What to Do if You Are in an Illinois Motorcycle Accident

 Posted on April 16, 2019 in Car Accidents

Owning and riding a motorcycle can be a rewarding and enjoyable experience, and it provides the ability to travel freely across Illinois and the United States. Unfortunately, life as a motorcyclist can also be quite dangerous due to the negligent actions of other drivers. 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says around 90,000 motorcyclists are injured and 5,000 killed each year in motorcycle accidents throughout the U.S. Due to a motorcycle’s lack of structural protection, riders and passengers are 28 times more likely to die in an auto collision that those traveling in a standard automobile. 

Anyone injured in an accident resulting from another driver’s negligence may be eligible for compensation to cover hospital and rehabilitation costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering. 

Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents 

Whether you ride a motorcycle in the city or the open road of the country, dangers are always present. Around 40 percent of motorcycle accidents happen when the driver of a car turning left fails to see a motorcyclist. Other causes of motorcycle accidents include: 

• Speeding
• Open car doors on parked cars
• Tailgating
• Unsafe lane changes
• Drunk driving 

Motorcycle accident injuries often include road burns, deep cuts, bone fractures, spinal cord injuries, and traumatic brain injury. Any of these can cause permanent disfigurement or long-term medical problems. 

How a Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help

If you were injured in an accident caused by another driver, contact an experienced personal injury attorney after you seek medical attention and receive a full diagnosis of your injuries. Do not provide any statements to the insurance company of the offending driver. Your attorney will deal with them directly. Along with undervaluing personal injury claims, these insurers often try to coax misstatements that can affect your ability to collect damages.

A skilled injury lawyer will attempt to reach an agreeable injury settlement through initial negotiations or through mediation, including for any long-term costs. Only around 5 percent of personal injury cases go to trial. An experienced attorney will be prepared for either scenario.

Contact a Will County Motorcycle Accident Attorney

As an accident victim, you should not have to bear the financial burden that comes from a serious injury. At McNamara Phelan McSteen, LLC, we aggressively represent clients injured in motorcycle crashes who deserve compensation for what they have endured. For a free consultation with an adept Joliet personal injury lawyer, call us today at 815-727-0100.

Sources: 

https://www.nhtsa.gov/road-safety/motorcycle-safety