Motorcycle Accidents at Intersections Are Common in Chicago
A high number of motorcycle accidents occur at intersections. The Chicago motorcycle accident lawyers at Abels & Annes, P.C. have work on many intersection collisions involving bikers.
How do Motorcycle Accidents at Intersections Occur?
These collisions can occur due to one or more of the following reasons:
- A motorist fails to yield while turning left
- A driver observes a stop light turning red and speeds up in an attempt to beat the light rushing through the intersection as the light changes or has already changed
- A driver not observing a motorcycle stopped at the intersection, causing a rear end collision
- Another vehicle blocking a driver's view of a motorcycle
- Bad weather conditions
- A drunk driver accident
- Distracted driving or inattentive driver that is texting or talking on a cell phone
- A driver operating a larger vehicle not observing a motorcycle due to the bike's smaller profile
Due to the fact that statistically other drivers often are negligent at intersections, motorcyclists should use extreme caution. They should drive defensively when approaching and crossing, and always be on the lookout for careless motorists.
A motorcycle accident at an intersection can have dire consequences for the rider. Injuries sustained as the result of a negligent third party can affect someone's life for years to come. Bikers are more likely to incur injuries because they have little or no protection. If you have been hurt in an intersection collision, contact an experienced motorcycle Intersection accident lawyer to discuss your case.
The Chicago motorcycle intersection accident attorneys at Abels & Annes have years of experience fighting for the rights of motorcyclists. We work hard to maximize a rider's financial recovery.
Illinois Motorcycle Accident Statistics
According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, there were a total of 3,869 motorcycle accidents in Illinois in the year 2011. It is not clear how many of those accidents occurred in intersections.
That being said:
- 177 of the collisions took place while a motorcyclist was making a left turn
- 114 accidents took place while making a right turn
- 2,029 occurred while going straight ahead
- There were 143 fatalities
- 3,220 were injured
Nationwide Intersection Statistics
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration, in 2009 just over 20% of the fatalities on our nation's roads were intersection related. There was a total of 33,808 accident fatalities, of which 7,043 took place at intersections.
The federal government considers intersection safety a priority, as it represents a serious safety problem. As a result, organizations such as AAA, the NHTSA, and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) have devoted resources to work on the Nation's intersection safety problems.
Contact a Chicago Motorcycle Intersection Accident Lawyer at Abels & Annes
Over the years, the Chicago personal injury attorneys at Abels & Annes has handled many Illinois motorcycle crash claims. Further, left turn collisions are a type of motorcycle intersection accidents we have seen again and again.
In 2012, our office settled a case on behalf of a victim's family when a motorcyclist was killed. The cause of the crash was a driver failing to yield while making a left turn at a green light. The biker laid down her cycle on the road and she slid into the left turning car.
In 2019, we settled a case where a van failed to yield turning left in an intersection and ran over a motorcyclist. Fortunately, the biker survived, but he did sustain serious injuries.
Both cases settled for insurance policy limits.
Abels & Annes continues to handle motorcycle accident claims that occurred in intersections. If you have injuries from an accident in an intersection, contact our office for a free consultation. Our Chicago motorcycle accident attorneys are here to help. We are ready to answer your motorcycle questions 24/7. You can contact us through this website, or call (312) 924-7575.