Chicago Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
If a careless driver hurt you in a motorcycle crash anywhere in Chicago or the surrounding Cook, DuPage, Will, and Kane County communities, Ori Law Group can help. Joe and Kristen Ori personally handle every motorcycle case — you talk to the attorneys actually working your claim, not a junior associate or a paralegal. We know insurers try to blame the rider, and we build your case to take that argument apart.
A motorcycle crash rarely leaves you with minor injuries. With no cage, no airbag, and nothing between you and the road, the same collision that would dent a car door can send a rider to the hospital with a traumatic brain injury, a spinal cord injury, broken bones, or road rash that scars for life. That gap in physics is the first reason motorcycle cases are different from ordinary car-accident claims — and it is the reason you want attorneys who understand what these crashes actually do to the people in them.
The second reason is bias. Long before a jury ever hears your case, an insurance adjuster has already decided you were probably speeding, weaving, or careless simply because you ride. We see it in the questions they ask: Were you wearing a helmet? What kind of gear did you have on? How experienced are you? None of that determines who ran the light or turned left across your lane — but insurers raise it to chip away at what they owe you. At Ori Law Group, Joe and Kristen Ori build every motorcycle case around the facts that actually matter: the crash report, the witnesses, the scene, and the driver’s conduct. We also keep Illinois law front and center, including the points insurers hope you don’t know — that adult riders are not required to wear a helmet, that you are entitled to a full lane, and that you can still recover even if you were partly at fault.
A boutique firm where the named attorneys work your case
When you call us about a motorcycle crash, you talk to Joe or Kristen — not a screening line and not a rotating cast of associates. As a women-owned, two-attorney trial firm, we keep our caseload small enough that the lawyers whose name is on the door are the ones investigating your crash, negotiating with the insurer, and standing up in court if the insurer refuses to be fair. We have recovered more than $150 million for injured clients, and we prepare every file to be tried, not just settled.
We serve riders throughout Cook, DuPage, Will, and Kane Counties from our office in Oak Brook, and there is no upfront cost to get started — you pay only if we recover for you. If your case involved a fatal crash, a hit-and-run, a rideshare driver, or a serious head or back injury, we can also connect it to the related work we do across car accidents, bicycle accidents, truck accidents, wrongful death, brain injuries, and back injuries. Whatever the circumstances, the first step is the same: a free, honest conversation about where you stand and what comes next.
What to Do After Your Accident
- Get medical attention right away, even if the adrenaline makes you feel fine — head and internal injuries can be hidden.
- Call the police and make sure a crash report is filed at the scene.
- Photograph the scene, your bike, your gear, road conditions, and any skid marks if you are able.
- Get the driver's insurance information and the names and numbers of any witnesses.
- Keep your damaged helmet and gear exactly as they are — do not clean, repair, or throw anything out.
- Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurer or accept any quick settlement offer.
- Write down everything you remember about the crash and how your injuries affect your daily life.
- Talk to a lawyer before signing anything, releasing records, or letting the insurer inspect your bike.
Common Causes & Types
- Left-turn collisions — drivers turning left across your path who claim they 'never saw' the motorcycle.
- Unsafe lane changes — drivers who merge into a rider's lane without checking blind spots or signaling.
- Distracted driving — texting, phone use, and inattention that leave a driver blind to a smaller motorcycle.
- Drunk and impaired driving — alcohol, cannabis, and drug-impaired drivers who misjudge speed and distance.
- Dooring — a parked driver who opens a car door directly into a passing motorcycle's path.
- Defective road conditions — potholes, missing signs, and poorly designed roadways that throw a rider.
- Defective motorcycle parts — failed brakes, tires, or throttle components that point to a manufacturer's liability.
Who Can Be Held Liable
- The driver whose negligence caused the crash
- An employer, when the at-fault driver was working at the time
- A rideshare company, when an Uber or Lyft driver caused the collision
- A government body responsible for a dangerous road, pothole, or missing sign
- A manufacturer of a defective motorcycle part or component
- A bar or business that overserved an impaired driver under the Illinois Dram Shop Act
Injuries We Handle
- Traumatic brain injuries and concussions
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Road rash and permanent scarring
- Amputations and phantom limb pain
- Fractures, crush injuries, and internal organ damage
- Post-traumatic stress disorder after a crash
Illinois Law & Deadlines
Damages You Can Recover
- Past and future medical expenses, including surgery, rehabilitation, and long-term care
- Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
- Pain, suffering, and loss of a normal life
- Disfigurement and permanent scarring from road rash
- Property damage to your motorcycle and riding gear
- Emotional distress, including PTSD treatment
- Wrongful death damages for families who lost a loved one
How the Legal Process Works
- Free consultation & investigation
We review your crash at no cost, preserve the bike and gear, pull the crash report, and identify every party who may be liable.
- Building the claim
We document your injuries, work with medical and reconstruction experts, and counter the bias that insurers raise against riders.
- Demand & negotiation
We present the full value of your losses and negotiate firmly with the insurer.
- Litigation, if needed
If the insurer won't be fair, Joe or Kristen files suit and prepares your case for trial.
Insurance Companies Will Stereotype You as a Reckless Rider. We Won't Let Them.
The hardest part of many motorcycle cases isn't proving the other driver was careless — it's the bias riders face the moment they file a claim. Adjusters and juries often assume a motorcyclist must have been speeding, weaving, or "asking for it." That assumption is unfair, and it is exactly how insurers try to pay you less.
We have seen the tactics. An adjuster asks whether you were wearing a helmet, hoping to imply you were careless — even though Illinois does not require adult riders to wear one. They question your gear, your experience, or your speed without any evidence. They lean on the tired "you knew the risks of riding" line. We counter every one of these moves with facts: the crash report, witness accounts, scene evidence, and a clear account of what the driver actually did wrong.
Illinois Motorcycle Laws That Affect Your Case
A few points of Illinois law come up in nearly every motorcycle claim, and insurers count on riders not knowing them.
- No helmet is required for adult riders — Illinois has no universal helmet law for adults (625 ILCS 5/11-1404). Not wearing one does not bar your claim or make you at fault for the crash.
- You are entitled to a full lane — Lane splitting is illegal in Illinois (625 ILCS 5/11-703), and a driver who crowds you out of your lane is the one acting unlawfully.
- You can recover even if you were partly at fault — Under modified comparative fault (735 ILCS 5/2-1116), you recover as long as you were not more than 50% at fault; your award is reduced by your share. If a driver caused $200,000 in losses and you were found 10% at fault, you recover $180,000.
Local Resources
Why Choose Ori Law Group
Ori Law Group is a women-owned, two-attorney trial firm in Oak Brook. Joe and Kristen Ori handle every motorcycle case personally — when you call about your crash, you reach one of the named attorneys working your file, not a call center. Our firm has recovered more than $150 million for injured clients, and we prepare every case to be tried, not just settled. We serve riders across Cook, DuPage, Will, and Kane Counties, and there is no upfront cost — you pay only if we recover for you.
Case Results
Recovered for a retired Chicago police officer who sustained back and neck injuries in an auto accident.
Recovered for a 72-year-old man who sustained head and neck injuries in an auto accident.
Awarded to a minor who sustained a pelvic injury in a school bus accident.
Recovered for the victim of a railroad-crossing collision.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. See more results →
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to have been wearing a helmet to recover damages after a motorcycle crash in Illinois?
No. Illinois has no universal helmet law for adult riders (625 ILCS 5/11-1404), so not wearing a helmet does not bar your claim or make you at fault for a crash a careless driver caused. An insurer may try to use it against you anyway — we counter that argument with the facts of how the collision happened.
What if I was partly at fault for the motorcycle accident — can I still recover?
Often yes. Under Illinois modified comparative fault (735 ILCS 5/2-1116), you can recover as long as you were not more than 50% at fault. Your recovery is reduced by your share of fault — for example, a 10% share reduces a $200,000 award to $180,000.
How long do I have to file a motorcycle accident claim in Illinois?
Generally two years from the date of the crash (735 ILCS 5/13-202). Shorter deadlines apply if a government body is responsible — one year for a city or county (745 ILCS 10/8-101), and a separate Court of Claims deadline for the State. It's best to talk to an attorney well before any deadline so evidence can be preserved.
Will Joe or Kristen personally handle my motorcycle case?
Yes. As a two-attorney boutique firm, every motorcycle case is handled directly by Joe or Kristen Ori from the first consultation through resolution. You will not be handed off to a junior associate or a paralegal.
What's the difference between a motorcycle accident claim and a bicycle accident claim?
Both involve riders with no cage or airbag, but the law and the evidence differ. Motorcycles are motor vehicles subject to licensing and traffic rules, and the speeds and forces involved are far higher, which changes how injuries and liability are evaluated. If your crash involved a bicycle, see our Chicago bicycle accident lawyers page.
Can I sue the city or state if a pothole or missing road sign caused my motorcycle crash?
Sometimes. A government body can be liable for a dangerous road, but these claims carry shorter deadlines and special notice rules — one year against a local government (745 ILCS 10/8-101) and a Court of Claims process against the State. Because the clock is short, contact us quickly so we can preserve the evidence and meet every notice requirement.
What happens to my UM/UIM coverage if the driver who hit me had no insurance — or fled the scene?
Your own uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage can step in when an at-fault driver has no insurance, too little insurance, or flees the scene in a hit-and-run. We review your policy, identify all available coverage, and pursue your own insurer for the full value of your losses when the other driver can't cover them.
How much does it cost to hire Ori Law Group for a motorcycle case?
There is no upfront cost. We handle motorcycle injury cases on a contingency basis — you pay no fee unless we recover for you — and your consultation is always free.
Legally reviewed by Joseph and Kristen Ori · Last reviewed June 24, 2026. This page is attorney advertising and is for general information only — it is not legal advice and does not create an attorney–client relationship.
Injured in a Chicago Motorcycle Crash? Talk to Joe or Kristen Today.
Free, confidential consultation — no upfront cost. Call (312) 621-0000.