Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Altona, IL

Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Altona, IL

The thrill of riding a motorcycle can be canceled out by the harm careless drivers can do to you when they do not respect your safety. If you were injured in a motorcycle accident in Altona, IL, call the motorcycle accident lawyers of Burger Law today at (779) 800-HURT or complete our online form for a no-risk, no-obligation consultation.

If you were injured in a motorcycle accident in Altona, or anywhere in Illinois, find out how much your claim may be worth by using our free personal injury calculator.

Motorcycles are an ideal way to enjoy yourself and connect with people who share your passions. You are connected to the road and your motorcycle in a way that is not possible in an enclosed vehicle. Unfortunately, there is a potentially dangerous trade-off. Because of their relative lack of protection, the consequences of a motorcycle accident can be devastating. When you are injured, there are instant financial, physical and mental consequences and you need someone to stand by your side and ensure you are treated fairly. You want a law firm with a proven track record of winning motorcycle accident claims in Altona, IL.

Our team has over three decades of experience getting full financial recoveries for those injured through the negligence of another. Our motorcycle accident lawyers will fight until you recover all of your damages and there is nothing left to fight. Always speak to a lawyer before agreeing to a settlement. The insurance adjuster is out to minimize your recovery. We know how to fight insurance companies and ensure that they treat our Altona, IL clients fairly.

To learn more about what we can do for you, speak to an attorney at (779) 800-HURT to go over your motorcycle accident claim immediately.

How Common Are Motorcycle Accidents in Altona, IL?

Fourteen percent of traffic fatalities and four percent of injuries were sustained by motorcyclists, despite only less than one percent of vehicle traffic being motorcycles, according to the National Safety Council. In the entire country, in 2020 there were 82,500 motorcycle accident injuries and 5,579 deaths. In Illinois, of 3,077 motorcycle collisions, 2,404 caused injuries and 152 were fatal, according to the Illinois 2020 Crash Facts and Statistics. Unfortunately, the majority of those occurred when the motorcycle was going in a straight line, which leads us to believe that the accidents were often due to a car or truck driver not respecting motorcyclists on the road. Wrecks happen most frequently in densely populated areas, especially on arterial roads.

According to research from the Motorcycle Legal Foundation, Illinois is eighth in the nation in terms of both registered motorcycles and motorcycle crash fatalities.

The most common season for motorcycle crashes is summer, and half of all wrecks happen on the weekends.

What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Altona, IL

There are several steps you should take, both at the accident site and throughout the length of your claim process, to make sure your recover from your injuries both physically and financially.

Immediately After The Accident

While any crash is surprising and scary, try to stay as calm as possible. At the accident site, you should:

• Get out of harm’s way — If you can, move out of the way of other vehicles coming down the street. Leave your motorcycle where it is. It is obviously important to you, but staying with the bike or trying to move it could make your injuries worse. If you believe your injuries may be catastrophic, it may be best not to move; instead wait for emergency personnel.
• Keep your gear on — Taking off your helmet or other gear could also make injuries worse. Shock may hide how bad an injury actually is.
• Call 911 — As motorcycle accidents can cause severe injuries, it may be a good idea to get medical attention there instead of leaving and planning to go to an emergency room yourself. Police are trained to determine liability in an accident, and will make a police report.
• Gather evidence — Talk to any other drivers involved and get their insurance information. Take photographs of the accident, including damage to all vehicles involved and the surrounding areas. Take as many pictures as possible. Something that may seem unimportant at first may be useful to a motorcycle accident lawyer in Altona, IL when trying to prove who is responsible for your injuries down the road. See if there are eyewitnesses who can corroborate your side of the story.

Lastly, receive medical attention if you did not already do so.

What to Do in the Ensuing Weeks and Months

Once you have gotten medical treatment, notify both your insurance company and the other driver’s. Then, speak to a motorcycle accident lawyer in Altona, IL about your case. If your injuries are significant, you will likely need one to get full compensation. While communicating with your attorney, it is important to:

• Keep Going to Your Medical Appointments — This is obviously the best thing for your physical recovery, but is also paramount to building your case. In order to prove your damages, you need to be able to point to medical records which detail all of the costs and treatments you incurred because of your injuries. The the higher your financial loss, the higher your non-economic damages compensation will be as well. Make sure you attend every every treatment and use all of the equipment and medication your doctor orders for you.
• Keep Track of Everything Related to Your Injuries — You also deserve reimbursement for lost wages from time when you were unable to work due to your injuries, and any out-of-pocket expenses that were necessary, such as transportation to and from medical appointments or hiring someone to help with housework. Keep detailed receipts and explanations for why those charges were necessary. It may also be a good idea to write down your every day experiences showing the non-tangible impact of your injuries and your pain and suffering.
• Do Not Talk to the Insurance Company — Once you have notified the insurance company about your claim and hired a motorcycle accident lawyer, your attorney will handle all communication with the insurance. Insurance adjusters use a lot of tactics to minimize claims, but your attorney will know how to make the adjuster be honest.
• Resist Social Media — It is commonplace to want to share what is going on with your life on social media. However, posting too much on social media can ruin your claim. If you say your injuries are debilitating, and the insurance finds out you have been at a bar, they will use it to try and devalue your claim.

From the first time you speak with us, we will keep you updated throughout your claim until we reach the great results you deserve. Allow us to deal with the legal aspect of your case so you can spend your energy on on your physical and emotional recovery.

Do I Need a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Altona, IL For My Claim?

For accidents involving minor injuries, where there is no discrepancy about who is at fault and your medical expenses are no more than an appointment with your primary care physician, a lawyer may not be able to add much value to your claim. Supply the insurance company with your records and expenses, and see if they will throw some extra money on top for the trouble. In a a settlement for a relatively small sum of money where not much is disputed, the insurance company will only lose money if they try to deny your claim.

However, more likely than not you will need the assistance of a motorcycle accident attorney for your injury claim. While in a perfect world insurance companies would fulfill their obligations when their policyholders injure someone, it usually takes a fair amount of fighting to get them to do it. Situations where you will need a motorcycle accident lawyer in Altona, IL include:

• Your injuries are severe — The higher your damages, the more the insurance company will try and devalue your injuries. If your injuries require future medical treatment or prevent you from earning a living as you used to, you will absolutely need an attorney to precisely value your damages.
• The insurance company’s offer is far below your damages — If your damages are in the tens or hundreds of thousands, and the insurance company’s offer is no where close to that, they are trying convince you that you do not know how what fair compensation means in your case. If there is a lawyer on the case, the insurance company will know that you are serious about getting the full compensation you deserve. Burger Law has added hundreds of thousands of dollars to claims, including turning a $3,900 offer into a $100,000 settlement.
• There are multiple liable parties — With some cases, especially multi-vehicle accidents, there may be more than one person who was negligent. For example, a driver may merge into your line because they did not see you, causing you to swerve and hit an improperly cordoned-off construction zone. A knowledgeable Altona, IL motorcycle accident lawyer will be able to investigate the crash and assign a portion of the damages to each liable party. Finding other people who are liable is imperative if your damages exceed the at-fault driver’s policy limits.
• You are being blamed for your injuries — Blaming you for your injuries is a classic move insurance adjusters use to devalue your claim. When this happens, an attorney can step in and conclusively demonstrate how the other party was negligent. If you were indeed partially to blame, you can still make a recovery under Missouri’s comparative negligence doctrine. However, you will need an attorney to apply the rule of law and get you that compensation.

Your Altona, IL motorcycle accident lawyer at Burger Law knows how to combat tricks insurance adjusters use. We have been doing it for more than 30 years. Our consultations are free, so speak to an attorney today at (779) 800-HURT to see if we can add value to your claim. We get to work from the moment you hire us, and do not give up until you get every bit of compensation you deserve.

Recent Burger Law Altona, IL Motorcycle Accident Victories

You need a lawyer who has shown they can get results in your type of claim before. Any motorcycle accident lawyer can say they are the best, but a lawyer whose past clients will recommend them and who has the results to prove it is another thing. Click on the following links to see some recent Burger Law motorcycle accident victories and testimonials:

• $495,000 Uninsured Motorcycle Accident Verdict
• $327,000 Motorcycle Accident Settlement
• $250,000 Policy Limits Settlement
• $100,000 Motorcycle Liability Claim
• Maximum Recovery Obtained for Motorcycle Accident

Do I Have a Motorcycle Accident Claim in Altona, IL?

If you want to have a successful claim in Altona, IL, you must have been injured by someone else’s negligence. There are five elements to proving negligence in a personal injury claim:

1. Duty of care — Did the other person owe you a responsibility to keep you safe? 625 ILCS 5/11-1003.1 states that “every driver of a vehicle shall exercise due care,” so other motorists always owe you that duty.
2. Breach of duty — Did they fail in that duty and did that breach lead to an accident? Was another motorist speeding, texting and driving, drunk driving or otherwise breaking proper procedure behind the wheel?
3. Cause in fact — Were your injuries the direct result of the accident?
4. Proximate cause — Did the person’s breach of duty cause the accident? If the other driver’s brakes were malfunctioning, the person who needs to be held accountable for your injuries may be a manufacturer and not the driver?.
5. Damages — Did your injuries lead to losses, such as medical bills and mental anguish? If your accident caused a few bumps and bruises, but you did not need any medical treatment, it would be hard for you to make a claim.

If you were injured because of another’s negligence, you need to file an injury claim. Speak to a motorcycle accident attorney now at (779) 800-HURT if you are unsure if you have a claim.

How Much is My Altona, IL Motorcycle Accident Claim Worth?

In any personal injury claim, you are owed compensation for:

• Economic damages, such as lost wages, medical bills and out-of-pocket expenses
• Non-economic damages, such as mental anguish, disfigurement and pain and suffering
• While not common, you might be able to be awarded punitive damages if the liable party’s behavior was especially egregious, such as if they were drunk driving

Factors that might make your recovery higher or lower include:

• The severity of your injuries; more significant injuries usually lead to higher medical bills and more pain and suffering
• Whether or not you were partially at fault for your injuries
• If the accident led to permanent disfigurement or disability
• The impact the injuries have had on your ability to enjoy life

At Burger Law, our injury attorneys are experts at calculating the full value of someone’s injury claim and insisting the liable party takes responsibility for all of it. If your injuries lead to future economic damages like lost earning capacity or future surgeries, that will also be part of your settlement or verdict, including accounting for inflation.

How Long Do I Have to File a Motorcycle Accident Claim in Altona, IL?

Under 735 ILCS 5/13-202, the time limit for motorcycle accident claims in Altona, IL is two years. That means the clock starts ticking on the date you were injured to file a lawsuit in court. There are some exceptions:

• If you or your loved one was a minor at the time of accident, they have until their 20th birthday
• If you or a loved one was under a legal disability at the time of accident, they have until two years after the disability ended
• If the person responsible for your injuries is outside of the state of Illinois for a time, that period is not included in the two years

While two years may seem like a long time, investigating and developing a legal strategy for your claim takes time. Do not hesitate to reach out to a motorcycle accident lawyer after you have been injured in Altona, IL. Call us today at (779) 800-HURT.

What Are Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Altona, IL?

Motorcycles are not as easy to spot on the road, as they take up less space. Due to a phenomenon known as “inattentional blindness,” it is harder for drivers to see a motorcycle — even if they are doing their due diligence. This is because most drivers have programmed their brains to be aware of other cars, but not for motorcycles. Inattentional blindness contributes to many motorcycle accidents in Altona, IL.

Most motorcycle accidents occur because of:

• Left-hand turns — The Motorcycle Legal Foundation reports that over 40 percent of all fatal motorcycle crashes occur when a car turns left while the motorcycle was going straight. These crashes can be due to a motorist’s intoxication, speeding or simple inattention.
• Other collisions — Head on collisions are also common between motorcycles and cars or trucks. It is also common for a car to fail to see a motorcyclist when merging or changing lanes. Motorcycles also collide with fixed objects more than any other type of motorist, which may be due to a negligent construction company or governmental entity.
• Road hazards — Cracked pavement, potholes, dead animals, gravel or other debris on our streets usually do not affect a vehicle with more than two wheels very much. However, motorcycles do not have the same level of stability and these hazards can cause a motorcyclist to fall.
• Malfunctioning parts — Manufacturers and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recall dozens of motorcycles annually. When dangerous bikes and components are not recalled, it can cause motorcycle crashes.

Who is Liable for My Motorcycle Accident Injuries in Altona, IL?

Almost all motor vehicle accidents are due to driver error. So, most of the time another driver is responsible for your injuries. However, depending on the specifics of your case, you may also be able to make a claim against:

• A governmental body or contracting company for road hazards
• A motorcycle manufacturer for a defective product
• A company if someone they hired injured you while driving, such as in a commercial truck accident

Can I Sue For My Altona, IL Motorcycle Accident if it Did Not Involve Another Vehicle?

Governmental agencies are tasked with keeping their roadways safe for use by everyone on the roads, and when there are road hazards that cause an accident, the state may have to compensate you for your injuries. However, the state of Illinois does not make it easy to hold them accountable. Our motorcycle accident lawyers in Altona, IL can handle your claim and guide you through the complexities of local and state laws to get you the compensation you deserve.

A Loved One Was Killed in a Motorcycle Crash in Altona, IL. What Are My Legal Options?

The dangers of motorcycles mean that bikers have a higher death rate than people in passenger cars. If your worst nightmare came true and someone you love died in a motorcycle crash, you can make a wrongful death claim. While it is impossible to put a monetary value on your loved one’s life can help provide some sense closure and ease the financial hardships that come with your loved one’s passing. 740 ILCS 180/, the Illinois Wrongful Death Act, details the laws surrounding wrongful death claims:

• You can make a wrongful death claim for negligence, just as your loved one would have made an injury claim if they were injured.
• The Illinois statute of limitations for wrongful death claims is two years from the date of your loved one’s death, not the date of the accident.
• There are three categories of people who can file a wrongful death claim in Illinois. Beginning with who has the first chance to file, they are:
  1. Immediate family members, such as a spouse, children, grandchildren and grandparents
  2. If there are no immediate family members, siblings and nieces and nephews can bring a suit
  3. If there are no family members, a judge can designate a plaintiff ad litem to file a claim
• The damages you can recover include:
  • Under 755 ILCS 5/27-6, the Illinois Survival Act, the economic and noneconomic damages the deceased incurred from their injuries before passing
  • Funeral expenses
  • Loss of financial support from the deceased, including any benefits related to their employment
  • Loss of consortium
  • Loss of instruction, education and moral training the deceased would have provided
  • Survivors’ grief, sorrow and mental suffering

Burger Law’s Altona, IL wrongful death attorneys are not just skilled at securing full compensation. We are understanding and kind and have helped many families navigate the sorrow, anger and confusion that accompanies a fatal auto accident.

In addition to motorcycle accidents, other injury claims we take on and win in Altona, IL include:

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

Speak to a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Altona, IL Today

Our Altona, IL motorcycle accident lawyers will not stop fighting until there is nothing left to fight; that is our guarantee. You deserve to be financially compensated for your motorcycle accident. You did nothing to deserve being in this situation, and you should not have to pay for it. To learn more about how our Altona, IL personal injury law firm will fight for your rights, call our team at (779) 800-HURT or contact us online for a no obligation case review.