Record Settlement Compensation for Motorcycle Crash in IL

The Chicago Sun-Times reports that a personal injury lawsuit stemming from a motorcycle crash in Joliet, IL yielded record settlement compensation of $6 million dollars.

Mr. Richard Wright and his 15 year old daughter Kelly Wright were side struck by a man driving a Chevrolet truck while riding a motorcycle in Joliet. The truck driver John Martis was attempting to turn left at a stop sign in the suburban neighborhood when he hit the motorcycle with his truck.

Both Mr. Wright and his daughter Kelly suffered from various injuries due to the accident. Mr. Wright suffered a fractured wrist and ankle, while his daughter Kelly Wright suffered from a severely broken left ankle and a severe right tibia fracture. These injuries have required surgeries.

While the Wrights have won a victory a record settlement compensation with their case, their story serves as a reminder for motorcycle safety. Here are some tips for riding safe on a motorcycle courtesy of the Motorcycle Safety Foundation:

1. Get Trained and Licensed - Take an MSF RiderCourseSM and get licensed by the Department of Motor Vehicles. Visit www.msf-usa.org or call (800) 446-9227.
2. Wear Protective Gear - Wear proper protective riding gear, most importantly a helmet made to Department of Transportation standards.
3. Ride Unimpaired - Ride unimpaired, never drinking or using other drugs before getting on a motorcycle.
4. Ride Within Your Limits - Stay within your personal skill limits, never riding faster or farther than your abilities can handle.
5. Be a Lifelong Learner - Be lifelong learners, regularly returning for refresher riding courses.

As you can tell, a lot of these tips can help you in case you ever get into an accident with your motorcycle. If you have any more questions, please check out our Related Resources links for more information.

Related Resources:

• Motorcycle Accidents - Overview (Findlaw)
• Helmet Laws and Motorcycle Accident Cases (Findlaw)
• Motorcycle Accidents - FAQ  (Findlaw)
• Motor Vehice Accidents FAQ (provided by Weber Pearson, PC)
• Motorcycle Accidents: Helmet Laws (provided by Beale, Micheaels & Slack, P.C.)