Personal Injury Lawyer in Edwardsville, IL

Burger Law defends the rights of people who are injured because of the negligence of another. If you have sustained serious injuries because of someone else’s negligent behavior, Burger Law’s personal injury lawyers in Edwardsville, IL 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 fill out our online form.

To find out how much your personal injury claim may be worth in Edwardsville, 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 back for the injured against whoever is standing in the way of justice. That includes anything from making claims against drunk drivers, holding negligent doctors, product manufacturers, dog owners accountable, taking the fight to the government, to getting justice and financial security for Edwardsville residents after a a family member passed too soon. If you would like to discuss the validity of your case further, what compensation you are owed or anything else about the personal injury claims process, call our personal injury lawyers in Edwardsville, IL immediately at (618) 500-HURT.

Why Burger Law Is The Edwardsville, IL Personal Injury Law Firm For You

Choosing the right personal injury lawyer for your case is essential. You want someone who has won your type of case before and who you know will not back down from a fight. In order to gauge the abilities of an injury law firm, consider their previous successes and reputation among their clients and peers.

Acclaimed Edwardsville, IL Personal Injury Lawyers

The many awards and recognition Burger Law has received from other lawyers include:

• Martindale-Hubbell Award — AV Preeminent® Rated by Martindale-Hubbell® from NexisLexis® – a noteworthy achievement awarded to less than 5 percent of all lawyers 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 honor that is comprised of the most qualified attorneys 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. Fewer than 4 percent of all practicing attorneys are certified by an American Bar Association accredited certification board.

Personal Injury Lawyer Edwardsville, IL – Recent Victories

Our Edwardsville, IL personal injury lawyers have a demonstrated history of getting great results. We fight all who have injured our clients, and we demand nothing but full compensation. Our lawyers are committed to giving our clients amazing legal representation, and we have great pride in our well-deserved successes. Check out some of our case results in personal injury claims 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
• Medical Malpractice Case Settles for Over $1 Million
• $900,000 Medical Malpractice Settlement
• $765,000 Settlement After Fatal Collision
• $600,000 Tractor-Trailer Crash
• $600,000 Settlement – Widow in ATV Accident Settles with Property Owner
• Class Action $600,000 Settlement Against the State of Illinois
• $495,000 Uninsured Motorcycle Verdict
• $400,000 Settlement in Employment Discrimination Case
• $350,000 Settlement in Ladder Case

It is important to remember that every injury comes with its own set of circumstances, and the compensation you receive is going to depend on the circumstances of your claim. We calculate the full extent of your damages so that we get the maximum amount of compensation possible.

Similarly, each plaintiff is unique and the best personal injury lawyer for you may not be the right fit for someone else. Our philosophy is that carefully selecting the right attorney to represent you upfront can hugely benefit all parties. To help you make that decision, our attorneys make themselves available to talk and answer legal questions for free. Get started by contacting us online now or check out some of these free resources created by our Illinois personal injury lawyers:

• List of Illinois facts, laws and resources
• Free ebooks written by Gary Burger on the ins and outs of various types of personal injury cases and real client success stories
• 500+ informative videos on our YouTube channel @BurgerLaw
• A blog regularly updated with new posts on important legal concepts related to Illinois personal injury law and news

Burger Law Client Success Stories

Beyond the videos below, you can check out more client testimonials here.

What Is a Personal Injury Claim in Edwardsville, IL?

A personal injury claim is your right under Illinois law to get financial compensation for the damage done by another person’s negligence, and to achieve justice. The compensation you receive is meant to make you whole. The goal is to put you in the same position you were in before sustained the damages caused by another’s negligence.

Sometimes, no attorney, settlement or verdict is can truly return you to how things were before the injury. While we can get compensation for medical bills, lost wages and other financial losses, other damages cannot truly be expressed through dollar signs. If a family member died, you lost a limb, are permanently scarred or will have to receive medical treatment for the rest of your life, no one can truly change that. What compassionate and talented personal injury lawyers like those at Burger Law are able to do is secure you fair compensation in order to provide a sense of justice and acknowledgment, and to give you financial security as it relates to your accident.

Click below to learn more about some of the most common types of personal injury cases we take in Edwardsville, IL or continue reading.

• Personal injury
• Car accident
• Truck accident
• Motorcycle accident
• Wrongful death

Do I Need a Personal Injury Lawyer in Edwardsville, 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 Edwardsville, IL. The question to ask when thinking about whether or not you need a lawyer is, can they increase my compensation? If your injuries were not severe, you have minimal lost wages and the insurance adjuster is being reasonable, you may not need an attorney. But, you will need a lawyer in Edwardsville, IL under the following circumstances:

• There is a dispute about who is to blame, or you are being blamed for your injuries
• The insurance company or liable party’s offer is well below the cost of your damages
• Your injuries are serious and require extensive care
• There are multiple parties that is liable for your damages
• Your damages are more than the liable policyholder’s policy limits

Our initial conversations and investigations are free, and we are always straightforward about how much value we can add your claim. Our personal injury lawyers take on cases based on a contingency-fee, meaning you do not pay until we win your case, and there is no reason for us to take on your claim if we do not think we can significantly increase your final payout.

How Do I Know if I Have a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Edwardsville, IL?

While legal doctrine can be hard to navigate, whether or not you have a claim generally depends on one specific question: did another person’s negligence cause you injuries? If so, legally speaking you have to prove the five elements of negligence:

1. Duty of care — You first need to demonstrate that the person you are making a claim against had a responsibility to care for your safety. Sometimes, a duty of care is assumed, as Edwardsville, IL driver owe drivers, passengers and pedestrians a duty of care, or dog owners owe it to others to keep their dog from biting anyone. In other cases, a particular relationship must have been agreed to, for example a doctor-patient relationship or a vendor-buyer relationship.
2. Breach of duty — Did someone neglect that responsibility? Did a driver hit you while they were drunk? Did a doctor not order the appropriate tests? Did a store owner not salt the ice in front of their property sufficiently?
3. Cause-in-fact — You must demonstrate how the breach of duty caused your injuries. For example, you sustained a whiplash injury after being rear ended, or had bad side effects from a prescription drug.
4. Proximate cause — This determines who ultimately is at fault. If you were hit by a vehicle, it is usually because another driver was negligent. But if the tires were defective, someone in the product’s chain of distribution may be ultimately liable.
5. Damages — Lastly, you must show that you sustained some form of financial loss as a direct result of your injuries. In personal injury cases, this is usually medical expenses and lost wages. If you keep solid records of your medical expenses, 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.

If you have any doubts about whether or not you have a case, speak to a lawyer in Edwardsville, IL who has won a similar claim before. Call a personal injury lawyer now at (618) 500-HURT.

Types of Cases Our Edwardsville, IL Personal Injury Lawyers Handle

Practicing injury law in Edwardsville, IL mandates that you know how negligence laws apply to a wide range of cases. 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 be the best choice to get you full compensation in a different claim. At Burger Law, we know how to secure justice for the injured whenever negligence results in an injury. Cases we specialize in in Edwardsville and throughout Illinois include:

Auto Accidents

Research from the Bureau of Justice Statistics indicate that there are 300,000 to 500,000 personal injury claims every year. Just over half of those are auto accident claims, such as:

• Car Accidents
• Truck Accidents
• Motorcycle Accidents
• Bicycle Accidents
• Pedestrian Accidents

Truck accidents can be especially catastrophic because trucks emit so much, and motorcyclists, bicyclists and pedestrians are all at heightened risk of being severely injured as they do not have the same protection closed-vehicle occupants have. Under 625 ILCS 5/11-1003.1, anyone behind the wheel must “exercise due care” to keep everyone else on the road safe. If a driver is negligent and you end up hurt, you can file a claim.

Sometimes, a vehicle manufacturer, construction company or governmental entity may be fully or partially to blame for your injuries. As part of our services, your Burger Law personal injury lawyer will perform a full investigation into your claim to find out who and what exactly caused your injuries.

Premises Liability

Proprietors have a duty to take reasonable measures to make sure their property does not carry any risks for people who are not trespassing. If you are injured in a slip and fall because a property was unreasonably dangerous, you can make a premises liability claim. 740 ILCS 130/, also called the Illinois Premises Liability Act, states that property owners owe a duty of care to people who legally enter their property that is “of reasonable care under the circumstances regarding the state of the premises or acts done or omitted on them.” Generally, if there is a dangerous condition that is not obvious, the owner has a responsibility to either repair the condition or warn against it. Examples of hazardous conditions are:

• Spills
• A recently mopped floor
• Broken concrete on a walkway
• Broken stairs
• Broken decks and balconies
• Potholes
• Overly steep inclines
• Ledges
• Poorly lit stairs and walking paths
• Icy or snow-covered concrete
• Wet concrete
• Debris such as litter, fallen leaves and branches, rocks, etc
• Rugs that are not flat
• Electrical cords
• In-ground sprinklers or hardscape features hidden in the grass
• Absence of safety rails

Not all injuries on a property result in a premises liability claim. If you were trespassing, ignored warning signs, for example a “wet floor sign,” or were running or not acting in a safe manner, you likely do not have a slip and fall claim. The following must be true in order to make a claim:

• The owner or manager created the dangerous conditions; or
• The owner or manager was aware of the hazard and failed to fix it; or
• The owner or manager tried to fix the hazard and fixed it negligently; or
• The owner or manager should have known about the condition, either because it happens often, had been there for an extended length of time or due to other complaints

A store or insurance adjuster in Edwardsville, IL may try to convince you that they do not owe you anything because they should not have been reasonable expected to repair or warn against the accident or because the accident was your fault. That is not true, and always speak with a personal injury lawyer before accepting any settlement in your Illinois premises liability claim.

Medical Malpractice

According to a 2016 study from John Hopkins University, medical errors are responsible for more than 250,000 deaths a year. While not all of those amount to negligence, when it does, you can make a medical malpractice claim.

Your Illinois medical malpractice cases will come down to what is referred to as the standard of care. The standard refers to how a reasonable doctor, in the same area and with the same training as the one you are suing, would treat a specific condition.

Under 735 ILCS 5/2-622, any medical malpractice lawsuit needs to be filed along with an affidavit from a health professional who:

• is knowledgeable in the relevant issues of the claim
• practices or teaches the same field as the negligent doctor, or has practiced or taught in that field within the last six years
• is qualified to review the facts of your case, and determines your claim is “reasonable and meritorious”

It is vital that the health professional who writes the affidavit is in the same practice area and geographic region as the health professional you are making a claim against. A neurologist in Chicago is held to a different standard of care than a family doctor in Decorah, Iowa. Burger Law knows numerous expert witnesses in Edwardsville and in other parts of Illinois who can corroborate that your doctor violated the standard of care.

Common instances of medical malpractice in Edwardsville, IL include:

• Nursing home abuse
• Birth injuries
• Misdiagnosis and failure to diagnosis
• Leaving objects in after surgery
• Hospital communication errors
• Lack of consent
• Failing to order tests that a prudent doctor would
• Ignoring a patient’s complaints
• Not changing course when their treatment plan is not working
• Prescription errors

Dog Bites

Each day, nearly 1,000 people require emergency medical treatment for dog bites, and annually about 12,480 people are hospitalized. According to a Chicago Tribune article, Illinois has the second-highest rate of dog bites in the country.

510 ILCS 5/, the Illinois Animal Control Act, stipulates that a dog owner is strictly liable for your damages if it bit you, as long as there was no provocation and you were legally allowed to be where you were. “Strict liability” means that the owner is liable as a matter of law and you do not have to prove negligence. This means that the owner owes you a recovery even if they did not necessarily do anything wrong.

While some dog bites only lead to minor injuries, others result in reconstructive surgeries or lifelong scarring. Regardless of the severity of your injuries, trust in a Burger Law Edwardsville, IL personal injury lawyer to ensure you get the best possible compensation you are owed.

Product Liability

Strict liability also applies to anyone involved in the chain of distribution of a defective product. There are three categories of product liability claims in Edwardsville, IL:

1. Design defect — This is a defect that was present when the product was initially designed. This could include tables or furniture that naturally tip over, or an electrical appliance that melts when turned on high.
2. Manufacturing defect — This type of defect usually occurs to only one or several individual products, instead of an entire line of products. Examples include rat droppings getting caught in packaging, or a seatbelt with a loose screw that comes undone during impact.
3. Failure to warn — This refers to labeling that does not mention certain risks when the product is put to foreseeable use. For example, an electric shaver not mentioning that shock can occur if used in the shower.

In order to recover compensation, you must demonstrate that the product carried inherent risks when used in a foreseeable manner, that it caused your injuries and that the product had not been “substantially” changed from its state at the initial sale.

Burger Law’s personal injury lawyers know how to get great results whenever someone was injured through no fault of their own. One of the benefits of choosing a Burger Law Edwardsville, IL personal injury lawyer is that our team takes on all types of personal injury claims, and have won your type of claim before. We understand that case types often overlap, and having experience with each type of claim gives our team the perfect understanding of how to fight for our clients’ rights and recoveries.

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

The path to securing a financial settlement or verdict for your injuries starts the day you are injured. While some accidents and injuries settle fairly early, others go completely through to a jury trial. In total, the path to getting compensation consists of:

• Seeking Medical Treatment — Seek medical attention as soon as possible after an injury, and keep attending all treatments that your physician recommends. Waiting too long could bring complications to your claim, and not attending all your sessions will lower your final payout. Our personal injury lawyers know trustworthy Edwardsville, IL doctors, chiropractors and physical therapists who can ensure you recover physically as best as possible.
• Discussing Your Case 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 tell you bluntly what your legal recourses are.
• Investigation and Documentation — Once you have retained a lawyer’s services, your personal injury lawyer will carry out a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding your injuries, determine who we need to hold accountable and obtain the evidence they need to get you full compensation. You should also keep a record of every dollar you have spent because of your injuries, and how keeping a journal detailing how your injuries have affected your life.
• Settlement Demand and Negotiations — Once we know how much your claim is worth, we will send a settlement demand package to the liable party’s insurance company. 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. Usually, the insurance company will counter our offer with a lower number, and we keep negotiating until they agree to pay for 100 percent of your damages.
• Filing a Lawsuit — If the insurance company will not be fair in negotiations, we will file a lawsuit in court, which begins the formal process of your claim going to trial. During this time, both parties continue negotiating.
• Mediation — Mediation is often the last chance for a settlement before trial. In mediation, a neutral third party hears arguments from both sides and tries to get everyone to reach an agreement.
• Pre-Trial — If mediation still does not result in a fair settlement, the “discovery” phase begins. In this phase, we take depositions of eyewitnesses and expert witnesses, gather more evidence and both parties will share with the other what they plan to use as evidence in trial.
• Trial — Only six percent of personal injury claims go to trial. Indeed, many times we have gotten the settlement we were seeking in the weeks immediately before trial. However, if the insurance company still cannot see reason, the case will go 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 Edwardsville, 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 by your side from our initial consultation to full compensation, keep you up to date on the status of your claim and oversee all the legal aspects of your case so you can focus on healing.

How Much Is My Personal Injury Claim in Edwardsville, IL Worth?

Typically, your compensation will fall into two categories: economic damages and non-economic damages:

• Economic damages compensate you for your financial losses related to your injuries, for instance:
  • Lost wages
  • Lost earning potential if your injuries result in permanent disability
  • Medical costs, past and future
  • Out-of-pocket expenses
• Non-economic damages compensate you for losses that are harder to put a dollar figure on, 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.

How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Claim in Edwardsville, IL?

In Illinois, the statute of limitations is relatively short at two years for most personal injury claims, under 735 ILCS 5/. That means the clock starts ticking when your accident occurs, and expires after two years. However, there are three noteworthy exceptions:

1. If you were under 18 when the injury occurred, you have until your 20th 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 a minor at the time. 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 Edwardsville, IL Now

Burger Law’s Edwardsville, IL personal injury lawyers fiercely believe in zealous representation. That means we start working for your recovery the moment you hire us, pursue every legal option we have, fight back against insurance companies on your behalf and do not let down until you receive the maximum compensation you are owed. We offer the highest level of legal advocacy; all of our advice will be based on the facts of the case and our experience, but we always leave the ultimate decisions on your claim to you and your Edwardsville, 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 Edwardsville, IL personal injury lawyer now at (618) 500-HURT or contact us online for a free 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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