Articles Posted in Motorcycle Accident

traffic accident in Chicago can cause injuries or even death but not all accidents pose the same risks. For example, though motorcycles were involved in only 1.3 percent of all collisions in Illinois in 2011, those accidents were responsible for 3.5 percent of all injuries and a staggering 16 percent of all vehicular fatalities in the state. This means that motorcycles continue to account for a disproportionately large number of injuries and fatalities even though the incident of motorcycle accidents is relatively low when compared to other forms of crashes. This stark statistic may be more stunning when it is considered that most motorcycle riders do not ride year-round, condensing a large number of these terrible accidents into fewer than 12 months of any year.

Many motorcycle accidents are preventable and do not need to occur. In most cases, a motorcycle crash is caused by negligent or reckless behavior on the part of one or more individuals involved in the collision, whether it is a driver of a car, a motorcycle, a manufacturer, or even another individual in the area. When a Chicago-area accident is due to a mistake, it is not simply an accident and it may enable victims injured in the crash with the right to seek relief. This relief can be obtained through the use of a civil claim for damages and it can allow victims the ability to recover for losses like medical expenses incurred and to be incurred in the future, time missed from work, and pain and suffering. Speaking with a lawyer who handles cases on behalf of motorcycle accident victims may help you understand your legal options if you have been involved in a collision and you were injured.

Officials in Bridgeview were alerted to a collision between an SUV and a motorcycle that occurred on Sunday morning and they responded to the scene. Though the investigation into the incident is ongoing, police have confirmed that the crash occurred near the intersection of 85th Street and Harlem Avenue around 1:30 am. It appears that a male in his 20s was driving an SUV southbound in lanes designated for northbound traffic of Harlem Avenue. As the SUV continued, a motorcycle driven by a male and with a 41-year-old female passenger approached northbound in the northbound lanes. The SUV struck the motorcycle, causing the death of both the operator and the passenger on the bike. The driver of the SUV was injured but was expected to survive though his current condition is not clear.
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The number of registered motorcycles in Illinois has increased approximately 76 percent since 1999, an indication that riding is becoming an increasingly popular means of transportation, as well as entertainment throughout the state. Many of these bikes can be found in Chicago because their owners either live in, work in, or visit the city on occasion. Motorcycle riders are legally authorized to have the same access to the streets as any other vehicle and all other drivers are required to operate in a manner that is safe for bikers. But despite the large number of riders and their legal rights, too often drivers ignore motorcycles and cause collisions.

When a motorcycle accident happens in Chicago, an injured rider may be entitled to financial relief. A personal injury lawyer can help a victim understand the legal ramifications of an accident including whether a claim for damages is available. These claims can help a rider recover for the medical expenses he or she has incurred as well as other damages like lost wages, pain and suffering, and the permanency of the injuries that result from the crash.

In the worst accidents, a rider is killed, and no amount of compensation can ever cover those losses. But the right to seek a recovery in those cases may still be available to the victim’s family members and can ease the financial burden enacted by the loss of a loved one.

Chicago police were alerted to a motorcycle accident this morning in the Budlong Woods neighborhood. The incident, which occurred on North Lincoln Avenue shortly before 1:00 a.m., involved only the motorcycle. At this time, officials believe the rider struck a curb, leading to the rider’s ejection from the bike. Emergency personnel responded and transported the 28-year-old male rider to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center but the man’s injuries were too severe and he was pronounced dead this morning.
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Chicago is an area with a lot of seasonal motorcycle riding. The cold and wet winters make riding an uncommon means of transportation but the seasonal temperatures in summer bring out riders by the hundreds. Annually, this catches some motor vehicle drivers by surprise when a significant increase in motorcycles hit the road. But it should be no surprise as every driver is charged with the duty to take note of traffic around them, including motorcycles if they are present in an area.

Drivers who fail to operate in a safe manner may be guilty of negligent driving, a term that encompasses nearly any kind of unintentional error made behind the wheel. Whether that driver is on a cell phone, failing to pay attention to slowing traffic, or even speeding, a negligent driver is likely to cause a collision. When a biker is hurt in a motorcycle accident in Chicago, that biker may be entitled to legal relief for his or her injuries, including compensation to cover any medical bills that must be incurred. Speaking with a lawyer who has experience representing victims of motorcycle accidents may help you understand whether you have a valid claim, regardless of whether the other driver involved received a traffic ticket in the crash.

Indiana State Police officers received notice of a motorcycle accident that took place on Interstate 80 on Monday night. It appears that a 36-year-old man was riding eastbound from an entrance ramp when he came upon a semi truck in front of him. For reasons that are still being investigated, the biker collided with the back of the semi truck, sending the biker off his motorcycle and crashing to the ground. The driver of the semi truck was not injured and did not even realize that his trailer had been struck, leading the driver to continue eastbound.

The incident took place around 10:30 p.m. and garnered a response from emergency medical crews who evaluated the driver and transported him to an area hospital. A short time later, the man was again transported to John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County where doctors attempted to save him. Unfortunately, the victim’s injuries were too severe and he was pronounced dead shortly before 1:00 a.m. on Monday.
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The cold and snowy winter has finally receded and in its place, spring has arrived in Chicago. With the seasonal weather, more people are taking advantage of the outdoors for pleasure and for exercise. Across the city, people are walking, cycling, and running with more frequency and for a longer duration than most did when snow was on the ground. One of the most popular activities in the spring and summer in Chicago is motorcycle riding through the city, both for transportation and for pleasure. Motorcycles are a great way to get around and legal throughout the state but unfortunately they come with certain risks to the riders. Bikers are involved in a number of motorcycle accidents every year in Illinois and many of those collisions leave the biker with serious injuries.

The victims of motorcycle crashes in Chicago may be entitled to relief for their damages if they sustain injuries as a result of the accident. Often, this means that a victim can recover for expenses incurred and likely to be incurred in the future, like medical, surgical, and rehabilitative bills, lost wages, and even non-economic damages like pain and suffering. The facts of every accident are important in determining whether a victim is entitled to a recovery and speaking with a personal injury lawyer may help you understand your legal options if you have been hurt in a crash.

In the worst accidents, a victim loses his or her life due to a mistake by another. After those accidents, no amount of relief can ever fully compensate a victim’s family for their losses. But relief may still be possible and can help to ease some of the financial burden that is left behind when a loved one is killed.

Unfortunately, a tragic accident involving a motorcyclist occurred in Chicago on Saturday afternoon on the city’s northwest side. Police were alerted to a collision in the area of Addison Street and Normandy Avenue just after 4:00 p.m. Emergency crews responded and determined that the cyclist involved in the accident was in critical condition and in need of help. That individual, a 27-year-old man, was transported to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood where doctors attempted to help him. The man’s injuries were too severe and he was pronounced dead while at Loyola.
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A collision outside of Springfield left a 57-year-old woman dead and another injured on Wednesday afternoon. The incident occurred on Illinois 16 in Pana at about 2:00 p.m. and local police are still investigating.

The crash involved a Harley Davidson motorcycle carrying a 57-year-old male driver and a 57-year-old female passenger. The biker slowed the motorcycle, intending to turn into a parking lot before U.S. 51. A semi truck was behind the motorcycle and failed to slow down to avoid a crash. The truck rear-ended the motorcycle, ejecting both riders from the bike and injuring them. It is not clear whether the semi truck driver was hurt in the collision.

Emergency crews responded to the scene of the crash and transported both motorcyclists to St. John’s Hospital in Springfield. The female passenger was airlifted to the hospital but did not survive her injuries; she was pronounced dead at St. John’s on Wednesday. The male driver is expected to survive but his current condition and the extent of his injuries are not currently known.

The 34-year-old truck driver has been charged with failure to reduce speed to avoid a collision but it is possible that more charges could be brought, depending on the results of the investigation being conducted by the police.

Collisions between semis and motorcycles cause some of the worst injuries in any accident. The massive size and weight of a truck compared to the small size, weight, and lack of protection of a motorcycle makes it very difficult for a rider to escape injuries when hit by a semi. Not only that, but the weight of a loaded semi truck makes it difficult to slow or stop the vehicle in time to prevent an accident. These are reasons that truck drivers must exercise extreme caution when on the roads and always put safety first. From the early reports, it sounds like the truck driver in this case did neither.
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New data shows that the number of motorcycle deaths in Illinois is increasing and that deaths in 2012 are up 13 percent from those in 2010. While some are looking for one factor to blame, many think a number of factors are influencing the fatalities.

One reason for the increase may be that motorcycle riding has increased 57 percent in the last decade. With the price of gas and traffic congestion in Chicago, it may not surprise drivers to learn that motorcycles are becoming much more popular. Bikes are easier and can be cheaper to park, adding to their attraction. Though despite this increase in ridership, the number of motorcycle collisions has been decreasing in the state. Fewer crashes but more fatalities has led some to wonder what is behind this new and disturbing trend.

Illinois does not require motorcyclists to wear helmets and riders without helmets are more likely to die in crashes. Motorcycle accidents that are survivable with a helmet may not be so if the rider chooses to forego a helmet or wears a helmet that is not designed for safety. It may sound odd but not all motorcycle helmets are treated the same. Some are constructed and designed to act as a safety device and to limit injuries to a biker’s face and head. Other helmets are designed for aesthetic reasons and to meet the helmet requirement of some states but are not designed for safety. Similarly, riders who choose to wear street clothes instead of protective clothing are also more likely to die when involved in a crash.

Others believe that current riders are less skilled and knowledgeable than those who rode in prior decades and that this lack of skill is leading to fatalities. With an increase over 50 percent in ridership in 10 years, Illinois has seen a lot of bikers that weren’t riding before. Some of these bikers may have been riding in other states and some may have returned to biking after a temporary absence. But speculation is that many of these are new riders who just began biking within the last 10 years, making them less experienced and less tested then some with more time on the road. Safety experts recommend that new bikers take safety courses before they begin riding. These courses regularly cover topics like defensive driving, weather-related hazards, and how to avoid dangerous drivers on the road.

Depending on the age of the rider and the type of motorcycle license sought, Illinois may require a motorcycle road test before granting a motorcycle endorsement on a driver’s license. This should not be confused with a safety course as they are two separate programs. As an added bonus, successful completion of a safety course may entitle you to an insurance deduction with some carriers and under some policies.
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In a report that was recently published in the journal Injury Prevention, researchers claim motorcyclists over age 60 are three times more likely to sustain a serious injury in a crash than their younger counterparts. As part of the study, researchers at Brown University reportedly analyzed motorcycle accident data included in the United States National Electronic Injury Surveillance System-All Injury Program between 2001 and 2008. The study authors then allegedly identified about 1.5 million collisions that involved a person over the age of 20 who received care at a hospital emergency room and divided the victims into three age groups. According to researchers, although motorcycle crash rates increased for all age groups between 2001 and 2008, injury rates for individuals over age 60 purportedly rose by nearly 250 percent. In addition, riders who were between the ages of 40 and 59 were purportedly twice as likely to be treated at a hospital after a wreck as younger motorcyclists.

Researchers claim that the two older age groups were significantly more likely to sustain a severe injury than those between the ages of 20 and 39. The most common injuries reportedly included broken bones and dislocations. The study authors claim older riders were at an increased risk for such injuries, especially near the rib cage. In addition, internal organ damage and traumatic brain injuries were also allegedly more likely to occur as a biker advanced in age. Regardless of age, researchers claim that approximately 85 percent of individuals hurt in a motorcycle crash across the nation are male.

Researchers stated the results of the study are particularly troubling because statistics demonstrate that an increasing number of older Americans are now driving motorcycles. In fact, the number of riders over age 50 increased from one in 10 to one in four between 1990 and 2003. Additionally, the age of injured motorcyclists purportedly increased steadily between 2000 and 2006. The study authors hypothesized that the rate and severity of injuries among older riders may have resulted from physiological changes such as decreased elasticity and weaker bones that normally occur with the aging process.

Too often, motorcycle riders are catastrophically hurt or killed when involved in a collision with another vehicle. Because riders are provided with little protection, motorcyclists may suffer paralysis, traumatic head and spinal cord injuries, burn injuries, fractured bones, or even death. Although some reportedly believe motorcyclists are more likely to engage in unsafe driving behavior, most motorcycle crashes in our state are caused by another driver’s negligence. Because Illinois is a comparative negligence accident state, a motorcycle rider may be eligible to recover financial damages for any injuries sustained in a wreck even if he or she was somehow partially to blame. If you or a loved one was injured a Chicago motorcycle accident, you should contact a skilled lawyer as soon as you are able.
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