Car Accident Attorneys in Stockton, IL

Car accident attorneys in Stockton, IL. The physical, mental and economic hardships you sustain because of being injured in a car accident can be devastating. You need an aggressive Stockton, IL car accident lawyer to fight for you to secure you the full financial recovery you deserve. Call Burger Law‘s car accident attorneys today at (312) 500-HURT or contact us online for a free case evaluation.

If you were injured in a car accident in Stockton or anywhere in Illinois see how much your claim may be worth by filling out 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 alone. You might not be certain whether or not you should get medical treatment, what the process for seeking compensation is 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.

When a negligent driver injures you, you should be focused on healing and getting your life back to the way it was before the accident. Your compensation should be guaranteed and taken care of, but unfortunately, this is not always the case. If the responsible party refuses to do right by you, you need a competent and aggressive attorney to fight on your behalf. The Stockton, IL car accident lawyers of Burger Law know how important your claim is to you and are dedicated to getting you the money you rightfully deserve.

We know it seems like no one will treat you fairly. Reach out to a lawyer at (312) 500-HURT or complete our online form now. Our auto accident law firm, does not take any fees 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 deserve.

Stockton, IL Car Accident Attorneys With a Proven Track Record of Victories

In any kind of tort case, results matter. You want to have full confidence in your lawyer’s abilities, and that they will not back down until you get 100 percent of the recovery and compensation you deserve. A personal injury lawyer saying they are the best is one thing; a lawyer with client testimonials and results that can prove it is another. Below are several of our recent victories:

• $2.5 Million for Father’s Fatal Car Accident
• $2 Million for Traumatic Brain Injury
• $2 Million for Multi-Car Accident Caused by Debris
• $7650,000 After Fatal Collision
• $327,500 For On-Ramp Car Accident
• From $11,000 Offer to $250,000 Policy Limits Settlement
• $222,000 Car Crash Settlement
• $150,000 Phantom Motorist Settlement
• $150,000 Policy Limits Settlement For Minor
• $125,000 Combined Policy Limits Settlement
• $3,900 Offer to $100,000 Settlement
• From Complete Denial to $100,000 Policy Limits Settlement

Steps to Take After a Car Accident in Stockton, IL

Car Accidents can be traumatizing. Knowing what to do when one happens can absolutely make the difference in your case, however, a lot of people have never had to go through the injury claims process before. Below what you should do both immediately after an accident, and in the days and weeks that follow:

• Get to the side of the road 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. If you are seriously injured and cannot move, wait for emergency personnel to arrive, as trying to move can make your injury 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, call 911 immediately. Either way, call for police so they can interview you and the other driver and make their report. Police are trained to assign negligence in an accident and their 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.
• Talk to the other driver — After it is safe to do so, communicate with any other driver involved in the crash. 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 need to feel like you are starting an argument, you are just trying to find out what happened.
• Never admit fault — When talking to the other driver or the police, you can provide them with a concise description of how things occurred as you saw them. But never say it was your fault. There may be details you are not immediately aware of, and admitting fault will bring complications when you are attempting to get a compensation.
• Gather whatever evidence you can — Take pictures of all the vehicles involved and the road, including any skid marks or any other property damage the accident caused. If there are eyewitnesses, get their name and phone number 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 doctor 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.
• Speak to Stockton, 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 get the full recovery you are owed. Ask them a series of questions, for example how they accept payment, if they have won your type of case before, how much they think your claim is worth and if they are ready to fight for you in a courtroom.
• Go to every medical appointment you need to — Make sure you go to every appointment, whether that includes surgery, physical therapy or spinal adjustments with a chiropractor. You need to do this not only so you can achieve maximum medical improvement, but will lead to a greater recovery as your pain and suffering damages will be higher. You can learn more about how pain and suffering is calculated here.

Most people in Stockton, IL have never had to make a personal injury claim before, and we help guide them through the entire process. Speak to our car accident attorneys today at (312) 500-HURT if you have any questions about what the next steps are after an accident.

What Kind of Issues Come Up In Stockton, IL Car Accident Claims?

In a perfect world, you would not have to fight to get the compensation you deserve. But, unfortunately, it is not uncommon to see that there are difficulties that arise and the insurance adjuster does not want to do the right thing. Several of the complications our car accident attorneys see the most in Stockton, IL include:

• The other driver was uninsured — Illinois has minimum insurance requirements for all motorists. But not everyone actually pays for it, and that can cause doubt about how to proceed. Our car accident attorneys have filed hundreds of uninsured motorist claims for our clients against their own insurance companies . 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 negligent party is uninsured — 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 coverage, we can pursue a underinsured motorist claim against your own insurance. Sometimes, we can discover umbrella policies that your accident falls under.
• The negligent driver will not admit fault — Unfortunately, it is not surprising that some negligent people refuse to take accountability for their wrongdoing. If the other driver will not admit fault, we will conduct a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding your accident and take depositions of all parties – under oath – so the question of their liability is no longer in doubt.
• The insurance company is trying to lowball you — Insurance adjusters utilize numerous different tricks to minimize claims, and most times an attorney is needed to get them to be fair. If they still will not be fair after our settlement demand package, 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 enough to get the insurance company to offer you what we demanded; they know they have no chance if we go to court. We have gotten a lot of great settlements on the eve of trial.

Our car accident attorneys always try to settle a case as soon as possible. However, if there are issues at play and the other side does not want to see reason, we we will defend your rights at trial. We do not stop fighting for our Stockton, IL clients until they are compensated. There is not type of car accident claim we have not seen before.

Car Accident Attorneys in Stockton, IL — Resources to Help With Your Car Accident Claim

Our founder and principle has literally written the book on mistakes people make in auto accident claims, which you receive for free by filling out the form below, reference to have a better understanding of how to proceed. You can also look through our FAQs and legal glossary to better understand the claims process.

Causes and Types of Car Accidents in Stockton, IL

No two car accidents are exactly alike, but they generally happen for similar reasons. Some examples are:

• Backup Accidents — According to the National Safety Council, 25% of collisions occur because of improper backing procedures, and those accidents are responsible for more than 500 fatalities and 15,000 injuries every year, many of them to children in parking lots.If another vehicle backed into your vehicle, the insurance company will likely fight back against your claim, as the rear driver is almost always at fault in rear to front accidents. Knowledgeable car accident attorneys will be able to prove how the other driver caused the accident.
• Carpool and Rideshare Accidents — Uber or Lyft accidents themselves are not too different from any other auto wreck. However, while policy limits tend to be higher, when making a claim you will be going up against a large insurance company instead of just an adjuster. A car accident lawyer will stand up for you and defend your rights.
• Distracted Driving Accidents — Distracted driving is responsible for more than 3,000 deaths annually. Looking at a phone for 4.6 seconds at 50 MPH distracts a driver from the road for 120 yards. Common distractions include:
  • Texting and driving
  • Eating and/or drinking
  • Looking for items in the car
  • Adjusting system controls
  • Combing, shaving or putting on makeup
  • Talking to a passenger
  • Daydreaming
• Drunk Driving Accidents — Drunk driving causes about one death every 45 minutes. Drunk driving should never happen. Under the doctrine of negligence per se, a drunk driver is automatically assumed liable for your injuries, but you will still need someone to fight for you to ensure all your damages are paid for.
• Fatal Car Crashes — There is no nightmare once can face than having a family member taken away by a negligent driver. While nothing can truly compensate you for your loss, a wrongful death claim can deliver a sense of justice, 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 susceptible to debris and being flown from the car. They make up just two percent of all traffic accidents, but are responsible for one out of 10 driving fatalities. In addition to fatalities, they can cause incredibly serious 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 distracted driving and drunk driving and failure to yield.
• Multi-Vehicle Accidents — Sometimes there are “chain reaction” accidents where more than one driver is at fault. Everyone’s insurance company will try to blame someone else. Burger Law’s Stockton, IL car accident attorneys will prove how each negligent driver contributed to your injuries.
• Rear-End Accidents — These are the most common auto accidents, making up three out of 10 motor vehicle accidents. Common injuries include whiplash and traumatic brain injuries.
• Road Construction Accidents — Construction companies are obligated to ensure their construction sites are safe for drivers, including having sufficient warning zones and that cones are placed to keep drivers out of dangerous areas. In addition to another driver, we can make a claim against a construction company if they failed in that duty and you ended up injured.
• Speeding Accidents — Statewide in 2020, speeding was a factor in 31.9 percent of all crashes, 44.9 percent 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 Stockton, 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 gather the facts to substantiate your claim and prove liability on the part of the negligent driver.

How Much Compensation Will I Receive For My Stockton, IL Car Accident Injuries?

Your compensation is intended to reimburse you for two things: economic damages, such as medical expenses 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 demand justice in your case.

To determine the full extent of your damages, we first need to total all 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
• Future medical expenses, such as additional surgeries, replacement wheelchairs, or eventual replacement of artificial joints
• Out-of-pocket expenses like transportation costs to and from medical appointments

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 letter.

After we have calculated economic damages, we will calculate how much you should be compensated for for your non-economic damages. Usually, 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 decide your economic damages should be multiplied by three. Therefore:

$30,000 X 3 = $90,000

Your final compensation would then be $120,000.

Three is the most common multiplier used, 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 more 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 have more medical expenses down the road
• If your injuries resulted in disfigurement or disability
• Your wage loss damages
• If you can no longer work 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 will not let them get away with that. In over 30 years of experience standing up to insurance adjusters, and to date have recovered over $200 million in compensation.

How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Claim in Stockton, IL?

Each state has its own statute of limitations for injury claims. According to 735 ILCS 5/13-202, Illinois’ is shorter than most other states at just two years. There are three important exceptions:

1. If you are making a wrongful death claim for the loss of a loved one, you have two years from when your loved one passed – not the date of the accident.
2. If you or your loved one was a minor when the accident occurred, you have two years from their 18th birthday.
3. 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 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 is not as long as it sounds. 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 (312) 500-HURT to go over your case in detail.

Other cases we handle in Stockton, IL include:

• Truck Crash Lawyers in Illinois
• Wrongful Death Lawyers in Illinois
• Semi-Truck Accident Lawyer in Illinois
• Car Accident Attorney in Illinois

Call Burger Law

Speak to Our Stockton, IL Car Accident Attorneys Today

Burger Law’s car accident attorneys are dedicated to getting each of our Stockton, 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 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, speak to Burger Law‘s car accident attorneys now at (312) 500-HURT or contact us online for a free case review.

• Pedestrian Accidents
• Bicycle Accidents
• Hit and Run
• Drunk Driving
• Distracted Driving
• Texting and Driving
• Speeding Accidents
• Fatal Car Crash
• Head-On Collisions
• Rear-Ended
• Multi-Vehicle Accidents
• Intersection Accidents
• Road Construction Accidents
• Carpool Accidents
• Backup Accident
• Whiplash Injury
• Spinal Cord Injury
• Brain Injuries
• Underinsured Motorist Claims
• Uninsured Motorist Claims
• Phantom Motorist Claims

Client Reviews

What our clients are saying about us

Juanita Matthews

Year of 2023

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!

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