Many people operate under the mistaken belief that they will never be involved in a motorcycle accident in Chicago because they do not own a motorcycle. At first blush, that may seem like a logical conclusion but in reality, it fails to account for numerous passengers on motorcycles who are injured annually as well as pedestrians, bicyclists, and those in passenger vehicles that are involved in a collision with a motorcycle.
Chicago is not the only place where bikers face a threat as the rest of Illinois continues to see collisions as well. In 2013, the Illinois Department of Transportation recorded 2,699 bikers with injuries in accidents in the state and 152 motorcyclists that lost their lives in 3,464 collisions. While motorcycle crashes were responsible for only 1.2 percent of all traffic accidents during 2013, they were to blame for 13.7 percent of all fatalities in the state – a stunning disparity illuminating the extreme risks faced by bikers when a collision does take place.
Victims who are injured or the loved ones of those who lose their lives are protected by numerous laws in Chicago that may entitle them to seek and obtain payment for their damages. A typical claim for an injury victim includes compensation for medical expenses, rehabilitative care, lost wages, and pain and suffering but can encompass any type of loss that was experienced by a victim. When someone is killed in an accident, no amount of money can ever be adequate to provide for that loss but the victim’s surviving family members may still be entitled to recover to ease the financial burden left by a crash.
These claims can be complicated and often involve numerous aspects and at-fault parties. If you are wondering about your rights, speaking with a personal injury attorney can help you understand the laws of Illinois as they apply to your case as well as what legal options may exist for relief.
Unfortunately, a collision occurred on Sunday morning and turned tragic when two people lost their lives. Officials report that a motorcycle with an operator and a passenger on board was traveling on I-290 near Mannheim in the westbound lanes when the operator lost control and struck a median, ejecting both individuals from the bike.
The driver and the passenger each landed on the expressway’s surface and both lost their lives due to the collision.
The motorcycle continued forward a short distance where it collided with a light pole, causing the light pole to collapse and block portions of eastbound traffic. Three other vehicles collided with the light pole and it was not clear whether anyone in those cars was injured in the crash or was in need of medical care.
Tragedies on the Chicago roadways happen all too often and their damages can never be undone. However, the personal injury attorneys at Abels & Annes, P.C. know that helping the victims of those crashes move forward can enable the victims to put the collision behind them and live a full life once again.
Our track record highlights our willingness to take a hard stance in favor of our clients and to fight for the best possible outcome in every case we handle. If you have been hurt in a motorcycle accident or if you lost your loved one in a crash, we are standing by 24 hours a day, seven days a week to help you.
We have a licensed lawyer available to take your call toll free at (855) 529-2442 or locally at (312) 924-7575 and that lawyer will offer you a free case consultation without any obligation on your part whatsoever. If you have questions, we want to help because we believe that every injury victim deserves fair and just compensation for the suffering that victim has endured.
Do not hesitate as claims for injuries must be brought within a time period specified by the law. If we can help you, call Abels & Annes, P.C. now.
Prior Blog Entry:
Collision on Kennedy Expressway turns Fatal, Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, published June 25, 2015.
Resource:
2 killed in 4-vehicle crash on Eisenhower Expressway, by Denease Williams-Harris, Chicago Tribune, published June 28, 2015.