Need a Northbrook motorcycle accident lawyer to represent you? At the Law Firm of Kass & Moses, we have over thirty years of experience representing bikers who have been hurt in accidents. Thousands of motorcycle accidents happen each year. Injuries are common, and many are severe. With these injuries comes pain and suffering, lost wages, and sometimes long-term disabilities or impairments. Your personal injury claim is important, and your financial future is on the line. We can help you receive fair and just compensation for all of your losses.
Motorcycle accidents often result in serious injuries. Traumatic brain injuries (or concussions), broken bones, spinal cord injuries, internal and soft tissue injuries, and road rash are common. These injuries are usually painful and may require you to take time off of work to attend to your medical appointments and care. In some cases, you may not be physically able to return to your job for an extended period of time.
What Happens After a Northbrook Il Motorcycle Crash?
In the days following your crash, you will be contacted by the insurance company. They will ask a lot of questions in order to determine the extent of your injuries. In most cases, they will present you with a settlement offer. These offers of compensation are usually quite small and may represent just a fraction of what you might be able to get if you hire an attorney to represent you. If you agree to an offer of compensation and sign the accompanying paperwork, you can no longer pursue further monies from the insurance company. Even if your injuries are determined at a later time to be more severe than it initially appeared, you are locked in and cannot seek further compensation. 
We urge anyone involved in a motorcycle crash to contact an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer as soon as possible. But first things first – seek medical attention for your injuries! Far too many people fail to visit a doctor after their crash, thinking that their injuries will heal without treatment.
Even if you feel you are fine or your injuries are minor, it is important to see a doctor right away. When you are involved in a crash, your body undergoes a major rush of endorphins and adrenaline. These can mask the amount of pain you feel, even if your injuries are severe. So many motorcycle accident victims report that they felt fine after their crash, but in the days following the incident they developed significant pain.
From personal experience, I can report that I broke my foot in a car accident once and, at the time, it felt fine. There was no pain sensation at all, and in fact the only thing I noticed was that my foot itched and tingled and had a slightly swollen area. The next day it became more painful and walking and standing seemed to make the pain worse. I went to the doctor and had it x-rayed. I had a major break in my foot! Even though I had a significant fracture, I felt no pain at the time of my crash.
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How Does a Motorcycle Accident Differ from a Motor Vehicle Accident?
A motorcycle accident differs from a traditional motor vehicle accident involving cars and trucks in several important ways. First, as a motorcycle rider, you are fully exposed to the forces of the crash. Without a seatbelt to hold you in place or airbags to cushion any impact, you are completely vulnerable. Many motorcycle riders are thrown from their bike, landing hard against the pavement. Crushing injuries are common. Car accident injuries are generally far less severe. In addition, as any car accident lawyer can attest, it is fairly easy to determine exactly what happened just by looking at the way the vehicles moved, skid marks, and damages.
It can be difficult to determine exactly what occurred in a motorcycle accident. That is because motorcycles brake differently from other automobiles. Skid marks and distance to stop are far different. Unfortunately, most police officers are not trained on these differences. When they interpret what happened in an accident, they made judgments based on what they expect a car would do, not a motorcycle.
At the Law Firm of Kass & Moses, we work with a number of excellent accident reconstruction experts. These individuals have great experience recreating motorcycle accidents. Even if the police report says it was your fault, and even if you were ticketed, our experts may determine that you were not at fault. Perhaps you had some responsibility for the accident, but the other party played a role as well. In these cases, it is possible that you can still recover financial compensation for your injuries.
What is the Maximum Compensation a Northbrook Il Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Can Get?
We are frequently asked how much compensation someone can expect for their injuries. As Il motorcycle accident lawyers, we have represented hundreds of cases. With that experience comes a knowledge and understanding of the value of a case. The amount of compensation you can expect to receive depends on a number of different factors.
A personal injury case is complex. One crucial factor is who was at fault for your crash. Illinois uses modified comparative negligence to determine rightful compensation. Even if you were mostly at fault, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. If you suffered significant injuries, this can result in major compensation, even if you were mostly responsible for the crash. For example, if you were found 70 percent responsible for the crash, you would be entitled to 30 percent compensation for your injuries from the other driver. If the value of your injuries and losses is determined to be $200,000, you will still be entitled to receive $60,000. 
This rule, however, can work against you as well. If the other party was largely responsible for causing the crash, but you were 25 percent responsible, this will lower the amount of compensation you can receive. Our motorcycle accident lawyers are aware of the implications this can have on your case, and can answer any questions you might have determining who is at fault.
Another important factor is the amount of insurance coverage you and the other party involved carry. I urge all motorcycle riders to carry a significant amount of uninsured/underinsured coverage. This will protect you in the event the negligent party does not carry any or enough coverage. This type of insurance is relatively inexpensive and can be incredibly valuable if you are involved in a motorcycle accident.
The amount of compensation you are entitled to receive after a Cook County motorcycle accident will vary based on the extent of your injuries, amounts of lost wages, and all other losses. As experienced motorcycle attorneys, we can often give you general guidelines about the value of your injuries when we discuss your case during your free consultation.
Keep in mind, however, that your total compensation can only be determined after you have healed from your injuries. That is because healing is sometimes complicated. Perhaps your doctor feels you have healed as much as can be expected, but you still suffer a level of impairment. That is something that will factor in to your accident compensation.
When you speak with a motorcycle accident injury attorney with the Law Firm of Kass & Moses, you will be given the time to ask any questions you may have. We understand that the initial discussions about your case can feel overwhelming. That is why we are available at any time to discuss questions that arise concerning your motorcycle accident injury claim.
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What Can Motorcycle Accident Victims Do to Preserve their Rights?
The choices you make after your motorcycle accident can greatly impact the amount of compensation you receive. When speaking with the insurance company, only answer their most basic questions. In fact, I feel it best for anyone involved in a motorcycle crash to speak with a motorcycle accident lawyer in Northbrook first.
The statements you make on the phone with the insurance company can hurt you. For example, you may report that you are feeling better after a crash. The insurance company may interpret this to mean that your injuries are minor, which may or may not be the case.
I warn my clients to stay off Facebook and other social media after their motorcycle accident. It can be tempting to post pictures and update friends and loved ones about your injuries. But the things you post on social media can be seen by anyone – including the insurance adjuster – and can come back to haunt you.
If you have experienced injuries, seek medical attention right away. Even if your injuries seem minor, it is important to get checked out.
Should you have any questions about your case or would like a free case review with a Northbrook motorcycle accident lawyer, contact 1-800-MOTORCYCLE today.
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