Car Accident Lawyer Alton, IL

If you were injured on the road because of another’s negligence in Alton, IL, call a Burger Law car accident lawyer immediately at (618) 500-HURT or contact us online for a complimentary consultation. We help our clients in Alton and throughout Northern Illinois collect full financial recoveries for their damages. We do not charge any fees until we win your case.

In an ideal world, everyone would drive safely and no one would get hurt. In a moderately less ideal world, when people injure others they would admit culpability for their behavior and their insurance company would offer you maximum compensation without you having to argue with them. In the real world, negligent drivers frequently do not want to be held accountable for harming you and their insurance companies will do anything possible to diminish your payout. That is when Burger Law intervenes. Our car accident lawyer team assists the injured and vulnerable in Alton and throughout Northern Illinois in insisting on the best possible compensation for their injuries, and we do not stop until you receive it. Your life can be turned upside down in a split second because of someone else’s negligence, and Burger Law will stand by your side to make sure you get the justice and financial certainty you deserve for your accident.

In over three decades of defending the rights of the vulnerable, our car accident lawyer team has secured over $200 million in verdicts and settlements for our Illinois clients. If you were injured because somebody else broke the rules of the road, learn the value of your case by using our free personal injury calculator.

How Common are Car Accidents in Alton and Illinois?

According to data from the Illinois Department of Transportation, in 2020 there were 246,752 auto wrecks in the state, which led to 72,989 injuries and 1,195 deaths. In 2021, almost half of deadly accidents took place in metropolitan areas like Chicago and Cook County. Over 25 percent of Chicago and Illinois crashes entailed alcohol and over a third of the drivers who perished had drunk alcohol before the collision. Illinois is the 10th most hazardous state for winter driving, and the 10th most hazardous state overall.

While there is the rare collision that may be unpreventable, such as an animal leaping out in front of your vehicle, pretty much every Alton, IL auto crash is avoidable. Human error is the foremost cause of car accidents, as it contributes to 94 percent of collisions. When you have to pick up the pieces after you are injured due to a driver’s inattention or thoughtless actions, you may experience a wide range of emotions, such as vulnerability, distress and doubt about how you will pay for all the medical costs, especially if you have lost wages. You do not have to go it alone. Every car accident lawyer at Burger Law has committed their life to offering expert and passionate advocacy and legal counsel to injured residents of Alton, IL. We will help protect you and your family’s future by getting you the best possible financial recovery not only for your medical expenses, but for any emotional or physical agony and inconvenience you experienced. Call us right away at (618) 500-HURT to start on your road to recovery.

Common Causes of Car Accidents | Alton, IL Car Accident Lawyer

There are countless ways that people can get injured on the road. The National Safety Council has pointed out 23 factors that commonly cause motor vehicle wrecks. The following are some of the most frequent causes that your Burger Law car accident lawyer sees in Alton, IL:

Drunk Driving

Drunk driving and drug-impaired driving are principal causes of fatalities and injury in car collisions cases. About 28 people die each day because of driving while intoxicated, or one person each 52 minutes. Drunk driving wrecks are one of the few instances in personal injury lawsuits where you may also be able to recover punitive damages. When we sue drunk drivers on your behalf, we do it so they understand exactly how dangerous and careless their actions were.

Distracted Driving

Multitasking is a misconception. While we may think we can multitask when driving, often as a time saving mechanism, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ascribed 3,142 deaths to distracted driving in 2020. It is never worth those 90 extra seconds to finish shaving in the car.

Texting and driving can reduce a driver’s reaction time more than when they are impaired by alcohol.

Speeding

According to the 2020 Illinois Crash Facts and Statistics, of the 246,752 auto accidents in Illinois, one-third involved speeding, including 37.3 percent of collisions that led to injury and nearly half of fatal collisions. Speeding is dangerous because it greatly reduces the reaction time of both the liable driver and others on the Alton, IL roads, and it produces more force in crashes.

Drowsy Driving

While many people are cognizant of the risks of distracted driving or drunk driving, driving with little rest has similar effects to drunk driving. Missing out on just two hours of sleep is the equivalent of drinking three beers. Drivers should always pull over to the side of the road and rest if they are feeling drowsy.

Poor Weather

You cannot sue the weather, but the Illinois Rules of the Road establishes clear safety measures that drivers must bear in mind in poor conditions, for example using turn signals much before turning in fog or expanding following distance when in winter conditions. If someone else in Alton, IL does not account for weather conditions and causes you injury, your Burger Law car accident lawyer will be able to bring a claim against them for negligent driving.

Defective Parts

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that defective parts were the principal factor in around 2 percent of auto crashes. Manufacturers must safely manufacture vehicles, test them and issue recalls whenever a defective parts is found. If your injuries were because of defective brakes or an airbag that did not deploy, your Burger Law car accident lawyer will help you make a claim against a manufacturer.

Irrespective of the cause of your damages, the Alton, IL car accident lawyer team of Burger Law will get to the bottom of your crash, determine who is liable, hold them accountable and deliver you the best possible compensation for your injuries. We pride ourselves on offering qualified and understanding legal counsel to Alton, IL residents who have been hurt through no fault of their own, regardless of of their financial status. If a careless driver hurt you, reach out to a Alton, IL Burger Law car accident lawyer today at (618) 500-HURT.

Take a look at some of the following links to see the great results Burger Law’s Alton, IL car accident lawyer team has delivered for our clients:

• • $2 million Multi-Vehicle Collision Settlement
  • $765,000 Wrongful Death Car Accident Settlement Against Fire Department
  • $327,000 Settlement for Rear-End Collision
  • $250,000 Settlement for Crash After A Driver Ran a Red Light

Winning Your Car Crash Case | Alton, IL Car Accident Lawyer

In order to prove your case, your car accident lawyer will have to prove the five elements of negligence found in tort law:

1. Duty of Care: Your car accident lawyer must demonstrate that the defendant had an obligation to prioritize your safety. In car collision cases this is automatic. The Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/11-1003.1) says that drivers are “to exercise due care.” So anybody who gets behind the wheel automatically owes you a duty of care.
2. Breach of Duty: Then, your car accident lawyer must show that the defendant disregarded that duty. In auto wrecks, there can be obvious cases like driving while intoxicated or reckless driving, and there can be less evident cases such as not signaling correctly. Your Alton, IL car accident lawyer at Burger Law knows all the rules of the road and how to investigate collisions to prove how another person was negligent and caused you harm.
3. Cause in Fact: Also known as “causation,” you have to demonstrate that the driver’s violation of duty directly caused your damages. Occasionally insurance companies try to argue that you already had your injuries, or that they are owing to decline with old age. Your car accident lawyer at Burger Law knows how to prove exactly how the accident caused your injuries. For example, we can show through presentations and medical professionals’ depositions that your whiplash injury was caused by being rear-ended.
4. Proximate Cause: This is what ultimately determines liability. Imagine a situation where someone does not stop at a red light and hits you in an intersection, resulting in your injuries. If the driver was drunk, they are obviously at fault. If the other driver’s brakes were defective and did not function properly, then a manufacturer, mechanic or vendor could be to blame in a product liability lawsuit.
5. Damages. The last thing to show is that there was some type of loss, for instance medical expenses, emotional anguish or time away from work because of your injury. One of the largest advantages to hiring a car accident lawyer is that we know every type of loss you deserve and know how to put a figure on them. The other driver and their insurance company will try to diminish your damages, but the Alton, IL car accident lawyer team of Burger Law will demand that you recover maximum compensation.

Can I Still Receive Compensation in Illinois if I Was Partially at Fault? | Alton, IL Car Accident Lawyer

If you were partly to blame for your car wreck in Alton, IL, your car accident lawyer will still be able to get you compensation, although the amount will be less. Illinois is a modified contributory fault state, which means that your recovery will be decreased by the percentage of fault you share in your crash.

Meaning, if you are granted $100,000 for damages sustained in a rear-end collision, but a jury finds that you are responsible for 30 percent of the blame because you stopped unexpectedly, you will collect $70,000 in total. It is important to note that 735 ILCS 5/ §2-1116 states that:

The plaintiff shall be barred from recovering damages if the trier of fact finds that the contributory fault on the part of the plaintiff is more than 50 percent of the proximate cause of the injury or damage for which recovery is sought.

That means that if you share more than 50 percent to blame for the collision, you will not be able to recover any compensation in Alton or anywhere Illinois.

Transferring fault onto you is a familiar trick insurance companies employ to diminish claims or get out of paying them at all. The Alton, IL car accident lawyer team of Burger Law pushes back against bullies like insurance companies who employ dishonest tactics to eschew their obligation to pay you the money you are rightfully owed. If an insurance company in Alton, IL is wrongfully trying to place responsibility for your accident on you, call a Burger Law car accident lawyer now at (618) 500-HURT.

How Long Do I Have to Make an Injury Claim in Illinois? | Alton, IL Car Accident Lawyer

Following an injury in a car collision, the state of Illinois’s statute of limitations dictates how long you have after you sustain your injuries to make your claim.

• In General, Illinois Compiled Statute §735 ILCS 5/13-202 stipulates that you have two years after the injuries occur to file a personal injury claim.
• To file a wrongful death claim, Illinois Compiled Statute §740 ILCS 180/ dictates that you have two years from the date of your loved one’s death – not the wreck.
• If your claim is only related to property damage, you have five years from the date of your crash to file a claim, pursuant to Illinois Compiled Statute §735 ILCS 13-205.
• Under Illinois Compiled Statute §735 ILCS 13-211, if if a minor was hurt, they have up to two years after the date of their 18th birthday to make a claim. Similarly, if someone is disabled at the time of the accident, they have until two years following the date the “disability is removed.”

If you have been hurt in a traffic accident, the clock is already ticking for when you can file your claim. Do not hesitate, reach out to a Burger Law car accident lawyer right away at (618) 500-HURT to get justice and full compensation for your injuries. We get to work on your claim at once and do not give up until we win your case.

Learn more about our various practice areas by clicking the links below:

• Truck Crash Lawyers in Illinois
• Wrongful Death Lawyers in Illinois
• Semi-Truck Accident Lawyer in Illinois
• Car Accident Attorney in Illinois

CALL BURGER LAW NOW

Car Accident Lawyer Alton, IL

You should never have had to carry the financial, physical and emotional hardships of someone else’s selfish choices and reckless behavior. Fortunately, the law provides a path to restitution, but you only have one opportunity to attain it. Trust in a car accident lawyer in Alton, IL who has gotten results and won tough cases before. Burger Law persistently pursues lawsuits so insurance companies know we will settle for nothing less than full and fair financial recovery. Insurance companies are afraid of us because they know we use our hard work, savvy, experience, determination and dedication to consistently deliver the best possible results for our Alton, IL clients and see them made whole again. When you hire a Burger Law car accident lawyer, we start working on your case at once and do not let up until you get the full financial recovery you deserve. Call a Burger Law car accident lawyer in Alton, IL now at (618) 500-HURTor fill out our online form for a complimentary case evaluation.

Client Reviews

What our clients are saying about us

Juanita Matthews

Year of 2023

This law firm is absolutely amazing. They took on my case, when nobody else would! They fought hard for me when it seemed there was no hope. They kept me informed and always asked for my input before making decisions on my case. Gary puts himself into every case unlike most law firm owners. Gary and his team really care about every one of their clients, and fights hard to get you a fair settlement. They actually won my case out of court, and then reduced my fees to make sure I could get my car fixed and be able to get back to some normality. I would recommend Burger Law over and above any other firm! If you go somewhere else you aren’t getting the best!

Shaunda S.

7 months ago

I am very happy with the staff at Burger Law. I mostly worked with Michael Sheldon, and he did an amazing job. I trusted him completely with my case, and he did not disappoint. I would definitely recommend this team if your ever in need of good attorneys.

Emelia M.

3 months ago

Burger Law Firm is fantastic. Laura and Genevieve were so amazing and helpful throughout the entire process. They helped me with my personal injury case every step of the way and succeeded at getting me the results I desired.

Helen L.

a year ago

We had a great experience with Burger Law for representing us after a serious car accident. Truly impressed by how professional and supportive the entire team is. And, many thanks to Genavieve and Laura – you are amazing!

Judy M.

a year ago

They did an amazing job on my case! Communication with them was great!!! Kept me informed and in the loop with everything that was going on!!! Will definitely be the 1st ones I’ll call if ever I’m in another accident!!! Thank you very much!!!

Chelsea C.

5 months ago

Let me tell you something about Burger Law.. they are so attentive and kind. Jennifer is my savior!! I love the whole team!!! They are truly a miracle team!! I appreciate their business and would recommend it to others.

David D.

2 months ago

Absolutely the best law firm in the St. Louis area. No matter the size of your case you are treated as if you are the only client on the roster. Will explain anything thoroughly and they work around your availability. Very impressed and appreciative of the service.

Lisa B.

11 months ago

Gary and Casey took great care of me for 2.5 years as my lawsuit was finally settled. I feel he helped me achieve justice for me and my 4 children after their father died from medical malpractice and neglect. Thanks to Gary, my kids now have a great start to their college and adult lives. Thank you Gary and Casey, for fighting for us so hard at our most trying and difficult time in our lives thus far. Love and God bless from my family to yours!

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