A motorcycle accident in Skokie can cause serious injuries when a driver turns across a rider’s path, changes lanes without looking, or fails to yield. If another driver caused your crash, a Skokie injury lawyer at Mark L. Karno & Associates, LLC can review your claim and explain your legal options during a free consultation.
Send us a message or call (312) 701-0090 today.
Why Injured Riders Choose Mark L. Karno & Associates, LLC
- We understand that motorcycle accident claims often involve unfair assumptions about riders, and we build each claim around evidence rather than speculation.
- Clients receive direct communication, honest case evaluations, and clear explanations about fault, insurance coverage, settlement value, and litigation risks.
- We bring decades of personal injury experience to serious crash claims while giving each client the attention, responsiveness, and respect their case deserves.
Common Causes of Skokie Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle accidents often happen when passenger cars fail to account for a rider’s space, speed, or right of way. Common causes include:
- Left-turn collisions when a driver crosses in front of an oncoming motorcycle.
- Unsafe lane changes by drivers who fail to check blind spots.
- Failure to yield at intersections, driveways, parking lots, or commercial entrances.
- Following too closely in traffic.
- Distracted driving, including texting, navigation use, or other in-vehicle distractions.
- Dooring accidents involving parked vehicles.
- Speeding, aggressive driving, or impaired driving.
- Unsafe road conditions, construction debris, loose gravel, or poorly marked hazards.
A mistake that causes a minor crash between two passenger vehicles can cause life-changing harm to a motorcyclist. Common injuries include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, broken bones, road rash, internal injuries, nerve damage, and permanent scarring or disfigurement.
Who May Be Liable for a Skokie Motorcycle Accident?
Responsibility in a motorcycle crash comes down to whose actions or failures directly contributed to the collision. More than one party may share liability.
Negligent Drivers
A driver may be liable for turning unsafely, failing to yield, following too closely, opening a vehicle door into traffic, or changing lanes without checking for a motorcycle.
Employers and Businesses
A business may share responsibility if the at-fault driver caused the crash while working. This may apply to delivery drivers, rideshare drivers, contractors, commercial vehicle operators, or employees traveling for job-related reasons.
Vehicle Owners, Repair Shops, and Manufacturers
A vehicle owner, repair shop, or manufacturer may be liable if unsafe maintenance, a defective part, or allowing an unsafe driver on the road contributed to the crash.
Road Hazards and Public Entities
Unsafe road design, construction debris, loose gravel, missing signs, or dangerous lane closures can create serious risks for riders. Claims involving public roads may involve shorter deadlines or special procedures.
Illinois Laws That Affect Motorcycle Accident Claims
Filing Deadline for Injury Lawsuits
Most Illinois motorcycle accident lawsuits must be filed within two years. 735 ILCS 5/13-202 states that actions for personal injuries “shall be commenced within 2 years next after the cause of action accrued.”
Shared Fault and Rider Blame
Illinois uses modified comparative negligence. 735 ILCS 5/2-1116 bars recovery if the injured person’s fault is “more than 50%” of the cause of the injury. If fault is 50% or less, compensation gets reduced by that percentage. This rule often becomes important when insurers argue that the rider was speeding, hard to see, or partly responsible.
Unsafe Turns and Lane Changes
625 ILCS 5/11-804 prohibits a driver from turning or moving right or left on the roadway unless that movement “can be made with reasonable safety.” This law may help prove fault when a driver turns left across a motorcycle, enters traffic from a driveway, moves out of a parking space, or changes lanes into a rider’s path.
How an Attorney Can Help After a Motorcycle Accident
Motorcycle claims often involve disputed fault, serious injuries, and insurers looking for reasons to reduce your payment. A Skokie motorcycle accident attorney can preserve key evidence, challenge attempts to blame you, identify every available insurance policy, and document the full financial and personal impact of your injuries.
A lawyer also evaluates settlement offers against the evidence and the likely value of the claim, rather than allowing the insurer to control that assessment. When negotiations do not produce fair compensation, an attorney can file suit and prepare the case for trial, giving the insurer greater incentive to resolve your claim fairly.
Discuss Your Skokie Motorcycle Accident Claim
Speak with Mark L. Karno & Associates, LLC at (312) 701-0090 or message us online to request a free consultation.