Auto Accident Law Firm in Chicago and Illinois

If someone else broke the rules of the road and injured you or a loved one, you need the Chicago auto accident law firm of Burger Law to help get you a full financial recovery. Call us today at 312-500-HURT or contact us online for a free case review.

Car crashes are the second leading cause of accidental injury in the United States. Motor vehicles can cause tremendous damage due to their size and the speed at which they travel. Because of that, we have strict laws and safety regulations that govern how manufacturers must build cars and we must drive them in order to keep everyone on the Chicago and Illinois roads safe. When someone breaks those rules and causes you or a loved one injury, the physical, emotional and financial ramifications are often staggering. That is why you need to call the Chicago-based Illinois auto accident law firm of Burger Law. Our Chicago car accident lawyers have dedicated our lives to seeking and securing justice and maximum compensation for Chicago and Illinois individuals and families. You deserve to be made whole again. To date, our clients have recovered over $175 million in verdicts and settlements with the help of our relentless representation.

We demand a full financial recovery for all of your damages, including medical costs, lost wages and pain and suffering. The Chicago-based Illinois auto accident law firm of Burger Law stands by your side every step of the way, from our initial consultation to winning your case. You deserve a knowledgeable and experienced auto accident law firm; one that is driven by justice and seeing Chicago and Illinois residents compensated for the negligence of others. We handle every aspect of your case so you can spend your energy on healing. You should not have to put your future in jeopardy just because someone else broke the rules. Call us today at 312-500-HURT or fill out our online form to help in your recovery and take the first step in protecting your future.

How Common Are Auto Accidents in Chicago and Illinois?

We all know that auto accidents can be dangerous, but the statistics are truly sobering. Nationwide, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that in 2019 there were approximately 6,756,000 police-reported motor vehicle crashes, which resulted in 1,916,000 injuries and 33,244 deaths. Worldwide, auto accidents killed 1.25 million people in 2013 and were the leading cause of death for people between the ages of 15 and 29. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that “medical and productivity losses” from car accidents cost over $75 billion per year in the U.S., and that is before taking into account the emotional impact a car accident can have on your life. That is why it is imperative to contact our Chicago-based Illinois auto accident law firm at Burger Law. We will make sure that you are compensated for all of your damages, including pain and suffering.

According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, in 2019 there were 312,988 auto accidents in the state, resulting in 89,133 injuries and 1,010 deaths. In 2021, almost half of fatal crashes occurred in urban areas such as Chicago and Cook County. Over a quarter of Chicago and Illinois accidents involved alcohol and over a third of the drivers killed had drunk alcohol before the crash. Illinois is the 10th most dangerous state for winter driving, and the 10th most dangerous state overall.

While there is the rare accident that may be unavoidable, such as an animal jumping in front of your car, almost every Chicago and Illinois car accident is preventable. Human error is the leading cause of auto accidents, as it causes or contributes to 94 percent of accidents. When you are left to pick up the pieces after you are injured because of a driver’s negligence or reckless actions, you may feel a wide range of emotions, which could include vulnerability, fear and uncertainty about how you will pay for all the medical bills, especially if you have to miss work. You do not have to go it alone. At the auto accident law firm of Burger Law, we have dedicated our lives to offering professional and compassionate support and legal counsel to the injured residents throughout Illinois. We will help protect you and your family’s future by securing you a full financial recovery not only for your medical bills, but for any emotional distress and inconvenience you experienced. Call us today at 312-500-HURT to take the first step toward becoming whole again.

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What Are the Leading Causes of Auto Accidents in Chicago, Illinois?

The majority of crashes are caused by driver error, which can include drunk and drug impaired driving, distracted driving like texting and driving, speeding, and drowsy driving. Other common causes involve the weather or defective parts. Read on to learn more about the causes of auto accidents:

Drunk Driving and Drug Impaired Driving

Drunk driving is deadly. In 2019, 10,1421 lost their lives because of drunk drivers, or about 28 people per day. Driving drunk reduces your concentration, coordination and reaction ability. While the legal limit for blood alcohol content is ≥.08, even a level of ≥.04 significantly increases the risk of a car crash.

Drunk driving is one of the few cases in tort law where you will be able to seek punitive damages. At Burger Law’s Chicago-based auto accident law firm, we sue drunk drivers so they feel the full consequences of their reckless actions and think twice before getting behind the wheel drunk.

Texting and Driving

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration found that texting drivers took their eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds, which at 55 miles per hour equates to driving an entire football field without looking at the road once. Your odds of getting in a car crash are 23.2 times greater if you text and drive. Motorists have a responsibility to everyone on the Chicago and Illinois roads to give their full attention to the road ahead of them. When they fail in that responsibility, the auto accident law firm of Burger Law will hold them accountable.

Distracted Driving

While texting and driving is the most dangerous form of distracted driving, even just talking on the phone can increase your risk of a crash. Even if you are not using your phone, 80 percent of car accidents involve some sort of driver inattention in the three seconds leading up to the crash.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has found that your odds of getting in an accident are:

• 9 times greater while writing
• 5.9 times greater while dialing a hand-held phone
• 6.7 times greater if you are reaching for something
• 7 times greater if you are looking at a map

Other examples of distracted driving can be:

• Engaged in a conversation with a passenger or on a hands-free device
• Changing the radio or temperature controls
• Grooming, such as shaving or applying makeup
• Removing or putting on clothes
• Daydreaming

When you are driving, it is important to keep your eyes on the road and both hands on the wheel. The risks of driver inattention are simply too great. We like to think of ourselves as multi-taskers, but according to the National Safety Council, humans are just not capable of driving safely while doing something else. Call our Chicago and Illinois auto accident law firm today at 312-500-HURT if a distracted driver caused you injuries.

Speeding

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, speeding contributed to 17.2% of car crashes in 2019. The U.S. Department of Transportation has very specific guidelines to help the Illinois state legislature and Chicago agencies calculate and determine speed limits. While we should expect drivers to follow the rules of the road to keep everyone safe, most vehicle traffic exceeds the speed limit. Speeding increases a driver’s odds of losing control and increases stopping time and distance. Additionally, high speeds may cause safety features such as seat belts or airbags not to function properly and can lead to more severe injuries. If you were injured because another driver was careless and drove too fast, the auto accident law firm of Burger law will help you receive compensation for your injuries.

Fatigued or Drowsy Driving

A third of American adults do not get enough sleep. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reports that a drowsy driver was involved in 7 percent of all auto accidents, including 13 percent of those that resulted in severe injuries and 16.5 percent of fatal crashes. Being drowsy makes us less attentive, slows our reaction time and affects our ability to make decisions. Being awake for 18 consecutive hours is equivalent to having a blood alcohol content of .05 percent. Whenever you feel sleepy behind the wheel, it is best to find a safe place in Chicago or Illinois to pull over and rest for 15 or 20 minutes before continuing.

Inclement Weather

While our auto accident law firm cannot sue the weather, Chicago and Illinois drivers are supposed to take additional safety measures when they drive in poor conditions, for example completely clearing snow and ice from your vehicle and driving at slower speeds. If you were injured by a driver who is trying to avoid responsibility by blaming your auto accident on the weather, the knowledgeable and experienced auto accident law firm at Burger Law can help hold them accountable and ensure that you are fairly compensated by the negligent parties.

Defective Parts

Auto manufacturers have the same duty of care to drivers, passengers and pedestrians that all Chicago and Illinois drivers do. They are legally obligated to design safe vehicles and recall any defective parts that may cause safety issues. For example, if you sustain injuries because your airbags do not deploy properly, you may be able to make a product liability claim against the manufacturer. When the auto accident law firm of Burger Law investigates your car accident, we will use our experience and our network of car crash experts to determine if an auto manufacturer, car dealership or mechanic is responsible for your injuries.

Anyone who gets behind the wheel or makes or repairs motor vehicles owes you a duty of care to ensure your safety and the safety of everyone on the Chicago and Illinois roads. If you sustained an injury in a car accident because of somebody else’s negligence or reckless behavior, the experienced and dedicated auto accident law firm at Burger Law will make sure that the at-fault party is held responsible and that you receive full compensation for all of your damages. Below are some of the leading causes of car accidents in Chicago and Illinois roads.

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How to Avoid Auto Accidents in Chicago, IL

More than 75 percent of people killed in car accidents were drivers. At Burger Law’s auto accident law firm, we have seen firsthand the devastation that a negligent or reckless driver can cause. While you cannot always control other people’s actions, there are several measures you can take to ensure your own safety as well as the safety of others on the Chicago and Illinois roadways.

• Always wear a seatbelt. In 2017, seatbelts saved an estimated 14,955 lives. Over 83 percent of drivers and passengers who are completely ejected from the vehicle die, and most of the rest suffered serious, life-altering injuries. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that wearing a seatbelt reduces the risk of death by 45 percent and moderate to critical injury by 50 percent.
• Know the laws and best driving practices. The Illinois Secretary of State offers a Quick Guide to Safe Driving for anyone on Chicago and Illinois roads. Simple tips like driving slower and increasing following distance in winter conditions not only go a long way in keeping you and everyone else on the road safe, but they also protect you from liability or being partially blamed for an accident if you do find yourself in one.
• If you drive a motorcycle, wear a helmet. While neither Chicago nor Illinois has laws obligating motorcycle drivers to wear helmets, they are literal life-savers. In 2017, helmets saved 1,872 lives.
• Put away your cell phone. While you can always call someone back, you can never take back the effects of an auto accident. Pull over safely if you need to make an urgent call. If you use your phone for directions, put the volume on high and turn the music off so you can clearly hear the directions and do not have to look.
• Have the right attitude. No one owns the road, and we all need to be courteous and respectful to other drivers, passengers and pedestrians. Understand that you are in control of thousands of pounds of metal moving at high speeds. Safety needs to be your priority. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, almost a quarter of motor vehicle deaths are people under the age of 25. Maturity is likely a contributing factor.
• Drive with both hands on the wheel. Just having one hand on the wheel can significantly diminish your control of the vehicle. Quickly changing the A/C settings is probably OK, but both hands should be on the wheel the majority of the time.
• Call a taxi or ridesharing service if you have been drinking. Not only does alcohol significantly impair your ability to drive safely, but it also boosts your confidence and makes you feel more powerful, so you might think driving while drunk will be fine. Your brain may trick you into believing you can drive home safely, but it is never true.

You can take every possible precaution when you get behind the wheel, but unfortunately the reckless actions of irresponsible drivers can still cause you injury. When you get hurt because someone else broke the rules of the road, you are entitled to maximum compensation for all of your damages. The Chicago and Illinois auto accident law firm at Burger Law takes on and wins the tough cases. Insurance companies fear us because they know that we know every trick they use to minimize your claim. We fight back against bullies like resistant insurance companies and make sure our Chicago and Illinois clients receive the justice and full financial recovery they deserve.

How Long Do I Have to File an Auto Accident Claim in Illinois?

Following an injury in an auto accident, the state of Illinois’s statute of limitations dictates how long you can wait after the date of the accident to file your claim.

• Generally speaking, Illinois Compiled Statute §735 ILCS 5/13-202 states that you have two years after the date of the accident to file a personal injury claim.
• To file a wrongful death claim, Illinois Compiled Statute §740 ILCS 180/ states that you have two years from the date of the deceased’s death – not the accident.
• If your claim is only related to property damage, you have five years from the date of your accident to file a claim, according to Illinois Compiled Statute §735 ILCS 13-205.
• Pursuant to Illinois Compiled Statute §735 ILCS 13-211, if the injury was incurred by a minor, they have up to two years after the date of their 18th birthday to file a claim. Similarly, if someone is disabled at the time of the accident, they have until two years after the “disability is removed.”

If you have been injured in a car accident, the clock is already ticking for when you can make your claim. Do not wait, call the auto accident law firm of Burger law now at 312-500-HURT to get justice and maximum compensation for your injuries. We start working on your case right away and do not rest until we win your case.

HIRE OUR CHICAGO AUTO ACCIDENT LAW FIRM TODAY

Chicago and Illinois Auto Accident Law Firm | Burger Law

When you hire our Chicago-based Illinois auto accident law firm, we get working on your case right away. You deserve to have your family and future protected. Our Chicago car accident attorneys have dedicated their lives to standing up to bullies and fighting side-by-side with our clients to make sure they are fairly compensated for all of their damages. Our dedicated, talented and tenacious auto accident law firm has over two decades of experience taking on and winning the tough cases. Let us help you feel like “you” again. Do not wait another second. Call us today at 312-500-HURT or contact us online for a free consultation.

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