Our motorcycle accident lawyers in Schiller Park represent riders and passengers when another driver’s negligence causes a serious collision.
Charlie Therman Injury & Accident Lawyers, P.C., has served injured clients since 2002 and brings 75 years of combined legal experience to personal injury cases. Our firm provides personal attention and responsive communication while handling the insurance and legal issues surrounding your claim.
Speak with a Schiller Park personal injury lawyer to schedule a free consultation.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
Many motorcycle crashes result from a driver failing to account for a smaller vehicle, like a motorcycle, nearby. A driver may cross a rider’s path, move into an occupied lane, or follow too closely, leaving insufficient time to stop.
Our Schiller Park motorcycle accident attorneys investigate crashes involving:
- Left turns in front of approaching motorcycles.
- Unsafe lane changes and blind-spot collisions.
- Rear-end crashes.
- Failure to yield at intersections.
- Distracted driving.
- Speeding or aggressive driving.
- Impaired driving.
- Dooring incidents involving parked vehicles.
- Dangerous roadway conditions.
Understanding exactly how the collision happened helps us identify the responsible parties and respond when an insurer disputes fault.
How Our Schiller Park Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Establish Fault
A motorcycle accident claim generally requires evidence showing that another party failed to use reasonable care and that this conduct caused your injuries.
Depending on the crash, we may review:
- Police reports.
- Crash scene photographs.
- Traffic and surveillance video.
- Witness statements.
- Vehicle damage.
- Medical records.
- Available vehicle data.
- Cell phone records when relevant and legally obtainable.
- Evidence concerning roadway conditions.
Physical evidence can be particularly valuable when the driver and rider provide conflicting accounts of the collision.
When an Insurer Tries to Blame the Rider
Motorcyclists can face assumptions about speeding or risky riding that are not supported by the facts. Insurance companies may use those assumptions to argue that a rider caused or contributed to the crash.
Illinois uses modified comparative negligence. If you are 50% or less responsible, you can still recover damages, although your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. If you are more than 50% at fault, Illinois law generally bars recovery.
We rely on evidence rather than stereotypes when responding to arguments about rider fault.
Compensation Available After a Motorcycle Accident
A serious motorcycle injury can create losses that extend well beyond the initial hospital bill. Compensation in a personal injury claim is intended to account for both financial losses and the personal effects of the injury.
Depending on your circumstances, a motorcycle accident attorney in Schiller Park may pursue compensation for:
- Past and future medical expenses.
- Lost wages.
- Reduced earning capacity.
- Rehabilitation expenses.
- Pain and suffering.
- Disability.
- Scarring and disfigurement.
- Motorcycle and other property damage.
If a rider dies from crash-related injuries, qualifying family members may also have rights under Illinois wrongful death law.
Dealing With Insurance Companies
Insurance adjusters often begin gathering information shortly after a crash. They may request a recorded statement, ask you to sign medical authorizations, or raise questions about your treatment and prior health history.
An early settlement offer may also come before your doctors know whether you will need further treatment. Accepting a settlement generally resolves the claim, so the amount should be evaluated with your current and expected losses in mind.
Our firm handles communications and negotiations with insurers while developing evidence that supports the value of your claim. Founding attorney Charlie Therman’s previous experience working on the insurance side at Allstate also gives us insight into how insurers evaluate injury claims and settlement demands.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Motorcycle Crash?
The negligent driver is frequently the primary defendant in a motorcycle accident case, but responsibility is not always limited to one person.
Depending on how the collision occurred, a claim may involve:
Another Driver
Drivers may be responsible when they fail to yield, make an unsafe turn, change lanes without checking for a motorcycle, or otherwise fail to drive with reasonable care.
An Employer
If a driver causes a crash while acting within the course of employment, the employer may also be responsible under certain circumstances.
A Vehicle Owner
Liability may extend to a vehicle owner in some situations, depending on the relationship among the owner, driver, and the use of the vehicle.
A Public Entity Responsible for the Roadway
A dangerous roadway condition may contribute to certain motorcycle crashes. Claims involving local government entities are subject to different legal rules and can have shorter filing periods.
We examine the facts before deciding which parties should be included in a claim.
How Long Do You Have to File a Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit in Illinois?
Illinois generally requires personal injury lawsuits to be filed within two years after the claim accrues. If the applicable deadline passes, you can lose the ability to recover damages through a lawsuit.
There are exceptions, and some defendants are governed by shorter deadlines. For example, many injury actions against local public entities or employees must be filed within one year.
Investigating a crash sooner can also make it easier to obtain video, locate witnesses, document roadway conditions, and preserve other evidence.
Why Motorcycle Riders Choose Charlie
At Charlie Therman Injury & Accident Lawyers, P.C., we combine substantial personal injury experience with the attentive service of a boutique firm. We understand that regular communication can be especially valuable when you are balancing medical treatment, missed work, and an insurance claim.
Clients who choose our firm benefit from:
- 75 years of combined legal experience.
- More than $100 million recovered for injured clients.
- Representation from a firm serving injured people since 2002.
- Personal attention rather than high-volume case handling.
- Responsive communication throughout the claim.
- Insurance-side insight from Charlie Therman’s prior work at Allstate.
- Free consultations.
- Contingency-fee representation.
- Zoom consultations when convenient.
- Connections with medical providers who may accept treatment on a lien when appropriate.
Our Schiller Park motorcycle accident lawyers prepare each claim around the evidence, your medical needs, and the actual effect the collision has had on your work and daily life.
Schedule a Free Consultation With a Motorcycle Accident Attorney in Schiller Park
Questions about fault and insurance can become more difficult when serious injuries are involved. Having the crash reviewed early can give you a clearer understanding of the claim and the compensation you may be able to pursue.
Contact Charlie Therman Injury & Accident Lawyers, P.C. for a free consultation with a motorcycle accident lawyer in Schiller Park. We can look at how the crash occurred and determine whether we can pursue a claim on your behalf.
