Is bicycling in Chicago more dangerous than in surrounding Illinois counties?

Every year, more people decide to hit the road on two wheels. Whether the vehicle of choice is a Harley, a speed machine, or a small engine scooter, every cyclist is legally entitled to both be on the road and to be free from the negligence of other drivers. Unfortunately, statistics reinforce the fact that cyclists on all types of machines— motorized or not— are at an alarmingly higher risk (motorcyclists are 370% more likely to get involved in a fatal accident) of getting involved in a serious accident than the drivers of cars.

Inattentive car drivers, lasting injuries

Contrary to the stigma motorcyclists carry of being “reckless” or “hot-dogging it”—even the most seasoned and responsible motorcycle riders can be involved in injury-related collisions without any fault of their own. Despite the perception most maintain about bikers, motorcycle accidents are usually due to the inattentive nature of other motorists rather than the recklessness of the cyclist. Many motorcycle collisions occur when car and truck drivers:

Fail to pay proper attention to traffic on the road
Fail to follow traffic signals
Fail to keep a safe distance between their vehicle and the motorcycle
Attempt to pass motorcyclists inappropriately
Ignore bikers in their rear view mirrors
Drive aggressively

Motorcyclists Facing Serious Injuries

Like accidents involving those who operate non-motorized two-wheeled vehicles, motor vehicle crashes involving motorcyclists frequently involve serious injury to both the rider and his or her passenger. Even at relatively ‘low speeds’ the impact of a collision with a car or truck into a motorcycle can result in truly life-changing injuries that include:

Brain injury
Spinal injuries to cervical and lumbar areas
Fractures
Destruction of joints
Arm and leg amputations
Lacerations

The significance of many types of motorcycle crash injures do not come across in their full extent in medical records. Our lawyers have experience representing people with complex injuries and work with treating physicians and retained experts to help communicate the severity of the injury to the parties responsible for adjudicating the matter to assure each client’s case is positioned in a manner to achieve maximum recovery.

Hurdles to receiving fair compensation in motorcycle crashes

People injured in motorcycle crashes face an uphill battle in their financial recovery from negligent driver for two reasons:

Negative public perception of motorcyclists
Insurance companies’ realization that motorcycle accidents expose both their insured’s and their company to potentially substantial verdicts

As Chicago motorcycle accident lawyers, we understand the factors that play into the settlement and litigation of motorcycle crash cases. Rather than deny that there are headwinds facing an injured rider, we acknowledge these factors in every motorcycle accident case that we get involved with and take the necessary measures to provide for our client’s needs both in the time following the crash and over the long-term.

Illinois motorcycle attorneys

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers is proud to be the chosen law firm for injured motorcyclists across the state of Illinois. We offer free legal consultations and have a staff investigator who can be dispatched to any location on short notice. Call us today and get a team of advocates working for your future. Additional Resources: