Car accident attorneys in Arlington Heights, IL. The physical, motional and financial hardships that result from being injured in a car accident can be devastating. You need a knowledgeable Arlington Heights, IL car accident lawyer to fight for you to secure you the full financial recovery you owed. Speak to Burger Law‘s car accident attorneys immediately at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a no-risk, no-obligation consultation.
If you were injured in a car accident in Arlington Heights, IL see what compensation you may be eligible for by completing our free personal injury calculator.
It is hard to know what to do after a car accident injury. You might not be certain how to get the right medical care, what the process for filing a claim is and if there is anything else you can do to make sure that justice is served in this situation. First, get the immediate medical attention you require. Then call Burger Law.
When you have been injured in a car accident, you should be focused on healing and getting your life back on track. Your compensation should be guaranteed and taken care of, but unfortunately, this is not always the case. If the responsible party has no intention of doing right by you, you need someone who knows the laws to fight on your behalf. The Arlington Heights, IL car accident lawyers of Burger Law take car accident claims extremely seriously and are committed to getting you the money you rightfully deserve.
You deserve to have an amazing team fight for your rights during your car accident claim. Speak to an attorney at (314) 500-HURT or fill out our online form now. Our auto accident law firm, does not take any fees until we successfully win your claim, and we always fight to ensure our clients get 100 percent of the recovery they need. Never agree to a settlement offer that is not what you genuinely deserve.
Arlington Heights, IL Car Accident Attorneys With a Proven Track Record of Victories
In any type of legal claim, the outcome matters. You want to know that you are giving your case to the best possible lawyer, and that they will do everything possible to make sure you get the full compensation you are owed. Any personal injury lawyer can say they will fight for you, but not all of them can prove it. Click the links below to read about some of our recent victories:
What To Do After a Car Accident in Arlington Heights, IL
Car Accidents are traumatic events. It is imperative to take the right steps after an accident, however, a lot of people have never had to go through the injury claims process before. Below what you need to do both immediately following a car wreckto make sure you recover both physically and financially:
Get to safety if possible — The golden rule is, if you and your car can both move, get out of the way of oncoming traffic. If not, stay where you are. Moving can make some injuries worse. Look to see if anyone else involved in the crash is hurt. Render aid if you can.
Call 911 or a police non-emergency line — If someone needs emergency medical care, call 911 immediately. Either way, call a non-emergency line and request for police to come so they can make a report. Police know how to assign liability in an accident and a police report is invaluable when making a claim. If you are not sure whether you should call 911 or a non-emergency line, always call 911 and let the operator decide if your accident is an emergency.
Exchange information with other driver — After it is safe to do so, communicate with any other driver involved in the crash. Take a picture of their license and insurance information. If the other driver apologizes, ask a few more questions to try to get them to admit what happened. You do not have to be confrontational, you are just asking for information.
Never admit fault — When talking to the other driver or the police, you can provide them with a concise description of events as you saw them. But never admit fault. There may be details you do not know yet, and admitting fault will make it very hard to seek a compensation.
Obtain whatever evidence you can — Take pictures of all the vehicles involved and the surrounding area, including any skid marks or any other property damage the accident caused. If there are eyewitnesses, get their contact information so they can corroborate your version of events when you make a claim.
Seek out medical care — If you did not need an ambulance, get to urgent care quickly, or see your primary care physician in the day or days after the accident. Medical treatment is not only necessary to ensure you recover physically, but you will need proof of an injury and your treatment to get compensation for your injuries.
Consult with Arlington Heights, IL car accident attorneys — If you were injured because someone else broke the rules of the road, it is more likely than not that a lawyer is the only way to get the full recovery you are owed. Have a list of questions ready to ask them, such as what their fee structure is, if they they have experience with similar types of accident, how much they think your claim is worth and if they are willing to go to trial if they have to.
Continue medical treatment — Make sure you go to every appointment, whether that means surgery, physical therapy or chiropractic appointments. This is important not only so you can reach maximum medical improvement, but can get the full extent of your damages once pain and suffering is taken into account. You read about how pain and suffering is calculated here.
Most people in Arlington Heights, IL have never had to deal with a auto accident claim before, and we help guide them through the entire process. Speak to our car accident attorneys immediately at (314) 500-HURT if you have any questions about what the next steps are after an accident.
What Kind of Complications Come Up In Arlington Heights, IL Car Accident Claims?
In a perfect society, you would not have to fight to get the compensation you are owed. But far too often complications arise and the insurance adjuster refuses to do the right thing. A few of the issues our car accident attorneys see on a daily basis in Arlington Heights, IL include:
The negligent driver was uninsured —Illinois requires drivers to have at least minimum liability insurance coverage. But not everyone actually pays for it, and that can cause doubt about how to proceed. Our car accident attorneys now how to file uninsured motorist claims for our clients against their own insurance companies . However, just because it is your own insurance does not mean they will readily agree to pay you – you still need a lawyer to stand up to the insurance company and get you what you deserve.
The insurance policy does not cover your full damages — Each insurance policy has policy limits, which determine the maximum amount of coverage available after an accident. If are owed more money than what’s on the at-fault driver’s policy limits, we can pursue a underinsured motorist claim on your own policy. Sometimes, we can uncover umbrella policies that your accident falls under.
The other party denies fault — Unfortunately, it is not surprising that some negligent people do not want to admit when they broke the rules. If the other driver will not admit fault, we will conduct a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding your accident and take sworn depositions to demonstrate how the other driver caused your injuries.
The insurance company is offering something far below a fair settlement —Insurance adjusters use a lot of deceitful tactics to devalue claims, and you will need an attorney to fight back against them. If they continue to lowball you after our settlement demand letter, we will not hesitate file a lawsuit, litigate the case and start getting ready for trial. Often, simply the presence of tough and experienced trial car accident attorneys like those at Burger Law is only a matter of time before they give in to our demands; they know they have no chance if they make us go in front of a judge and jury. We have gotten a lot of great settlements on the eve of trial.
Our car accident attorneys always try to get fair compensation as soon as possible. However, if there are issues at play and the other side does not want to pay you fairly, we we will defend your rights at trial. We fight for our Arlington Heights, IL clients until there is nothing left to fight. There is not type of car accident claim we have not seen before.
Car Accident Attorneys in Arlington Heights, IL — Resources for The Injured
Our founder and principle has literally written the book on mistakes people make in auto accident claims, which you can download below, reference to understand your case better. You can also check out our FAQs and legal glossary to better understand the claims process.
Causes and Types of Car Accidents in Arlington Heights, IL
No two car accidents are exactly alike, but they generally happen under similar circumstances. Some examples are:
Backup Accidents — Based on data from the National Safety Council, a quarter of accidents are due to improper backing techniques, and those crashes cause over 500 deaths and 15,000 injuries every year, many of them to pedestrians.If someone else backed into your vehicle, the insurance adjuster will likely assume that you are at fault, as the trailing driver is almost always liable in rear to front accidents. Knowledgeable car accident attorneys can find the evidence needed to demonstrate the other driver’s negligence.
Carpool and Rideshare Accidents — In general, accidents involving drivers from companies like Uber or Lyft are not substantially different from most auto accidents. However, while policy limits tend to be higher, there may be multiple parties at fault including the company, driver and a third party driver. A car accident lawyer can help level the playing field.
Fatal Car Crashes — Nothing is worse than having someone you love taken away too soon. While it is impossible to bring back your loved one, a wrongful death claim can bring a sense of recognition, and cover the finances related to their funeral and the loss of a provider.
Head-on Collisions — Head-on collisions are especially dangerous because both cars are going fast, and the driver and front passenger are exposed to flying glass and debris. They make up just two percent of all car accidents, but are responsible for one out of 10 traffic-related deaths. Beyond fatalities, they can cause horrible injuries.
Multi-Vehicle Accidents — Sometimes there are “chain reaction” accidents where multiple drivers are at fault. Because of that, each driver’s insurance will try to point the finger at the others. Burger Law’s Arlington Heights, IL car accident attorneys will ensure that every liable party is held accountable.
Road Construction Accidents — Construction companies have a responsibility to make sure their construction zones are safe for drivers, including having proper warnings and that cones are placed to keep drivers out of dangerous areas. In addition to another driver, we can sue a construction company if they were negligent and their negligence injured you.
Burger Law’s Arlington Heights, IL car accident attorneys have seen claims involving any conditions and circumstances imaginable — and won them. We know how to investigate accident cases and prove liability on the part of the negligent driver.
How Is Compensation Calculated in Arlington Heights, IL Car Accident Claims?
Your compensation is intended to reimburse you for two things: economic damages, such as your cost of treatment and money you lost from time spent off work recovering, and non-economic damages, also known as pain and suffering An important aspect of any car accident attorney’s job is properly calculating the full extent of someone’s damages. We will make sure the other side understands just how much their negligence has affected you, and demand they compensate you for all of it.
To determine the full extent of your damages, we first need to total the entirety of your economic damages. This includes:
Money lost from time spent off work recovering and lost earning potential
Any medical appointments, surgeries, medications and/or testing
Assistive devices such as braces
Medical costs you might incur in the future, such as additional procedures, replacement wheelchairs, or eventual replacement of artificial joints
Out-of-pocket expenses like a nanny if your injuries prevented you from caring for your children for a time
If you are likely to incur future economic damages, we work with economic experts to value how much those will cost in the future, and include estimated inflation in our settlement demand letter.
After knowing the full extent of your economic damages, we will put a monetary value on the less tangible ways your life has been affected. Most often, that is done by multiplying your economic damages by a number between 1.5 and five.
For instance, if you have $30,000 in economic damages, and your injuries caused you have limited independence for a month or more, your car accident attorney might demand a multiplier of three. So: $30,000 X 3 = $90,000
Your final compensation would be calculated as $120,000.
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We offer free consultations and are available 24/7 to take your call. Live chat, text, and virtual meetings are available.
Most claims use a multiplier of three, and multipliers of four and five are usually only for more serious injuries that greatly affect someone’s physical comfort, state of mind and their independence.
What Kind of Things Affect How Much My Claim Is Worth?
More serious injuries result in more compensation. Things that increase or decrease your compensation include:
The extent of your injuries
How much medical treatment you needed, and if you will have more medical expenses in the future
If your injuries resulted in scarring or disability
If your injuries affected your quality of life and independence
If you bear partial responsibility for your accident
Often, insurance adjusters try to devalue claims by saying they only have to six weeks of treatment, you waited too long to get treatment, they do not need to pay wage loss damages if you had paid-time off or by blaming your injuries on you. We fight back against bullies so they know that will not work. In over 30 years of experience fighting back against people who do not want to do the right thing, and to date have recovered over $200 million in compensation.
How Much Time Do I Have to File a Car Accident Claim in Arlington Heights, IL?
Each state sets its own rules for how long to have a claim. According to 735 ILCS 5/13-202, Illinois’ is relatively short at just two years. There are three important exceptions:
For wrongful death claims you have two years from the date of that loved one’s death – not not from, when the crash occurred.
If you or your loved one was a minor when the accident occurred, you have two years from the date of their 18th birthday.
If you or your loved one was under a “legal disability” at the time of the accident, you have two years from the date the disability was removed. If you came under a legal disability after you were injured but within the two-year time limit, that time is not counted against you. In Illinois, “legal disability” means:
Someone who, either by mental or physical disability, is not able to manage their person or estate
A person with a mental illness or developmental disability that keeps them from managing their person or estate
Someone who, because of “gambling, idleness, debauchery or excessive use of alcohol or drugs,” cannot manage their estate to the extent that it causes them or their family to “want or suffer”
Two years may sound like a long time, but the clock starts ticking the second your accident happens. Do not hesitate to call a car accident attorney right away after your accident. If you are wondering if any of the exceptions apply to you, speak to an attorney at Burger Law today at (314) 500-HURT to go over your case in detail.
Other claims we take on in Arlington Heights, IL include:
Speak to Our Arlington Heights, IL Car Accident Attorneys Today
Burger Law’s car accident attorneys are committed devoted to getting each of our Arlington Heights, IL clients the best possible results in their claims. You did not ask to be put in this situation, and you should not have to pay simply because someone else broke the rules. We will fight back against bullies like resistant insurance companies. To start on your true road to recovery, speak to Burger Law‘s car accident attorneys immediately at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a no-risk, no-obligation case review.
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!
Genevieve and Laura have assisted me in my personal injury claim and have made the process so much less stressful. They are extremely knowledgeable, professional, and attentive. Laura is always on top of everything and very sweet. I had no idea how to navigate this process and they have made me feel at ease and like they truly cared about the outcome.
Cara Barton
It has been a long 4 years, but it is finally over! Burger law did a great job handling my case. Grant Doty answered all my questions, promptly returned my phone calls, frequently kept me updated and insured me that he was fighting for me. Jennifer Zini also did a wonderful job, great customer service. It was pleasure getting to know the Burger Law team!
S. Alred
After a driver unexpectedly pulled out right in front of my motorcycle & I suffered injuries, the at-fault driver’s insurance company offered me a $10,000 settlement. I hired Burger Law & they won a $109,000 settlement. I was very happy with the outcome. They were easy to work with & fully explained each step of the process & kept me informed along the way.
Burger Law | St. Louis Personal Injury Lawyer is a team of St. Louis area personal injury attorneys who have earned many distinctions and peer-reviewed awards for our work in civil litigation and trial work in Missouri and Illinois. A few of the honors we have earned include the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Top 100 Trial Lawyer Award, a Martindale-Hubbell AV rating (the preeminent peer rating standard for legal expertise and ethical standards), Super Lawyers selection as one of the top attorneys in the field of personal injury and board certifications in Civil Litigation. When you are ready to hire our experienced legal team to represent you and demand the compensation you deserve, call us at (866) 934-9059 right away.
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