Thursday's accident was on East Lake Shore Drive near Laconwood Drive, authorities say
September 05, 2024 | Springfield, IL
A motorcycle ridden by two Springfield residents was involved in a crash with a retired police sergeant near Lake Springfield Thursday night, police said.
According to the Illinois State Police, a Toyota Tundra was traveling north on East Lake Shore Drive near Laconwood Drive around 9:20 p.m. when the driver turned left in front of a southbound Kawasaki motorcycle, resulting in a crash. Two people on the bike—Trevor Hopkins and Chelsey Farley—were ejected and transported to the hospital.
A Springfield police officer was ticketed for a crash near Lake Springfield Thursday night that left two Springfield residents with serious injuries, according to police.
The Toyota driver, who authorities say failed to yield the right-of-way to the motorcycle, was ticketed for the crash.
Authorities identified the Toyota driver as a 50-year-old former Springfield Police officer.
Police are investigating.
CRASH INVESTIGATION NEEDED
According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2019, there were 5,014 motorcyclists killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes in the United States. Additionally, there were an estimated 84,000 motorcyclists injured in 2019.
Candice Bond, an experienced motorcycle accident attorney, said that it is imperative to have an independent probe conducted to preserve evidence for a victim in cases such as this.
“In addition to a police report, an attorney will carefully review what may have contributed to the crash,” said Bond, Managing Partner at Bond Legal.
“Your lawyer has the resources to hire expert witnesses, conduct drivers’ background checks, locate witnesses to the crash and review applicable insurance coverage.”
PERSONAL INJURY CLAIM
Pending the investigation results, Trevor Hopkins and Chelsey Farley may have the right to pursue a personal injury lawsuit. Stefano Formica, of counsel at Bond Legal, noted that the stress and worry following a serious injury could be overwhelming, disrupting all aspects of life, including family, work, finances, and overall quality of life.
“It is vital for victims to hire an attorney when filing a personal injury claim, which allows them to negotiate with an insurance company on behalf of a client,” Formica said.
“Insurance companies often try to pressure victims to settle for a quick payout for far less than the case is worth. However, an attorney will vigorously advocate for their clients to ensure that they are treated with respect and compensated fairly.”
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Newsline's national legal analysts Candice Bond and Stefano Formica are experienced in motorcycle accidents, and if you or a family member need help they are available for a free consultation to guide you
(Candice Bond, Managing Partner, and Stefano Formica, Of Counsel, at Bond Legal, are the national legal analysts for Newsline. Newsline can and does use quotes from prior interviews with our analysts for our news articles. If you would like to contact Bond Legal to help you, please call 866-985-6515 or use the submission box found on this page. Legal analysts quoted may or may not be licensed in your state).