Centralia, IL Personal Injury Lawyers

Burger Law fights on behalf of those who are injured because of negligent and reckless actions. If you have sustained serious injuries all because someone else behaved recklessly or irresponsibly, Burger Law’s personal injury lawyers in Centralia, IL will demand the recovery you are owed and fight for you every step of the way. Reach out to Burger Law today at (618)-500-HURT or contact us online.

To find out how much your personal injury claim may be worth in Centralia, or anywhere in Illinois, fill out our complimentary personal injury calculator.

Those who injured you are financially and legally responsible for taking care of your injuries and paying you 100 percent of what you are owed, but that does not mean they will do it willingly. Burger Law’s personal injury lawyer team fights hard for our clients against anyone who is trying to keep them from the money they are owed. That includes anything from making claims against large trucking companies, holding negligent physicians, product manufacturers, store owners responsible, taking the fight to City Hall, to getting justice and financial security for a family after a a family member passed too soon. If you have questions about your case, the damages you may be able to recover or other questions regarding personal injury claims, speak to one of our personal injury lawyers in Centralia, IL immediately at (618)-500-HURT.

Why Choose Burger Law’s Centralia, IL Personal Injury Lawyers For Your Claim

It can be difficult to know how to choose the best personal injury lawyer for you. You want someone who has won your type of case before and who is not afraid of a fight. In order to have a good understanding of the abilities of a law firm, you need to look at their previous victories, and what their clients and other lawyers say about them:

Award-Winning Centralia, IL Personal Injury Lawyers

The many awards and accolades Burger Law has received from other attorneys include:

• Martindale-Hubbell Award — AV Preeminent® Rated by Martindale-Hubbell® from NexisLexis® – a remarkable achievement awarded to less than 5 percent of all attorneys nationwide
• Million and Multi-Million Dollar Advocate Honor — Members of the Million and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, an honor only given to 1 percent of attorneys in the United States.
• Top 100 Trial Lawyers Honor — Selected to the Top 100 Trial Lawyers by The National Trial Lawyers, an invitation-only award that is comprised of the most qualified lawyers in each state.
• Board Certified By the National Board of Trial Advocacy — Board certified in Civil Trial Advocacy and Civil Pretrial Practice Advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Less than 4 percent of all practicing attorneys are certified by an American Bar Association accredited certification board.

Personal Injury Lawyer Centralia, IL – Recent Victories

Our Centralia, IL personal injury lawyers have a demonstrated history of getting great results. We take on all who have hurt our clients, and we insist on nothing but maximum compensation. Our firm is devoted to providing our clients amazing legal representation, and we have tremendous pride in our hard-fought victories. Read about our case results for our personal injury clients below:

• $5 Million Settlement – Father Killed By Reckless Truck Driver
• $3 Million Judgment – Son Murdered by Pam Hupp
• $2.5 Million Settlement for Father’s Fatal Car Accident
• From $0 to $2 Million Car Accident Settlement
• $2 Million Settlement – Injured Woman Settles Highway Crash Lawsuit
• $1.435 Million Settlement For Deck Collapse That Injured Couple
• $1 Million Settlement to Family of Man with Sepsis Infection

It is important to remember that every case is unique, and what you may be eligible to recover is going to depend on the circumstances of your claim. We fight for you so that we get the maximum amount of compensation possible.

Burger Law Client Success Stories

In addition to the videos below, you can see our full list of client testimonials here.

 

Is it Worth Hiring Personal Injury Lawyer in Centralia, IL?

That depends on the specifics of your case, but most of the time, yes, you will need a personal injury lawyer to get the full compensation you are owed in Centralia, IL. The question to ask when considering whether or not you need a lawyer is, can they add value to my claim? If your medical expenses are low, you did not miss much time off work and the other party’s fault is clearly established, you may not need an attorney. But, you will need an attorney in Centralia, IL if the following is true about your claim:

• There is a dispute over who is to blame, or you are being blamed for your injuries
• The insurance company or liable party’s offer is well below what you are owed
• Your injuries are significant and require extensive care
• There more than one party that is liable for your injuries
• Your damages are more than the liable policyholder’s policy limits

We offer consultations for free, and we are always direct about how much value we can add your claim. Our personal injury lawyers take on cases based on a contingency-fee, meaning you only pay after you have received the full compensation you are owed, and there is no reason for us to accept you as a client if we do not think we can significantly increase your final payout.

What Do You Need to Prove to Win a Personal Injury Claim in Centralia, IL?

While state statutes can be hard to navigate, whether or not you have a claim depends on the answer to one particular question: did someone else’s negligence cause you injuries? If so, legally speaking you must prove the five elements of negligence:

1. Duty of care — You first need to show that the liable party had an obligation to keep you safe. In some cases this is automatic, as motorists all owe everyone on the Centralia, IL roads a duty of care, or dog owners owe it to others not to let their dog injure anyone. Other times, a particular relationship must be established, such as a doctor-patient relationship or a vendor-patron relationship.
2. Breach of duty — Did the other party fail in that duty? Did a driver crash into you you while they were texting and driving? Did a physician prescribe the wrong dosage? Did a dog owner let their dog roam unleashed?
3. Cause-in-fact — You must show how the accident resulted in your injuries. For instance, you received a concussions after being thrown off your motorcycle, or were burned by a defective product when it overheated.
4. Proximate cause — This determines liability. If you were rear ended, the liable party is usually the driver that hit you. But if the tires were not safe, a manufacturer or mechanic may be the one who is ultimately liable.
5. Damages — Lastly, you have to show that you sustained some form of financial loss as a direct result of your injuries. In most cases damages are medical expenses and lost wages. If you hold onto your medical bills, damages are easy to prove with the help of an attorney. Once we establish financial losses, we can also pursue compensation for pain and suffering damages.

The only way to know for certain if you have an injury claim is to consult with an attorney who has handled your type of claim in Centralia, IL before. Get in touch with a personal injury lawyer now at (618)-500-HURT.

Types of Cases Our Centralia, IL Personal Injury Lawyers Take on

Practicing injury law in Centralia, IL mandates that you have a vast knowledge of the different types of cases that people deal with. Knowing the difference between how the law applies to auto accidents, medical malpractice and slip and falls is essential. A lawyer that only specializes in a certain type of injury claim may not have the experience to take on other cases. At Burger Law, we know how to hold the liable party accountable no matter the circumstances. Cases we take on in Centralia and throughout Illinois include:

 

• Car Accidents
• Truck Accidents
• Motorcycle Accidents
• Wrongful Death
• Dog Bites
• Bicycle Accidents
• Pedestrian Accidents
• Premise Liability

What Is the Personal Injury Claims Process in Centralia, IL?

The journey to getting maximum compensation for your injuries can be long and complex. While some accidents and injuries settle fairly early, others can take several years before a jury finally renders a decision. Generally, the path to getting compensation consists of:

• Seeking Medical Care — Get medical treatment immediately after an injury, and keep attending all treatments that your physician recommends. The insurance company will be harder to deal with if you wait, and not attending all your appointments will reduce your final payout. Our personal injury lawyers have a network of experienced Centralia, IL health professionals who can ensure you get the full treatment you need.
• Consulting With an Attorney — Even if you do not know if you need an attorney, it is best to consult with one as soon as possible so they can become familiar with your case. A good lawyer will be honest with you about whether or not their services are needed.
• Investigation and Documentation — Once you have hired an attorney, your personal injury lawyer will perform an exhaustive investigation into the circumstances surrounding your injuries, ascertain every liable party and gather the evidence required for the best possible financial recovery. You should also keep detailed records of your expenses related to your injuries, and how they affect your day-to-day life.
• Settlement Demand and Negotiations — Once we know how much your claim is worth, we will send a settlement demand package to those who are liable for compensating you. In the package we will include full documentation of all of your damages, and insist that nothing but the full amount will be agreed to. Most of the time, the insurance company will counter our offer with a lower number, and we keep negotiating until they offer full compensation.
• Filing a Lawsuit — If negotiations do not result in fair compensation, we will file a lawsuit in court, which begins the formal process of your claim going to trial. During this time, we will continue negotiating in an effort to avoid a trial.
• Mediation — If a settlement agreement still has not been reached, your personal injury lawyer and the liable party will likely pursue mediation. In mediation, an unbiased third party will try to get each party to accept the merits of the other side’s arguments.
• Pre-Trial — If mediation still does not result in a fair settlement, we will go into the pre-trial “discovery” phase. In discovery, we take depositions of eyewitnesses and expert witnesses, obtain more evidence and share with and request documentation with the other side.
• Trial — Most personal injury claims are settled before trial. Indeed, we often finally get the settlement we were seeking just before trial begins. However, if the insurance company refuses to do the right thing, we will defend your rights in front of a judge and jury. Trial consists of:
  • Voir dire
  • Opening statements
  • Testimony and cross-examination
  • Closing arguments
  • Jury instruction
  • Jury deliberation and verdict

Most of our Centralia, IL clients have never had to deal with seeking compensation for an injury before, and do not know what to expect. Burger Law will be your advocate every step of the way, be there to answer all of your questions and manage all the legal aspects of your case so you can focus on your physical recovery.

What Compensation Can I Get In My Centralia, IL Personal Injury Claim?

Typically, there are two types of compensation available in a personal injury claim: economic damages and non-economic damages:

• Economic damages compensate you for your financial losses resulting from your injuries, for instance:
  • Lost wages
  • Lost earning potential if your injuries do not allow you to earn a living as you used to
  • Medical expenses, past and future
  • Out-of-pocket expenses
• Non-economic damages compensate you for the less tangible aspects of your injuries, such as:
  • Pain and suffering
  • Stress and anxiety
  • Loss of ability to enjoy life
  • Scarring and disfigurement
  • Inconvenience
  • Physical impairment
  • Loss of consortium

Though rare, we may also be able to pursue punitive damages if the liable party’s conduct was purposefully harmful or incredibly reckless. Examples can include a drunk driver, or a doctor who performs surgery after drinking. While punitive damages do not apply to most personal injury claims, your Burger Law personal injury lawyer will pursue every legal avenue We can to get you the best possible financial recovery.

What Is the Time Limit for Personal Injury Claims in Centralia, IL?

In Illinois, the statute of limitations is shorter than most states at just two years, under 735 ILCS 5/. That means you must file a claim within two years of when the injury occurred. However, there are three noteworthy exceptions:

1. If you were a minor when the injury occurred, you have two years to file a claim after your 18th birthday.
2. If you were under a “legal disability” when the injury occurred, you have two years from the date the disability was “removed.”
3. In medical malpractice cases, you have two years from the date you discovered the injury or could reasonably have been expected to discover the injury. No medical malpractice claim can be made more than four years after the injury occurred, unless you were under 18. Then you would have until four years after your 18th birthday.

While two years may not cause immediate concern, thoroughly investigating an injury and developing a legal strategy takes time. Do not delay in speaking to an attorney. Call a personal injury lawyer today at (618)-500-HURT.

Speak to Personal Injury Lawyer in Centralia, IL Now

Burger Law’s  personal injury lawyers fiercely believe in zealous representation. That means we start working for your recovery immediately, pursue every legal option we have, stand up to insurance companies on your behalf and do not let down until you are awarded the maximum compensation you deserve. We only give our clients the highest standard of legal representation; all of our advice will be sincere and in your best interest, but we always leave the ultimate decisions on your claim to you and your Centralia, IL family. You do not have to pay for someone else’s careless actions. To start on your road to true recovery, call a Burger Law personal injury lawyer now at (618)-500-HURT or contact us online for a free consultation.