1. The Kryder Law Group, LLC
Practice Focus: Motorcycle accidents, car accidents, truck accidents, pedestrian accidents, catastrophic injuries, wrongful death, personal injury, construction accidents
Case Types Handled: Car vs. motorcycle collisions, left-turn accidents, rear-end motorcycle crashes, intersection accidents, distracted driving incidents, drunk driving motorcycle accidents, head-on collisions, hit-and-run cases, wrongful death claims, uninsured motorist claims
Legal Services: Case investigation, evidence gathering, accident reconstruction, Illinois law consultation, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, medical expense documentation, lost wage calculation, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death representation
Background: Law firm with decades of experience handling motorcycle accident cases. Attorneys experienced in Illinois personal injury law and comparative negligence cases. Notable recoveries include highest awards on record for construction injuries in DuPage County and McHenry County. Works on contingency basis with free consultations.
Location: Aurora, Illinois (DuPage County area)
Contact: Contact through website | https://www.kryderlaw.com
Consultation: Free consultation, contingency fee (no payment unless case is won)
2. Speers, Reuland and Cibulskis, P.C.
Practice Focus: Motorcycle accidents, personal injury litigation, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries, motor vehicle accidents
Case Types Handled: Motorcycle collisions, high-speed accidents, intersection crashes, head-on collisions, rear-end accidents, single-vehicle motorcycle crashes, wrongful death motorcycle cases
Legal Services: Case evaluation, evidence collection, liability investigation, insurance negotiation, litigation, trial preparation, damages calculation, settlement negotiation
Background: Law firm serving Aurora community since 1972. Over 100 years of combined personal injury litigation experience among attorneys. Provides personalized attention from experienced attorneys on every motorcycle accident case.
Location: 1981 W. Downer Place, Suite 401, Aurora, Illinois 60506 (Kane County)
Contact: Contact through website | https://auroralawfirm.com
Consultation: Free initial consultation available
3. Amoni Law Offices, P.C.
Practice Focus: Motorcycle accidents, personal injury, wrongful death, motor vehicle accidents
Case Types Handled: Motorcycle collisions, car vs. motorcycle crashes, intersection accidents, negligent driver incidents, wrongful death motorcycle cases
Legal Services: Personal injury litigation, wrongful death claims, liability investigation, insurance negotiation, trial representation, comprehensive legal guidance
Background: Attorney Larry Amoni has more than 40 years of experience serving clients in Aurora, the Western Suburbs, and throughout Illinois. Handles personal injury and wrongful death cases to hold negligent drivers accountable.
Location: Aurora, Illinois
Contact: Contact through website | https://www.amonilaw.com
Consultation: Consultation available
4. Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys
Practice Focus: Motorcycle accidents, car accidents, truck accidents, pedestrian accidents, wrongful death, personal injury
Case Types Handled: Motorcycle vs. car collisions, lane change accidents, intersection crashes, rear-end collisions, distracted driving incidents, drunk driving motorcycle crashes, defective product cases, wrongful death claims
Legal Services: Accident investigation, evidence gathering, negligence analysis, comparative fault evaluation, insurance negotiation, litigation, trial representation, medical documentation, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims
Background: Firm serves Cook County and all areas in Illinois including Aurora, Chicago, Joliet, Wheaton, Rockford, and Peoria. Experienced in Illinois modified comparative negligence law with 51% bar to recovery. Handles cases involving various injury types including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and road rash.
Location: Aurora, Illinois (serving Western Suburbs)
Contact: Contact through website | https://zayedlawoffices.com
Consultation: Free case evaluation available
5. Horwitz, Horwitz and Associates
Practice Focus: Motorcycle accidents, car accidents, truck accidents, personal injury, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries
Case Types Handled: Motorcycle collisions, distracted driving accidents, rear-end crashes, intersection accidents, lane change collisions, drunk driving incidents, hit-and-run cases, wrongful death claims
Legal Services: Accident investigation, evidence preservation, police report analysis, surveillance footage collection, insurance adjuster communication, negotiation, litigation, trial representation, medical record documentation
Background: Firm handles motorcycle accident cases throughout Illinois. Focuses on distracted driving cases which are a leading cause of motorcycle accidents. Emphasizes importance of immediate evidence collection and proper documentation. Works on contingency basis.
Location: Aurora, Illinois (with Illinois-wide practice)
Contact: (800) 985-1819 | https://www.horwitzlaw.com
Consultation: Free consultation, no upfront payment
Motorcycle Accident Laws and Regulations in Illinois
Statute of Limitations: Illinois has a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims, including motorcycle accidents. Victims must file their lawsuit within two years from the date of the accident. Property damage claims have a five-year statute of limitations. Once the deadline passes, the right to sue is lost completely.
Fault System: Illinois is a fault-based state for motor vehicle accidents. The at-fault party is responsible for compensating injured victims.
Comparative Negligence: Illinois follows a modified comparative negligence rule with a 51% bar to recovery. If a motorcycle rider is found to be partially at fault for an accident, their compensation is reduced by their percentage of fault. However, if the rider is found to be 50% or more at fault, they are barred from recovering any compensation. For example, if a rider is 30% at fault and damages total $100,000, they would receive $70,000.
Helmet Law: Illinois is one of only three states (along with Iowa and New Hampshire) that does not require motorcycle riders to wear helmets. There is no state law mandating helmet use for riders of any age. Local municipalities cannot enact helmet requirements either. The Illinois Supreme Court declared a previous helmet law unconstitutional in 1969, ruling that helmets were a matter of personal safety rather than public safety.
Eye Protection: Illinois law requires all motorcycle operators and passengers to wear glasses, goggles, or a transparent shield for eye protection. This is the only protective gear requirement in the state. Sunglasses are not considered acceptable eye protection. Violation of this requirement can result in traffic citations.
Lane Splitting: Lane splitting is illegal in Illinois. Motorcyclists cannot pass vehicles within the same lane or ride between rows of traffic. Both automobiles and motorcycles are entitled to full lane use, and other drivers should not attempt to pass motorcycles within the same lane.
Minimum Motorcycle Insurance Requirements: Illinois requires motorcyclists to carry liability insurance with the following minimum limits: $25,000 for bodily injury per person, $50,000 for bodily injury per accident, $20,000 for property damage per accident. Medical payments coverage is optional but recommended.
Motorcycle Licensing: Riders must have a valid motorcycle license or Class M endorsement to legally operate a motorcycle in Illinois. Applicants must pass a written test, vision screening, and on-cycle driving exam. Completion of an approved motorcycle training course may waive the on-cycle driving exam requirement.
Equipment Requirements: Illinois law requires motorcycles to have functional headlights, taillights, turn signals, mirrors, brakes, and horn. Handlebars cannot be higher than the operator’s shoulders when seated.
Passenger Requirements: Motorcycles must have a fixed, permanent seat for passengers. Footrests are required for both operator and passenger positions.
DUI Laws: Illinois motorcycle DUI law makes it illegal to operate a motorcycle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher. Zero tolerance applies to riders under 21 (any traceable amount of alcohol results in suspension). First violation for underage drinking results in minimum six-month suspension; second violation results in two-year revocation.
Helmet Use and Insurance Claims: While helmet use is not legally required, insurance companies may still consider helmet use when evaluating claims. Some insurers may argue that failure to wear a helmet contributed to the severity of head injuries. However, because Illinois does not require helmets, failure to wear one should not affect compensation under standard interpretation.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage: Not required but recommended. Optional medical payments coverage can protect riders injured in accidents regardless of fault.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does Illinois require motorcycle riders to wear helmets?
A: No, Illinois is one of only three states in the nation that does not have a motorcycle helmet law. Riders of all ages can legally operate motorcycles without wearing helmets. The Illinois Supreme Court declared a previous helmet law unconstitutional in 1969, ruling that helmet use was a matter of personal safety that could not be regulated by the state. However, the Illinois Secretary of State and safety organizations strongly encourage all riders to wear DOT-approved helmets. The CDC estimates that proper motorcycle helmets reduce the risk of head injury by 69 percent.
Q: How long do I have to file a motorcycle accident lawsuit in Aurora, Illinois?
A: Under Illinois law, you have two years from the date of your motorcycle accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. This statute of limitations applies to most motorcycle accident injury claims. Property damage claims have a longer five-year limitation period. If you fail to file within these time limits, you will lose your right to pursue compensation through the courts. It is advisable to contact an attorney soon after your accident to ensure evidence is preserved and all deadlines are met.
Q: How does Illinois’s comparative negligence law affect my motorcycle accident claim?
A: Illinois follows a modified comparative negligence rule with a 51% bar to recovery. If you are found partially at fault for your motorcycle accident, your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are found 25% at fault and your damages total $100,000, you would receive $75,000. However, if you are found to be 50% or more at fault for the accident, you are completely barred from recovering any compensation. This makes establishing the other party’s fault and minimizing any allegations of your own fault critically important in Illinois motorcycle accident cases.
Q: Can insurance companies reduce my compensation if I was not wearing a helmet at the time of my Aurora motorcycle accident?
A: Because Illinois does not require helmet use, the failure to wear a helmet should not directly affect your compensation for a motorcycle accident that was caused by another party’s negligence. However, insurance companies may attempt to argue that your injuries, particularly head injuries, were worsened by your decision not to wear a helmet. An experienced attorney can counter these arguments by noting that Illinois law does not require helmets and that the failure to wear one did not cause the accident itself. Illinois courts have generally held that voluntary helmet use cannot be used to reduce damages when no helmet law exists.
Q: What types of compensation can I recover in an Illinois motorcycle accident case?
A: In Illinois motorcycle accident cases, you may recover economic damages including medical expenses (emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, future treatment), lost wages and reduced earning capacity, property damage (motorcycle repair or replacement, gear, personal items), and disability-related expenses. Non-economic damages may include compensation for pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, permanent disfigurement or scarring, and loss of consortium. If you were partially at fault, your recovery will be reduced by your percentage of fault under the modified comparative negligence rule. Illinois does not cap non-economic damages in most personal injury cases.