Waukegan Motorcycle Accident Attorneys
One reason people enjoy motorcycles is the thrill of being on the open road while not being enclosed in a vehicle. However, being fully exposed means that motorcycle riders face the risk of significant injury in the event of an accident. Even after taking every sensible precaution, riders cannot reduce the risk of other negligent or reckless motorists on the road causing accidents.
If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident in Waukegan or anywhere else in Illinois, contact the motorcycle accident attorneys at Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. today for a free case review. We can explain your legal rights and help you pursue the full compensation you need to recover.
What Will My Motorcycle Case Be Worth?
Every motorcycle accident claim is different. The value of your case cannot be determined without a full accounting of your losses. However, you may be entitled to compensation for current and future damages as a result of your accident. This may include:
- Costs of medical recovery, including ER and doctor’s office visits, surgeries and other medical procedures, prescription medication, physical and occupational therapy, and mobility equipment like crutches or wheelchairs
- Future treatment costs that you are expected to incur
- Lost wages for time missed from work during recovery
- Lost earning potential if you can no longer work full time or cannot work at all
- Pain and suffering, or the anguish caused by your injuries
- Lost quality of life, as caused by consequences of your injuries such as disabilities or physical disfigurement
Contact our Waukegan motorcycle accident lawyers now for a free review of the specifics of your case.
What Makes Motorcycle Accident Claims More Complicated?
You might think that a motorcycle accident claim is the same as filing a typical car accident claim. However, in practice, motorcycle accident claims often prove more complicated. Reasons for this include:
- Motorcycle riders suffer more serious injuries. Because there’s no vehicle body surrounding them and motorcycles lack safety systems like seat belts and airbags, motorcycle riders tend to suffer worse injuries in crashes than car accident victims. These injuries can take a long time to treat. As a result, riders may still be undergoing treatment when settlement negotiations begin, making it necessary to ensure that any settlement provides the rider with compensation for his or her future damages as well as past and ongoing damages and expenses.
- Motorcycle riders incur greater damages. Furthermore, as riders often suffer serious injuries, they frequently incur more substantial medical bills. The financial impact is also worsened when the motorcyclist is not able to return to work. Riders may exhaust the insurance coverage of the at-fault party. This means that a rider must pursue other avenues to secure full recovery for damages. This may include filing an underinsured motorist claim against the rider’s own insurance policy or pursuing a lawsuit to recover compensation directly from the at-fault driver’s personal financial resources.
- Liability is often contested in motorcycle accidents. Even when the other driver caused the accident, some liable drivers unfortunately try to take advantage of biases and preconceptions about motorcycle riders as dangerous or reckless motorists. They’ll argue that an injured rider caused or bears part of the fault for the accident. As a result, your Waukegan motorcycle accident attorney must work to secure extensive evidence to conclusively establish that the other driver’s negligence led to the crash.
How Our Waukegan Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Can Help
The Waukegan motorcycle accident attorneys at Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. can help you pursue your claim for compensation by:
- Undertaking a thorough investigation of your accident to recover evidence we can use in your case
- Identifying all at-fault parties and insurance coverages available to compensate you for your injuries and damages
- Filing insurance claims on your behalf and negotiating with the insurance companies for fair and full compensation
- Advocating for your best interests in court, if necessary
Tips for Protecting Your Rights after a Motorcycle Accident in Waukegan
In the days and weeks following your motorcycle accident, there are some steps you can take to help protect your legal rights for pursuing compensation.
- Call 911 or local law enforcement to report the motorcycle crash. An officer will complete a police accident report. Request a copy of the report for your records.
- Take down the name, contact information, license number, registration, and insurance information of the other drivers in the accident.
- If possible, document the accident scene by taking photos of vehicle damage, skid marks on the road, traffic controls and road lines, and lighting, weather, road, and traffic conditions at the time of the accident. Also take photos of any visible injuries.
- Go to the ER or get checked out by a physician as soon as possible.
- Keep records of the bills and expenses you incur. Also keep a journal or diary of the pain and difficulties that your injuries cause you.
- Stay off of social media. In particular, avoid talking about your accident or posting photos or video of yourself until your case or medical treatment is resolved.
- Talk to a motorcycle accident lawyer about your right to compensation.
Time Limit for Filing a Motorcycle Accident Injury Lawsuit
Illinois’ statute of limitations only gives you two years from the date of your accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. Under limited circumstances, this limitations period can be paused, or “tolled,” such as if you were injured by a hit-and-run driver whose identity you could not immediately ascertain. However, if you fail to file your lawsuit prior to the deadline set by the statute of limitations, you will lose your right to seek compensation in court.
Talk to a Waukegan Motorcycle Accident Attorney Now
If you have been injured in a collision, schedule a free consultation with a Waukegan motorcycle accident lawyer at Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. Our experienced attorneys can explain your legal rights and fight for the full financial recovery you deserve after a motorcycle accident in Illinois.
