Understanding motorcycle accident liability
While the size and speed of motorcycles makes them an attractive mode of transportation to many, that profile also leads to serious motorcycle accidents. Smaller sized vehicles, and their riders, are harder to see in traffic. In addition, the speed and maneuverability of motorcycles makes them less predictable to drivers of other vehicles.
The Healy Law Firm is a highly rated Chicago legal practice focused on protecting the rights of those personally injured in motorcycle and other accidents in Illinois. Many injury cases handled by our Chicago personal injury lawyers have set legal precedent and won landmark settlement and verdict amounts for clients suffering severe injury after a motorcycle accident in IL.
Facts about motorcycle accidents in IL
The United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) reports the following regarding injury and death caused by motorcycle accidents across the country:
- 45 percent of fatally injured motorcyclists did not wear a helmet
- 90 percent of victims killed in motorcycle accidents were male
- Fatalities increase as road congestion increases
Who is at fault in motorcycle accidents in Illinois?
In claims brought by injured motorcyclists, insurance companies and courts examine who was at fault, and how much they were at fault. This method of finding comparative negligence provides a basis for compensation amounts sought by lawyers for their clients.
As lawyers regularly handling cases that involve motorcycle accident injury, we investigate and represent riders injured for a number of reasons, including the following:
- Inattentive driving: A leading cause of motorcycle accident death in Illinois is distracted or inattentive automobile drivers. Hard to spot and track in traffic, motorcyclists routinely deal with car drivers who do not see them, or if they do, assume that a motorcycle can compensate quickly to avoid an accident.
- Inexperienced motorcyclists: Lack of training and practice with their motorcycle is a factor in the injury of many motorcyclists. While the action of a negligent driver may be the root cause of an accident, the inability of a rider to respond appropriately can lead to motorcycle accidents and injury. Sharing the road safely means knowing your capabilities and those of your vehicle—automobile or motorcycle.
- Road conditions: Inclement conditions, inattentive drivers, and traffic congestion are a deadly mix in Illinois that may end with an accident and the need for a skilled motorcycle accident lawyer in IL. A slippery road, an unseen pavement seam, a car driver looking the other way, and the damage may be done—sometimes permanently.
Experienced motorcycle accident attorneys in Illinois
Riding a motorcycle should not be dangerous, but too often, it is. When injured, contact the dedicated IL motorcycle accident lawyers at The Healy Law Firm today for a free, initial consultation about your case or call 877-767-4591.
