Motorcycle accidents are significantly more dangerous than car crashes—there’s no sugarcoating it. When you’re on a bike, you don’t have the protection of a steel frame, airbags, or a seatbelt. Even at lower speeds, the consequences can be devastating. A fender bender in a car might leave a driver with a sore neck. That same collision can throw a motorcyclist off their bike and onto the pavement.
According to national traffic data, motorcyclists are about 28 times more likely to die in a crash than occupants of passenger vehicles, even when adjusted for miles traveled. And the risks don’t just apply to highways.
Urban areas like Chicago present their own hazards—potholes, sudden left turns, distracted drivers, and heavy traffic all create dangerous conditions for riders.
In this article, we’ll break down the odds of surviving a motorcycle accident and what to do if you’re seeking legal damages.
NHTSA Data Shows a Consistent Fatality Rate in Motorcycle Accidents
Every year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration publishes motorcycle crash data. As the government agency responsible for highway traffic, NHTSA compiles data about roadway fatalities and injuries for all vehicle crashes. The agency tracks all motorcycle crashes nationwide based on data that states report.For 2018, NHTSA estimated 111,000 crashes. More than half of these accidents were collisions with cars or other motor vehicles. Motorcyclists suffered injuries beyond just vehicle damage in over 75 percent of crashes.
In 2018, there were just over 5,000 motorcycle accident fatalities. The national fatality rate was just under 5 percent, meaning that the odds of surviving a motorcycle crash are just over 95 percent. There are over 8 million registered motorcycles in the United States.
Only one in every 1,600 motorcyclists will die in a crash. Although biking is perceived to be dangerous, most bikers take necessary safety steps to protect themselves and reduce their own risk of being an accident fatality. Unfortunately, we cannot say the same for passenger vehicle drivers who do not do their part to exercise the necessary care to keep motorcyclists safe.
There are other estimates of motorcycle accident fatalities. One survey found that the number of motorcycle accident fatalities increased by over 10 percent from 2019 to 2020, even though there was less traffic on the road because of the pandemic.
Even though the number of injuries decreased, the rate of injuries increased. This study suggests that the fatality rate for motorcycle accidents is rising. The same survey found that fatalities per million miles are also growing, showing that motorcyclists face escalating dangers from other drivers on the road.
What Factors Affect Your Chances of Survival?
No two motorcycle accidents are the same, and survival often comes down to a mix of factors that you can’t always control. Understanding these variables can help explain why some riders walk away with scrapes while others suffer catastrophic injuries—or worse.
Some of the key factors include:
- Speed – Higher speeds mean harder impacts. Accidents at 40+ mph are significantly more likely to result in fatal or life-threatening injuries.
- Helmet Use – While Illinois doesn’t require helmets by law, wearing one dramatically improves survival odds and reduces the severity of head injuries.
- Location of Impact – Crashes involving direct hits from the side or rear are often more dangerous, especially if a larger vehicle like a truck or SUV is involved.
- Road Conditions – Wet pavement, potholes, and loose gravel can all increase the risk of losing control and falling before any collision even occurs.
- Vehicle Size and Type – A motorcycle colliding with a compact car is dangerous. A collision with a commercial truck or city bus is deadly.
In short, many things increase your odds of surviving—but even when riders do survive, they often face months or years of recovery, and the damage can be permanent.
Surviving Doesn't Mean You Walk Away Unhurt
Just because a rider survives a crash doesn’t mean their life returns to normal. In fact, some of the most serious motorcycle accident cases we’ve handled involved clients who lived—but barely.
Many spent weeks in the hospital, underwent multiple surgeries, and had to completely rearrange their lives to accommodate their injuries.
Common post-crash injuries we see include:
- Spinal cord injuries that lead to partial or full paralysis
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) that affect memory, speech, and mood
- Multiple fractures, sometimes requiring hardware and follow-up surgeries
- Severe road rash, sometimes requiring skin grafts
- Internal injuries that require emergency surgery and long-term care
Many clients can’t return to the same line of work, and some can’t work at all. Others need help with basic tasks like bathing, walking, or driving. And while recovery is possible, the path is long and expensive.
That’s why legal help matters. After the crash, insurance companies often try to minimize the severity of your injuries or blame you for the accident. You need someone on your side who will push back and fight for the full picture, not just the moment you survived, but everything that came after.
Why Motorcycle Riders in Chicago Face Higher Risks
Riding a motorcycle in Chicago comes with unique challenges that can increase the risk of a serious crash.
Between heavy traffic, unpredictable weather, and aggressive drivers, urban riding is often more dangerous than people expect, especially in areas with limited visibility or poor infrastructure.
High-risk areas for motorcycle crashes include:
- Downtown intersections with fast-changing lights and heavy pedestrian activity
- Lakeshore Drive, where cars often weave between lanes at high speeds
- The Kennedy Expressway, known for congestion and sudden lane shifts
- Neighborhoods with older roads, like Pilsen or Avondale, where potholes and broken pavement can easily throw a bike off balance
Chicago’s stop-and-go traffic also means that motorcyclists are frequently cut off by cars, doored by parked vehicles, or forced to swerve to avoid hazards that wouldn’t affect a larger vehicle.
Add in distracted driving—phones, food, or GPS use—and the risks multiply.
Even the most cautious, experienced rider is vulnerable. And when something goes wrong, motorcyclists often pay the highest price. That’s why riders who survive a crash should consider legal help right away. The road to recovery may be long, and you shouldn’t have to travel it alone.
What If Someone You Love Didn't Survive?
Losing a loved one in a motorcycle accident is one of the most devastating things a family can experience. These crashes are often sudden, violent, and unexpected. One moment, your family member was riding to work or enjoying the weekend. The next, your life changed forever.
In these cases, the emotional toll is overwhelming—but so is the financial impact. Funeral costs, medical bills from emergency care, and the sudden loss of income can leave families in a state of both grief and uncertainty.
When someone else’s negligence caused the crash—whether it was a distracted driver, a reckless left turn, or a driver failing to yield—your family may have the right to file a wrongful death claim. This can help recover compensation for:
- Funeral and burial costs
- Final medical expenses
- Lost future income and support
- Pain and suffering endured by your loved one
- Loss of companionship and emotional support
At Abels & Annes, P.C., we know how painful this process is. We approach these cases with compassion and strength, handling the legal fight so you can focus on healing. If you’ve lost someone in a motorcycle crash in Chicago, we’re here to help you understand what comes next.
What You Should Know About Insurance After a Motorcycle Crash
One of the most frustrating parts of surviving a motorcycle accident comes after the hospital stay—dealing with insurance companies. Most riders are shocked at how quickly the insurer turns the situation around, questioning everything from fault to the seriousness of your injuries.
Even if the other driver was clearly at fault, their insurance company may:
- Claim you were speeding or riding recklessly
- Suggest you weren’t wearing protective gear
- Downplay the severity of your injuries
- Delay responding to your claim or deny it outright
Motorcyclists often face bias from insurance companies that assume riders take on more risk and therefore deserve less compensation. This is not only unfair—it’s legally wrong.
If you’re facing high medical bills, time off work, or permanent limitations from your crash, don’t expect the insurance company to pay out what you truly need without a fight. That’s where legal representation comes in.
At Abels & Annes, P.C., we know these tactics and how to respond to them. We gather the evidence, calculate long-term damages, and deal with adjusters directly—so you don’t have to. After everything you’ve been through, you deserve an advocate who takes your recovery seriously.
Why You Shouldn't Wait to Call a Lawyer
After a motorcycle crash, time is not on your side. Even if you’re still processing what happened or trying to recover physically, the legal window to take action is closing faster than you think. And insurance companies? They’re already working to limit what they’ll owe you.
Evidence disappears fast:
- Traffic camera footage is erased
- Vehicles are repaired or scrapped
- Witnesses forget what they saw
- Road conditions change
- Medical records become harder to connect to the crash
Every day that passes can weaken your claim. But when you get a lawyer involved early, you give yourself the best chance of securing the compensation you actually need, not just what the insurer is willing to offer.
We know you’re dealing with doctor’s visits, physical pain, lost income, and stress. That’s exactly why legal help matters. We step in so you don’t have to carry this weight alone.
Whether your crash happened on a major road like I-90 or a side street in Albany Park, the sooner you call, the stronger your case can be. Let us investigate while the facts are fresh, before the trail goes cold.
What Legal Options Do You Have After a Motorcycle Accident?
If you survive a motorcycle crash in Chicago and someone else was at fault, you have the right to seek compensation through a personal injury claim. This isn’t about being litigious—it’s about making sure you’re not stuck with the consequences of someone else’s bad decision.
Whether the driver ran a red light, changed lanes without looking, or failed to yield at an intersection, their negligence can form the basis of a legal claim. This allows you to pursue damages for your medical care, lost income, pain and suffering, and future treatment needs.
Legal action may also be appropriate if:
- A rideshare driver caused the crash
- A commercial vehicle hit you while turning or merging
- Poor road maintenance or dangerous construction zones contributed to the accident
- The at-fault driver was uninsured or underinsured
It’s also possible to take legal action even if the police report didn’t initially place full blame on the other driver. A law firm can conduct an independent investigation, review surveillance footage, speak with witnesses, and consult with accident reconstruction experts. Don’t assume fault is final until we’ve had a chance to look at it.
What Damages Can You Recover After a Motorcycle?
Motorcycle crashes often result in severe injuries, and that means serious financial losses. A personal injury claim allows you to pursue compensation that reflects the full impact the crash has had on your life, both physically and financially.
Damages may include:
- Medical expenses – Hospital stays, surgeries, therapy, follow-ups, and ongoing care
- Lost wages – If you missed work or had to change jobs due to your injuries
- Reduced earning capacity – If your injuries prevent you from returning to your previous career
- Pain and suffering – For physical pain, emotional trauma, and loss of quality of life
- Scarring or disfigurement – Especially common with road rash and surgical procedures
- Property damage – Including your motorcycle and any gear damaged in the crash
In particularly serious cases, we may also pursue future damages with help from medical and economic experts. This includes things like future surgeries, job retraining, home modifications, and long-term physical therapy.
At Abels & Annes, P.C., we take the time to understand your full situation—not just your immediate bills, but everything you’ve lost and everything you’ll need to rebuild.
Can You Still File a Claim If You Were Partially at Fault?
One of the most common concerns we hear from riders is: What if I was partially at fault? Maybe you were going slightly over the speed limit. Maybe you weren’t wearing a helmet. Maybe the police report isn’t entirely accurate.
The good news is that Illinois follows a comparative negligence system. This means you can still recover compensation as long as you weren’t more than 50% responsible for the crash. Your recovery may be reduced based on your percentage of fault, but you’re not automatically disqualified.
Here’s how it works:
- If you were 10% at fault, your total compensation would be reduced by 10%
- If you were 40% at fault, you could still recover 60% of your damages
- If you were found to be 51% or more at fault, you cannot recover anything
This is why it’s so important not to make assumptions about fault or let the insurance company make the final call. We conduct our own investigation, challenge unfair accusations, and work to ensure your side of the story is heard, especially in cases where the motorcyclist is automatically blamed.
Looking for a Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer?
If you or someone you love survived a motorcycle accident—or if you lost a loved one in one—you don’t have to face the aftermath alone. The road to recovery is hard enough without fighting the insurance company or second-guessing your legal options.
Whether the crash happened last week or some time ago, we’re here to listen, investigate, and fight for what you deserve.
Call Abels & Annes, P.C. at (312) 924-7575 for Chicago or (224) 998-6007 for Evanston to schedule your free consultation.
David Abels
Partner
David Abels has carved a niche for himself in the personal injury law sector, dedicating a substantial part of his career since 1997 to representing victims of various accidents. With a law practice that spans over two decades, his expertise has been consistently recognized within the legal community.
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