Rockford, Illinois, has a higher-than-average rate of automobile and motorcycle accidents. Many reports show that Rockford has a 45.4 crash score compared to the U.S. average of 27.2, which means local residents are much more likely to be involved in a collision [1].
Despite the Illinois Department of Transportation implementing the “Start Seeing Motorcycles” safety program, motorcycle crashes can and still do occur in Rockford, Illinois.
Read on to find out more about your legal options following a motorcycle accident and what factors predict your compensation amount.
Financial Compensation a Rockford Motorcycle Accident Attorney Can Help You Recover
If you were injured in a motorcycle crash in Rockford, Illinois, you may be able to recover compensation. While there isn’t a specific amount motorcycle accident victims receive, a claim should appropriately cover your medical bills, lost wages, and any other related damages.
Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers has worked with motorcycle accident victims in Rockford, Illinois, and the surrounding area, helping motorcyclists recover the money they need to move on after an accident.
In one of the cases we handled, we recovered $14,100,000 for a motorcyclist’s family who was fatally injured after a commercial truck drove into the direct path of the motorcyclist.
Factors Affecting Potential Motorcycle Crash Compensation Amounts
There are many factors affecting how much you receive following a motorcycle crash. Just a few of the factors include the following:
- Incurred expenses: A personal injury claim aims to recover incurred costs, like medical bills, lost wages, and property damages.
- Injury severity: The severity of your injury and how it affects your ability to work or enjoy the same things you once did can affect your compensation amount.
- Insurance coverage: The level of insurance coverage can also affect your settlement. A personal injury lawsuit can be a suitable option if your insurance company fails to pay or the settlement amount doesn’t fully cover your damages.
- Available evidence: How much evidence is available also factors into your compensation amount.
Common Injuries Sustained in Motorcycle Accidents in Rockford
Motorcycle accidents often lead to severe, life-changing injuries. A motorcycle doesn’t have the same protective features as an automobile, meaning motorcycle riders are commonly thrown from the bike when a crash occurs.
Some of the most common injuries sustained by Rockford, Illinois, motorcyclists include the following:
- Broken bones
- Spinal cord injuries
- Internal injuries
- Neck injury
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Disfigurement burn injuries
- Head injuries
- Torn ligaments or soft tissue injury
- Wrongful death
Motorcycle accidents can also have potentially deadly consequences, either from the accident itself or the resulting injuries. Our Rockford wrongful death attorneys fight for families who have lost a loved one in a motorcycle accident.
Types of Cases Our Rockford Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Handle
Motorcycle accidents may occur from road hazards, head-on collisions, or lane-switching accidents. Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers represents Rockford motorcyclists in the following case types:
- Lane-switching accident
- Head-on collision
- Blind spot accident
- Collision due to failure to yield
- Intersection accident
Motorcyclists are at a particularly severe risk of being in a serious wreck due to any of these causes. Certain Rockford, Illinois, roads pose even more danger, including East State, Alpine, and Perryville, where both motorcycle and vehicle accidents are at a higher risk [2].
The Most Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Rockford, IL
Motorcycle accidents often arise from many of the same causes as automobile or truck accidents. In many cases, negligence is a key factor in the motorcycle crash. A few of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents in Rockford, IL, include the following:
- Distracted drivers: Illinois is among the top 10 deadliest states for distracted driving [3].
- Failing to follow laws: Failing to follow speed limits and city/county laws can lead to a motorcycle accident. The U.S. Department of Transportation found that residents of Rockford, IL, are among some of the worst drivers in Illinois [1].
- Drunk driving: Drunk drivers pose a serious risk to motorcyclists and cause a handful of crash victim fatalities in Rockford each year [4].
- Defective vehicle parts: Defective automobile or motorcycle parts or faulty safety features can lead to catastrophic injuries in a motorcycle accident.
- Inclement weather: Rockford, Illinois, receives its fair share of inclement weather, and slippery roads can be a hazard to motorcyclists and reduce driver visibility.
Damages a Rockford Motorcycle Accident Attorney Can Help You Recover
Motorcycle accidents typically lead to more serious injuries. These can be expensive and cause a good degree of physical pain. Rosenfeld Rockford motorcycle accident lawyers help injured motorcyclists recover the following damages:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Diminished earning capacity
- Wrongful death burial and funeral expenses
- Rehabilitation costs
- Property damages
Illinois allows motorcycle accident victims to recover economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages cover financial costs, like medical treatment or lost wages. Non-economic damages are the psychological costs a crash victim experiences, like pain and suffering or emotional trauma due to disfigurement.
Punitive damages are also sometimes awarded to punish the negligent person and are awarded on top of economic and non-economic damages.
Some of the worst injuries experienced by motorcyclists can lead to a loss of life. In this case, the family members or dependents may be eligible to file a wrongful death lawsuit, which can help cover burial or funeral experience and pay off any previous medical bills.
Filing a Motorcycle Accident Claim With Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers
You need an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer to file a personal injury claim that gets you the funds you need to recover. Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers aims to make the claims process as easy as possible for motorcycle accident victims. Here is what you can expect when working with a Rockford motorcycle accident lawyer from our team:
Free Consultation
A free consultation lets you explore your legal options before committing to filing a lawsuit. You won’t pay anything upfront to talk with our Rockford motorcycle accident lawyers about your case.
Case Investigation
The investigation period gives us the chance to learn more about your case and decide on the best legal steps to take.
Collecting Evidence
Our lawyers will begin collecting evidence to support your lawsuit, including medical bills, income statements, and witness reports.
Expert Consultation
Some motorcycle accident cases may benefit from expert consultation. A motorcycle accident attorney serving Rockford works closely with expert medical and accident recreation witnesses.
Negotiations
Our personal injury law firm will review any negotiations with you to decide if a settlement offer appropriately covers your damages.
Trial Preparation
If you believe a settlement offer doesn’t cover your damages, our legal team will prepare for trial.
Liability in Motorcycle Accident Cases in Rockford, IL
Identifying liability is important when filing a motorcycle accident lawsuit. Our Rockford personal injury lawyers can help explore available evidence and identify responsibility with any of the following:
- Other drivers: Other drivers who are speeding, texting, or under the influence could be liable if they hit motorcyclists;
- Road maintenance crew: If you encounter road hazards and are injured as a result, it could be the fault of the city/county for failing to maintain safe roads;
- Motorcycle manufacturer: Defective motorcycle parts could make the manufacturer liable’
- Repair shop: Faulty motorcycle repairs could also be responsible.
Proving Fault in a Motorcycle Accident Case
A successful personal injury case shows evident proof of fault. If you’re injured in a motorcycle accident in Rockford, IL, photographs or video evidence can help establish liability. Witness statements or expert consultations can also help build your case and demonstrate the responsible party’s liability.
Illinois follows comparative negligence laws, which means while you’re allowed to seek compensation if you’re partially at fault, you must hold less than 50% of the liability. Working with our Rockford personal injury lawyers is even more important with this law to minimize liability and maximize your payment.
What to Do After a Rockford Motorcycle Wreck
The steps you take after a motorcycle accident are extremely important for your safety and your legal options. Here are a few steps all Rockford, IL, residents should take after suffering severe injuries in a motorcycle accident:
- Notify the police and file a report: Notify the Rockford Police Department of the motorcycle accident as soon as possible. This creates physical evidence of the accident and may be used in your case.
- Collect time-sensitive evidence: While a lawyer can help build your case later, some evidence is time-sensitive. Make it a point to gather photographs, videos, or witness contacts.
- Contact a motorcycle accident lawyer: A motorcycle accident lawyer helps protect your legal rights while you focus on your recovery.
You Have Limited Time to File a Motorcycle Accident Claim
Illinois sets strict time limits on personal injury cases, also known as the state’s statute of limitations. State law provides just two years from the date of the motorcycle accident to seek compensation through a personal injury case. In a wrongful death case, you have two years from the date of death.
Contact a Rockford Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Today!
There are often serious injuries and significant property damage involved in a motorcycle accident. With medical bills piling up and an inability to work, it’s important to explore your legal options. Working with Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers increases your chances of maximizing your compensation while staying within the state’s strict time limits.
Many motorcycle accident victims don’t want to deal with the aftermath of an accident. When you choose the right lawyer, you don’t have to. Focus on recovering from your injuries and leave the rest to Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers.
Call us today at (888) 424-5757 or fill out our easy online form for a free case evaluation. We have successfully recovered millions for motorcyclists, and we never charge our clients a fee unless we win their case.
Resources: [1] Rockford Register Star, [2] 96.7 The Eagle, [3] MoneyGeek, [4] City-Data