How Midwest Injury Lawyers Can Help
After a motorcycle accident, you deserve skilled legal representation to pursue the compensation you need to move forward with your life. The driver’s insurance company has a powerful legal team at its disposal, and we believe you should have one, too.
Trust Midwest Injury Lawyers with your motorcycle accident case, and we’ll put our skills to work in seeking the financial recovery you deserve.
Our motorcycle accident lawyers take pride in our strong value system. We believe the client should always be the top priority. We’re here for you – not the other way around. Our goal is to provide effective legal representation that helps you get through a challenging and traumatic time and achieve the best possible outcome.
At Midwest Injury Lawyers, we work efficiently because we understand how much our clients need and deserve to move forward with their lives. We’ll answer your questions, provide regular updates, and take decisive action every step of the way.
And unless we can recover compensation for you, you won’t pay a dime. We defer all fees until your case resolves.
Over the years, Midwest Injury Lawyers has recovered tens of millions of dollars in compensation for injury victims, including those like you who’ve been in motorcycle accidents caused by others.
Our commitment to service governs everything we do for our clients and our community, and we have the results to prove it.
When you’re recovering from a motorcycle accident, your focus should be on healing, not jumping through a lot of legal hoops. Having knowledgeable motorcycle collision attorneys on your side provides the valuable peace of mind you need. We’ll fight for you, and we’ll never back down.
Compensation in Motorcycle Accident Cases in Joliet
How much compensation can you receive from a successful motorcycle accident claim? It depends on a number of factors, including the specific circumstances of the accident, the extent of your injuries, and your long-term prospects for making a physical recovery.
Less severe injuries typically result in less compensation than catastrophic injuries.
Midwest Injury Lawyers will always fight for the maximum compensation in the form of both economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages compensate you for the quantifiable expenses arising from the accident. These include medical bills, expenses associated with long-term care needs, lost earnings, reduced or lost earning capacity, property damage, and more.
Non-economic damages are more challenging to calculate but no less meaningful when you’re seriously hurt. These include compensation for pain and suffering, loss of quality of life, and other intangible effects.
Because non-economic damages are inherently subjective in nature, insurance companies often employ cold, unfeeling formulas to arrive at a figure. Rest assured, these rarely take into account what an accident victim has actually suffered.
Your lawyer can get to know you and the true consequences the accident has had on your life, so that they can effectively fight back against this tactic.
Joliet Motorcycle Accident Statistics
As Illinois’s third-largest city, Joliet is the site of a number of major roads, including Interstate Highways 55 and 80, U.S. Highways 6, 30, 52, and 66, State Highway 7.
Joliet has long been a transportation hub, and due to its proximity to Chicago, the city sees considerable traffic and many motor vehicle collisions, including motorcycle accidents.
In fact, Joliet had 41 motorcycle accidents in a single recent year. Sadly, these crashes killed seven people and injured 29 – meaning that almost 90 percent of these accidents ended in injury or death. As these numbers make clear, motorcyclists are far more likely to suffer severe injuries or death in the event of a collision.
According to recent nationwide data, motorcycle accidents account for 14 percent of traffic fatalities despite making up just 3.5 percent of registered vehicles.
Moreover, motorcyclists are about four times likelier to suffer injuries and 24 times likelier to die in a collision than are occupants of passenger vehicles.
Concerningly, the fatality figures are higher than they’ve ever been since data collection began in 1975.
Common Types of Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle accidents often result from operator error on the part of passenger and commercial vehicle drivers. Distraction, impairment, and other factors put motorcyclists at particular risk because they’re already in a disadvantaged position – they aren’t protected, and many drivers fail to notice them.
Some of the most common types of motorcycle accidents include:
- Blind Spot Accidents – These accidents occur when drivers fail to check their blind spots before they attempt to switch lanes, colliding with a motorcycle in the process. Drivers may also fail to signal, giving motorcyclists even less time to react.
- Head-On Collisions – Head-on accidents occur when a driver drifts into oncoming traffic and collides with a motorcycle. This is most likely to happen when navigating a curve, but can just as easily occur on a straight section of road because a driver is distracted, impaired, or fatigued.
- Rear-End Collisions – Tailgating is a common cause of rear-end collisions, as drivers who do not give themselves enough space to stop may wind up hitting the motorcycle’s rear wheel, ejecting the motorcyclist from their bike.
- Accidents Caused by Road Conditions – Poorly maintained roads can cause or contribute to motorcycle accidents, as can the presence of debris due to storms, road construction, failure to secure items in a truck bed, and other factors.
This is not an exhaustive list. Other types of motorcycle accidents can also result from a driver’s negligence, and these accidents can have a variety of contributing factors. If another driver’s negligence causes a motorcycle accident and you suffer injuries, you can demand compensation from them for your losses.
Most Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries
Because motorcycles lack many of the safety features that protect passenger vehicle occupants, motorcycle accidents can result in especially severe injuries. These injuries have a variety of causes, including both the force of impact and the secondary effect of ejection from the motorcycle.
Some of the most common injuries in motorcycle crashes include:
- Head and Neck Injuries – Motorcyclists are at risk of head injuries even when wearing a helmet. Skull fractures, facial injuries, and traumatic brain injuries are some common motorcycle accident head injuries.
- Spinal Cord Injuries – Spinal injury may result from ejection, which can lead to nerve damage, chronic pain, and even paralysis. As with severe head injuries, some spinal injuries may result in death.
- Road Rash – Road rash is considerably more serious than its name alliterative suggests. This type of abrasive injury results from the motorcyclist skidding across the pavement and can lead to nerve damage and a heightened risk of infection.
- Limb Injuries – The arms and legs are susceptible to injury in a motorcycle accident, both in the initial impact and if the crash ejects the rider from their bike. Limb injuries include broken bones, soft tissue injuries, nerve damage, and limb loss.
- Burns – Motorcycle accidents can result in burns if the gas tank spills and explodes or catches fire due to high temperatures. Burn injuries often require skin grafts and can be extremely complex to treat.
Motorcycle accident injuries require immediate medical treatment. While many severe injuries are immediately apparent, others are not, and will worsen over time without adequate treatment. Sticking to your doctor’s treatment plan will help you recover physically as well as financially as you pursue your motorcycle accident claim.
Fighting the Insurance Companies After a Motorcycle Accident
Motorcycle accidents can result in serious injuries that lead to considerable medical expenses, lost income, and other financial strain. The at-fault driver’s insurance company expects you to need money, and to need it fast.
But when they approach you with a settlement offer, have your Joliet motorcycle accident lawyer evaluate it before accepting. The odds are good that you deserve more.
The insurance company’s goal is to turn a profit, and they can’t do this if they pay out the sizable sums many injury victims deserve. They’re relying on you to be desperate for money in the immediate aftermath of a motorcycle accident. But remember: once you accept their offer, you cannot go back for more later.
Your attorney will review the insurance company’s settlement offer and return to them with an amount reflecting the full scope of your injuries and losses. Whether through negotiation or by taking the at-fault driver’s insurance company to court, your Joliet motorcycle accident attorney will pursue total compensation in your case.
What Should I Do After a Motorcycle Accident?
Between medical appointments and concerns about your finances, the period following a motorcycle accident can be stressful and confusing. When you hire a motorcycle crash attorney in Joliet to represent you, you can rest easy knowing they’ll handle the complex legal process and answer all your questions.
How Can I Protect Myself After a Motorcycle Accident?
Take it easy following your accident, and focus on your physical healing. Help your attorney by providing all the evidence you have related to your accident.
Never throw anything away – when insurance companies and medical providers communicate with you, hand over all documentation to your lawyer. Avoid speaking with insurance companies, and refer them to your attorney instead.
How Quickly Should I File a Claim in My Motorcycle Accident Case?
The statute of limitations on personal injury claims in Illinois is two years. This means you have two years to file a lawsuit and seek compensation. Your attorney will need as much time as possible to collect evidence, build your case, and negotiate on your behalf, so seek legal assistance immediately.
What if My Case Goes to Trial?
Your case will only go to trial if the insurance company refuses to offer a fair settlement. Your Joliet motorcycle crash attorney will always be ready for this possibility. If your case winds up in court, your lawyer will argue on your behalf, making a strong case that you deserve every cent of compensation.
How Long Will I Have to Wait for Compensation?
If the insurance company accepts your counteroffer, you may not have to wait long at all to receive your settlement funds. If your case goes to trial, it could take much longer. Much depends on the complexity of your case, the amount and quality of supporting evidence your attorney presents, and how forcefully your lawyer can negotiate.
Which Lawyer Is Right for Me?
Finding the right motorcycle accident attorney in Joliet makes a big difference in your experience. Look for a lawyer who’s easy to talk to, highly communicative, and experienced in handling complex motorcycle accident cases.
Contact a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Joliet Today
Aftera motorcycle wreck, you need the support of an experienced and knowledgeable attorney who can effectively help you seek compensation for your injuries, lost income, and other losses associated with the collision. You deserve the representation of a Joliet motorcycle accident attorney who understands these complex cases and has a track record of successfully securing compensation for injury victims like you.
Contact Midwest Injury Lawyers today at (815) 714-6131 to learn more about your legal rights. We’ll hear your story and review your options for recourse in a free initial consultation.
If you retain our firm, you won’t pay unless we recover compensation on your behalf. We look forward to learning more about your case and helping you consider your next steps.
Joliet Office
210 N Hammes Ave
Unit 205 C
Joliet, IL 60435
(815) 714-6131
A Word from our Work Injury Attorney
Receiving maximum compensation for workplace injuries requires knowledge of workers’ compensation law, as well as the ability to identify any negligent third parties who may share some responsibility for causing an injury. It is crucial to get advice from an attorney who understands how to obtain quick and sufficient compensation for a workplace injury.
– Chester L. Cameron
Request a Free Consultation
Tell our experienced team about your accident and/or injuries. One of our personal injury attorneys will contact you to schedule a free case evaluation. Remember: you won’t pay for anything unless we secure a compensation on your behalf.
Call (312) 786-5881 or send us a message online to get started.