Jeffrey Johnson has written novels and movies in addition to legal analyses of eminent domain and immigration law. His experience in writing engaging fiction makes him uniquely capable of making the most dry and academic legal topics interesting (or as interesting as possible).
Jeffrey Johnson, J.D.
Jeffrey Johnson has written novels and movies in addition to legal analyses of eminent domain and immigration law. His experience in writing engaging fiction makes him uniquely capable of making the most dry and academic legal topics interesting (or as interesting as possible).
Adam has resided at the intersection of legal and journalism for two decades. An award-winning journalist and legal strategist, he’s covered high-profile trials in Florida.
After law school, Adam and spent two years clerking for a U.S. District Court judge. He researched and wrote legal precedent in published opinions on behalf of the Court.
He has been an editor, columnist and journalist at the Miami Herald, The Dallas Morning News, The Oregonian, Golf Digest, FindLaw.com and other media outlets.
He lived in Colombia and Argentina teaching legal English to attorneys and law students. He is also a Spanish-language subject matter expert.
An avid waterman, he surfs and scuba dives frequently.
Reviewed
Adam Ramirez, J.D.
Adam has resided at the intersection of legal and journalism for two decades. An award-winning journalist and legal strategist, he’s covered high-profile trials in Florida.
After law school, Adam and spent two years clerking for a U.S. District Court judge. He researched and wrote legal precedent in published opinions on behalf of the Court.
He has been an editor, columnist and journalist at the Miami Herald, The Dallas Morning News, The Oregonian, Golf Digest, FindLaw.com and other media outlets.
He lived in Colombia and Argentina teaching legal English to attorneys and law students. He is also a Spanish-language subject matter expert.
An avid waterman, he surfs and scuba dives frequently.
Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations.
There are many motorcycle accident lawyers in Chicago. The problem isn’t finding an attorney but making sure you find the right one.
We have carefully researched the best Chicago motorcycle accident attorneys to help you find the right lawyer for your case. We also provide guidance on the laws governing motorcycles in Illinois.
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Best Motorcycle Accident Attorneys in Chicago
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Filing a Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit in Illinois
Motorcycle accidents can result in severe injuries and destroyed bikes, so hopefully the only thing you’re worried about after your crash is how to file a claim or lawsuit to get compensated. Most motorcycle accidents can be resolved through insurance in Illinois. Still, if you’re having trouble having your claim approved or reaching a settlement, you can file a lawsuit against the at-fault party.
Here you’ll find some helpful information about motorcycle accidents and Illinois law. However, there’s no substitute for the advice of an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer.
Illinois Statute of Limitations
The statute of limitations is the amount of time that an injured party has to file a lawsuit after their injury. The time starts to count from the date of the injury or the discovery of the injury. You may think that an injury would be discovered at the time that it happens, but this is not always the case in personal injuries. For example, it is possible that an accident victim might not realize the accident fractured a disc in their back until it started to hurt and was then accurately diagnosed two and a half years later.
In Illinois, there are two different statutes of limitation for motorcycle accidents. The statute of limitations for injuries is two years. The statute of limitations for property damage is five years. Many motorcycle accidents result in injury as well as property damage, but the injuries are often the more expensive part of the damages.
Illinois Laws for Motorcycle Drivers
As in all states, motorcycle riders in Illinois are required to follow all state laws for motor vehicles. There are, however, some laws in Illinois that apply only to motorcycle riders:
- Motorcycles must use their headlights during the day
- Motorcycles must have a windscreen, or the driver must wear eye protection
- If there is a passenger, the passenger must have a seat and a footrest
- Motorcycles are prohibited from passing between two vehicles going in the same direction unless there is a traffic lane
- Motorcycles are prohibited from passing on the right unless there is eight-foot unobstructed pavement
- Motorcycles cannot ride on one wheel this is considered a form of reckless driving
- Motorcycles are allowed to proceed through an intersection after a reasonable time if the signal does not recognize the motorcycle. This does not apply in towns of more than two million people
- Motorcycle riders are not required—but they are encouraged—to wear helmets in Illinois
Identifying Fault for a Motorcycle Crash
Illinois is a fault-based or “tort” state for auto insurance. This means that all drivers must carry liability insurance, and this insurance covers damages caused by that driver if an accident is their fault.
To collect compensation for losses from an accident—Which means costs from treating injuries or repairing or replacing damaged property like cars and motorcycles—victims must file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company.
Illinois uses a rule called modified comparative negligence to determine who can collect damages after an accident. Under this rule, anyone more than 50% responsible for the accident is not allowed to recover for their own losses.
Imagine a wreck where Susan was on her motorcycle and speeding while Catherine was in her car, illegally stopped in the road, drunk, and with her driver-side door open. Susan hits the open door and suffers $10,000 in damages for motorcycle repairs and her injuries. A court could determine that Susan’s speeding was 30% responsible for the accident, and Susan would collect $7,000 from Catherine. If the court determined that Susan’s speeding was 60% responsible for the accident, Susan would not be allowed to collect anything.
How Can An Attorney Help You?
You may have been in an accident before. Maybe you were in a fender bender and let insurance handle everything, and that worked out for you. If this is the case, you may be wondering what an experienced motorcycle accident attorney has to offer. A good motorcycle accident lawyer can:
- Advise you on your rights
- Provide guidance and advice based on experience with similar cases
- Correspond with all other parties and their insurers, freeing you up to focus on recovery
- Negotiate potential settlements on your behalf
- Gather evidence to support your case for negotiations and legal actions
- File all necessary paperwork to initiate a legal case against the responsible parties if settlement negotiations fail
- Represent you at trial, if necessary
How to Find the Best Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Chicago, Illinois
As you begin your search for a motorcycle accident lawyer in Chicago, there are some important characteristics you’ll want to look for. The following list is a good place to start when considering hiring a lawyer to represent you in your motorcycle accident case.
- Do they have experience? Motorcycle accidents are different from other kinds of auto accidents or personal injury cases. There are unique laws about motorcycle riders, and being familiar with these laws and with motorcycle riding, in general, is essential to representing someone injured in a motorcycle accident.
- Do they have a good reputation? Many motorcycle accident lawyers get their business through word of mouth. If an attorney can’t provide references from current and former clients, they may not have provided great representation. It can be especially persuasive if an attorney gets many referrals from other attorneys. Lawyers know when they see good advocacy from other lawyers.
- Do they seem capable? Your lawyer should make you feel safe and should help you. Your motorcycle accident attorney is primarily supposed to take care of legal and related matters on your behalf. When you meet with an attorney, they should make you feel confident at the thought of having them represent you to others.
Methodology
To come up with the Best Motorcycle Accident Lawyers in Chicago in 2023, Forbes Advisor considered many factors. Forbes Advisor’s mathematical module considers and weighs the information collected to calculate a specific rating and reviews these results to find the best attorneys in a given practice area.
Within the model, we take into account factors that legal professionals and consumers value in an attorney’s qualifications. After assigning weighted scores to hundreds of data points, we narrowed the field down to our top choices based on:
- Legal experience
- Special licenses & certifications
- Ethics and bar disciplinary measures
- Legal thought leadership
- Education & employment background
- Scholarly lectures & writings
- Awards & honors
Forbes Advisor collects public data from a variety of sources, including state bar associations, court records and other published sources on the internet. This information should not be considered comprehensive, however. It might not include additional relevant information on an attorney’s legal skills and experience.
Each lawyer listed here has their own merits. Bear in mind that our list relates to these lawyers’ legal backgrounds, but does not evaluate their personalities or their knowledge of the law. One attorney may be more suitable than another for your specific legal situation.
One thing that can’t be quantified, though, is the rapport you establish with your attorney. Personality goes a long way when teaming up with an attorney, especially when going through a potentially difficult legal situation. These rankings should serve as a reference and potential starting point in your search for the right lawyer for you and your legal concerns.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are most motorcycle lawyer fees for an accident?
Most motorcycle accident lawyers will work on a contingency basis. This means that you will pay nothing upfront, and will have no out-of-pocket costs for their representation. When the case is settled or reaches a verdict, the attorney will keep a percentage as their fee. Most contingent fees are between 25% and 35%.
Some attorneys offer sliding contingent fees based on how far the case progresses. For example, your lawyer might take 25% of the settlement if the settlement is reached without having to file a lawsuit. If your case goes all the way to trial, your lawyer might take 30% or more.
Iit is vitally important that you make sure you understand the fee structure you are consenting to when you agree to be represented by a lawyer
How likely is a motorcycle accident to lead to an injury?
In the United States, motorcycles make up 3% of vehicles, yet they make up 14% of all traffic fatalities. Motorcycle accidents are, according to the NTSB, 28 times more likely to result in fatalities based on mileage of use.
