Chicago Motorcycle Accident Attorneys

Representing the Victims of Motorcycle Accidents throughout Illinois

Although motorcycle accidents are less common than auto accidents, they are considerably more severe.  Motorcyclists are not covered by the same protective barriers as cars and other passenger vehicles, making motorcycle accidents more likely to result in serious injuries or death than car accidents. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 96,000 motorcyclists were injured and 5,290 motorcyclists were killed in motor vehicle accidents in 2008.

The Chicago motorcycle accident attorneys at Ankin Law understand the complex legal implications of a motorcycle accident and we are committed to protecting the rights of victims of motorcycle accidents. If you or a loved one has been involved in a motorcycle accident, do not hesitate to contact one of our knowledgeable Chicago motorcycle accident attorneys at (800) 442-6546 to schedule a free consultation to discuss your motorcycle accident.

Most motorcycle accidents are not caused by the motorcyclists themselves. Most motorcycle accidents are caused by motorists in other vehicles failing to see a motorcyclist or failing to yield the right of way to a motorcyclist. The impact of motorcycle accidents can be significantly reduced by wearing a helmet. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a motorcyclist not wearing a helmet is 40% more likely to die from a head injury if in an motorcycle crash than a motorcyclist who was wearing a helmet. The CDC estimates that helmets reduce the risk of head injury by 69% and, in 2008 alone, more than 1,800 lives were saved by the use of helmets.

Although motorcyclists in Illinois are not required to wear helmets, more than 20 states require a helmet when riding a motorcycle. Moreover, the Illinois Motorcycle Operator Manual strongly urges riders to use helmets that fit snugly, have no obvious defects and meet U.S. Department of Transportation and safety standards. One in five motorcycle accidents results in head or neck injuries, which can be reduced by the proper wearing of an approved helmet.

Motorcyclists should also avoid other dangerous driving habits, such as tailgating and lane splitting. Lane splitting, also referred to as lane sharing, whitelining, filtering or white-striping,  is the practice of moving between lanes of vehicles that are moving in the same direction but may be stopped or are moving slower than the motorcycle moving between them and it is illegal in most states.

Motorcyclists are also advised to use caution when approaching road hazards, obey posted speed limits and traffic signals, and wear protective clothing. Illinois law requires motorcyclists to wear protective eye gear, unless the motorcycle is equipped with a windscreen.

The Chicago motorcycle accident attorneys at Ankin Law are committed to protecting the rights of victims of motorcycle accidents. If you or a loved one has been involved in a motorcycle accident, do not hesitate to contact one of our knowledgeable Chicago motorcycle accident attorneys at (800) 442-6546 to schedule a free consultation to discuss your motorcycle accident.