PROTECTING YOUR RIGHTS WHEN YOU A LOVED ONE ARE INJURED
Car Accident Attorneys in Bartlett, IL
Car accident attorneys in Bartlett, IL. Injuries from car accidents create unexpected economic, mental and physical hardships. You need a fierce Bartlett, IL car accident lawyer to fight for you to be made whole again. Speak to Burger Law‘s car accident attorneys immediately at (779) 800-HURT or contact us online for a free case review.
If you were injured in a car accident in Bartlett or anywhere in Illinois see how much your claim may be worth by completing our free personal injury calculator.
You have been injured in a car accident and now you are wondering what to do. If you are not sure, you are not the only one. You might be unsure what the best treatment options are for you, how to file a claim and how to secure the sense of justice you deserve. Call the police, then get medical attention. Then call Burger Law.
The last thing on your mind after an accident should be worrying about court dates or understanding legal jargon. Our law firm has won over $200 million for our clients, and is ready to fight for you.
We know it seems like no one will treat you fairly. Call a lawyer at (779) 800-HURT or complete our online form now. Our auto accident law firm, does not take any fees until we successfully win your claim, and we never leave any money on the table for our clients. Never accept a settlement offer that is not what you truly deserve.
Bartlett, IL Car Accident Attorneys That Win
In any type of tort action, results matter. You want to know that you are giving your case to an attorney who can handle it, and that they will do everything possible to make sure you get the full compensation you deserve. 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:
Steps to Take After a Car Accident in Bartlett, IL
Car Accidents can be traumatizing. It is imperative to take the right steps after an accident, however, it can be hard to make the right choices when you are still in shock from the accident. The following what you need to do both immediately after 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, do not move. If you are seriously injured and cannot move, wait for emergency personnel to arrive, as trying to move can make your injury worse. Look to see if anyone else involved in the accident is hurt. Render aid if you can.
Call 911 or a police non-emergency line — If someone needs EMTs and/or an ambulance, always call 911. If not, call for police so they can interview you and the other driver and make their report. Police have the training and experience to ascertain blame in a crash and their report is a key piece of evidence. If you do not know if you require emergency services or not, always call 911 and let the operator decide how to proceed.
Talk to the other driver — Once you can do so safely, communicate with the other driver. Take a picture of their license and insurance information. If the other driver says it was their fault, ask a few more questions to see if they will admit how they are liable. You do not need to feel like you are starting an argument, you are just asking for information.
DO NOT admit fault — In conversations with police, the other driver and an insurance company, you can give a concise description of events from your perspective. But never say it was your fault. There may be contributing factors you are not immediately aware of, and admitting fault will make it very hard to seek a compensation.
Obtain evidence from the scene — Take pictures of all the vehicles involved and the road, including any tire marks or property damage to nearby structures. If any bystanders saw the crash, get their contact information so they can corroborate your version of events when you make a claim.
Get medical attention — If you did not need an ambulance, go to an emergency room immediately after an accident or later that day, or see your general practitioner as soon as you can. Medical treatment is not only necessary so you can heal, but you need documentation in order to make an injury claim.
Consult with Bartlett, IL car accident attorneys — If you were injured in an auto accident, it is more likely than not that you will need to an attorney to fight for you to get the full recovery you are owed. Have a list of questions ready to ask them, for example how they accept payment, if they they have experience with similar types of accident, what they think the value of your claim is and if they are willing to go to trial if they have to.
Go to every medical appointment you have — Get the full medical treatment you need to recover, whether that includes surgery, physical therapy or spinal adjustments with a chiropractor. This is important not only so you can achieve maximum medical improvement, but can get the full extent of your damages once pain and suffering is taken into account. You discover how pain and suffering is calculated on our blog.
Burger Law has helped hundreds of injured parties in Bartlett and throughout Illinois navigate the confusing aftermath of a car accident claim. Reach out to our car accident attorneys today at (779) 800-HURT if you have any questions about how to proceed with your claim.
What Kind of Hurdles Are There In Bartlett, IL Car Accident Claims?
Ideally, you would not have to fight to get the compensation you are owed. But, unfortunately, it is not uncommon to see that there are difficulties that arise and the insurance adjuster does not want to fulfill their obligation to compensate you. Some of the complications our car accident attorneys see the most in Bartlett, IL are:
The negligent party has no insurance —Illinois requires drivers to have a minimum amount of liability insurance in case they cause an accident. But some people are irresponsible and do not pay for it, and that can cause doubt about how to proceed. Our car accident attorneys have filed hundreds of uninsured motorist claims in the event that a negligent driver does not have insurance . However, just because it is your own insurance does not mean they will readily agree to pay you – an attorney is usually still required to stand up to the insurance company and get you what you deserve.
The insurance policy does not cover your full damages — Depending on the policyholder’s policy limits, they may not have sufficient to fully compensate you. If your damages exceed the at-fault driver’s coverage, we can file an underinsured motorist claim against your own insurance. We can also look for other insurance policies that may cover your accident.
The negligent party will not admit doing anything wrong — Unfortunately, it is not surprising that some careless people do not want to admit when they broke the rules. If the other driver is trying to blame you for the accident, we will conduct a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding your accident and take depositions of all parties – under oath – so their negligence is no longer in doubt.
The insurance company will not to be fair —Insurance adjusters use a lot of tricks to devalue claims, and most times an attorney is needed to get them to do the right thing. If they still will not be fair after they receive our settlement demand package, we will not hesitate bring a claim against them in court, litigate the case and prepare for trial. Often, once they know our car accident attorneys are on the case, it is only a matter of time before they accept our demands; they know they will not get a favorable outcome if they make us go in front of a judge and jury. Many high settlements are offered right before a trial is set to begin.
Our car accident attorneys know that you should not have to wait to get the financial recovery you deserve. However, if you have a more complicated case and the negligent driver and their insurance company do not want to see reason, we are prepared to take them all the way through trial. We do not stop fighting for our Bartlett, IL clients until they are compensated. We know how to apply the law to injury claims and get our clients the recoveries they need to be made whole again.
Car Accident Attorneys in Bartlett, IL — Resources for The Injured
Our team has literally written the book on mistakes people make in auto accident claims, which you can download below, reference to have a better understanding of how to proceed. You can also see our FAQs and legal glossary to better understand the claims process.
Causes and Types of Car Accidents in Bartlett, IL
Each car accident is unique, and they can happen for any reason, at any time or place. However, most causes and types of accidents can be broken down into a number of distinct categories. Some examples are:
Backup Accidents — Based on research from the National Safety Council, 25% of accidents can be blamed on poor backing techniques, and those crashes cause over 500 deaths and 15,000 injuries annually, many of them to children in parking lots.If someone else backed into you or your car, the insurance company will likely assume that you are at fault, as most rear to front accidents are the fault of the rear driver. Knowledgeable car accident attorneys can find the evidence needed to prove how the other driver caused your injuries.
Carpool and Rideshare Accidents — Uber or Lyft accidents themselves are not too different from any other auto wreck. However, carpool companies have more insurance coverage, when making a claim you will have to battle against a large insurance company instead of a single adjuster. A car accident lawyer can help level the playing field.
Fatal Car Crashes — Nothing is worse than having a loved one taken away by a reckless driver. While nothing can truly compensate you for your loss, a wrongful death claim can deliver a feeling of recognition, and ease the financial burden their loss placed on you.
Head-on Collisions — Head-on collisions are especially dangerous because both vehicles are going fast, and the driver and front passenger are exposed to flying glass and debris. They make up just two percent of all traffic accidents, but account for 10 percent of all driving fatalities. In addition to fatalities, they can cause devastating injuries.
Multi-Vehicle Accidents — Sometimes there are “chain reaction” accidents where multiple drivers are liable. Because of that, each driver’s insurance will try to pin liability on the others. Burger Law’s Bartlett, IL car accident attorneys will prove how each negligent driver contributed to your injuries.
Road Construction Accidents — Construction companies are obligated to ensure their construction zones are safe for drivers, including having adequate warnings and that dangerous locations are cordoned off. In addition to another driver, we can sue a construction company if they were negligent and their negligence injured you.
Speeding Accidents — In Illinois in 2020, speeding contributed to 31.9 percent of all crashes, almost half of fatal crashes and over a third of personal injury crashes. Speeding is dangerous because it increases the likelihood of a driver losing control of their vehicle and reduces their reaction time.
Burger Law’s Bartlett, IL car accident attorneys have seen any type of auto claim you can think of — and gotten great results for our clients while working on them. We know how to investigate accident cases and prove how the other party is responsible for your injuries.
How Much Compensation Will I Receive For My Bartlett, IL Car Accident Injuries?
Financial recoveries in car accident claims generally compensate you for two things: economic damages, including your cost of treatment and money you lost from time spent off work recovering, and non-economic damages, also known as pain and suffering A knowledgeable car accident attorney like those at Burger Law know how to calculate the full extent of someone’s damages. We will demand justice in your case.
To calculate your damages, we first need to total the entirety of your economic damages. This includes:
Lost wages and lost earning potential
Any medical appointments, surgeries, proscriptions and/or tests
Assistive devices such as wheelchairs
Medical costs you might incur in the future, such as additional procedures, replacement wheelchairs, or eventual replacement of artificial joints
If you are likely to have future economic damages, we consult with economic experts to value how much those will cost in the future, and adjust our settlement demand to incorporate expected inflation.
After knowing the full extent of your economic damages, we will calculate how much you should be compensated for for your non-economic damages. Usually, your attorney will use the “multiplier method,” multiplying your economic damages by a number between 1.5 and five.
For instance, say you have $30,000 in economic damages, and your injuries caused you extreme discomfort for several weeks, your car accident attorney might demand a multiplier of three. Therefore:
$30,000 X 3 = $90,000
Your final compensation would then be $120,000.
Most claims use a multiplier of three, and multipliers of four and five are usually reserved for catastrophic or long-lasting injuries.
What Kind of Things Affect How Much My Claim Is Worth?
The more your injuries affect your life financially, emotionally and physically, the more your claim is worth. Things that increase or decrease your compensation include:
The type and severity of your injuries
The extent of your medical care, and if you will need more treatment in the future
If your injuries resulted in disfigurement or mental or physical impairment
If your injuries affected your quality of life and independence
If you contributed to the accident in any way
Often, insurance adjusters try to devalue claims through a variety of tricks and dishonest tactics. We will not let them get away with that. In our more than 30 years of experience fighting back against people who do not want to do the right thing, and to date have secured over $200 million in compensation.
What Is the Statute Of Limitations For Car Accident Claims in Bartlett, IL?
Each state has its own statute of limitations for injury claims. Under 735 ILCS 5/13-202, Illinois’ is shorter than most other states at just two years. There are three important exceptions:
For wrongful death claims you have two years from when your loved one passed – not the date of the accident.
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 before the statute of limitations elapsed, that time is not counted against you. In Illinois, “legal disability” means:
Someone who, either by mental or physical impairment, 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 is not as long as it sounds. Do not wait 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 (779) 800-HURT to discuss your case in detail.
Speak to Our Bartlett, IL Car Accident Attorneys Today
Burger Law’s car accident attorneys are committed devoted to getting justice for our Bartlett, IL clients. You did not want to be injured, and you should not have to pay for another person’s mistakes. We will stand by your side throughout the duration of your claim. To start on your true road to recovery, call Burger Law‘s car accident attorneys now at (779) 800-HURT or contact us online for a complimentary 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!
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!
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.
At Burger Law | St. Louis Personal Injury Lawyer, we are a team of personal injury attorneys who have earned many distinctions and peer-reviewed awards for our 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, Super Lawyers selection as one of the top attorneys in the field of personal injury and board certifications in Civil Litigation.
Personal injury lawyers who demand justice in Southern Illinois. The role of a personal injury lawyer in Southern Illinois should be more than just getting you a great settlement…
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Gary Burger who has more than 30 years of legal experience as a practicing personal injury trial attorney. Gary’s robust legal knowledge is recognized by his peers as demonstrated by his industry awards and frequent Continuing Legal Education (CLE) lectures.
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