Left Turn Motorcycle Accidents in Orland Park

Michael J. Brennan Injury & Accident Attorney represents injury victims in Orland Park motorcycle accidents. Of all the different types of accidents you could be involved in, one of the most common is a left-turn accident, where a driver turns into you. This, obviously, can leave you with significant and long-lasting injuries. If this has happened to you and you want to know more about your options, contact us for a free consultation.

What Should You Do After One of These Accidents?

If you’ve spent any time driving around Orland Park, chances are you’ve encountered motorcycles on the road. And if you’re a motorcycle rider yourself, you’re likely well aware of the risks of accidents, especially those involving left turns.

Left-turn accidents happen when drivers:

• Take a left turn in front of you, the oncoming motorcycle. This is often due to a failure to see you or misjudging your speed.

While these accidents frequently result in serious injuries for you, the motorcyclist, it’s not unlike most other accidents in terms of what you need to do. So, if you’ve been involved in one of these accidents, you should make sure to:

• Get to safety and check injuries
• Get medical care at the scene, then follow up with your own doctors
• Gather information and evidence
• Report the accident to the police
• Talk with any witnesses
• Exchange insurance information
• Don’t apologize or admit any fault

Whether you need help from our law firm depends on what happened in your accident. If you only got minor injuries or had a small crash, you might not need legal help. But you still have the right to ask for money from the people responsible for the accident.

Dealing with insurance and the legal process after an accident can be hard, especially if you got seriously hurt. Our team can help by:

• Finding out who caused the accident
• Collecting important evidence
• Talking to witnesses and experts
• Dealing with the insurance company
• Making the process easier for you

Who’s Responsible For Your Injuries?

One of the biggest questions you’ll have to answer if you do decide to proceed with an injury claim is who is responsible. In legal terms, this is known as “liability.” It’s an important aspect of any claim because:

• The liable party is legally responsible for covering your injuries and other damages from the accident.

In order to figure this out, you’re going to need to prove “negligence” on the part of the liable parties. In most left-turn motorcycle accidents, this is primarily going to fall on the driver that hit you, especially if they were:

• Speeding
• Failing to yield the right of way
• Driving under the influence
• Distracted

At the same time, there’s numerous other factors that can result in these accidents. When that happens, others may share some of the responsibility:

• Another driver
• Another motorcyclist
• Pedestrians or passengers
• City or county government
• Parts manufacturers

It’s important to remember that you could also share some of the fault. This is known as “comparative negligence.” It says that any percentage of fault you contribute to the accident is going to reduce your overall recovery by that same percentage.

What Damages Can You Get in a Claim?

There’s no way to sugarcoat it: being in a left-turn motorcycle accident is probably going to leave you with significant injuries and other emotional and financial issues. This is part of the risk you take when you ride a motorcycle, but the key in these accidents is that the other person or party did something wrong.

This puts you in a position to file an injury claim to recover certain “damages.” Usually, you can do this through:

• An insurance claim
• A personal injury lawsuit

No matter which legal path you choose, you have the potential to recover the following:

• Medical expenses – This covers both current and future medical bills resulting from the accident.
• Lost wages or earning capacity – These are for wages lost due to the accident and potential future earnings you missed out on.
• Pain and suffering – This includes both physical and emotional distress caused by the accident.
• Permanent disability – If the accident leads to permanent disability, you could recover costs related to those damages.
• Loss of enjoyment of life – This accounts for any reduction in your ability to enjoy life as you did before the accident.
• Wrongful death expenses – These apply in fatal accidents, covering funeral or burial costs and can extend to lost benefits or earnings.

Statute of limitations

In Illinois, there’s a certain deadline by which you have to file your injury claim. This is known as the “statute of limitations.” Currently, you have:

• Two years from the date of the accident to file your claim.

Missing this deadline means you won’t be able to file a claim and recover damages, no matter how strong your case is.

What Can You Do to Avoid These Accidents?

The best way to avoid being in a motorcycle accident is to do everything you can to make sure other drivers are aware of you. Unfortunately, though, the main cause of left-turn accidents have nothing to do with you, the person on the motorcycle. Rather, it has everything to do with the other driver. So, while you can’t account for their actions, there are a few things you can do to at least reduce the chances you’ll be in one of these accidents:

• Stay visible – When riding, always position yourself in the lane where you are most visible to other drivers, especially those making left turns. Use your headlights, and consider wearing brightly colored or reflective clothing to increase your visibility.
• Anticipate left-turn situations – Be vigilant when approaching intersections, driveways, and other areas where vehicles may turn left across your path. Watch for turning signals and signs indicating potential left turns by other drivers.
• Maintain a safe distance – Keep a safe distance from vehicles ahead of you, particularly those that may be preparing to turn left. This gives you more time to react if they unexpectedly turn in front of you.
• Use defensive riding techniques – Assume that other drivers may not see you and be prepared to take evasive action if necessary. Always have an escape route in mind and be ready to brake or swerve to avoid a collision.
• Communicate – Use hand signals and your motorcycle’s turn signals to indicate your intentions to other drivers. Make eye contact with drivers at intersections to ensure they see you before proceeding.
• Be extra cautious during peak traffic times – Use extra caution during busy times when there may be more vehicles on the road and increased potential for left-turn accidents.
• Stay alert and focused – Avoid distractions such as using electronic devices or listening to loud music while riding. Stay focused on the road and be aware of your surroundings at all times.

Experience and Support in Orland Park Motorcycle Accidents

When you’re in a left turn motorcycle accident in Orland Park, it can be overwhelming and make you feel powerless. But you don’t have to face this situation alone. MJB Law and our team will be there to give you the experience and support you need to make it through the recovery process. To learn more about how we can help you, contact us today for a free consultation.