PROTECTING YOUR RIGHTS WHEN YOU A LOVED ONE ARE INJURED
Car Accident Attorneys in Jerseyville, IL
Car accident attorneys in Jerseyville, IL. The physical, motional and economic toll that result from being injured in a car accident are catastrophic. You need an experienced Jerseyville, IL car accident lawyer that you can trust to be made whole again. Speak to Burger Law‘s car accident attorneys now at (779) 800-HURT or complete our online form for a free consultation.
If a reckless driver hurt you in Jerseyville or any other part of Illinois see what compensation you may be eligible for by using our free personal injury calculator.
It is hard to know how to proceed after a car accident injury. You might not be certain whether or not you should get medical treatment, how to file a claim and if there is anything else you can do to make sure that you get justice for your injuries. 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 the personal injury claims process. Our law firm has won over $200 million for our clients, and is ready to fight for you.
You deserve to have an amazing team fight for your rights during your car accident claim. Call an attorney at (779) 800-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. Do not settle for less than you deserve.
Jerseyville, IL Car Accident Attorneys That Win
With any type of tort case, the outcome matters. You want to know that you are giving your case to an attorney who can handle it, and that they will not back down until you get the full compensation you deserve. Any car accident 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 car accident results:
Steps to Take After a Car Accident in Jerseyville, IL
Car Accidents are traumatic events. 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 what you should do both right after a crash, and in the days and weeks that follow:
Get to safety if possible — If you are not too injured to move and your car is working, drive to a place where other vehicles will not hit you. If your vehicle is not working, put on its emergency lights and wait until its safe for you to walk to the side of the road. Exerting yourself physically can make some injuries worse. Look to see if anyone else involved in the crash is injured. Render aid if you are able and know how to.
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 ascertain negligence in an accident and a police report is invaluable when making a claim. If you do not know if you require emergency services or not, always call 911 and let the operator decide if your accident is an emergency.
Exchange information with other driver — Once you can do so safely, communicate with any other driver involved in the crash. Make sure to get a copy of their insurance card and their insurance information. If the other driver says it was their fault, ask some follow-up questions to try to get them to admit what happened. You do not need to feel like you are starting an argument, you are just asking for information.
DO NOT admit liability — In conversations with police, the other driver and an insurance company, you can offer a brief description of events from your point of view. But never say it was your fault. There may be contributing factors you are not immediately aware of, and admitting fault will bring complications when you are trying to seek a recovery.
Collect whatever evidence you can — 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 name and phone number so they can corroborate your story down the road.
Get medical attention — If you were not treated at the scene or taken to an emergency room by ambulance, go to an emergency room immediately after an accident or later that day, or see your doctor 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.
Call Jerseyville, IL car accident attorneys — If you were injured in an auto accident, it is more likely than not that a lawyer is the only way to get the full recovery you are owed. Write down a list of questions beforehand, such as how they take their attorneys’ fees, if they have won your type of case before, 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 need to — Make sure you go to every appointment, whether that means surgery, physical therapy or spinal adjustments with a chiropractor. You need to do this 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 on our blog.
Burger Law has helped hundreds of injured parties in Jerseyville and throughout Illinois navigate the confusing aftermath of a car accident claim. Get in touch with our car accident attorneys today at (779) 800-HURT if you have any concerns about how to proceed with your claim.
What Kind of Hurdles Are There In Jerseyville, IL Car Accident Claims?
In a perfect world, the negligent driver’s insurance company would have enough coverage and the willingness to fairly compensate you for your injuries. But far too often there are difficulties that come up and the other side refuses to do the right thing. A few of the issues our car accident attorneys see the most in Jerseyville, IL are:
The negligent driver has no coverage —Illinois requires drivers to have a minimum amount of liability insurance in case they cause an accident. But some drivers do not follow the rules, and that can cause doubt about how to proceed. Our car accident attorneys now how to file 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 secure a full recovery.
The other driver does not have enough insurance — 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 file an underinsured motorist claim against your own insurance. Sometimes, we can uncover further insurance the other driver has that your accident falls under.
The other driver denies 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 pin your injuries on you or somebody else, we will conduct a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding your accident and take sworn depositions so the question of their liability is no longer in doubt.
The insurance company is trying to lowball you —Insurance adjusters utilize a lot of deceitful tactics to devalue claims, and you will need an attorney to stand up to them. If they still will not be fair after we send a settlement demand letter, we will not hesitate file a lawsuit, proceed to discovery and start getting ready for trial. Often, simply the presence of tough and experienced trial car accident attorneys like those at Burger Law is enough to get the insurance company to offer you what we demanded; they know they will lose 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 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 other side does not want to do the right thing, we are prepared to take them all the way through trial. We fight for our Jerseyville, IL clients until there is nothing left to fight. We have dealt with all of these issues and more hundreds of times and have won countless Illinois car accident cases in jury trials.
Car Accident Attorneys in Jerseyville, IL — Resources for The Injured
Our team has literally written the book on car accidents claims, which you can download below, read through to have a better understanding of how to proceed. You can also check out our FAQs and legal glossary to better understand the claims process.
Most Common Types of Car Accidents in Jerseyville, 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. Common examples are:
Backup Accidents — Based on data from the National Safety Council, one out of four accidents can be blamed on poor backing techniques, and those crashes cause more than 500 fatalities and 15,000 injuries annually, many of them to pedestrians.If another vehicle backed into you or your car, the insurance company will likely assume that you are to blame, as the rear driver is almost always responsible in rear to front accidents. 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, rideshare companies have more insurance coverage, when making a claim you will be going up against a large corporation instead of a single adjuster. A car accident lawyer can help level the playing field.
Fatal Car Crashes — There is nothing as tragic as having someone you love taken away too soon. While nothing can truly compensate you for your loss, a wrongful death claim can help provide a sense of recognition, and ease the financial burden their loss placed on you.
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 auto accidents, but account for one out of 10 traffic-related deaths. Beyond fatalities, they can lead to incredibly serious injuries.
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 Jerseyville, IL car accident attorneys will ensure that every liable party is held accountable.
Road Construction Accidents — Construction companies are obligated to take steps to ensure their construction sites are safe for drivers, including having sufficient warning zones and that dangerous locations are cordoned off. In addition to another driver, we can make a claim against a construction company if they were negligent and their negligence injured you.
Burger Law’s Jerseyville, 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 Is Compensation Calculated in Jerseyville, IL Car Accident Claims?
Financial recoveries in car accident claims generally compensate 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, such as pain and suffering and emotional stress An important aspect of any car accident attorney’s job is properly calculating the full extent of someone’s damages. We will demand justice in your case.
To calculate your damages, we will first add together all of your economic damages. This includes:
Lost wages and lost earning potential
Any medical appointments, surgeries, medications and/or evaluations
Assistive devices such as braces
Future medical expenses, such as additional surgeries, 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 work with economic experts to value how much those will cost in the future, and adjust our settlement demand to incorporate expected inflation.
After we have calculated economic damages, we will put a monetary value on the less tangible ways your life has been affected. 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 to be in pain for a month or more, 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 reserved for catastrophic or permanent injuries.
What Factors Go Into How Much My Claim Is Worth?
More serious injuries result in more compensation. Factors that help determine what your claim is worth include:
The type and severity 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 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 contributed to the accident in any way
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 sick leave available or by saying your injuries were your fault. We fight back against bullies so they know that will not work. In over 30 years of experience standing up to insurance adjusters, and to date have secured over $200 million in compensation.
What Is the Statute Of Limitations For Car Accident Claims in Jerseyville, 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:
If you are making a wrongful death claim for the loss of a loved one, you have two years from the date of that loved one’s death – not the date of the accident.
If you or your loved one was a minor when the accident occurred, you have two years from 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 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 hesitate 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 the specifics of your case.
Speak to Our Jerseyville, IL Car Accident Attorneys Today
Burger Law’s car accident attorneys are dedicated to getting justice for our Jerseyville, IL clients. You did not want to be injured, and you should not have to pay for another person’s mistakes. 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 now at (779) 800-HURT or contact us online for a no-risk, no-obligation case evaluation.
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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