The traffic laws in Cook County apply equally to motorcycles and other motor vehicles on the roads. In fact, motorcycle riders must exercise even more care on the road in case other drivers do not see them.
Traffic laws are designed to allow for the safe operation of motor vehicles and for everyone to know what is expected of them. For example, everyone knows they are supposed to stop at a stop sign, and other vehicles can rely on the fact that drivers typically follow the rules of the road. If there is a serious crash that leaves you injured, call our motorcycle accident attorneys immediately.
Different municipalities in and around Cook County will enforce the motorcycle traffic laws to varying degrees. There may be some cities or towns who are particularly tough on motorcyclists, and others who might go easy on them. It even comes down to the discretion of the police officer as to whether they choose to enforce the traffic law against a motorcyclist. Everyone knows that most vehicles exceed the speed limit on occasion, but that does not mean the police officer will enforce the speed limit for every vehicle every time.
If a motorcyclist fails to obey a traffic law and causes an accident, it is likely the rider’s fault. To make a recovery in a motorcycle crash case, however, they must prove that the other driver was at fault. Failure to obey a traffic law may result in the inability to make a recovery; but if the other vehicle disobeys a traffic law, that may strengthen the negligence case against them.
Negligence means operating a vehicle in an unreasonably dangerous manner, which may include failure to follow traffic laws. However, someone may still be negligent even if they obeyed all the traffic laws. Negligence is dependent upon the circumstances and what a reasonably careful person would do in those circumstances.
To operate a motorcycle legally, a person must have a special license which requires passing a test to obtain a motorcycle endorsement. However, after obtaining a license, there is no requirement to stay up to date with changes in the law. The state assumes that every driver will be up to date with the newest rules and regulations.
It is important to stay reasonably well informed of any changes, and ignorance of the law is no excuse when it comes to negligence. There will be publicity about changes in the traffic laws but there is no requirement that local law enforcement directly notify motorcycle riders of this change. There is also no requirement for a city or state to broadcast this information. In fact, it would be impossible to notify everyone of every change, so it is up to all riders to stay informed.
To make a recovery for property damage or injuries, a motorcyclist must first prove that the other party was at fault. If the accident was the fault of the rider, then it is unlikely they can make a recovery. Even if the police report is written up in a harmful way, they should still speak to a personal injury lawyer who may be able to assist them. But in the end, a recovery follows the assignment of fault.
If the rider is in an accident caused by the negligence of another vehicle, then the rider should be able to make a recovery. However, it is still essential that they prove that the other driver was at fault. Sometimes drivers will lie or not admit that they were at fault.
If one party receives an infraction for driving illegally, that can be strong evidence of negligence, but simply because someone does not get a ticket, does not mean that they are not at fault. The ticket from the police and the civil case for damages are completely different. While a ticket can be evidence of negligence, it is not conclusive proof; and likewise, the lack of a ticket is not conclusive proof of safe driving.
McCready Law wants to help you out when you are faced with hospital bills stemming from a crash that was not your fault. You must keep up to date on motorcycle traffic laws in Cook County so you know if you could be held liable for any incident. Call us now and learn how we can help in your time of need.
