What You Should Know About Motorcycle Accidents in Illinois

 Posted on September 09, 2019 in Motorcycle Accidents

If you drive on any major road on a regular basis, you have almost certainly encountered motorcycles. Some riders ride alone while others like to travel in groups of two or more. Unfortunately, there are certain riders who insist on riding recklessly, exceeding the speed limit, and weaving in and out of traffic. Such riders may be confident about what they are doing, but the reality is that this reckless driving of a motorcycle can and does lead to serious accidents causing injuries or death.  

In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of accidents involving motorcycles has been going up even as those involving all other motor vehicles have been going down. The CDC says the economic burden from motorcycle crash injuries and deaths in one year alone totaled more than $12 billion. Given the rise in the number of people using motorcycles, the CDC has sounded an alarm, calling this increase in motorcycle accidents a major public health concern, besides the associated economic loss.

Vulnerabilities of Motorcycles

The Illinois Division of Traffic Safety says of all motorized vehicles on the road, motorcycles are the most vulnerable because of their small size and weight compared to other motorized vehicles. Their small size also makes them vulnerable to being hit or run over by large trucks who do not see them as they ride in the truck’s blind spot.

Other vulnerabilities of motorcycles include their lack of seatbelts and the ease with which riders can be thrown from the seat. Motorcycles also accelerate and brake faster than most other vehicles, which leaves vehicles behind them with little or no time to react and stop quickly.

Preventing Motorcycle-Related Injuries

Wearing a helmet is the single most effective means of reducing fatalities as well as reducing the number of people who get injured as a result of motorcycle accidents. According to the CDC, a helmet reduces risk of head injury by 69 percent and reduce the risk of death by 37 percent.

In order to be effective, however, the helmet must meet the Department of Transportation standard, which establishes the minimum level of protection a helmet must provide its user.

Other things motorcycle riders can do to reduce the chance of having an accident include:

• Avoiding riding between lanes or in the same lane as another vehicle;
• Avoiding riding while under the influence of alcohol or drugs;
• Making sure the motorcycle is in a safe working condition and meets all regular inspection requirements; and
• Observing all other traffic laws, including not driving recklessly.

A Lake County Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help

If you or a member of your family has been injured in a motorcycle accident, contact an experienced Waukegan personal injury attorney to help you get what you are entitled under the law. We know how to investigate and establish facts that can assist in getting you the maximum compensation you can get for the injuries you have suffered. Schedule a free consultation to talk to one of our lawyers by calling 847-662-3303. At Salvi & Maher, L.L.C., we collect our fees only when you collect compensation.

Sources:

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=062500050K11-1404

https://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/pdf/mc/motorcyclesafetyguide-a.pdf