Chicago Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
There’s no arguing against the thrill and convenience of riding a motorcycle as your main form of transportation. It’s an exhilarating experience, and you avoid the worst traffic jams. But riding a motorcycle is not without risks.
Not only are motorcyclists more likely to get into an accident, they are far more likely to be injured or killed in motor vehicle accidents than those in a traditional passenger car.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 152 motorcyclists died on Chicago roads in 2017. Even the safest riders are not immune from motorcycle accidents—those who wore helmets made up 30% of the year’s fatalities.
If you are a motorcyclist who was injured in an accident, you may be overwhelmed by medical bills, unable to go back to work, and struggling with day-to-day tasks because of your injuries. Powell & Pisman, PLLC understands how traumatic accidents can be for the victims and their families.
We also know that liable drivers and their insurance companies may give you the runaround when you file an injury claim. That’s why you should contact a Chicago motorcycle accident lawyer today to review your case details, develop a winning strategy, and begin the process of receiving just compensation for your injuries.
Motorcycle Accident Injuries
Motorcycle crash victims often experience more severe injuries than regular car crash victims because of lack of airbags, seat belts, and other vehicle safety features. Even with the appropriate protective gear, injuries sustained from a motorcycle collision can be life-threatening, costly, and debilitating. They may include:
- Road Rash
- Bone Fractures
- Neck & Back Injury
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
- Eye Injury
- Limb Amputation
Determining Liability in Motorcycle Crashes
Determining who is at fault in a motorcycle collision can be confusing without the assistance of an experienced Chicago motorcycle accident lawyer. If you were in a crash involving multiple vehicles or motorcycles, one possibility is that you were injured through no fault of your own and that another driver or motorcyclist acted negligently or recklessly.
In another scenario, you may be injured because of faulty wiring or defective bike parts, in which case the liability may belong to the motorcycle manufacturer.
Because Illinois courts practice comparative negligence, it is also possible that you may be assigned a portion of liability, in which case any damages you receive will be reduced by the percentage of responsibility you had in causing the collision.
Alternatively, if multiple drivers other than yourself are found liable for the accident, you may collect a certain percentage of your damages from each driver. These complicated situations are one of the many reasons you need a competent Chicago motorcycle accident lawyer to help you establish who is at fault and seek compensation from all the appropriate parties.
Types of Compensation
There are two basic types of compensation in personal injury cases: economic and non-economic losses. Economic losses are usually more straightforward to calculate because they are inherently monetary, including:
- Medical Bills
- Long-Term Care
- Rehabilitation
- Physical Therapy
- Lost Wages
Non-economic losses are more difficult to determine. They may include:
- Pain and Suffering
- Mental/Emotional Anguish
- Quality of Life Reduction
- Disability & Disfigurement
- Loss of Consortium
A Chicago motorcycle accident lawyer can help you collect all necessary documents in order to calculate and prove your eligibility to compensation after an accident.
Contact a Chicago Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Once you’ve sought medical treatment for your injuries, get in touch with a professional Chicago motorcycle accident lawyer at Powell & Pisman, PLLC. Paul Powell and Steve Pisman have recovered total settlements approaching $250 million in the past 17 years. More than 75 of those settlements exceeded $1 million.
If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident, let our team at Powell & Pisman, PLLC handle the legal battle while you focus on recovery. We’ll protect your rights when the insurance companies won’t. Call us at 312-701-3333, chat with one of our representatives online, or submit a free case evaluation 24/7.