Who Is At Fault in a Chicago Motorcycle Accident?

Often, motorcyclists use their motorcycles as the primary mode of transportation. However, some motorcyclists save riding for weekends when the weather is nice. When a motorcyclist is riding, he or she must be aware and alert to stay safe. However, if another driver acts recklessly, they could cause a motor vehicle accident involving the motorcyclist.

Unfortunately, motorcycle accidents can cause devastating injuries. If a motorcycle crash has affected your life, you might not know who to turn to. It can be difficult to determine who is at fault in a Chicago motorcycle accident. You may know that you need financial compensation, but not how to protect your rights. The best way to protect your rights is to hire a Chicago motorcycle accident attorney from Ktenas Injury Lawyers.

We work hard to provide the best legal services to our clients throughout Illinois. Our experienced motorcycle crash lawyers will ensure that your rights are protected. We’ll find the negligent party and make sure they’re held accountable for their negligent actions.

Also, we’ll fight fiercely to make sure you recover the financial compensation you need to cover your medical bills, lost income, property damage, pain and suffering, and other economic and non-economic damages. To schedule a free initial consultation, call our personal injury law firm today at (312) 300-2515, or chat with us online to learn how we can help you.

Who is Usually at Fault in a Chicago Motorcycle Accident?

When a motorcycle accident occurs, often it’s because of a mistake, or negligent conduct by one or more motorists. Sometimes, a biker may be to blame, but often it’s a driver behind the wheel of a larger vehicle who is at fault.

No matter the cause of the accident, motorcycle accident victims are eligible for financial compensation under Illinois law. However, since each motorcycle crash is unique, it’s essential to understand the legal options that may result from motorcycle accident injuries.

A negligent driver or the owner of an at-fault motor vehicle may be liable for any motorcycle accident injuries. Those responsible for a motorcycle crash are held liable for monetary damages. In case a company employed the at-fault driver, that corporation can also be held liable.

What is the Most Common Cause of Motorcycle Accidents?

The following are the most common causes of motorcycle accidents, as seen in Chicago motorcycle accident claims:

Roadside Construction

Chicago roads are perpetually under construction, this includes a lot of roadside construction. Unfortunately, many road construction companies don't put up signs to warn of lane shifts, road obstructions, and other hazards. Road hazards such as this can cause catastrophic motorcycle accidents.

Irresponsible Drivers

This is the primary cause of fatal motorcycle accidents and those that cause catastrophic injuries. Negligent driving practices, such as drunk driving, texting while driving, and distracted driving cause all types of motorcycle accidents. Often when negligent drivers hit motorcyclists, the results are often tragic.

Road Rage

Often, some drivers are too aggressive on the road, and sometimes they direct that aggression toward motorcycle riders. This opens up the possibility of crashes, and these drivers should be held liable for the damage they cause.

Failure to Yield

Motor vehicle drivers train their minds to watch out for other vehicles, and trucks that are hard to miss. But they usually ignore motorcyclists. Some drivers refuse to yield the right-of-way to motorcyclists when entering the road or when making a turn.

Defective Automobile Parts

When parts on your vehicle or on the vehicle that hits you have malfunctioned, you can hold the manufacturer of those parts liable for your crash.

Aside from the above potential causes of motorcycle crashes, you can file a personal injury claim against a government agency, especially if the said government agency didn’t maintain safe roads, and that failure caused your motorcycle accident, you may pursue compensation from them.

However, personal injury claims against Illinois government agencies have different rules and deadlines. Thus, you must have a Chicago motorcycle accident attorney by your side as you file this type of accident claim.

In the above scenarios, multiple parties could be at fault for the motorcycle accident and your bodily injuries. However, proving fault in a Chicago motorcycle accident claim requires a ton of evidence and a thorough understanding of legal knowledge, so working with an experienced personal injury lawyer could be beneficial to you.

What are the Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries?

Over 89,000 people are injured in motorcycle crashes every year. The most common motor accident injuries include:

Traumatic Brain Injuries

Wearing a helmet is one of the best ways to prevent brain injury in the event of a motorcycle collision. According to statistics, only about 50 percent of motorcyclists are wearing helmets when involved in motorcycle wrecks. Also, over 40% of all motorcycle accident victims suffer serious injuries or die because of the motorcycle accident's impact.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Injuries that affect the back or neck are very common during motorcycle accidents. According to statistics, nearly 12% of motorcycle accident crash victims suffer serious spinal injuries.

Lower-Body Injuries

Motorcycle accidents leave motorcycle operators' lower extremities, including the feet and legs, completely exposed. Studies show that about 47% of motorcyclists involved in traffic accidents suffer some type of leg or foot injury.

Internal Injuries

Internal injuries, including damage to body organs or internal bleeding, are severe or fatal for motorcyclists in motorcycle wrecks. The biggest risk is broken ribs.

Fractures

Most motorcycle accident victims suffer broken bones. This type of injury happens when excessive pressure is applied to the bone, resulting in a crack or shatter.

Road Rash

Road rash is a very painful type of injury to experience. It leaves accident victims with severe injuries. In 2013, over 20,400 traffic accidents involved road rash, 17,000 of these incidents caused minor injuries. However, about 2,000 incidents required acute medical care or rehabilitation, and 400 led to death. Road rash injuries also cause significant scarring.

Should I Get a Lawyer for a Motorcycle Accident?

The experienced personal injury attorneys at Ktenas Injury Lawyers understand the financial and emotional suffering you’re facing because of the nature of the injuries and the pain they have caused. A motorcycle accident lawyer can help you navigate the difficult legal battle ahead of you so that you’re assured of a positive outcome with as minimal stress as possible.

Another reason to seek legal representation is that you need aggressive legal assistance during negotiations with the insurance companies. Often, an insurance company may negotiate a quick, lowball settlement or deny your insurance claim.

Insurance representatives may try to get a statement from you or ask certain questions, hoping that you admit liability for the accident, which could significantly affect the financial settlement you recover in the future. A motorcycle accident lawyer can speak with insurance adjusters on your behalf and ensure you receive the full amount that you deserve.

If issues of liability aren’t immediately clear, an experienced lawyer and legal team can investigate the circumstances of your accident. An accident lawyer can collect the necessary evidence to facilitate your motorcycle accident claim, including police reports, medical records, and eyewitness testimony to establish negligence and liability.

The experienced team at Ktenas Injury Lawyers has extensive experience representing motorcycle accident victims in Illinois, and we can help you. We will ensure you receive fair compensation to cover all the economic and non-economic damages you suffered.

Contact Our Experienced Chicago Motorcycle Accident Attorneys Today for Legal Advice!

Motorcycle wrecks can cause considerable financial and emotional distress. You don’t have to deal with this when your injuries were caused by another person’s negligence. Our experienced personal injury attorneys will stand up for you and demand that you get a fair settlement. Your compensation should allow you to recover peacefully.

After a motorcycle accident, you must contact a Chicago motorcycle accident attorney immediately so they can get started on your personal injury lawsuit. As with most personal injury cases, there’s a time limit starting from the date of the accident that you will be eligible to file a claim. In Illinois, you have two years to file your personal injury claim. Waiting could mean losing the chance to recover the financial compensation you need to cover your losses. When you contact a lawyer right away, you’re giving yourself a chance to recover the compensation you’re entitled to.

Also, you must contact a motorcycle accident lawyer immediately after your accident because you can remember what happened and can account for details accurately. As time lapses, you’ll lose more of these details and you won’t be able to provide an accurate account of what happened. A skilled Chicago motorcycle accident lawyer has a better chance of investigating the accident scene and gathering evidence to support your personal injury claim. You can lose physical evidence over time, but the earlier an experienced attorney investigates your case, the more physical evidence can be collected and preserved.

For a free initial consultation, call our firm today at (312) 300-2515, or chat with us online to learn how we can help.