Under 735 ILCS 5/13-202 and 740 ILCS 180/2, you generally have two years from the day of the motorcycle accident to file either a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit. Also, your case’s circumstances could extend or shorten the deadline.
If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident, the time to act is now. While two years seems like a lot of time, it passes quickly, and the process can take longer than you think.
Although victims or surviving family members usually have two years to file a lawsuit after a motorcycle accident, there might be exceptions where the state could extend the deadline. This change could happen when:
The state might shorten the deadline if the at-fault party was a government agency or municipality.
If you do not file your case in time, the state might bar you from suing the liable party completely—forcing you to pay for your damages on your own. Insurance companies know this, and they use this knowledge to avoid making payments.
Once they are notified of the accident, the adjusters waste no time in getting to work investigating what happened, strategizing ways to deny fault, and building their side of the case.
The longer you spend debating the value of hiring an attorney, the more of a head start you give the other driver and the higher the likelihood of settling for unfairly low compensation.
As time passes, your ability to provide critical information about the events leading up to the accident and your injuries lessens. Without this information, it becomes harder for your attorney to begin an investigation and prove your case.
Once you submit your claim, the at-fault driver’s insurance will need time to review it and conduct their own investigation before negotiations can begin. By waiting until the last minute, you force this entire process to be rushed and reduce your attorney’s ability to conduct a truly comprehensive investigation—all while the deadline gets closer.
Your lawyer can assist you following your motorcycle accident with:
You deserve compensation for the trauma you’ve experienced. Don’t let details like filing paperwork on time derail you from recovering the compensation you and your family need and deserve.
Motorcycle accident victims are legally entitled to seek compensation for their losses so long as they can prove negligence. These damages can include:
If you lost your loved one in an accident, you could claim damages for:
Motorcycle accidents are some of the most traumatic experiences you’ll live through. If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident, an attorney with our firm will act as your advocate, fight for your rights, and ensure the other party is held responsible to the fullest extent possible.
Serving clients across Cook, Lake, DuPage, and Kane Counties, The Kryder Law Group, LLC has been fighting for the rights of motorcycle accident victims for years and can win cases when it matters the most.
Our team provides personalized legal counsel and charges you nothing until you win. Fighting for justice starts with understanding your legal rights.
Dial (312) 223-1700 to speak with a member of our team. We will review your case, answer your questions, advise you on your rights, and guide you in moving forward. We offer free, no-obligation consultations to motorcycle accident victims and their families.