PROTECTING YOUR RIGHTS WHEN YOU A LOVED ONE ARE INJURED
Car Accident Attorneys in Pontiac, IL
Car accident attorneys in Pontiac, IL. Injuries from car accidents create unexpected economic, mental and physical burdens. You need a tenacious Pontiac, IL car accident lawyer on your side to to truly recover from every way that your injuries have affected you. Speak to Burger Law‘s car accident attorneys immediately at (312) 500-HURT or contact us online for a complimentary case evaluation.
If a negligent driver injured you in Pontiac, IL see what compensation you may be eligible for by completing our free personal injury calculator.
It is difficult to know how to proceed after somebody crashes into you. You may be unsure what the best treatment options are for you, 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. 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.
We know it seems like the whole world is against you. Call an attorney at (312) 500-HURT or fill out 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 insist on the best recovery possible. Do not settle for less than you are owed.
Pontiac, IL Car Accident Attorneys With a Proven Track Record of Victories
With any kind of legal claim, results matter. 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 100 percent of the recovery and compensation you are owed. Any personal injury lawyer can say they will fight for you, but not all of them can prove it. Below are several of our recent victories:
Car Accidents can be traumatizing. 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. The following are the steps you should take both immediately after a car wreck to ensure both a successful physical recovery and the success of your claim:
Get to safety if you can — If you can move and your car can drive, drive to a place where other vehicles will not hit you. If your car will not drive, activate 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. Assess whether anyone else in the vehicle is hurt. Render aid if you can.
Call 911 for emergency medical assistance, or a non-emergency line for police — If someone needs emergency medical care, always call 911. Either way, call a non-emergency line and request for police to come so they can make a report. Police have the training and experience to assign fault in a crash and their report is a crucial 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.
Exchange information with other driver — Once you can do so safely, exit your vehicle and get the other driver’s information. Make sure to get a copy of their insurance card and their contact info. If the other driver admits fault, ask a few more questions to try to get them to admit what happened. You do not have to be confrontational, you are just trying to find out what happened.
DO NOT admit fault — In conversations with police, the other driver and an insurance company, you can offer a short, clear description of events from your point of view. But never say it was your fault. There may be details you do not know yet, and admitting fault will make it very hard to get a recovery.
Collect evidence from the scene — Take pictures of all the vehicles involved and the surrounding area, 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 version of events when you make a claim.
Seek out medical treatment — 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 general practitioner in the day or days after the accident. Medical treatment is not only necessary to ensure you recover physically, but you need documentation in order to make an injury claim.
Call Pontiac, IL car accident attorneys — If you were injured because someone else broke the rules of the road, chances are 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, including 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.
Continue medical treatment — 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 discover how pain and suffering is calculated here.
Burger Law has helped hundreds of injured parties in Pontiac and throughout Illinois navigate the confusing aftermath of a car accident claim. Speak to our car accident attorneys immediately at (312) 500-HURT if you have any doubts about what the next steps are after an accident.
What Kind of Hurdles Are There In Pontiac, 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 complications arise and the other side refuses to do the right thing. Several of the problems our car accident attorneys see the most in Pontiac, IL are:
The negligent driver has no coverage —Illinois requires drivers to have at least minimum liability insurance coverage. But some drivers do not follow the rules, and you may be left wondering where to turn. Our car accident attorneys have filed hundreds of uninsured motorist claims in the event that a negligent driver does not have insurance . However, filing a claim is not made easier because it is the insurance company you have been paying into – an attorney is usually still required to stand up to the insurance company and get you what you deserve.
The other driver is uninsured — Depending on the policyholder’s policy limits, they may not have enough to fully compensate you. If your damages exceed the at-fault driver’s policy limits, 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 driver will not admit doing anything wrong — Unfortunately, it is not surprising that some negligent people do not want to take responsibility for their actions. If the other driver is trying to blame you for the accident, we will gather evidence and take depositions of all parties – under oath – so their negligence is no longer in doubt.
The insurance company refuses to be fair —Insurance adjusters utilize numerous different deceitful tactics to devalue claims, and you will need an attorney to stand up to them. If they still will not be fair after they receive our settlement demand letter, we will immediately bring a claim against them in court, litigate the case and start getting ready to present your case to a jury. Often, once they know our car accident attorneys are on the case, it is enough to get the insurance company to make an offer that is truly fair; they know they will lose if we go to court. We have gotten a lot of great settlements 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 Pontiac, IL clients until they are compensated. We know how to use the law to get our clients the recoveries they need to move forward.
Car Accident Attorneys in Pontiac, IL — Resources to Help With Your Car Accident Claim
Our founder and principle has literally written the book on car accidents claims, which you can download below, reference to have a better understanding of how to proceed. You can also check out our FAQs and legal glossary for more information.
Causes and Types of Car Accidents in Pontiac, 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, a quarter of crashes are due to poor backing techniques, and those crashes are responsible for more than 500 deaths and 15,000 injuries every year, many of them to children in parking lots.If someone else backed into your vehicle, the insurance company will probably not believe your claim, as the rear driver is almost always liable in rear to front accidents. Knowledgeable 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, 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 a family member taken away too soon. While nothing can replace your loss, a wrongful death claim can bring a feeling of recognition, and ease the financial burden their loss placed on you.
Head-on Collisions — Head-on collisions are particularly dangerous because both cars are going fast, and the driver and front passenger are exposed to flying glass and debris. They account for just two percent of all traffic accidents, but account for one out of 10 traffic-related deaths. In addition to fatalities, they can lead to horrible injuries.
Intersection Accidents — According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administrations’s report on intersection-related crashes, over a third of all motor vehicle accidents occur 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 multiple drivers are negligent. Everyone’s insurance company will try to blame someone else. Burger Law’s Pontiac, 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, meaning there are sufficient warnings and that dangerous locations are cordoned off. In addition to a negligent driver, we can make a claim against a construction company if they failed in that duty and you ended up injured.
Burger Law’s Pontiac, IL car accident attorneys have seen any type of auto claim you can think of — and won them. We know how to gather the facts to substantiate your claim and prove how the other party is responsible for your injuries.
How Much Compensation Will I Receive For My Pontiac, IL Car Accident Injuries?
Financial recoveries in car accident claims typically compensate you for two things: economic damages, including your cost of treatment and lost wages, and non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering and emotional stress A knowledgeable car accident attorney like those at Burger Law know how to calculate 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 calculate your damages, we will first add together 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 tests
Assistive devices such as crutches
Medical costs you might have in the future, such as additional procedures, replacement assistive devices, 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 we have calculated economic damages, we will put a monetary value on the less tangible ways your life has been affected. Most often, your attorney will use the “multiplier method,” multiplying your economic damages by a factor between 1.5 and five.
For example, say you have $30,000 in economic damages, and your injuries caused you to be in pain for several weeks, your car accident attorney might decide your economic damages should be multiplied by 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 Factors Go Into How Much My Claim Is Worth?
More serious injuries result in higher compensation. 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 scarring or disability
The amount of time spent off work
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 blaming your injuries on you. We will not let them get away with that. In our more than 30 years of experience standing up to insurance adjusters, and to date have recovered over $200 million for our clients.
How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Claim in Pontiac, IL?
Each state sets its own rules for how long to have a claim. Pursuant to 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 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 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 you were injured but within the two-year time limit, that time does not count against the statute of limitations. 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 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 (312) 500-HURT to discuss your case in detail.
Other claims we get great results for in Pontiac, IL include:
Speak to Our Pontiac, IL Car Accident Attorneys Today
Burger Law’s car accident attorneys are dedicated to getting each of our Pontiac, 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 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 (312) 500-HURT or fill out our online form for a complimentary 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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