Motorcycle Accident Attorneys

Motorcycle accidents pose a serious risk of harm for riders. By nature, motorcyclists are more exposed on their vehicles, and with little protection, they may suffer catastrophic injuries in the event of a collision. For decades, the motorcycle accident attorneys at Katz, Friedman, Eisenstein, Johnson, Bareck & Bertuca have provided experienced legal representation to motorcyclists hurt in a crash. As skilled personal injury lawyers, we understand the devastating impact of an accident on financial, physical, and emotional levels. If you or a loved one was hurt by a careless or reckless driver, we can help you seek the compensation that you deserve.

Call 312-724-5846 or email us for your free initial consultation.

Serious Injuries Common in Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycle accidents often cause catastrophic injuries because riders have little protection against the road and surrounding vehicles. Even a “low-speed” motorcycle crash can lead to long-term medical complications, missed work, temporary disability, permanent disability or sadly, even death.

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) and Head/Face Trauma

Motorcycle helmets help, but they can’t prevent every brain injury. Riders may suffer concussions, bleeding in the brain, skull fractures, or facial fractures. Brain damage can affect memory, mood, speech and basic daily functioning.

Spinal Cord Injuries and Paralysis

A hard impact to the human body can fracture vertebrae or damage the spinal cord, potentially causing chronic pain, loss of sensation, or paralysis. Severe spinal cord injuries may result in paraplegia or quadriplegia and require lifelong care and home/vehicle modifications.

Road Rash, Nerve Damage, and Infection

A motorcyclist or their passenger sliding across a road can tear through skin and tissue, leading to deep abrasions, embedded debris, and infection. Serious road rash may cause nerve damage and permanent scarring and can require wound debridement or skin grafts.

Broken Bones and Complex Fractures

Bikers frequently suffer serious bone fractures to legs, arms, wrists, ribs, and the pelvis. Some breaks are “open” fractures or involve joint damage, often requiring surgery, plates, pins, or rods—followed by lengthy physical therapy.

Internal Injuries

Blunt force trauma can injure the lungs, spleen, liver, kidneys or other organs. Internal bleeding isn’t always obvious at the scene, but it can quickly become life-threatening without emergency diagnosis and treatment. Damage to organs can leave a motorcycle accident survivor with life-long medical needs.

Amputations and Severe Disfigurement

Crush injuries, degloving or traumatic impacts can destroy tissue and blood supply to a limb, sometimes making amputation medically necessary. These injuries often involve multiple surgeries, rehabilitation, prosthetics, significant emotional recovery, as well as home or vehicle modifications.

Severe Burns

Fires, fuel leaks, or prolonged contact with hot metal and pavement can cause deep burns. Serious burns may require grafting, carry a high risk of infection, and can leave lasting scarring and mobility limitations.

Fatal Motorcycle Crashes

Fatal motorcycle accidents account or 13-14% of accidents in Illinois. In the event of a fatal motorcycle accident, certain relatives or the legal representative of the deceased victim may be able to recover damages. Since this is a wrongful death claim, these damages relate to their loved one’s funeral expenses and medical costs, as well as payments for the loss of companionship, consortium, support, and services that the victim had provided.

Holding a Negligent Driver Accountable for a Motorcycle Accident

Illinois law provides remedies to injured bikers and their passengers who are hurt in a crash. A personal injury lawsuit is a way for accident victims to secure monetary compensation from the responsible party or parties. In an injury lawsuit following a motorcycle crash, the victim alleges that the at-fault party engaged in conduct that directly caused the accident and led to their injuries. There may be various causes for an accident, including a driver’s intoxication, a driver’s distracted behavior, or a driver’s failure to follow applicable traffic rules.

Negligence is the legal theory that usually serves as the basis for a motorcycle accident case. It refers to a failure to behave with the level of care that a reasonable person would use in a similar situation. When a driver breaches their duty of care, and this results in a crash involving a motorcycle, the rider may be able to recover damages. The types of damages that are generally available to victims in a personal injury lawsuit are intended to help put a victim in the place where they would be had the accident not occurred, to the extent possible. Economic damages are objectively documented costs, such as lost wages from work due to the injuries, medical costs, and damage to the motorcycle. Losses that are less easily quantified and more subjective may also be recovered. These include emotional distress and physical pain and suffering. A motorcycle victim’s spouse may pursue a related claim for loss of consortium and loss of the victim’s assistance around the household.

Seek Legal Help from a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

At Katz, Friedman, Eisenstein, Johnson, Bareck & Bertuca, motorcycle riders severely injured in collisions can receive dedicated and efficient legal representation. Our motorcycle accident lawyers can anticipate and skillfully overcome potential defenses to personal injury claims, securing compensation for clients that can help ease the financial burden following a crash. We also advocate on behalf of motor vehicle collision victims and their families throughout Illinois in communities such as Aurora, Champaign, Rockford, Springfield, Quincy, and other communities throughout Sangamon, Cook, Kane, Winnebago, and Adams Counties.

Call 312-724-5846 or use our online form to set up a free consultation with a skilled motorcycle collision attorney.