Chicago Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Motorcycle accidents can stem from many causes and factors, but they all share one common characteristic: the potential for severe consequences for the riders involved. After a motorcycle accident, legal options can help you obtain the support you need for your recovery.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to a skilled Chicago motorcycle accident attorney at Michael J. Brennan Injury & Accident Lawyer. We can assess your case, inform you of your legal rights, and guide you through the process of seeking compensation for your injuries.
With our experience and commitment to advocating for your best interests, you can focus on your physical and emotional well-being while they handle the legal aspects of your case.
Chicago Motorcycle Accident Guide
- How Our Chicago Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Can Support You Following an Accident
- 7 Essential Steps to Take Following an Chicago Motorcycle Accident
- Motorcycle Accident Statistics in Chicago
- Causes of Chicago Motorcycle Accidents
- Negligence Leads to Motorcycle Accidents
- Common Injuries in Motorcycle Accidents and Their Potential Financial Impact
- Compensation for Motorcycle Accident Damages in Chicago, IL
- What Is a Statute of Limitations?
- Reach Out to Our Experienced Chicago Motorcycle Accident Attorneys Today
How Our Chicago Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Can Support You Following an Accident
To fully grasp the extent of damages you may recover in your case, consult our team.
We possess extensive knowledge and experience in handling Chicago motorcycle accident claims.
Simply having the right to file a claim may not suffice. Collaborating with our seasoned team will ensure that you receive fair treatment. We’ll explore every available avenue to support you, maximizing your chances of achieving your desired outcome.
Here’s how we can help you:
- Legal guidance: Our team of motorcycle accident attorneys has a deep understanding of Illinois’s laws regarding motorcycle accidents. We’ll help you comprehend your rights and explore your legal options.
- Accident investigation: We can use our resources to conduct a thorough investigation of the accident. This process involves gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and reconstructing the accident scene to ascertain fault.
- Evidence collection: We’ll assist in gathering critical evidence, such as police reports, medical records, and any available surveillance footage. This evidence will build a robust case.
- Communication with involved parties: Our team will handle all communication with insurance companies, other parties, and their legal representatives on your behalf. This will protect your rights and help you avoid inadvertently saying something that could adversely affect your case.
- Negotiation: When dealing with insurance claims or potential settlements, our experienced lawyers can negotiate with insurance companies to ensure you receive just compensation for medical expenses, property damage, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
7 Essential Steps to Take Following an Chicago Motorcycle Accident
After a motorcycle accident in Chicago, you may feel overwhelming stress, pain, and uncertainty regarding your next steps. By taking the appropriate actions, you can protect your health, well-being, and legal rights.
Below is a quick overview of what to do.
- Adhere to your medical treatment plan: If you received medical attention immediately following the accident, it’s crucial to follow through with any prescribed treatment, medication, or rehabilitation. If you didn’t seek medical care, do so immediately, even if you feel fine. Some serious injuries may not be immediately apparent.
- Notify your insurance company: If you haven’t already done so, inform your insurance provider about the accident. Provide them with factual information about what transpired, but avoid admitting fault or discussing the details extensively.
- Compile evidence: Gather all relevant documentation, including the police report, medical records, witness statements, and photographs of the accident scene and your injuries. This evidence will be vital for your insurance claim and any legal proceedings.
- Document expenses: Begin recording all expenses related to the accident, such as medical bills, motorcycle repair costs, and lost wages due to missed work. Retain all receipts and invoices.
- Exercise caution when communicating: If the other party’s insurance company contacts you, be mindful of what you say. Consult a Chicago motorcycle accident lawyer before providing any statements or agreeing to a settlement.
- Get legal representation: Contact our experienced Chicago motorcycle accident attorneys. They can guide you through the legal process, protect your rights, and assist you in pursuing fair compensation for your losses.
- Prioritize self-care: Focus on your physical and mental well-being. Get ample rest, follow your healthcare provider’s instructions, and seek support from family and friends during this challenging time.
Motorcycle Accident Statistics in Chicago
Motorcycles provide a practical, cost-saving, and environmentally friendly method of transportation and recreational opportunities. However, riding a motorcycle can be particularly risky because bikes don’t offer the protection and safety features that passenger vehicles do. Even with protective gear such as helmets and boots, motorcycle crash injuries can be severe or even fatal.
In a recent year, 4,985 motorcyclists lost their lives in motorcycle crashes, as reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In that same year, motorcyclists were 27 times more likely than passenger vehicle occupants to succumb to their injuries in a crash per vehicle miles traveled.
Causes of Chicago Motorcycle Accidents
Each motorcycle accident has its own set of circumstances and causative factors. All are avoidable.
The most common causes or contributing factors include:
- Drivers who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Speeding or going too fast for conditions
- Failure of other drivers to see the motorcycle
- Lane changes of other vehicles
- Failure to adapt to weather
- Road conditions
- Distracted driving
- Nighttime travel
- Defective motorcycle or vehicle parts
Negligence Leads to Motorcycle Accidents
Negligence causes most motorcycle injuries. To prove negligence, the injured party must show that the at-fault party owed a duty of care. Drivers have a duty to exercise the same level of care that another reasonable driver would have used in the same or similar situation.
For example, stopping at a stoplight or yielding the right of way. Next, they must prove that the at-fault party breached or acted against that duty, causing injuries or damages. They also must prove that there is a direct link between the breach of duty and their injuries and damages.
Common Injuries in Motorcycle Accidents and Their Potential Financial Impact
Motorcycle accidents can lead to a wide array of serious injuries, ranging from mild to severe and life-changing. The financial implications of these injuries can be substantial, often creating a significant burden.
Below are some of the most frequently encountered injuries in motorcycle accidents and the potential costs associated with them:
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
TBIs and other head injuries are among the most serious consequences of motorcycle accidents. On average, the cost of treating a mild TBI can be around $85,000, while severe TBIs can result in expenses of up to $3 million over the course of a lifetime.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries can lead to partial or complete paralysis, necessitating extensive medical intervention and rehabilitation. In the first year alone, the average cost of treating a spinal cord injury can range from $500,000 to over $1 million, with lifetime costs potentially reaching $5 million.
Fractures and Broken Bones
Motorcycle accidents commonly result in broken bones, especially in the arms, legs, and ribs. The average cost of treating a fractured arm or leg is approximately $2,500, while more severe fractures can incur costs of up to $35,000 or more.
Road Rash and Skin Abrasions
Road rash, which occurs when a rider’s skin comes into contact with the pavement, can cause painful scrapes and abrasions. Treatment costs for road rash can vary from a few hundred dollars for minor cases to over $10,000 for severe incidents that require skin grafts.
Internal Injuries
Blunt force trauma from motorcycle accidents can result in internal bleeding and organ damage. The cost of treating internal injuries can vary greatly depending on the severity and the specific organs affected, but can easily amount to tens of thousands of dollars.
Amputation
In severe motorcycle accidents, the loss of a limb may occur. The average cost of an amputation is around $30,000, not including the ongoing prosthetics and rehabilitation expenses.
Emotional Trauma
Alongside physical injuries, motorcycle accident victims often experience emotional trauma, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression. The cost of mental health treatment can range from a few thousand dollars to over $100,000 in severe cases.
The actual expenses you incur can significantly exceed these amounts.
Moreover, these figures do not consider lost wages, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, and other damages that you may recover in a motorcycle accident claim.
Compensation for Motorcycle Accident Damages in Chicago, IL
Motorcycle accidents can cause severe injuries, some with lifelong implications. Significant financial and emotional stress can follow. Medical bills alone for motorcycle accident victims can top six figures.
With severe injuries, some injured motorcyclists may not return to work right away, if even at all, causing them to lose wages. They may never participate in activities they previously enjoyed and may even suffer emotional trauma from the accident.
A personal injury claim after a motorcycle accident can recover compensation for your damages. The amount and type of compensation you recover will depend on the specific circumstances of the accident and the available insurance coverage.
A fair settlement or a jury award in a motorcycle accident case is primarily based on your damages, which can include:
- Medical bills
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages
- Mental anguish
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Legal and travel expenses
- Property damage
Individuals in a motorcycle accident should consult a Chicago motorcycle accident lawyer about the types and amounts of compensation they may receive. To support the damages requested in a claim, the attorney will help the victim gather medical, financial, and other relevant documentation to build a strong case. They can also interview any eyewitnesses that could help in the case.
What Is a Statute of Limitations?
After a motorcycle accident, victims usually have many tasks to attend to—medical appointments, talking to insurance companies, arranging time off work to heal, and finding help for tasks they cannot do themselves, such as housekeeping, laundry, meal preparation, and childcare.
However, during this stressful and busy time, motorcycle accident victims must know they only have a limited time to file a lawsuit concerning their accident.
Illinois law gives motorcycle victims a two-year time limit to file a civil case seeking compensation for their damages. The statute of limitations begins on the date of the accident or the date the plaintiff discovered the injuries.
A motorcycle accident lawyer in Chicago can explain how the statute of limitations applies in your motorcycle accident case.
If the injured party fails to file a claim until after the applicable statute of limitations, the at-fault party or their attorneys can file a motion to dismiss the case based on the elapsed statute of limitations. The court will most likely reject the case based on the tardy filing.
Motorcycle victims must contact an attorney sooner rather than later because valuable evidence supporting their claim can be lost, destroyed, or changed over time. Bringing a well-versed Chicago motorcycle attorney into the picture immediately after a motorcycle accident can increase the chances that the injured party can receive compensation for their pain and suffering, and financial losses.
Reach Out to Our Experienced Chicago Motorcycle Accident Attorneys Today
After a motorcycle accident, you might need the help of many medical professionals, such as doctors, surgeons, and physical therapists. Likewise, you can also benefit from the services of an experienced Chicago motorcycle accident lawyer.
At the Law Offices of Michael J. Brennan, we know how to negotiate a full and fair settlement for those who suffer damages in a motorcycle crash. Start your path to recovering your losses by calling for a free, no-obligation consultation today.
Our lawyers will review your motorcycle accident to determine if you could pursue legal action to recover your damages. If so, in one of our first steps we will write a demand letter explaining your injuries and asking for the compensation you deserve.
A demand letter is sometimes all it takes to produce a settlement offer. However, if a settlement offer isn’t fair, or we don’t receive an offer on your behalf, we stand willing and ready to litigate your case.
Call our personal injury lawyers at Chicago, IL office today at (312) 379-9270 for the legal help you need.
Office Address
MICHAEL J. BRENNAN ACCIDENT & INJURY LAWYER
77 W Washington St #705
Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: 312-379-9270
Hours: Open 24 hours