, in a period of ten years, the number of motorcycles went up 63%, and the number of fatalities more than doubled during the same period.
This national trend has been echoed in Illinois. According to the Illinois Department of Transportation’s 2016 Illinois Crash Facts and Statistics report, 139 motorcyclists lost their lives and 2,430 motorcyclists were injured in crashes while riding on Illinois roads and highways.
Each motorcycle accident attorney at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers understands that injuries sustained in motorcycle accidents change the lives of those who are injured. Our commitment to injured motorcyclists has been recognized in the motorcycling community in Chicago and beyond, as former clients refer fellow injured riders.
Life-Changing Effects of Motorcycle Injuries
In one of the most comprehensive analyses of injuries related to motorcycle crashes, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention studied the type and severity of injuries of more than 1 million motorcyclists treated in emergency rooms from 2001-08. The results of the study revealed that the most common nonfatal injuries were:
- Lower Extremities: 30% of injuries were to the leg and foot area.
- Head and Neck: 22% of bikers reported injuries of some degree to these areas.
- Upper Trunk: These included injuries to the chest, shoulder, and back.
- Lower Trunk: The arms and hands are common areas of the body to be injured.
Injuries Commonly Encountered
Illinois data suggests that more than 35% of motorcyclists injured in accidents have what is considered to be an “A” injury, one that prevents them from engaging in the activities they enjoyed prior to the crash. Examples of these injuries can include:
- Fractures
- Lacerations
- Brain injury
- Paralysis
- Joint injury
- Internal organ damage
- Back/neck injuries
- Loss of limbs
When discussing injuries related to motorcycle accidents, it should be noted that Illinois does not require the use of helmets. Consequently, we see a significant number of clients with brain trauma related to a crash. Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers is committed to helping our clients receive the medical care they need. Chicago residents can count on our firm to connect them with leading brain injury and physical rehabilitation specialists both in the metropolitan area and across the Midwest.
Primary Causes of Motorcycle Crashes
In order to recover compensation for injuries related to a motorcycle accident, the injured party has the burden of establishing that the driver who caused the crash was negligent. Driver negligence can cover situations where:
- The driver failed to keep a proper lookout
- The driver was distracted
- The driver failed to yield
- The driver was speeding
- The driver failed to follow traffic control devices
- The driver failed to gauge the speed or distance
- The driver operated their vehicle while intoxicated
These types of negligent conduct may contribute to motorcycle crashes including:
- Left-turn crashes
- Rear-end accidents
- Sideswipes
- Intersection crashes
- Head-on crashes
- Lane change accidents
Our Experienced Lawyers Can Help You
When a motorcyclist is injured in an accident, it often impacts both the individual and their family. From the moment a motorcycle accident lawyer is retained, we begin aggressively preparing your case so we may present it in the most favorable light for a settlement with an insurance adjuster or a trial before a jury.
To help build a strong case for you, our attorneys regularly do the following:
- Order police reports
- Take statements from witnesses to the crash
- Photograph the scene of the crash and damage to vehicles
- Review video footage of the incident
- Hire an accident reconstructionist to re-create the crash
- Review computer recordings or “black boxes”
- Order medical records and bills
- Talk directly to the insurance carriers for the parties
- Request copies of traffic light sequencing data
Our goal is to shoulder the responsibility for your financial recovery, so you can focus on your physical well-being.
In the moments after a crash, take photographs of the accident scene. If you are unable to, consider asking a friend or family member to capture pictures of the scene. Relay to a police officer, friend or family member exactly what happened when the accident occurred, but never say you caused the crash. Speak honestly about the accident to the police officer, you can always amend your statement if you forgot how it happened or what might have caused the event.
No, if you are injured in a motorcycle accident or other motor vehicle collision, you do not have a legal obligation to give a statement to an insurance company. In order to appreciate how and why statements are part of the claims process, it is important to understand how automobile insurance companies approach these cases.
Insurance companies assign the case to an investigator or adjuster who is responsible for interviewing people who have information about the incident. Many times, this fact gathering mission will take the form of a recorded statement. While gathering such information may seem innocent, insurance adjusters are trained to illicit information more favorable to the insured. Insurance companies make money by taking in premium payments and paying out as little as feasible in claims and judgments.
In incidents involving serious injuries that may lead to ongoing medical issues or large medical bills, we recommend you discuss the case with an attorney. Illinois motorcycle accidents that involve only minor damage to the property or persons involved generally can be handled on your own and resolved by the insurance companies involved. If you feel your claim is being handled in a fair and expedient manner, there may not be a need for an attorney.
Under Illinois law, an injured motorcyclist has two (2) years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit (see 735 ILCS 5/13-202). Illinois motorcycle accident cases are governed by a statute of limitations for filing a lawsuit against the party responsible your accident and resulting injuries.
While two years may seem like a long time, it is important to remember that investigation commonly needs to take place before a case goes to court. Your failure to comply with this time constraint will bar your ability to recover compensation.
The injured party in a motorcycle accident case prevails by providing evidence of damages and the valuation of such damages. From the moment we are retained in a motorcycle accident, we begin aggressively preparing your case so we may present all aspects of your damages to reach a settlement with an insurance adjuster or at a jury trial.
Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC has a team of investigators, accident reconstructionists and engineers we deploy to the scene of an accident within hours. This rapid response to motorcycle and other motor vehicle accidents allows us to secure valuable evidence for our clients. Frequently, this information is the difference between a satisfactory resolution and a great settlement.
Estimating how much your motorcycle accident lawsuit is worth is challenging because the facts of your case are unique. Your attorney will review factors including:
- Ongoing medical expenses and hospitalization costs
- Medical care needs including future surgical procedures, rehabilitation and therapy
- Property damage including your motorcycle repairs or replacement costs
- Out-of-pocket expenses associated with your injuries
- Lost wages for time away from work related to permanent or temporary disabilities
- Loss of future earnings if you are not able to return to your job immediately or at all
- Funeral costs and burial expenses in wrongful death cases filed by surviving family
- Non-economic damages including pain, suffering, mental anguish, emotional distress, depression and anxiety
Typically, attorneys use motorcycle settlements and verdicts to determine the value of their client's case. Examples include:
- $1.6 Million Negotiated Settlement – The victim suffered nerve damage and crushed vertebrae after sliding across loose gravel
- $350,000 Negotiated Settlement – The victim's family settled after their loved one was killed by a truck pulling a trailer that turned left in front of the biker at high speed.
- $300,000 Jury Verdict – The jury provided financial compensation after hearing evidence that a truck driver made a left-hand turn in front of the motorcycle rider causing severe soft tissue injuries and aggravating a pre-existing herniated disc. The victim also suffered a torn ligament in their knee.
Talk to a Lawyer About Your Motorcycle Case Today
A motorcycle injury attorney at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers can assist you during this time of need. We offer free consultations at a convenient location to discuss your legal rights. Regardless of where your motorcycle accident occurred, we can help you recover the maximum compensation for your injuries. Call us at (888) 424-5757. For more information, visit the resources below:
