Car Accident Lawyer Gurnee, IL

Car Accident Lawyer in Gurnee, IL. If you were injured on the road due to another driver’s irresponsible behavior in Gurnee, IL, call a Burger Law car accident lawyer today at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a complimentary case evaluation. We help our clients in Gurnee and anywhere in Missouri collect full financial recoveries for their injuries. You do not owe us any fees until we win your case.

In a perfect society, everyone would operate motor vehicles safely without hurting anyone. In a somewhat less perfect society, when people cause others harm they would take responsibility for their behavior and their insurance company would give you maximum compensation without you having to fight for it. In the real world, negligent drivers frequently do not want to be held accountable for hurting you and their insurance companies will do anything they can to diminish your payout. That is when Burger Law takes actions. Our car accident lawyer team supports the injured and vulnerable in Gurnee and throughout Missouri in insisting on full and fair compensation for their damages, and we do not stop until you get it. Your life can change in a split second because of another driver’s negligence, and Burger Law will stand by your side to make certain you get the justice and financial security you are owed for your accident.

In more than 30 years of experience, our car accident lawyer team has gotten over $175 million in verdicts and settlements for our Illinois clients. If you were hurt because someone else was careless, learn the value of your injuries by using our complimentary personal injury calculator.

How Common are Car Accidents in Gurnee and Illinois?

According to data from the Illinois Department of Transportation, in 2020 there were 246,752 auto collisions in the state, which caused 72,989 injuries and 1,195 deaths. In 2021, nearly 50 percent of deadly accidents transpired in urban locales such as Chicago and Cook County. Over a quarter of Chicago and Illinois accidents involved alcohol and over 33 percent of the drivers who died had drunk alcohol before the crash. Illinois is the 10th most dangerous state for winter driving, and the 10th most dangerous state in general.

While there is the atypical accident that may be unavoidable, such as an animal leaping out in front of your automobile, nearly every Gurnee, IL motor vehicle crash is preventable. Human error is the main cause of motor vehicle crashes, as it is a factor in 94 percent of wrecks. When you have to pick up the pieces after you are injured because of a driver’s inattention or thoughtless actions, you may go through a variety of emotions, which could include vulnerability, fear and doubt about how you will pay for all the medical expenses, especially if you have to miss work. You do not have to go through this process by yourself. Every car accident lawyer at Burger Law has committed their career to offering expert and compassionate advocacy and legal representation to injured residents of Gurnee, IL. We will help safeguard you and your family’s future by getting you the best possible financial recovery not just for your medical bills, but for any mental or physical agony and inconvenience you experienced. Call us today at (314) 500-HURT to start on your road to recovery.

Common Causes of Car Accidents | Gurnee, IL Car Accident Lawyer

There are countless ways in which people can become injured on the road. The National Safety Council has identified 23 factors that commonly cause auto crashes. The following are some of the most frequent causes that your Burger Law car accident lawyer sees in Gurnee, IL:

Drunk Driving

Drunk driving and drug-impaired driving are main causes of death and injury in traffic collisions cases. About 28 people perish each day because of driving while intoxicated, or one person every 52 minutes. Drunk driving collisions are one of the few cases in personal injury lawsuits where you could also be able to be awarded punitive damages. When we sue drunk drivers on your behalf, we do it so they understand precisely how dangerous and reckless their actions were.

Distracted Driving

Multitasking is a lie. While we may think we can multitask behind the wheel, frequently to save time, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration attributed 3,142 deaths to distracted driving in 2020. It is never worth those two extra minutes to finish combing your hair in the car.

Texting and driving can slow a driver’s reaction time worse than when they are impaired by alcohol.

Speeding

According to the 2020 Illinois Crash Facts and Statistics, of the 246,752 traffic wrecks in Illinois, a third involved speeding, including 37.3 percent of wrecks that resulted in injury and 44.9 percent of fatal accidents. Speeding is hazardous because it greatly reduces the reaction time of both the negligent driver and others on the Gurnee, IL roads, and it effects more force in accidents.

Drowsy Driving

While many people know about the dangers of distracted driving or drunk driving, driving while fatigued has similar effects to driving while drunk. Losing just two hours of sleep is the the same as having three beers. Drivers always need to pull over to the side of the road and rest if they are feeling sleepy.

Poor Weather

You cannot sue the weather, but the Illinois Rules of the Road puts in place clear safety measures that drivers need to follow in poor weather, for instance signaling far before making a turn in fog or expanding following distance when it is snowing. If another driver in Gurnee, IL does not drive responsibly for weather conditions and causes you injury, your Burger Law car accident lawyer will be able to bring a claim against them for negligent driving.

Defective Parts

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that faulty components were the principal factor in approximately 2 percent of auto accidents. Manufacturers must safely manufacture vehicles, test them and issue recalls whenever a faulty parts is learned of. If your injuries were because of defective brakes or an airbag that did not deploy, your Burger Law car accident lawyer will help you file a claim against a manufacturer.

Regardless of the cause of your damages, the Gurnee, IL car accident lawyer team of Burger Law will get to the bottom of your crash, ascertain who is liable, hold them responsible and secure you the best possible compensation for your damages. We pride ourselves on offering expert and empathetic legal counsel to Gurnee, IL residents who have been harmed through no fault of their own, irrespective of of their financial standing. If a thoughtless driver hurt you, get in touch with a Gurnee, IL Burger Law car accident lawyer immediately at (314) 500-HURT.

Check out some of the following links to see the great results Burger Law’s Gurnee, IL car accident lawyer team has delivered for our clients:

• • • $2 million Multi-Vehicle Collision Settlement
    • $765,000 Wrongful Death Car Accident Settlement Against Fire Department
    • $327,000 Settlement for Rear-End Collision
    • $250,000 Settlement for Crash After A Driver Ran a Red Light
    • $205,000 Settlement After Failure to Stop at a Stop Sign
    • $125,000 Settlement After Rear-End Collision at a Stop Light
    • $100,000 Settlement for Distracted Driving
    • $100,000 Settlement for Head-On Collision
    • $90,000 Settlement for an Injured Passenger

Winning Your Car Crash Case | Gurnee, IL Car Accident Lawyer

In order to win your case, your car accident lawyer will need to show the five elements of negligence found in tort law:

1. Duty of Care: Your car accident lawyer must show that the other person had a responsibility to prioritize your safety. In car collision cases this is a given. The Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/11-1003.1) specifies that drivers are “to exercise due care.” So anybody who drives automatically owes you a duty of care.
2. Breach of Duty: After establishing a duty of care, your car accident lawyer must demonstrate that the defendant neglected that duty. In motor vehicle collisions, there can be egregious breaches like drunk driving or reckless driving, and there can be less clear cases such as not signaling properly. Your Gurnee, IL car accident lawyer at Burger Law knows all the rules of the road and how to investigate accidents to prove how another person was negligent and caused you injuries.
3. Cause in Fact: Also referred to “causation,” you must prove that the driver’s violation of duty directly caused your damages. Often insurance companies try to argue that you already had your injuries, or that they are due to weakening with old age. Your car accident lawyer at Burger Law knows how to conclusively show exactly how the accident caused your injuries. For instance, we can show through presentations and medical professionals’ official statements that your whiplash injury was caused by being rear-ended.
4. Proximate Cause: This is what ultimately establishes negligence. Imagine a scenario where a driver runs a red light and runs into you in an intersection, causing you injuries. If the driver was drunk, they are obviously at fault. If the other driver’s brakes were defective and failed to function correctly, then a manufacturer, mechanic or vendor could be held accountable in a product liability lawsuit.
5. Damages. The final aspect to show is that there was some form of loss, such as medical expenses, mental agony or time away from work because of your injury. One of the best pros to hiring a car accident lawyer is that we know every category of loss you are owed and know how to determine them. The other driver and their insurance company will endeavor to devalue your damages, but the Gurnee, IL car accident lawyer team of Burger Law will insist that you collect the best possible compensation.

Can I Still Receive Compensation in Illinois if I Was Partially Liable? | Gurnee, IL Car Accident Lawyer

If you were partly liable for your traffic collision in Gurnee, IL, your car accident lawyer will still be able to secure you a financial recovery, however the sum will be less. Illinois is a modified contributory fault state, which means that your compensation will be decreased by the percentage of liability you share in your wreck.

Meaning, if you are awarded $100,000 for injuries sustained in a rear-end collision, but a jury finds that you are liable for 30 percent of the blame because you stopped abruptly, you will recover $70,000 in total. It is important to note that 735 ILCS 5/ §2-1116 states that:

The plaintiff shall be barred from recovering damages if the trier of fact finds that the contributory fault on the part of the plaintiff is more than 50 percent of the proximate cause of the injury or damage for which recovery is sought.

That means that if you share more than half to blame for the accident, you will not be able to collect any financial recovery in Gurnee or anywhere Illinois.

Transferring blame onto you is a common trick insurance companies employ to diminish claims or circumvent paying them at all. The Gurnee, IL car accident lawyer team of Burger Law fights back against bullies like insurance companies who use devious gambits to eschew their obligation to reimburse you what you rightfully deserve. If an insurance company in Gurnee, IL is wrongfully attempting to place fault for your crash on you, call a Burger Law car accident lawyer now at (314) 500-HURT.

How Long Do I Have to Bring an Injury Claim in Illinois? | Gurnee, IL Car Accident Lawyer

Following an injury in a motor vehicle wreck, the state of Illinois’s statute of limitations lays out how long you can wait after the injuries occur to file your claim.

• Generally, Illinois Compiled Statute §735 ILCS 5/13-202 states that you have two years after the injuries occur to bring a personal injury claim.
• To make a wrongful death claim, Illinois Compiled Statute §740 ILCS 180/ dictates that you have two years from the date of your family member’s death – not the wreck.
• If your claim is only related to property damage, you have five years from the date of your accident to make a claim, under Illinois Compiled Statute §735 ILCS 13-205.
• According to Illinois Compiled Statute §735 ILCS 13-211, if if a minor was harmed, they have up to two years after the date of their 18th birthday to bring a claim. Likewise, if someone is under a disability at the time of the accident, they have until two years after the “disability is removed.”

If you have been injured in an auto accident, the clock is already ticking for when you can file your claim. Do not wait, reach out to a Burger Law car accident lawyer immediately at (314) 500-HURT to get justice and a full financial recovery for your damages. We begin working on your case straight away and do not let up until we win your case.

How to Avoid Auto Accidents | Gurnee, IL Car Accident Lawyer

Over three quarters of people who perish in auto crashes are drivers. Every Burger Law car accident lawyer has seen firsthand the damage that a thoughtless driver can cause. While you cannot always control other people’s actions, there are various actions you can take to protect yourself as well as others on the Gurnee, IL roads.

• Always wear a seatbelt. In 2017, seatbelts saved an estimated 14,955 lives. More than four-fifths of drivers and passengers who are completely thrown out of the vehicle die, and most of the rest sustained significant, life-altering injuries. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that wearing a seatbelt lowers the risk of death by almost half and moderate to critical injury by 50 percent.
• Be aware of the laws and best driving practices. The Illinois Secretary of State offers a Quick Guide to Safe Driving for Gurnee, IL drivers. Fundamental suggestions like driving at lower speeds and increasing following distance in winter conditions not only do a lot to keep you and other drivers and passengers safe, but they also protect you from liability or being partially blamed for a wreck if you do find yourself in one.
• If you drive a motorcycle, use a helmet. While Gurnee, IL does not have laws obligating motorcycle drivers to use helmets, they are literal life-savers. In 2017, helmets saved 1,872 lives.
• Put away your cell phone. While you can always call someone back, you can never take back the consequences of an auto wreck. Pull over safely if you need need your phone for an emergency. If you use your phone for directions, turn the volume up and do not listen to music or podcasts so you can clearly hear the directions and do not have to look down at your phone.
• Have the right attitude. The road is for everyone, and we all need to be respectful to other drivers, passengers and pedestrians. Be aware of the fact that you are controlling several tons of metal moving at high speeds. Safety should be the first thing on your mind. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, almost one-fourth of traffic deaths are people under the age of 25. Maturity is probably a contributing factor.
• Drive with both hands on the wheel. Only having one hand on the wheel can considerably lessen your control of the vehicle. Quickly changing the radio is likely OK, but both hands should be on the wheel the majority of the time.
• Call a taxi or ridesharing service if you have been drinking. Not only does alcohol significantly impede your ability to drive safely, but it also boosts your confidence and makes you feel more powerful, so you could think driving while drunk will be fine. Your brain might trick you into believing you can drive home safely, but it is never true.

You can take every precaution imaginable when you get behind the wheel, but unfortunately the careless behavior of irresponsible drivers can still injure you. When you get hurt because someone else broke the rules of the road, you are entitled to full compensation for all of your damages. Every Gurnee, IL car accident lawyer at Burger Law takes on and wins the tough cases, and knows how to get great results.

Learn more about our various practice areas by clicking the links below:

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

CALL BURGER LAW NOW

Car Accident Lawyer Gurnee, IL

You should never have had to carry the economic, physical and emotional hardships of someone else’s bad choices and careless actions. Fortunately, the law offers an avenue for restitution, but you only have one opportunity to get it. Trust in a car accident lawyer in Gurnee, IL who has attained results and won tough cases before. Burger Law persistently pursues lawsuits so insurance companies know we will settle for nothing but a complete financial recovery. We intimidate insurance companies because they know we use our hard work, savvy, experience, tenacity and devotion to always get the best possible results for our Gurnee, IL clients and see them made whole again. When you hire a Burger Law car accident lawyer, we get to work on your case right away and do not stop until you get the full financial recovery you deserve. Call a Burger Law car accident lawyer in Gurnee, IL immediately at (314) 500-HURT or fill out our online form for a complimentary consultation.

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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