PROTECTING YOUR RIGHTS WHEN YOU A LOVED ONE ARE INJURED
Car Accident Attorneys in Hinsdale, IL
Car accident attorneys in Hinsdale, IL. Injuries from car accidents create unanticipated economic, emotional and physical hardships. You need a knowledgeable Hinsdale, IL car accident lawyer that you can trust to to truly recover from every way that your injuries have affected you. Speak to Burger Law‘s car accident attorneys immediately at (779) 800-HURT or contact us online for a no-risk, no-obligation case evaluation.
If you were injured in a car accident in Hinsdale, IL see how much your claim may be worth by filling out our free personal injury calculator.
It is hard to know how to proceed after a car accident injury. You may be unsure how to get the right medical care, what the process for filing a claim is and how to secure the sense of justice you deserve. 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 to the way it was before the accident. You should not have to argue over your financial recovery after a car accident. If the responsible party refuses to do the right thing, you need someone who knows the laws to fight by your side. The Hinsdale, IL car accident lawyers of Burger Law take car accident claims extremely seriously and are committed to getting you the money you are owed.
You deserve to have a brave and dedicated team fight for your rights during your car accident claim. Call a lawyer at (779) 800-HURT or complete our online form now. Our auto accident law firm, does not charge you until you have your settlement check or verdict in hand, 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 truly deserve.
Hinsdale, IL Car Accident Attorneys That Win
In any kind of tort claim, the outcome matters. You want to have full confidence in your lawyer’s abilities, and that they are going to fight hard to make sure you get 100 percent of the recovery and compensation you deserve. Any car accident lawyer can say they will fight for you, but not all of them can prove it. Below are several of our auto crash victories:
Car Accidents can be traumatizing. Knowing what to do when one happens can absolutely make the difference in your case, however, it can be hard to make the right choices when you are still in shock from the accident. Below are the steps you should take both immediately following a car wreck, and in the ensuing weeks:
Get to safety if possible — The rule of thumb is, if you and your car can both move, pull over to the side of the road. If not, do not move. Moving can make some injuries worse. Look to see if anyone else involved in the crash is injured. Render aid if you can.
Call 911 or a police non-emergency line — If someone needs EMTs and/or an ambulance, always call 911. Either way, call a non-emergency line and request for police to come so they can make a report. Police are trained to assign liability in a crash and their report is a key piece of evidence. If you are not sure whether you should call 911 or a non-emergency line, always call 911 and let the operator decide how to proceed.
Exchange information with other driver — Once you can do so safely, communicate with the other driver. Make sure to get a copy of their insurance card and their contact info. If the other driver apologizes, ask a few more questions to see if they will offer up how they were negligent. 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 offer a concise description of how things occurred from your point of view. But never admit fault. There may be contributing factors you are not immediately aware of, and admitting fault will bring complications when you are attempting to seek a recovery.
Collect evidence from the scene — Take pictures of all the vehicles involved and the road, including any skid marks or any other property damage the accident caused. If any bystanders saw the crash, get their name and phone number so they can back up your version of events when you make a claim.
Get medical treatment — If you did not need an ambulance, get to urgent care quickly, or see your general practitioner in the day or days after the accident. Medical care is not only necessary so you can heal, but you need documentation in order to make an injury claim.
Call Hinsdale, IL car accident attorneys — If you were injured because someone else broke the rules of the road, chances are a lawyer is the only way to be fully compensated for your injuries. Ask them a series of questions, for example how they take their attorneys’ fees, if they they have experience with similar types of accident, how much they think your claim is worth and if they are ready to fight for you at trial.
Do not skip out on medical treatment — Get the full medical treatment you need to recover, whether that means surgery, physical therapy or spinal adjustments with a chiropractor. 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.
Burger Law has helped hundreds of injured parties in Hinsdale and throughout Illinois navigate the confusing aftermath of a car accident claim. Speak to our car accident attorneys today at (779) 800-HURT if you have any doubts about how to proceed with your claim.
What Kind of Problems Come Up In Hinsdale, IL Car Accident Claims?
In a perfect world, the negligent driver would have enough coverage and the willingness to fairly compensate you for your injuries. But far too often there are difficulties that arise and the other side does not want to fulfill their obligation to compensate you. A few of the issues our car accident attorneys see the most in Hinsdale, IL are:
The other party was uninsured —Illinois has minimum insurance requirements for all drivers. But some drivers do not follow the rules, and you may be left wondering how you are going to get compensation for your injuries. Our car accident attorneys have filed hundreds of uninsured motorist claims for our clients against their own insurance companies . However, your own insurance company may be just as unfair to you as someone else’s – an attorney is usually still required to fight for your rights.
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 make a underinsured motorist claim on your own policy. We can also look for other insurance policies that may cover your accident.
The negligent party will not admit fault — There are some reckless people out there who do not want to admit when they did something wrong. 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 – to demonstrate how the other driver caused your injuries.
The insurance company is trying to lowball you —Insurance adjusters use numerous different deceitful tactics to avoid paying out claims, and usually an attorney is needed to get them to be honest. If they continue to lowball you after they receive our settlement demand letter, we will immediately bring a claim against them in court, proceed to discovery and prepare to present your case to a jury. 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 will not get a favorable outcome if we go to court. Many high settlements are offered on the eve of trial.
Our car accident attorneys know that you want to be compensated quickly. However, if there are issues at play and the other side does not want to pay you fairly, we are prepared to take them all the way through trial. We fight for our Hinsdale, 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 Hinsdale, 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, read through to understand your case better. You can also see our FAQs and legal glossary for more information.
Most Common Types of Car Accidents in Hinsdale, 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 data from the National Safety Council, 25% of collisions can be blamed on improper backing procedures, and those accidents cause more than 500 deaths and 15,000 injuries every year, many of them to children in parking lots.If someone else backed into you or your car, the insurance adjuster will likely assume that you are at fault, as most rear to front accidents are the fault of the second driver. Skilled car accident attorneys will be able to prove 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, when making a claim you will have to battle against a large insurance company instead of a single adjuster. A car accident lawyer will stand up for you and defend your rights.
Fatal Car Crashes — There is nothing as tragic as having someone you love taken away too soon. While nothing can replace your loss, a wrongful death claim can help provide a sense of justice, and ease the financial burden their loss placed on you.
Head-on Collisions — Head-on collisions are especially dangerous because both cars are usually moving at full speed, and the driver and front passenger are exposed to flying glass and debris. They account for just two percent of all auto accidents, but are responsible for one out of 10 driving fatalities. In addition to fatalities, they can cause devastating injuries.
Intersection Accidents — Based on data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, one out of five motor vehicle accidents happen at intersections. Intersection accidents are often caused by drivers not paying attention and drunk driving and failure to yield.
Multi-Vehicle Accidents — Multi-vehicle accidents are often “chain reaction” accidents where more than one driver is negligent. Everyone’s insurance company will try to blame someone else. Burger Law’s Hinsdale, IL car accident attorneys will prove how each negligent driver contributed to your injuries.
Road Construction Accidents — Construction companies have a responsibility to ensure their construction zones are safe for drivers, including having adequate warning zones 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 failed in that duty and you ended up injured.
Burger Law’s Hinsdale, IL car accident attorneys have seen claims involving any conditions and circumstances imaginable — and gotten great results for our clients while working on them. We know how to investigate accident cases and prove liability on the part of the negligent driver.
How Much Compensation Will I Receive For My Hinsdale, IL Car Accident Injuries?
Your compensation is intended to reimburse you for two kinds of damages: economic damages, such as medical expenses and lost wages, and non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering and emotional stress An experienced car accident attorney like those at Burger Law know how to calculate every dollar someone is owed. We will demand justice in your case.
To calculate 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, proscriptions and/or testing
Assistive devices such as crutches
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
In the event of future economic damages, we consult with economic experts to value how much those will cost in the future, and include estimated inflation in our settlement demand package.
After we have calculated economic damages, we will put a monetary value on the less tangible ways your life has been affected. Typically, that is done by 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 two weeks, your car accident attorney might demand a multiplier of three. Therefore:
$30,000 X 3 = $90,000
Your total damages would then be $120,000.
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 higher compensation. Factors that help determine what your claim is worth include:
The extent of your injuries
How much medical treatment you needed, and if you will need more treatment in the future
If your injuries resulted in disfigurement or disability
Your wage loss damages
If you can no longer earn a living as you used to and have lost earning capacity damages
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 saying your injuries were your fault. 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 Hinsdale, 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 noteworthy exceptions:
For wrongful death claims you have two years from when your family member passed – not not from, when the crash occurred.
If you or your loved one was a minor when the accident occurred, you have until their 20th 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 than accident but before the statute of limitations ran out, that time does not count against the statute of limitations. 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 is not as long as it sounds. Do not wait to call a car accident attorney immediately. 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 go over your case in detail.
Other claims we get great results for in Hinsdale, IL include:
Speak to Our Hinsdale, IL Car Accident Attorneys Today
Burger Law’s car accident attorneys are committed devoted to getting justice for our Hinsdale, IL clients. You did not ask to be injured, 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, call Burger Law‘s car accident attorneys today at (779) 800-HURT or contact us online for a complimentary consultation.
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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