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(314) 500-HURTFatal Car Accident Wheaton, IL. When your worst nightmare comes to life and your loved one is killed in a fatal car accident, hire experienced and dedicated fatal car accident wrongful death lawyers in Wheaton, IL right away to handle your entire legal claim. Call Burger Law now at (312) 500-HURT or fill out this form for a complimentary consultation with a skilled Wheaton, IL lawyer.
Though no amount of wealth could even approach the value of a human life, collecting compensation for your damages after your beloved family member is killed by another person’s negligence can come as a form of support for you and your family to get through day to day life after the accident. Burger Law’s wrongful death lawyers in Wheaton, IL have over 70 years of experience representing families who have sustained loss by fatal car accidents in the Wheaton, IL area and have a history of winning our Wheaton, IL clients maximum compensation in their cases. Our talent for negotiating and trying difficult cases have allowed us to help our clients receive over $170 million in verdicts and settlements for their damages. With more than $170 million in verdicts and settlements returned to our deserving clients through our expert litigation and trial skills, we are the Wheaton, IL law firm positioned to help you and your family get maximum compensation in your fatal car accident wrongful death claim in Wheaton, IL or anywhere in Missouri. Call (312) 500-HURT to speak to a skilled wrongful death lawyer in Wheaton, IL now.
We are a reputable Wheaton, IL personal injury law firm staffed by a team of talented and passionate Wheaton, IL personal injury and wrongful death lawyers. We live to protect the vulnerable, including survivors in Wheaton, IL who have lost a loved one to a fatal car accident. The outcome of your wrongful death case, the recovery you collect and your peace of mind and security for your future all depend upon the abilities of your fatal car accident lawyer. You need to find a car accident lawyer near Wheaton, IL who have the litigation talents, resources and intimidating reputation to win your case, but also is a person you can trust. Burger Law’s fatal car accident legal team in Wheaton, IL understands the pain and gravity of what you are experiencing. We handle your case with that in mind, offering you sensitive, compassionate support while providing you with the same level of powerful legal representation that we would for our own families.
If you lost a family member to a reckless or negligent driver in a fatal car accident near Wheaton, IL, you may have the legal option to make an Illinois wrongful death claim. Illinois law on wrongful death allows people, such as you, who have lost a loved one due to another person’s negligence, such as in the event of a fatal car accident, a path for legal recourse so you can be made whole again while holding the negligent party accountable for the harm they have caused.
Illinois Compiled Statutes 740 ILCS 180/ spells out the legal requisites for a wrongful death claim in Illinois court. The statute identifies who may file a claim, what damages they may recover, how long they have to file a claim and other rules and details for filing a wrongful death claim in the state of Illinois.
If your loved one was killed in a fatal car accident in Wheaton, IL, one of the first things you must determine, in addition to whether the situation qualifies as wrongful death, is whether you are legally allowed to make a wrongful death claim. If they are alive and able, the first choice for the plaintiff are the decedent’s surviving spouse and next of kin. When the decedent has no surviving spouse or next of kin, the court will appoint a personal representative — typically someone close to the family. Our experienced Wheaton, IL lawyers have a deep understanding of Illinois law and use our expertise to ensure that you are compensated for the loss of your loved one and that the person responsible is held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.
In filing a wrongful death claim, it is imperative that you hire an adept wrongful death lawyer in Wheaton, IL who has experience representing families whose loved ones have been killed when somebody behaves poorly, such as in a fatal car accident in Wheaton, IL. Our firm has a team of dedicated wrongful death lawyers in Wheaton, IL with special backgrounds in car accident cases. Our Wheaton, IL attorneys have experience winning difficult fatal car accidents and other wrongful death claims in Wheaton, IL, helping our clients get the full compensation they need and deserve.
Our Wheaton, IL law firm fights against bullies and stands up for those who have been harmed by others, like in personal injury and wrongful death cases in Wheaton, IL and across Illinois and other states. In our more than 25 years as a Wheaton, IL law firm, we have helped our clients recover more than $170 million in verdicts and settlements.
Our Wheaton, IL attorneys mercilessly demand justice for victims in fatal car accidents in Wheaton, IL, and our clients’ case results reflect that tenacity. Hear from our clients directly by checking out our testimonials or you can read about a few of the cases we have recently settled below.
While does not even need to be said that there is not enough money in the world to make up for your loved one’s death after a fatal car accident in Wheaton, IL, you have a chance to receive a financial recovery to compensate you the damages you have suffered. A wrongful death claim is a way for you to hold responsible the person or people who ended your loved one’s death in a fatal car accident and to receive compensation for the losses you have sustained.
The law gives you only a single chance to collect a full recovery after a fatal car accident in Wheaton, IL and it is critical that you act now by working with a competent and experienced wrongful death lawyer in the Wheaton, IL area. Burger Law’s relentless wrongful death attorneys will fight until you receive a full financial recovery.
Our Wheaton, IL attorneys have 70 years of combined experience recovering complete compensation for our clients through our tactful and unwavering demands. As a leading Wheaton, IL wrongful death law firm, our team of lawyers knows the law well, including all the different damages for which you can be compensated. Our work is not over until you get the maximum compensation available.
Illinois state law may make you eligible to file a wrongful death claim if someone in your family was killed in a fatal car accident in Wheaton, IL or anywhere in Illinois. To win your case and receive the full recovery you and your family truly deserve, you need a talented Wheaton, IL fatal car accident attorney fighting for you. Burger Law has a team of unstoppable Wheaton, IL attorneys ready to demand justice for you through full compensation by winning your Wheaton, IL wrongful death claim.
Illinois, contrary to some other states, does not place a limit or maximum on the value of damages that can be rewarded to the claimants in a wrongful death case. While there is no dollar figure that could ever come close to replacing your loved one or their presence in your life, making a recovery in a wrongful death claim for your loved one’s death in a fatal car accident in Wheaton, IL can do the following things.
You only have one chance to pursue and receive full compensation in your Illinois wrongful death case, and only so much time to file a claim. Do not waste your chance to collect compensation that can help you and your family make ends meet and allow you to lay your loved one to rest beautifully. Our Wheaton, IL wrongful death lawyers will fight fiercely for you and secure the complete recovery you and your family deserve. Contact us today to review your case with a qualified lawyer for free.
Any type of Wheaton, IL automotive crash has the potential to be fatal. There is any even higher risk of death when one or more of the vehicles involved are traveling at high speeds leading up to the impact. If you or a loved one are seriously injured or killed in a car accident in Wheaton, IL or elsewhere in Illinois, reach out to a Wheaton, IL fatal car accident lawyer as soon as possible.
Our driven and compassionate litigators and trial lawyers are committed to standing up for the vulnerable and making people pay for inflicting harm. When a car accident in Wheaton, Illinois becomes fatal, Burger Law’s Wheaton, IL fatal car accident attorneys pursue justice and the full available compensation for you. Get a free case review with an experienced car accident wrongful death lawyer in Wheaton, IL at (312) 500-HURT.
Though laws and advancements in safety technology and road design have improved immensely since the days of the Model T, automobiles can still be incredibly dangerous — lethal, even, in the hands of a negligent or reckless motorist. As motorists, we owe everyone around us a duty of care to operate safely and responsibly to avoid the risk of harming others. One careless error could mean tragedy and loss for someone else.
Car accidents of all kinds of causes can become fatal, especially when high speeds and excessive force are involved. After any fatal car accident in Wheaton, IL, call (312) 500-HURT right away. Below, our Wheaton, IL fatal car accident lawyers review a few of the most common causes of fatal car accidents in Wheaton, IL and throughout the US.
Distracted driving is a major threat to public safety, causing a high number of car accidents, some resulting in severe injuries and even fatalities. The CDC identifies three main types of distractions: visual, manual and cognitive. As humans, we naturally overestimate our ability to multitask. Doing anything that causes you you look at, handle, or think about anything other than driving — eating, grooming, texting, talking to someone, smoking, looking at something else, reaching for something in the car or simply daydreaming — can be a dangerous distraction. Distracted driving impairs driving ability by reducing vital abilities such as visibility, reaction time, attention and decision making.
According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration, driver inattention occurs within the three seconds before 80% of car crashes, which tells us that distracted driving is a major cause of car wrecks. Distracted driving also leads to a significant number of fatal car accidents, causing more than 3,000 deaths in the US every year, including 3,142 deaths due to fatal car accidents caused by distracted driving incidents in 2020.
Speed limits exist to protect us. High-speed collisions make any car accident more dangerous and likely to cause fatalities. About one-third of car accident fatalities in the United States are related to speeding, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), equating close to 10,000 deaths. The numbers in Illinois are even higher. According to the annual Illinois Car Crash Facts and Statistics manual, 39.2% of fatal car accidents in Illinois involved speeding.
According to the Illinois State Police, in recent months, drivers are speeding at a higher rate in 65 mile per hour zones than in previous years, increasing the risk of both collision and fatality. While the police and other government agencies have campaigned continuously to discourage speeding and punish drivers who do speed, it is impossible to catch everyone. If your loved one was killed in a speeding accident in Wheaton or anywhere in Illinois, speak to Burger Law’s fatal car accident lawyers right away.
Everyone knows that drunk driving is deadly and that driving under the influence is never a good idea. It still presents a prevalent public safety threat affecting thousands of people in Wheaton, Illinois and the United States every year, though fortunately, fatal car accidents caused by drunk drivers has decreased nationwide by 45% over the last forty years, since 1982 when the NHTSA began collecting data on driving-while-intoxicated behavior.
Despite the efforts of many organizations and legislators’ to educate about the dangers of drunk driving and deter people from driving drunk, drunk driving is still a significant contributor to fatal car accidents in Illinois and the US. 28 people a day, or one person every 52 minutes, is killed in a drunk driving accident in the United States. While nationally drunk driving is the cause of 28% of all car accident fatalities, drunk driving is responsible for 30% of car crash deaths in the state of Illinois.
Though you can legally drive a vehicle with a blood alcohol content of less than .08, a driver’s abilities can be compromised with any amount of alcohol in their system. In fact, in 2019 there were 1,755 people killed in fatal car accidents where the driver responsible for the accident had a BAC of between .01-.07, meaning they were under the legal limit.
Regardless of whether or not they broke the law by driving with a BAC over the legal limit, if someone chose to operate a vehicle after drinking and killed your loved one in a fatal car accident, they need to be held responsible. Contact Burger Law’s Wheaton, IL wrongful death lawyers as soon as you can at (312) 500-HURT so we can hold the negligent driver accountable for their reckless, dangerous behavior and receive the financial recovery you and your family need and deserve.
Driving drowsy is a dangerous habit that has not received the amount of attention or alarm it deserves. Historical data from the last decade showsd around 800 drowsiness-related fatal car accident deaths in the US every year, which would translate to around 2.5% of all car accident deaths annually. However, studies believe that the data does not accurately reflect the reality, and that there are closer to over 6,000 drowsy driving deaths every year. This is supported based on may other key data points, such as 41% of drivers who admit that they have dozed off while operating a vehicle at least once, and 27% of drivers who have reported driving when they found it difficult to keep their eyes open within the past month.
Studies have identifieed similarities between the sensation of lack of sleep to being intoxicated — causing impairments and behaviors such as delayed reaction times, decreased alertness and impaired decision-making abilities. Driving after 20 consecutive hours without sleep is essentially the same as having a .08 blood alcohol content, and the equivalent BAC rises exponentially from there. Driving even slightly tired, such as getting only five or six hours of sleep the night before, is also undeniably dangerous.
Technological advances like crash avoidance technologies in newer, smarter cars and community interventions and education charged by not-for-proft organizations and activist groups have worked toward reducing the impact of driving fatigued or otherwise impaired on the Wheaton, IL area community and the country as a whole. You can do your part to protect others from experiencing the loss of a family member in a drowsy driving fatal car accident in Wheaton, IL by holding the drowsy driver who killed your family member accountable and filing a wrongful death suit. Burger Law’s Wheaton, IL wrongful death lawyers will help you win maximum compensation in your fatal car accident claim. Learn more at (312) 500-HURT.
Reckless driving, careless driving, aggressive driving — whatever you decide to call it, it is a big deal. According to the NTSHA, aggressive driving contributes to 56% of fatal car crashes. This number comes in spite of the fact that it is considerably difficult to track and measure the full extent of aggressive driving occurrences. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety published a study that discovered that 87% of drivers self-report risky behavior while driving at least once in the past month.
What does aggressive driving look like? Reckless, aggressive driving is illustrated in a wide variety of appalling behaviors. A few examples of acts of reckless driving include racing other vehicles, passing vehicles where passing is not permitted or safe, swerving, weaving in and out of traffic, failure to yield the right of way, and disregarding traffic signals. The act of running red lights alone led to the death of 846 people in 2019 in the US.
When a driver gets a bad case of road rage, is running late, wants to evade the police, or is under the delusion that they are invincible and can do anything they want without being hurt, and makes the decision to drive aggressively, they put every innocent bystander around them at risk. If an aggressive driver killed your loved one in a fatal car accident in Wheaton, IL, Burger Law’s wrongful death lawyers in Wheaton, IL demand justice. When such a senseless, avoidable tragedy takes a human life, aggressive drivers must pay for the harm they cause. Call (312) 500-HURT now to discuss your fatal car accident case in Wheaton, IL and get your family a full recovery.
In addition, we have extensive experience winning the following cases for our Wheaton, IL clients:
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When it comes to mourning a loved one, there is no one right way to behave or a time limit on grieving. No matter how you deal with the loss of a loved one after a fatal Wheaton, IL car accident, act quickly and call (312) 500-HURT to speak to the Wheaton, IL wrongful death lawyer who will fight for your family. After hiring a dedicated, determined and diligent wrongful death lawyer from Burger Law on your fatal car accident case, you do not have to worry about anything else. Take the time you need to grieve and process while our Wheatonfatal car accident legal team works hard to help you win your Wheaton, IL wrongful death case.
We know that when it comes to something as sensitive, personal and profound as the wrongful death of a loved one in a tragic fatal car accident, you should take your time to make the right decision when hiring a lawyer lightly. You deserve nothing less than the most thoughtful, skilled, and relentless legal representation in your Wheaton, IL fatal car accident case. To help you in your case, our Wheaton, IL legal team has worked hard to provide a wealth of resources to help anyone harmed by others in Wheaton, IL and throughout Missouri. Before you make a decision, learn more about how to choose the right law firm, answers to common questions about wrongful death claims and other information and guidance about your legal options through our free books and podcasts.
Our experienced wrongful death lawyers in Wheaton, IL will always answer your questions for free. If you have questions about what to do, if you have a wrongful death case, if you need a lawyer or would like to discuss anything else regarding your case, contact our knowledgeable and compassionate lawyers today. If your loved one was killed in a fatal car accident in Wheaton, Missouri, take the first step toward justice and closure by calling Burger Law now at (312) 500-HURT.
Client Reviews
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!
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.
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.
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!
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!!!
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.
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.
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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Genevieve and Laura have assisted me in my personal injury claim and have made the process so much less stressful. They are extremely knowledgeable, professional, and attentive. Laura is always on top of everything and very sweet. I had no idea how to navigate this process and they have made me feel at ease and like they truly cared about the outcome.
It has been a long 4 years, but it is finally over! Burger law did a great job handling my case. Grant Doty answered all my questions, promptly returned my phone calls, frequently kept me updated and insured me that he was fighting for me. Jennifer Zini also did a wonderful job, great customer service. It was pleasure getting to know the Burger Law team!
After a driver unexpectedly pulled out right in front of my motorcycle & I suffered injuries, the at-fault driver’s insurance company offered me a $10,000 settlement. I hired Burger Law & they won a $109,000 settlement. I was very happy with the outcome. They were easy to work with & fully explained each step of the process & kept me informed along the way.
At Burger Law | St. Louis Personal Injury Lawyer, we are a team of personal injury attorneys who have earned many distinctions and peer-reviewed awards for our civil litigation and trial work in Missouri and Illinois. A few of the honors we have earned include the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Top 100 Trial Lawyer Award, a Martindale-Hubbell AV rating, Super Lawyers selection as one of the top attorneys in the field of personal injury and board certifications in Civil Litigation.
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This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Gary Burger who has more than 30 years of legal experience as a practicing personal injury trial attorney. Gary’s robust legal knowledge is recognized by his peers as demonstrated by his industry awards and frequent Continuing Legal Education (CLE) lectures.
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