Recently, in the latest in a long-running string of deadly or disabling motorcycle accidents in Chicagoland, there was an accident downtown involving two motorcycles and one automobile. One of the two motorcyclists died in the crash, while two other people were injured.
The crash occurred in Chicago’s Ravenswood area, and occurred in the early morning hours near the Lawrence/Damen intersection.
As our experienced Chicago motorcycle accident attorneys are only too well aware, motorcycle accidents are among the most devastating accidents which occur on our nation’s roadways. When motorcycle accidents occur, they frequently result in fatalities, brain injuries, and permanent disabilities.
Motorcycle accidents are shockingly common. Although the injuries in these accidents are at times exacerbated by a motorcyclist’s choice not to wear a helmet or other protective gear, the accidents themselves are typically caused by the negligence of an automobile driver – not the injured motorcycle rider. Automobile drivers simply fail to see motorcycles, and strike them in the same patterns, over and over.
Although the police have not yet released details or completed their investigation, it appears from witness reports that this accident was a classic left-hand turn motorcycle accident. In these accidents, the driver of an automobile simply fails to notice a motorcyclist – or, in this case, two – travelling in the opposite direction through an intersection. The car thus turns left across oncoming traffic, despite the cyclist travelling straight through the intersection.
One of two things typically results: the car strikes the cyclist, or the car turns directly into the path of the oncoming cyclist, who is unable to avoid a collision. According to witnesses, it was the second scenario which occurred this weekend: the car turned directly into the path of the cyclists, who were thus unable to avoid a collision and struck the car.
When left-hand turn motorcycle accidents occur, it is almost never the fault of the motorcycle rider: yet, it is the motorcycle rider who usually dies or suffers life-altering injuries. Our top motorcycle accident attorneys knows how to overcome anti-biker prejudice and obtain justice and compensation for riders injured in left-hand turn accidents and other accidents. If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, contact an experienced attorney for an evaluation and advice about your circumstances and any potential legal action.
For a free consultation with an experienced Chicago motorcycle accident lawyer at Passen & Powell, call us at (312) 527-4500.