Frequently Asked Questions

Before every ride, always check: your tires, checking the pressure and looking for cuts, wearing or stones in the tread; engine oil level; coolant level; headlights; brake lights; and turn signals.

While Illinois law doesn't require a helmet, it's always a smart choice to protect your head. You should buy a helmet that fits snugly and comfortably. It should be tight enough that the pads firmly touch your cheeks and you can't grab it and roll it off or rotate it from side to side. Always make sure that the helmet you choose meets DOT regulations at a minimum. Poorly designed helmets can break, offering no protection in a wreck. If you wear only a half helmet, make sure to wear some form of eye protection. Following safety precautions will help decrease the chance of severe injuries during an accident or wreck.

As with all vehicle wrecks, it's important to first establish that everyone is okay. If there are injuries, paramedics and then police should be called before anything else happens. If there are no injuries, make sure to call the police, collect the insurance information of the other party, collect all personal information, write down the license plate number, check for witnesses and notify your own insurance company. If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, it is strongly advised that you hire an experienced motorcycle injury lawyer. The law firm of Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. strongly believes in the rights of the victims and their families and will fight to ensure that you receive the justice and compensation that you deserve. If we can help you with your claim, please call our qualified motorcycle injury lawyers at 1-877-249-1227 or contact us online for a free consultation.

If it can be avoided, do not ride in bad weather. The beginning of a rain storm is the most dangerous time for motorcyclists because the water mixes with oil and other fluids on the roadways, making them especially slick. Ride in the tracks of other vehicles since their tires force away oil and water.

Make sure that you record the time of the accident and what was going on when you wrecked. Find out the name of the company that was working at the time and try to collect any information from witnesses. In the event of a construction site accident, the motorcycle injury lawyers of Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. can help determine who was at fault for your injury and also collect documents necessary for insurance and other claims for compensation.

Every make and model of motorcycle handles in its own way. Motorcycles will never be as safe as cars and trucks because they offer less physical protection. To be safe on a motorcycle, you need to exercise caution, make sure that you're noticed and wear proper safety gear while riding. Taking those precautions will increase the safety of your ride.

On roadways, the most common types of accidents involve passenger vehicles. Many of those collisions are due to the driver of the car or truck failing to notice the motorcycle. Other accidents occur when a motorcyclist collides with a stationary object, such as a parked vehicle, construction debris, potholes, curbs, guardrails or fences. The severity of injuries in these types of accidents can be greatly reduced by wearing the proper safety gear.

Generally, people do not ride as often during the winter months, so during the cold weather season, motorcycle accidents are down considerably. The warmer spring and summer seasons are when accidents are most common. The month of May is the time when the largest numbers of motorcyclists are on the road. For this reason, May is Motorcycle Awareness Month in Illinois and the IDOT has several initiatives to remind drivers that they will once again be sharing the roadways with smaller, less visible vehicles.