Car Accident Lawyer Morris, IL

Car Accident Lawyer in Morris, IL. If you were hurt on the road because of somebody else’s negligence in Morris, IL, call a Burger Law car accident lawyer immediately at (312) 500-HURT or contact us online for a complimentary consultation. We help our clients in Morris and throughout Northern Illinois collect full compensation for their damages. You do not owe us any fees until we win your case.

In a perfect world, everyone would drive in a safe manner and no one would get injured. In a slightly less ideal world, when people injure others they would admit culpability for their actions and their insurance company would give you just compensation without you having to fight for it. In the real world, irresponsible drivers frequently do not want to be held accountable for harming you and their insurance companies will do anything possible to depreciate your payout. That is where Burger Law steps in. Our car accident lawyer team empowers the injured and vulnerable in Morris and throughout Northern Illinois to demand full compensation for their damages, and we do not let up until you get it. Your life can change in an instant because of another person’s negligence, and Burger Law will fight by your side to ensure you get the justice and financial certainty you are owed for your accident.

In over 30 years of defending the rights of the vulnerable, our car accident lawyer team has won more than $175 million in verdicts and settlements for our Illinois clients. If you were injured because somebody else was reckless, see how much your claim may be worth by using our free personal injury calculator.

How Common are Car Accidents in Morris and Illinois?

According to data from the Illinois Department of Transportation, in 2020 there were 246,752 motor vehicle accidents in the state, resulting in 72,989 injuries and 1,195 fatalities. In 2021, close to half of deadly wrecks took place in metropolitan areas such as Chicago and Cook County. Over a fourth of Chicago and Illinois collisions entailed alcohol and over a third of the motorists killed had drunk alcohol before the collision. Illinois is the 10th most dangerous state for winter driving, and the 10th most hazardous state altogether.

While there is the atypical crash that may be inevitable, such as an animal jumping in front of your vehicle, close to every Morris, IL auto crash is avoidable. Human error is the principal cause of car collisions, as it contributes to 94 percent of wrecks. When you are left to pick up the pieces after you are harmed due to a driver’s negligence or thoughtless actions, you may go through a wide array of emotions, such as vulnerability, anxiety and uncertainty about how you will get out from under the rising pile of the medical costs, especially if you have lost income. You do not have to go through this process alone. Every car accident lawyer at Burger Law has devoted their career to offering qualified and compassionate advocacy and legal representation to injured individuals and families in Morris, IL. We will help shield you and your family’s future by getting you the best possible compensation not just for your medical bills, but for any emotional or physical anguish and inconvenience you experienced. Call us now at (312) 500-HURT to start on your road to recovery.

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

There are countless ways in which people can become injured on the road. The National Safety Council has determine 23 factors that typically contribute to motor vehicle collisions. Below are some of the most frequent causes that your Burger Law car accident lawyer sees in Morris, IL:

Drunk Driving

Drunk driving and drug-impaired driving are major causes of death and injury in car wrecks cases. About 28 people die every day due to drunk driving, or one person every 52 minutes. Drunk driving accidents are one of the few instances in personal injury lawsuits where you might also be able to collect punitive damages. When we sue drunk drivers on your behalf, we do it so they see precisely how dangerous and careless their behavior was.

Distracted Driving

Multitasking is a myth. While we may think we can multitask when driving, frequently to save time, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ascribed 3,142 fatalities to distracted driving in 2020. It is never worth those 90 extra seconds to finish combing your hair on the road.

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

Speeding

According to data from the 2020 Illinois Crash Facts and Statistics, of the 246,752 traffic accidents in Illinois, a third entailed speeding, including 37.3 percent of collisions that caused injury and 44.9 percent of fatal wrecks. Speeding is dangerous because it greatly diminishes the reaction time of both the negligent driver and others on the Morris, IL roads, and it effects more force in crashes.

Drowsy Driving

While many people are cognizant of the dangers of distracted driving or drunk driving, driving while drowsy has analogous effects to driving while drunk. Losing just two hours of sleep is the equivalent of drinking three beers. Drivers always need to pull over to the side of the road and rest if they are feeling fatigued.

Inclement Weather

You cannot sue the weather, but the Illinois Rules of the Road puts in place clear safety measures that drivers have to observe in inclement conditions, such as signaling far before making a turn in fog or increasing following distance when in winter conditions. If another driver in Morris, IL does not account for weather conditions and harms you, 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 traffic accidents. Manufacturers must safely manufacture vehicles, test them and issue recalls whenever a defective parts is discovered. If your injuries were caused by faulty brakes or an airbag that did not deploy, your Burger Law car accident lawyer will help you bring a claim against a manufacturer.

Irrespective of the cause of your injuries, the Morris, IL car accident lawyer team of Burger Law will find the explanation of your crash, discover who is to blame, hold them responsible and deliver you the best possible compensation for your damages. We pride ourselves on offering skilled and compassionate legal representation to Morris, IL residents who have been harmed through no fault of their own, irrespective of of their financial standing. If an irresponsible driver injured you, contact a Morris, IL Burger Law car accident lawyer immediately at (312) 500-HURT.

Have a look at some of the links below to see the great results Burger Law’s Morris, IL car accident lawyer team has won 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 | Morris, IL Car Accident Lawyer

In order to prove your claim, 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 demonstrate that the defendant had a responsibility to prioritize your safety. In motor vehicle crash cases this is automatic. The Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/11-1003.1) states that drivers are “to exercise due care.” So anybody who drives automatically owes you a duty of care.
2. Breach of Duty: Next, your car accident lawyer must show that the defendant disregarded that duty. In car crashes, there can be obvious breaches such as driving while intoxicated or reckless driving, and there can be less obvious cases like driving too fast for weather conditions. Your Morris, IL car accident lawyer at Burger Law knows the law and how to investigate wrecks to show how another person was negligent and hurt you.
3. Cause in Fact: Also referred to “causation,” you must show that the driver’s violation of duty directly caused your damages. Sometimes insurance companies try to say 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 collision caused your injuries. For example, we can show through presentations and medical professionals’ testimony that your whiplash injury was caused by being rear-ended.
4. Proximate Cause: This is what ultimately determines negligence. Imagine a scenario where someone runs a red light and crashes into you in an intersection, leading to your injuries. If the driver was drunk, they are obviously liable. If the other driver’s brakes were faulty and did not function adequately, then a manufacturer, mechanic or vendor could be to blame in a product liability suit.
5. Damages. The last aspect to show is that there was some sort of loss, for instance medical costs, emotional distress 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 sort of damage you are owed and know how to determine them. The other driver and their insurance company will strive to devalue your damages, but the Morris, IL car accident lawyer team of Burger Law will insist that you are awarded full compensation.

Can I Still Collect Compensation in Illinois if I Was Partially at Fault? | Morris, IL Car Accident Lawyer

If you were partially to blame for your motor vehicle accident in Morris, IL, your car accident lawyer will still be able to get you compensation, although the amount will be less. Illinois is a modified contributory fault state, which means that your recovery will be decreased by the portion of liability you share in your accident.

Meaning, if you are granted $100,000 for damages experienced in a rear-end collision, but a jury finds that you are responsible for 30 percent of the blame because you stopped suddenly, you will collect $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 are over 50 percent to blame for the accident, you will not be able to recover any financial recovery in Morris or anywhere Illinois.

Transferring blame onto you is a familiar trick insurance companies use to devalue claims or get out of paying them at all. The Morris, IL car accident lawyer team of Burger Law stands up to bullies like insurance companies who implement unethical tactics to eschew their duty to pay you the money you are rightfully owed. If an insurance company in Morris, IL is wrongfully trying to place blame for your wreck on you, call a Burger Law car accident lawyer now at (312) 500-HURT.

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

After an injury in a traffic collision, the state of Illinois’s statute of limitations dictates how long you can wait after the date of the injury to file your claim.

• Generally speaking, Illinois Compiled Statute §735 ILCS 5/13-202 dictates 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 day of the deceased’s death – not the wreck.
• If your claim is only for property damage, you have five years from the date of your collision to file a claim, according to Illinois Compiled Statute §735 ILCS 13-205.
• Pursuant to Illinois Compiled Statute §735 ILCS 13-211, if the injury was sustained by a minor, they have up to two years after the date of their 18th birthday to make a claim. Likewise, if someone is under a disability at the time of the accident, they have until two years following the date the “disability is removed.”

If you have been injured in an auto wreck, the clock is already ticking for when you can bring your claim. Do not delay, contact a Burger Law car accident lawyer now at (312) 500-HURT to get justice and the maximum financial recovery for your injuries. We start working on your case at once and do not let up until we win your case.

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

More than three quarters of people who perish in motor vehicle accidents are drivers. Every Burger Law car accident lawyer has seen firsthand the damage that a reckless driver can cause. While you cannot always control other people’s actions, there are many steps you can take to ensure your own safety in addition to the safety of others on the Morris, IL roads.

• Always use a seatbelt. In 2017, seatbelts saved an estimated 14,955 people from death. Over 83 percent of drivers and passengers who are entirely thrown out of the vehicle perish, and the majority of the rest suffered significant, life-changing injuries. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that wearing a seatbelt lessens the risk of death by 45 percent 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 anyone on the Morris, IL roads. Fundamental suggestions like driving slower and increasing following distance in poor weather not only do a lot to keep you and everyone else on the road safe, but they also protect you from fault or being partially blamed for an accident if you do find yourself in one.
• If you are a motorcyclist, use a helmet. While Morris, IL does not have laws requiring motorcycle drivers to use helmets, they can save your life. In 2017, helmets saved 1,872 lives.
• Do not use your cell phone. While you can always text somebody later, you can never take back the effects of a traffic accident. Pull over to the side of the road 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.
• Have the right attitude. The road is for everyone, and we all should be polite to other drivers, passengers and pedestrians. Understand that you are controlling several tons of metal moving at high speeds. Safety needs to be your priority. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, almost one-fourth of motor vehicle deaths are people under the age of 25. Maturity is likely a contributing factor.
• Drive with both hands on the wheel. Only driving with one hand can considerably diminish your control of the car. Quickly changing the radio is likely OK, but you should mostly be driving with both hands.
• Call a taxi or ridesharing service if you have been drinking. Not only does alcohol significantly impede your ability to operate a motor vehicle safely, but it also boosts your confidence and makes you feel more powerful, so you might think driving while drunk will be fine. Your brain might deceive you into thinking you can drive home safely, but it is never true.

You can take every possible precaution when you get behind the wheel, but regrettably the careless actions of irresponsible drivers can still cause you injury. When you get hurt because somebody else broke the rules of the road, you are owed complete compensation for all of your damages. Every Morris, IL car accident lawyer at Burger Law takes on and wins the tough cases, and knows how to attain 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 Morris, IL

You should never have had to carry the economic, physical and emotional burden of another driver’s selfish choices and reckless behavior. Fortunately, the law offers a path to restitution, but you only have one chance to get it. Trust in a car accident lawyer in Morris, IL who has attained results and won complex cases before. Burger Law aggressively pursues litigation so insurance companies know we will accept nothing but the best possible compensation. We intimidate insurance companies because they know we use our hard work, expertise, experience, tenacity and dedication to consistently get the best possible results for our Morris, IL clients and see them made whole again. When you hire a Burger Law car accident lawyer, we get started on your case at once and do not let up until you get the full financial recovery you deserve. Call a Burger Law car accident lawyer in Morris, IL today at (312) 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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