Articles Posted in Motorcycle Accident

An article about motorcycle safety might seem out of place in mid-December, but with the 5-day weather forecast projecting highs in the 50s the rest of the week and beyond, many people are taking their bikes out to enjoy to temperate weather as long as they can.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motorcyclists are approximately 35 times more likely to be victims of deadly accidents than passenger vehicles. With that in mind, our lawyers would like to take one last chance to provide some helpful information on the most common causes of motorcycle accidents, in the hope that it will help our readers have a safe and enjoyable holiday season.
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It doesn’t matter if you are a 30-year veteran or a first-time rider, motorcycle accidents, and even fatalities, can happen to everyone. According to statistics, motorcyclists are roughly 35 times more likely to be involved in a deadly roadway accident, but even so, motorcycle use continues to grow, with new riders registering bikes every day.
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Every year, about 90,000 individuals are injured while riding a motorcycle. Given their relative lack of size and stability, motorcyclists are afforded a much smaller margin for error than their peers in passenger vehicles; here, even a small ‘trip’ (meaning an event that causes the rider/driver of a vehicle to abruptly lose traction or control) can lead to an unrecoverable loss of control. In many cases, the negligent or reckless actions of one driver can be easily mitigated by other drivers on the road, ensuring that no one gets hurt. Even when a collision does happen, crumple zones, seat belts and airbags are present to minimize injuries and save lives.
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Traumatic injuries can stem from any number of roadway accidents, but motorcycle accidents can be particularly nasty. They are one of the leading causes of death among individuals 16 to 33 years of age in the United States, claiming the lives of more than 3,000 riders a year, and they cause thousands of others to endure significant life-changes due to disability and injury.

Over the weekend, a woman was fatally injured following a head-on motorcycle accident at Count Highway E17 and¬ County Road Y31. Officials say that the accident occurred at approximately 1:00pm, when the motorcyclist turned onto eastbound E17 and crossed the roads center line, causing her to be struck by an approaching vehicle pulling a camper. An ambulance was called, but the victim was pronounced dead at the scene; the accident remains under investigation. (KWQC)
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Whenever a traffic accident occurs, serious injuries are a possibility. However, our years of experience as accident lawyers have taught us that motorcycle accident injuries can be particularly severe, and in some cases, even fatal. Early this morning, an accident on Chicago’s West Side claimed the life of a motorcyclist, closing down the right lane of the Eisenhower freeway for more than five hours.
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With the warm weather upon us, motorcyclists are excited to get back out on the open road. As the number of motorcycle owners has reached the millions, it has become a common pastime not only in Illinois, but across the country. But what does that mean for the rest of us? All vehicle owners travel more when the weather improves, not motorcyclists alone. Motorcycle safety is not only important for motorcycle drivers but for the remaining drivers who share the road with these vehicles. The large portion of the Illinois population operates motor vehicles and should be reminded of the importance of a focused drive on the road.

According to an article by NBC News, approximately 360,000 motorcycles were on the road in 2014 in Illinois, and over 8 million in the United States. Unfortunately, a leisurely activity that is supposed to be enjoyed by individuals can be life threatening. Motorcycle drivers are 37 times more likely to die in an accident than in car accidents according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. There are a number of ways that these tragedies can be avoided and reduced by all drivers on the road.
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With a forecasted high of just 30 degrees this weekend in Chicago, most motorcyclists aren’t dusting off their bikes just yet. However, Spring really isn’t all that far off, and our lawyers believe that it’s never too early to start talking about motorcycle safety. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, nationwide deaths related to automobile accidents (including cars, SUVs, and light trucks) are at an all-time low. Still, while we continue making progress in motor vehicle safety, motorcyclist injuries and fatalities represent an entirely different trend. During the period spanning 1999 to 2008, the number of motorcyclists killed on the road more than doubled, reaching an all time high.

It doesn’t matter if you are a veteran or a first-time rider, motorcycle accident injuries, and even fatalities, can happen to everyone. Yet, despite some estimates tabbing motorcyclists as being 35 times more likely to be involved in a deadly accident than those driving cars, motorcycle use continues to grow, with new riders registering their bikes every day. With that in mind, our Chicago car accident lawyers would like to share a few of the most important considerations and precautions that every beginner or novice motorcyclist should remain cognizant of before they are ready to take their first ride. (Center for Disease Control & Prevention; motorcycle.org)
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Every year, roughly 90,000 motorcyclists are injured on our nation’s highways alone. An estimated 5,000 people are killed each year while riding their motorcycle, and the majority of these fatalities occur because of head injuries. Statistics show that not wearing a helmet makes a biker approximately 40% more likely to die in an accident, and 15% more likely to experience a non-fatal brain injury, but as of 2013 there are laws requiring all motorcyclists to wear a helmet in only 19 states and the District of Columbia. 28 states currently require some motorcyclists to wear a helmet, and there are still three states in the union in which motorcycle helmet laws are entirely absent; Illinois is one of them. As Chicago motorcycle accident lawyers, we see the deleterious effects of these accidents all too often. Whether you are a seasoned motorcyclist or just bought your first bike, we urge you to wear a helmet, and always remember to ride safely. (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Highway Loss Data Institute)
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Due to their relative lack of size and stability, motorcycles are afforded a much smaller margin for error than passenger vehicles. Thousands of motorcyclists are injured every year in motorcycle accidents resulting from rider error (involving no other motor vehicle), many of which could have been easily avoided with a few simple safety precautions. Whether you are a brand new rider or you’ve been around a motorcycle for half of your life, the odds are pretty good that you’ve heard a few of these biker tall tales; our lawyers are here to set the record straight.
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