Rockford Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

A Rockford motorcycle crash lawyer can give you the help you need as you seek compensation from the responsible party.

Of the eighty reported motorcycle accidents in Winnebago County in 2015, fifty-seven caused injuries. And you can bet that a significant number of those injuries were the result of another driver’s careless behaviors on the road.

It’s the unfortunate truth that motorcyclists often become the victims of crashes caused by drivers in larger, more protected vehicles. All vehicle accidents are serious, but motorcycle accidents are some of the most catastrophic because of the lack of protection riders have.

Illinois doesn’t have a helmet law, but that doesn’t mean motorcyclists have no recourse when someone else’s negligence leaves them seriously injured and saddled with medical bills and other damages. If you’ve been hurt in a motorcycle crash that wasn’t your fault, a Rockford motorcycle accident lawyer can help you pursue compensation through a personal injury claim.

The attorneys at Mahoney & Mahoney, LLC have experience helping motorcycle accident victims, and we’re ready to help you, too.

When Your Rockford Motorcycle Crash Injuries Aren’t Your Fault

Even minor injuries can have serious implications on victims’ lives. Unfortunately for motorcyclists like you, motorcycle crashes tend to cause injuries of the catastrophic variety. And the more serious the injury is, the more devastating the effects are likely going to be.

Understanding and documenting all the injuries you have suffered is an important part of building a strong claim for compensation from the responsible party. That’s why it’s important that you visit your doctor or a hospital after your crash to make sure your life isn’t in danger and create a medical record of your injuries.

Here are some of the more serious injury types and the kinds of effects they can have on your life:

• Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) – Head injuries can have a devastating impact on your life. Head trauma can cause permanent memory loss, changes in mood and personality, cognition issues, and even balance and coordination problems. Some of these problems may get better, but sometimes a head injury can affect you for life.
• Broken Bones – Some people don’t think a broken bone is that serious, but it all depends on the break. Some broken bones never fully heal, leading to decreased mobility, chronic pain, and psychological effects. If you suffered a life-changing bone fracture, you deserve compensation for the hardships you’re facing.
• Loss of a Limb – Amputations are extremely serious injuries. They can make everything difficult, from getting around to working. You can learn to live with this kind of injury and still lead a full and fulfilling life, but there’s no question of the pain, emotional damage, and physical limitations this type of injury can have on victims.
• Severe Burns – Motorcycle burn injuries are rarely minor, and your burn could change the course of your life. Some burns will destroy nerve tissue and can cause issues with mobility. Some victims will experience psychological issues due to the permanent scarring and disfigurement burn injuries can cause.
• Organ Damage – Damage to major organs is extremely serious. In some cases, the damage could make it difficult or even impossible to work or enjoy activities that once gave your life meaning. If you’ve suffered organ damage from a motorcycle crash that you didn’t cause, you deserve compensation.
• Spinal Injuries – Among the worst injuries a crash victim could face, spinal injuries can lead to total or partial paralysis. Depending on your specific spinal injury, you may never be able to walk again or you may never be able to work. This injury is severe and will lead to other damages, such as the cost of caregiving services and mobility devices.

Causes of Rockford Motorcycle Wrecks Involving Negligence

Pinpointing what caused your crash is critical to discovering who was responsible. For you to file a personal injury claim against the liable party, you must investigate the crash and find evidence to prove fault. Investigating a motorcycle crash is never easy, and evidence doesn’t just sit and wait for you to pick it up.

It’s vital that you contact an attorney right away—before evidence mysteriously goes missing. When you’ve just been in a serious wreck, chances are you won’t have the presence of mind to halt the paramedics so you can gather evidence. Not to mention, if you don’t start your case as quickly as possible, witnesses could forget what happened.

Your attorney will have to do a lot of the investigating for you. Your attorney will often be able to recreate accident scenes and take other measures to prove your case, such as the following:

• Finding accident experts to testify on your behalf
• Obtaining video and photographic evidence
• Obtaining witness statements
• Collecting police and crash reports
• Helping you gather the medical evidence necessary to prove your injuries and damages

All of this evidence-gathering will help your attorney put together a strong case so you can get the compensation you need.

Below, we have outlined some of the most common negligent behaviors that cause motorcycle accidents in Rockford:

• Improper Left Turns – Because the drivers of cars and trucks don’t actively look for vehicles as small as motorcycles, they’re likely to make mistakes like turning left in front of an oncoming motorcycle going the opposite direction. Slamming on your brakes at a normal speed can eject you from your motorcycle, and hitting a vehicle that turned in front of you can have potentially deadly consequences.
• Distracted Drivers – Drivers who aren’t distracted at all often hit motorcyclists because they’re not used to looking for them. Add to that danger the distraction of texting, applying makeup, or eating while driving, and you have a recipe for a Rockford motorcycle wreck.
• Drowsy Drivers – Some research has found that driving drowsy can mimic the effects of driving drunk. Falling asleep at the wheel and hitting a motorcyclist is an obvious effect that drowsy drivers can have, but drowsy drivers may also have slowed reaction times, which can easily cause a crash.
• Drunk Drivers – Driving while intoxicated is a crime, and it can put the life of anyone on the road at risk. Because motorcycles lack the safety features and exterior protection of cars, drunk drivers pose a particularly severe risk to motorcycle riders.
• Defective Vehicle Parts – It could be a part on your bike or a part on another person’s car, but if it malfunctioned and caused your crash, you might be able to hold the manufacturer of that part financially accountable in your claim.

Maximizing Your Rockford Motorcycle Accident Claim

Your motorcycle accident attorney in Rockford will know how to calculate the value of your claim and fight for every cent you’re owed. Still, you’ll want to have an idea of some of the damages you might be eligible for.

Your potential motorcycle crash compensation can be broken down into two basic types of damages: economic and non-economic. Economic damages cost you money, while non-economic damages can profoundly affect your life but may not cost you a dime. Both types warrant fair compensation from the person responsible for your Rockford motorcycle accident.

The following are some examples of economic damages many motorcycle accident victims receive:

• Healthcare bills, including the costs of hospital stays, doctor visits, medications, physical rehabilitation, and surgeries
• Lost wages, such as those you miss while in the hospital and those you won’t be able to earn in the future because of your injuries
• Property damage, which includes the cost of repairing or replacing your motorcycle and any other personal property damaged in the crash

Common non-economic damages in Rockford motorcycle accident cases include the following:

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional trauma
• Disfigurement or scarring
• Damage to your personal relationships because of your injuries
• Wrongful death

A Note on Stereotypes

Without a Rockford motorcycle crash attorney’s help, you’re likely going to face several difficulties as you try to obtain the compensation you deserve. One of those hurdles involves stereotypes about motorcyclists.

Many people are familiar with the false “reckless biker” stereotype. It suggests that motorcyclists are lawless drivers with no respect for traffic laws or the safety of others. Despite how untrue this stereotype is, insurance companies are eager to try to capitalize on it.

More specifically, insurers will try to point to this stereotype to suggest that you had a role in causing your motorcycle accident. If that effort is successful, your potential to receive adequate compensation is put in peril.

Your lawyer will be prepared to take on insurance companies that try to use this tactic. We’ll look to the evidence and the facts instead of relying on unfair stereotypes, and we’ll do everything in our power to keep the insurers from shortchanging you.

Speak with a Rockford Motorcycle Accident Attorney

Your motorcycle crash has likely left you in the hospital with serious—if not life-threatening—injuries. You’re dealing with physical pain, emotional and psychological trauma, and fear for your safety and your future. You probably don’t have it in you to fight a personal injury battle on your own. But you don’t have to.

You can work with an attorney from our firm. We will fight your battle for you. Your attorney can investigate your motorcycle wreck, collect evidence, file all paperwork, negotiate with insurance companies, and, if necessary, fight for you in court. Trying to file an injury claim on your own isn’t likely in your best interests.

For qualified and experienced legal help getting the compensation you deserve after your motorcycle crash, team up with Mahoney & Mahoney, LLC. Give us a call at 815-656-4600 or fill out the form below to speak with a Rockford motorcycle accident lawyer.