THE CHICAGO-BASED KELLY LAW OFFICES ON THE COMMON CAUSES OF MOTORCYCLE CRASHES IN ILLINOIS
With gas prices consistently ranging from three and four dollars per gallon, many motorists around Chicago and other parts of Illinois are choosing motorcycles as an affordable means of personal transportation. However, as any experienced biker will acknowledge, the highways and roadways around greater Chicago are fraught with hazards for motorcyclists. Due to their reduced mass, smaller profiles, and lack of protective structure, motorcycles don’t fare as well in accidents as heavier vehicles, like cars, trucks and buses. Consequently, motorcycle riders are frequently injured, and those injuries are often severe.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Illinois
When you remove single motorcycle accidents, the vast majority of collisions involve a heavier vehicle impacting a bike. This typically occurs because the driver of the car doesn’t notice the motorcycle and inadvertently fails to yield the right of way. For example, a few of our personal injury clients have recounted similar stories about their motorcycle accidents. The motorcyclist is approaching an intersection with a solid green light, giving them the right of way. A car or truck travelling in the opposite direction makes an improper left hand turn in front of the motorcycle just as it enters the intersection. This causes the motorcyclist to lay his or her bike down, or crash into the side of the at-fault vehicle. Not all at-fault drivers will admit that they failed to notice the motorcyclists that they struck. Many of them will try to blame the motorcyclists, claiming that the bike was travelling at high rate of speed or didn’t have its headlights on (which we know is never true because headlights are always on).
The Duty of Motorists to Yield the Right of Way
Most motorcyclists who ride on the roadways around Illinois and Chicago have learned to be hyperaware of the driving patterns of car and truck drivers, but this often isn’t enough. Motor vehicle drivers have a legal obligation to yield to all cars, motorcycles, and pedestrians that have the right of way. However, in this age of distracted driving and texting, drivers often divide their attention between the roadway and their cell phones. This puts all other drivers at risk—particularly motorcyclists.
If you operate a motorcycle in Chicago or its suburbs, or anywhere else in Illinois and are struck by a vehicle, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. Contact a qualified Illinois personal injury attorney who handles motorcycle collisions. Kelly Law Offices are the lawyers who ride. Call now: 1-800-859-8800.
