CARLINEVILLE MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT ATTORNEY

Motorcycles can be incredibly fun to ride, and many people living in Carlinville and the surrounding communities of Illinois enjoy riding motorcycles. Unfortunately, while most are able to enjoy their time on their bikes without any problems, others are not so fortunate and suffer devastating injuries in motorcycle accidents. While vehicle accidents happen every day in the US, any accident can potentially result in life-changing or fatal injuries. However, this risk is substantially higher for motorcycle accidents for several reasons.

Helping Motorcycle Accident Recovery in Carlinville, Illinois

A motorcycle is one of the most inherently dangerous vehicles on the road because it lacks the safety features found in most other passenger vehicles. While an enclosed passenger vehicle may have airbags, seatbelts, and a frame designed to absorb crash impact force, a motorcycle has none of these safety features. Therefore, even if a motorcyclist has the highest-quality riding gear, they can easily suffer devastating injuries in a motorcycle accident.

If you or a loved one recently suffered injuries in a motorcycle accident caused by any other driver in the Illinois area, Brandenburg & Rees, LLP, can help you determine your best options for legal recourse. Recovery from your damages is likely to require an auto insurance claim and a civil suit against the driver responsible for the incident. For the best chance of success with your recovery efforts, you need to secure legal counsel from a reliable attorney as soon as possible.

Benefits of Legal Counsel After a Motorcycle Accident

While it may be technically possible to file an auto insurance claim for a motorcycle accident on your own, you are far more likely to secure an appropriate insurance claim settlement from the at-fault driver’s insurance carrier with an attorney helping with your claim. In addition, once the insurance company sees that an attorney has signed your demand letter for coverage, they will be more inclined to process your claim efficiently in good faith.

When an at-fault driver does not have insurance, or when the victim’s damages exceed the scope of coverage provided by the defendant’s policy, the victim has the right to file a personal injury suit against the party who caused the accident. There may not be a legal requirement to hire legal representation for this type of case, but investing in help from an experienced Carlinville, Illinois motorcycle accident attorney can pay off tremendously in your recovery efforts.

An experienced attorney can help you maximize the settlement you receive from your insurance claim, and once you have exhausted these initial recovery options, they can assist you in filing a civil suit that enhances your overall recovery. Motorcycle accidents tend to cause devastating physical injuries and lasting damage to victims. Therefore, if you suffered any serious injury from your recent motorcycle accident, a personal injury claim is likely necessary to secure full compensation for your damages.

Recovering From a Motorcycle Accident in Carlinville, Illinois

Before you can hold a defendant accountable for your damages, you must prove they caused the accident in question and that all of your claimed losses are the direct results of their negligence or misconduct. Most civil claims for damages filed in Illinois pertain to acts of negligence or failure to exercise reasonable care. Distracted driving, moving violations, and speeding are a few examples of this.

Some criminal acts and intentional misconduct of various kinds can lead to criminal penalties. For example, driving under the influence (DUI) of drugs or alcohol and intentional acts of violence are examples of how a defendant could face serious criminal charges in addition to civil liability for the damages they cause to victims. Your attorney will help you establish liability for your damages and then assist you in proving the full scope of those damages.

Broken bones, internal organ damage, spinal cord injuries, and traumatic brain damage are just a few examples of a person’s potentially life-changing injuries from a motorcycle accident. When these accidents happen, insurance alone may not be enough to fully cover the victim’s losses. Illinois state law permits the victim of any personal injury to seek full compensation for all the economic losses they sustained because of a defendant’s actions. The claimable damages you can likely include in your motorcycle accident suit are:

• Medical expenses, both those you incur immediately after a motorcycle accident, as well as those you are likely to face in the future for managing serious injuries. For example, a serious bone fracture may require surgical correction, ongoing rehabilitation, and various restorative treatments for the victim to regain lost sensation and functionality.
• Lost income. When a motorcycle accident leaves you too injured to work, the at-fault driver is liable for the income you cannot earn during your recovery. This can apply to any accrued paid time off you had to use after your accident.
• Lost earning potential. If you suffered a catastrophic injury resulting in permanent disability and diminished earning capacity, the defendant is also liable for these future losses. Again, an experienced attorney will be invaluable for accurately evaluating the full amount of future income you can reasonably expect to secure from the defendant.
• Property damage. The at-fault driver’s insurance may not fully cover vehicle repair costs and other property losses resulting from a motorcycle accident. You can include any remaining property damage in your civil suit.

Illinois law also permits the plaintiff of a personal injury case to seek compensation for the physical pain and psychological suffering they experienced because of a defendant’s actions. There is no limit to the amount of pain and suffering compensation a plaintiff can claim, and their attorney can advise them as to what a suitable amount would be to accurately reflect the severity of their condition.

Brandenburg & Rees, LLP, has helped many past clients throughout Illinois recover from motorcycle accidents and many other types of personal injuries. We understand that you probably have many pressing legal questions after another driver has injured you, and time is a critical factor for all the recovery efforts you attempt after a motorcycle accident. For the best chance of recovering as fully as Illinois law permits, securing legal counsel you can trust from a Carlinville, Illinois motorcycle accident attorney as soon as possible is important. Contact us today and schedule your consultation with our team to learn how we can assist with your recovery from a motorcycle accident.