Accidents on Illinois roadways can result in serious injuries to the drivers and passengers involved. This is especially true when a crash involves a motorcycle. Even if a rider is wearing a helmet and other safety gear, a motorcyclist is essentially defenseless against a collision with another moving vehicle. Very often the injuries resulting from motorcycle accidents are catastrophic, leading to long-term or permanent struggles for the victims and their families. If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident, you may be entitled to compensation. It is important to contact an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible to preserve your legal rights. Damon Young is a Peoria motorcycle accident lawyer and has been practicing law since 2003. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
Peoria injury lawyer helping motorcycle accident victims in obtaining compensation
Few motorists are as vulnerable to auto accident injuries as motorcycle riders. Victims often suffer serious injuries, such as brain trauma, paralysis, spinal injuries, or even wrongful death. Depending upon the severity of the damage, victims may incur significant medical expenses for emergency care, surgical procedures, and ongoing treatments. Coupled with the inability to return to work, the financial impact can be devastating. When an accident is caused by the negligence or intentional misconduct of another, the injured party may be able to seek compensation from the responsible party. After establishing the defendant’s liability, one must demonstrate the extent to which the accident damaged them financially. This may include:
- Estimations of how much ongoing medical care the victim will require in the future
- Lost wages experienced by the victim while they recover
- The extent to which the victim’s ability to earn wages in the future has been impacted
- The value of the emotional harm to the injured party’s family as a result of the accident
- The reduction in the quality of life suffered by the victim
Establishing these values often involves the use of medical, vocational, and economic experts who will review the victim’s medical prognosis and quantify the financial loss resulting from the accident. An experienced attorney will be familiar with this process and engage with experts in all relevant fields to complete this step. Your attorney will typically incur the costs of retaining these experts upfront, which can be expensive. It is important to retain a law firm with the resources necessary to advance these costs on your behalf.
As with other motor vehicle accidents, your attorney will contact the responsible party’s insurance company and direct the adjuster to communicate with them about the case. Once the victim’s medical prognosis can be reasonably ascertained, including the long-term effects, the attorney will work with the experts to estimate the amount of damages. The plaintiff’s counsel will provide the insurance company with a demand letter, outlining proof of the defendant’s liability and requested compensation. If the parties are unable to reach satisfactory settlement terms, the case will proceed through the litigation process.
Jury trials can be complicated in motorcycle accident cases. A lawyer who is familiar with the process can navigate these complications. Particularly in motorcycle cases, defense firms often claim that the driver was partially at fault for the accident, either by driving recklessly, not wearing a helmet or otherwise. In Illinois, victims may still recover damages if they were fifty percent or less responsible for the incident. This legal theory often involves complex expert testimony and evidence which can confuse jurors. It is important, therefore, to retain counsel who understands the intricacies of the arguments and can explain the facts to juries clearly and effectively.
Damon Young is a Peoria motorcycle accident lawyer who aggressively fights for his clients. He will conduct a free initial consultation, either at his office, the hospital, or at your home as needed. Once retained, he will work diligently with the medical professionals treating your injuries and with all necessary experts to establish the defendant’s liability and the value of your case. He will aggressively negotiate with the insurance adjusters while you focus on recovering. If a reasonable settlement offer is not made, Damon will not hesitate to file a lawsuit on your behalf. He will employ the necessary experts and evaluators to make sure your case is handled properly. Damon has significant trial experience and understands how to communicate with jurors and judges when presenting his clients’ side of the case. He also understands that victims and their families may be facing pressure from overwhelming medical bills. He will work with healthcare providers to delay or prevent collection actions while the case is pending. This allows his clients to focus on the important business of getting healthy. Contact us today to schedule an initial consultation.
Peoria motorcycle accident attorney making customer service a priority
Damon understands that serious injury accidents can be traumatic for victims and their families. He handles his clients’ cases with compassion and is determined to hold the responsible parties accountable for their actions. Damon maintains regular attorney-client communication with his clients throughout the case. He provides clients with his cell phone number for maximum accessibility. He strives to provide the highest level of customer service and promptly responds to client inquiries and concerns. In addition to Peoria, our lawyer also serves clients in the Illinois cities of Bloomington, Eureka, Galesburg, Morton, Normal, Pekin, Springfield, and Washington.
