Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Brookfield, IL

The sense of freedom a motorcycle comes with can be canceled out by the injuries careless drivers cause when they do not follow the rules of the road. If another driver injured you in Brookfield, IL, speak to the motorcycle accident lawyers of Burger Law now at (312) 500-HURT or contact us online for a no-risk, no-obligation case evaluation.

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

Motorcycles are a great way to enjoy the road and relax. There is a sense of freedom that a car just cannot emulate. Unfortunately, negligent drivers can turn that feeling into something horrific. Because motorcycles do not protect their occupants as well as enclosed vehicles, the consequences of a motorcycle accident can be devastating. When you are injured, there are instant hardships and you need someone to stand by your side and ensure you are treated fairly. You want a lawyer with a proven track record of winning motorcycle collision lawsuits in Brookfield, IL.

Our team has over three decades of experience getting maximum compensation for our clients. Our motorcycle accident lawyers will fight until you recover all of your damages and there is nothing left to fight. Do not talk to your insurance or the other side’s insurance without speaking to an attorney first. The insurance adjuster wants to limit your financial settlement. We know how to fight insurance companies and ensure that they treat our Brookfield, IL clients fairly.

To discover more about how our personal injury law firm will defend your rights, speak to an attorney at (312) 500-HURT to go over your motorcycle accident claim for free.

How Common Are Motorcycle Accidents in Brookfield, IL?

Despite the fact that motorcycles account for only .06 percent of all traffic miles traveled nationwide, they accounted for four percent of all injuries and 14 percent of total deaths in traffic-related accidents in 2020, according to the National Safety Council. In the United States, in 2020 82,000 people were injured and 5,579 passed away in motorcycle crashes. In Illinois, there were 3,077 motorcycle crashes which caused 2,404 injuries and 152 deaths, according to the Illinois 2020 Crash Facts and Statistics. Regrettably, over 50 percent of those happened when the motorcycle was driving straight, insinuating that the accidents were often due to a car or truck driver not respecting motorcyclists on the road. Most of the crashes occurred in densely populated areas, especially around tolls.

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

Almost 50 percent of fatal motorcycle accidents occur in the summer months, and half occur between 6 p.m. Friday and 6 a.m. Monday.

What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Brookfield, IL

There are several steps you should take, both at the accident site and in the days and weeks that follow, to ensure you make both a physical and financial recovery.

Immediately After The Accident

While any accident can be jarring, it is important to keep a clear head. Immediately after the crash, you should:

• Get to safety — If you can, move out of the way of oncoming traffic. Leave your motorcycle behind. It is obviously important to you, but trying to carry it could make your injuries worse. If you suspect you have a spine or head injury, stay still and wait for emergency medical services.
• Do not take off your protective gear — Removing your helmet, gloves, boots, jacket and other gear could also make injuries worse. Shock may hide how significant an injury actually is.
• Call 911 — Because the injuries caused in a motorcycle wreck can be catastrophic, it may be a good idea to get medical attention there instead of trying to seek medical attention at urgent care or a doctors’ appointment. Police are trained to determine fault in an accident, and will make a police report.
• Gather evidence — Speak to the other driver and ask for an insurance card. Take pictures of all vehicles and the crash site from a variety of angles. Take more photos than you think you need. Something that may seem like it does not matter at first may be useful to a motorcycle accident lawyer in Brookfield, IL when trying to prove someone else’s negligence when you make your claim. Get the contact info of any eyewitnesses to the accident.

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

What to Do Throughout the Claim Process

Once you have gotten medical treatment, notify both your insurance company and the other driver’s. Then, speak to a motorcycle accident lawyer in Brookfield, 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:

• Get the Full Medical Treatment You Need — This is obviously the best thing for your health, but aids your financial recovery as well. In order to prove your damages, you need to be able to point to medical records which show the extent of your injuries. The more medical expenses you have, the higher your ultimate compensation will be as well. Make sure you attend every follow up, chiropractic or physical therapy appointment your doctor prescribes.
• Keep Detailed Records — You also deserve a financial recovery 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 parking or Uber rides for going to medical appointments or hiring someone to help with household chores. Keep all of your receipts and notes about why you needed to pay those expenses. It may also be a good idea to keep a daily journal detailing how your injuries have affected you physically and emotionally for a record of your pain and suffering.
• Do Not Talk to the Insurance Company — Once you have filed your claim and enlisted the services of a motorcycle accident lawyer, your attorney will handle all communication with the insurance. Insurance adjusters use a lot of ploys to devalue claims, but your attorney will know how to hold the adjuster accountable.
• Resist Social Media — It is normal to want to share what is going on with your life with others. However, posting too much on social media can hurt your claim. If you tell the insurance company that your injuries prevent you from working, and the insurance sees pictures of you at a bar, they they can say your injuries are not actually that severe.

From the moment you hire us, we will be in contact with you every step of the way until you get the maximum compensation you are owed. Allow us to handle the legal aspect of your case so you can focus on your medical treatment.

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

For accidents involving minor injuries, where the liable party is taking accountability and your medical expenses only include 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 proof of your financial losses, and see if they will throw some extra money on top for the hassle. In a smaller settlement where not much is disputed, the adjuster is not going to want to waste their time.

However, in most cases, hiring a motorcycle accident lawyer will be the only way to get fair compensation in your injury claim. While it would be nice if insurance companies fulfilled their duty when their policyholders injure someone, it usually takes a fair amount of fighting to get them to be fair. Situations where you will need a motorcycle accident lawyer in Brookfield, IL include:

• Your injuries require ongoing treatment — The more your medical bills and lost wages, the more the insurance company will fight back against your claim. If your injuries require ongoing treatment, you will absolutely need an attorney to hold the insurance adjuster accountable for all of your damages.
• The insurance company is not being fair — 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 to take advantage of you. By hiring a lawyer, the insurance company will know that you mean business. In a recent case, Burger Law was able to turn a $3,900 offer into a $100,000 settlement.
• There are multiple parties at fault — With some accidents, especially multi-vehicle accidents, there may be more than one liable party. For example, a driver may merge into your line while not looking for you, causing you to swerve and hit a road hazard that a governmental agency should have fixed. An experienced Brookfield, IL motorcycle accident lawyer will conduct a full investigation into the wreck and determine all liable parties. Identifying everyone who is liable is key if you are owed more compensation than the at-fault driver’s policy limits.
• You are being blamed for your injuries — Trying to say your injuries are your own fault is a classic move insurance adjusters use to avoid paying you. If the insurance company say your injuries are your own doing, an attorney can step in and prove how the other party was negligent. If you were indeed partially to blame, you are not completely barred from compensation under Missouri’s comparative negligence rule. However, you will need an attorney to apply the rule of law and get you that compensation.

Your Brookfield, IL motorcycle accident lawyer at Burger Law knows how to fight back against tricks insurance adjusters use. We have been doing it for over three decades. Our consultations are free, so call us at (312) 500-HURT to see what we can do for your claim. We get to work from the second you hire us, and fight until there is nothing left to fight.

Recent Burger Law Brookfield, IL Motorcycle Accident Victories

You need a lawyer who has shown they can get maximum compensation in your type of claim before. Any motorcycle accident lawyer can say they are the best, but a lawyer whose former clients will vouch for them and who has the results to prove it is another thing. Check out 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 Brookfield, IL?

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

1. Duty of care — Did the liable party have an obligation to keep you safe? 625 ILCS 5/11-1003.1 stipulates that “every driver of a vehicle shall exercise due care,” so anyone else on the road automatically owes 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 the rules of the road?
3. Cause in fact — Did the accident cause your injuries?
4. Proximate cause — Did the person’s breach of duty cause the accident? If the other driver’s brakes were malfunctioning, the liable party may be a manufacturer and not the driver?.
5. Damages — Did you sustain losses because of your injuries, such as lost wages and mental anguish? If your accident resulted in some bumps and bruises, but it was not serious enough to seek medical treatment, it would be hard for you to make a claim.

Any time somebody else’s carelessness or recklessness injures you, you have an injury claim. Consult with a motorcycle accident attorney today at (312) 500-HURT if you have any doubts about the validity of your claim.

How Much is My Brookfield, 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 emotional distress, scarring and pain and suffering
• While not common, you might be able to be awarded punitive damages if you were injured by extreme recklessness, such as drunk driving

Factors that determine how much you will recover include:

• The severity of your injuries; more significant injuries usually lead to higher economic and noneconomic damages
• Whether or not you contributed to the accident
• If the accident led to permanent disfigurement or disability
• How your life has changed because of your injuries

At Burger Law, our injury attorneys are experts at calculating every dime you are owed and insist the insurance company pay all of it. If your injuries require ongoing medical care, we will ensure you also get money to pay for that, including accounting for inflation.

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

Pursuant to 735 ILCS 5/13-202, the time limit for motorcycle accident injuries in Brookfield, IL is two years. That means the clock starts ticking on the date of the accident to file a claim. Illinois has three exceptions:

• If you or your loved one was under the age of 18 at the time of accident, they have until their 20th birthday
• If you or a loved one was under a legal disability when the injuries occurred, 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 period, that period does not account against the two years

While two years does not sound like it should give you a sense of urgency, it takes time to properly build your case. Do not hesitate to contact a motorcycle accident lawyer after you have been injured in Brookfield, IL. Call us now at (312) 500-HURT.

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

Motorcycles are harder for passenger car drivers to see, as they take up less space. As a result of something called “inattentional blindness,” it is harder for drivers to see a motorcycle — even if they are doing their best to be careful. This is because most drivers have programmed their brains to be aware of other cars, but not for motorcycles. Inattentional blindness is a leading cause of motorcycle accidents in Brookfield, IL.

The most common causes of motorcycles accidents are:

• Left-hand turns — The Motorcycle Legal Foundation reports that over 40 percent of all motorcycle accidents that result in fatalities occur when a car turns left while and hits a motorcyclist in an intersection. These crashes can be due to a motorist’s drunkenness, speeding or simple inattention.
• Other collisions — Head on collisions are also common between motorcycles and other types of vehicles. A car may also to fail to see a motorcyclist when turning in front of them. Motorcycles also collide with fixed objects more than any other type of driver, which may be due to a negligent construction company or governmental entity.
• Road hazards — Uneven pavement, potholes, animal carcasses, slick surfaces or other debris on our streets usually do not affect a vehicle with more than two wheels very much. However, motorcycles are less stable and these hazards can cause a motorcyclist to spin out.
• Malfunctioning parts — Dozens of motorcycles are recalled every year, either by the manufacturer or by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. If bikes or parts that are defective are allowed to stay on the market, it can lead to motorcycle accidents.

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

Almost all auto accidents are caused by human error. So, most of the time another driver is liable. However, other parties that may be held liable include:

• A governmental entity or construction company for road hazards
• A motorcycle manufacturer in a product liability claim
• A employer if someone they hired injured you while driving, for example in a commercial truck accident

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

Governmental bodies are supposed to keep their roadways safe for use by everyone on the roads, and when obstruction or other objects in the road cause an accident, the state may have to compensate you for your injuries. However, the state of Illinois does not make it easy to sue them. Our motorcycle accident lawyers in Brookfield, IL can pick up 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 Brookfield, IL. What Are My Legal Options?

Motorcyclists are not only at higher risk of a catastrophic injury, but are more likely to be in a fatal accident. If you were touched by tragedy and a family member died in a motorcycle crash, you can make a recovery through 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 some of the difficulties associated with their 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 your loved one died, not the date that they were first injured.
• Three groups of people related to the deceased can file a wrongful death claim in Illinois. Beginning with who has priority, they are:
  1. Members of the nuclear family, such as a spouse, children, grandchildren and grandparents
  2. If there are no immediate family members, siblings and siblings’ descendants can bring a suit
  3. If no family remains, the court can designate a plaintiff ad litem to bring a suit
• Your compensation will include:
  • Under 755 ILCS 5/27-6, the Illinois Survival Act, the economic and noneconomic damages your loved one incurred from their injuries before their death
  • Funeral expenses
  • Loss of financial support from the deceased, including any work-related benefits
  • Loss of consortium
  • Loss of instruction, guidance and moral training the deceased would have provided
  • Survivors’ grief, sorrow and mental suffering

Burger Law’s Brookfield, IL wrongful death attorneys are not just experts at getting our clients full recoveries. We are compassionate and have helped many families get through the sorrow, anger and confusion that comes after a fatal auto accident.

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

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

HIRE BURGER LAW

Speak to a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Brookfield, IL Today

Our Brookfield, 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 do not have to pay for someone else’s mistakes. To learn more about how our Brookfield, IL personal injury law firm will fight for your rights, call our team at (312) 500-HURT or complete our online form for a no obligation case evaluation.