Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Carpentersville, IL

Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Carpentersville, IL

The thrill of riding a motorcycle can be neutralized by the harm reckless drivers can do to you when they do not pay attention to your safety. If another driver injured you in Carpentersville, IL, call the motorcycle accident lawyers of Burger Law now at (779) 800-HURT or contact us online for a free consultation.

If you were injured in a motorcycle accident in Carpentersville, 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 get your blood racing. There is a sense of freedom that a car just cannot emulate. Regrettably, this freedom also comes with a high price. Because motorcycles do not protect their occupants as well as enclosed vehicles, motorcycle accidents can cause serious injuries. When that happens to you, there are immediate hardships and you need someone to stand by your side and ensure you are treated fairly. You want a lawyer that has demonstrated that they can get great results in motorcycle crash claims in Carpentersville, IL.

Burger Law has over 70 years of combined experience winning cases in negotiations and in the court room. Our motorcycle accident lawyers will fight until we win your case and there is nothing left to fight. Always speak to a lawyer before accepting an insurance company’s offer. The insurance adjuster will try to devalue your recovery. We know how to fight insurance companies and ensure that they give the full compensation they owe our Carpentersville, IL clients.

To find out more about how our personal injury law firm will fight for your rights, call an attorney at (779) 800-HURT to go over your motorcycle accident claim for free.

How Common Are Motorcycle Accidents in Carpentersville, IL?

Even though motorcycles account for less than one percent of all traffic miles traveled in the United States, they made up four percent of all injuries and 14 percent of all fatalities in traffic-related accidents in 2020, according to data from the National Safety Council. Nationwide, in 2020 there were 82,500 motorcycle accident injuries and 5,579 fatalities. In Illinois, of 3,077 motorcycle crashes, 2,404 caused injuries and 152 were deadly, according to the Illinois 2020 Crash Facts and Statistics. Unfortunately, over 50 percent of those occurred when the motorcycle was going straight ahead, insinuating that the accidents were often due to another driver was not looking out for bikers. Wrecks happen most frequently in urban areas, especially on arterial roads.

According to the Motorcycle Legal Foundation, Illinois is eighth in the country with over 280,000 registered motorcycles, and proportionately was eighth in the country in fatalities in 2017.

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 Carpentersville, IL

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

At the Accident Site

While any wreck can be surprising and scary, it is vital to think rationally. At the accident site, you should:

• Get to safety — If you can, get to the side of the road and away from oncoming traffic. Leave your motorcycle behind. We know it is a treasure for you, but trying to carry it could exacerbate your injuries. If you believe your injuries may be catastrophic, it may be best not to move; instead wait for emergency personnel.
• Do not remove your safety gear — Taking off your helmet, gloves, boots, jacket and other gear could also exacerbate your injuries. Because of adrenaline, a serious injury may not always hurt as much at first.
• Call 911 — Because the injuries caused in a motorcycle wreck can be catastrophic, it is probably a good idea to get medical attention at the scene instead of trying to go to an emergency room yourself. Police are trained to determine fault in an accident, and will make a police report.
• Gather evidence — Talk to any other motorists involved and get their insurance information. Take pictures of the accident, including how the vehicles are positioned and the surrounding areas. Take more photos than you think you need. Something you do not think matters much may be useful to a motorcycle accident lawyer in Carpentersville, IL when trying to prove your case down the road. See if there are eyewitnesses who can back up your side of the story.

Finally, if you did not seek medical treatment at the crash site, do so immediately.

What to Do in the Days, Weeks and Months Afterwards

Once you have gotten medical treatment, notify the insurance company of everybody involved. Then, speak to a motorcycle accident lawyer in Carpentersville, 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 health, but aids your financial recovery as well. You need to prove that you sustained financial losses, and to do that you need to complete copies of medical medical records which detail all of the treatments and related expenses directly associated with the accident. The more medical expenses you have, the higher your non-economic damages compensation will be as well. Make sure you attend every follow up, chiropractic or physical therapy appointment your doctor prescribes.
• Keep Track of Everything Related to Your Injuries — You are also owed a financial recovery for lost wages from time your injuries caused you to miss out from work, 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 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.
• Leave the Insurance Company up to Your Attorney — Once you have informed the insurance company about your accident and enlisted the services of a motorcycle accident lawyer, your attorney will handle all communication with the insurance. Insurance adjusters try to employ a lot of ploys to minimize claims, but your attorney will know how to deal with them.
• Stay off Social Media — It is normal to want to share what is going on with your life on the Internet. However, posting too much on social media can hurt your chances of being fully compensated. If you tell the insurance company that your injuries are keeping you from working, and the insurance finds out you have been at your friend’s barbecue, they they can say your injuries are not actually that severe.

From your initial consultation, we will keep you completely in the loop until you get the full financial recovery you are owed. Allow us to handle the investigation, documentation, negotiation and litigation so you can focus on your medical treatment.

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

For accidents involving minor injuries, where the liable party is taking accountability and your medical bills only include an urgent care visit, a lawyer may not be able to add much value to your claim. Supply the insurance company with proof of your financial losses, and ask for a little more for inconvenience. In a smaller settlement where not much is disputed, the insurance company is not going to want to waste their time.

However, more likely than not you will need the assistance of a motorcycle accident attorney for your injury claim. While it would be nice if insurance companies fulfilled their duty when someone is injured under their coverage, they usually have to be convinced to. Situations where you will need a motorcycle accident lawyer in Carpentersville, IL include:

• Your injuries are severe — The more your medical bills and lost wages, the more the insurance company will fight back against your claim. 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 hold the insurance adjuster accountable for all of your damages.
• The insurance company’s offer is not close your damages — If your damages are starting to creep up into the tens of thousands, and the insurance adjuster is only offering a few thousand, they are trying to take advantage of you. If there is a lawyer on the case, 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 is more than liable party — With some injuries, 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 take defensive action and hit a road hazard that a local government should have fixed. A talented Carpentersville, IL motorcycle accident lawyer will be able to investigate the accident and determine all liable parties. Finding other people who are liable is crucial if you are owed more compensation than the at-fault driver’s policy limits.
• You are being blamed for the accident — Blaming you for your injuries is a well-known trick insurance adjusters use to minimize your claim. When this happens, an attorney will fight back prove that is not the case. If it is true that you were responsible for a portion of the accident, you can still make a recovery under Missouri’s comparative negligence doctrine. However, a lawyer is likely necessary to get you the most possible compensation.

Your Carpentersville, IL motorcycle accident lawyer at Burger Law knows how to fight back against dishonest ploys 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 what we can do for your claim. We start working from the moment you hire us, and do not give up until you get every bit of compensation you are owed.

Recent Burger Law Carpentersville, IL Motorcycle Accident Victories

With any type of legal claim, results matter. You want to feel confident that you are putting your case in the hands of the best possible lawyer, and that they are going to fight hard to make sure you get 100 percent of the recovery and compensation you deserve. Any motorcycle accident lawyer can say they are the best, but a lawyer with client testimonials and results to prove it is another thing. Here are several of our most recent victories as well as client 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 Carpentersville, IL?

In order to file any Carpentersville, IL injury claim, 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 owe you a responsibility to keep you safe? 625 ILCS 5/11-1003.1 stipulates that “every driver of a vehicle shall exercise due care,” so other drivers always owe you a duty of care.
2. Breach of duty — Did they fail in that duty and cause an accident? Was the other motorist speeding, texting and driving, drunk driving or otherwise not following proper procedure behind the wheel?
3. Cause in fact — Did the accident cause your injuries?
4. Proximate cause — Whose breach of duty caused the accident? If the other driver’s brakes were malfunctioning, the liable party may be a manufacturer and not another motorist?.
5. Damages — Did you sustain losses because of your injuries, such as medical bills and pain and suffering? If your accident caused a few small cuts and bruising, but they healed without any medical treatment, you likely do not have a claim.

If you were injured because of another’s negligence, you have an injury claim. Consult with a motorcycle accident attorney today at (779) 800-HURT if you are unsure if you have a claim.

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

Your compensation will be a combination of:

• Economic damages, such as lost wages, medical bills and out-of-pocket expenses
• Non-economic damages, such as mental anguish, scarring and pain and suffering
• In some rare cases, you can recover 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 tend to lead to higher economic and noneconomic damages
• Whether or not you contributed to the accident
• If you sustained permanent disfigurement or disability
• How your life has changed because of your injuries

At Burger Law, our injury attorneys are experts at calculating the full value of someone’s injury claim and demanding 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 Carpentersville, IL?

Under 735 ILCS 5/13-202, the statute of limitations for motorcycle accident claims in Carpentersville, IL is two years. That means the clock starts ticking on the date the accident occurred to file a claim. Illinois has three exceptions:

• If you or your loved one was a minor when the injuries occurred, 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 negligent party is outside of the state of Illinois for a time, that period is not included in 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 wait to reach out to a motorcycle accident lawyer after you were hurt in a motorcycle accident in Carpentersville, IL. Call us immediately at (779) 800-HURT.

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

Motorcycles are not as easy to spot on the road, being smaller. Because of a phenomenon referred to as “inattentional blindness,” it is harder for drivers to see a motorcycle — even when they are looking for one. This is because most drivers have programmed their brains to look for larger vehicles, but not for motorcycles. Inattentional blindness is a leading cause of motorcycle accidents in Carpentersville, 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 deaths involve a car turning left while and hits a motorcyclist in an intersection. These crashes can happen because of a motorist’s drunkenness, reckless driving or generally not paying close enough attention to the road.
• Other collisions — Head on collisions also occur frequently between motorcycles and passenger cars. It is also common for a car not see a motorcyclist when merging or changing lanes. Motorcycles also collide with fixed objects more than any other type of driver, which is not always the motorcyclist’s fault.
• Road hazards — Uneven pavement, potholes, animal carcasses, gravel or other roadways debris 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 spin out.
• Malfunctioning components — Manufacturers and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recall dozens of motorcycles annually. If bikes or parts that are defective are allowed to stay on the market, it can result in motorcycle accidents.

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

Ninety-four percent of all auto accidents are caused by human error. So, most of the time another motorist is liable. However, other parties that may be held accountable include:

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

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

States and municipalities 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 hold them accountable. Our motorcycle accident lawyers in Carpentersville, IL can handle your claim and guide you through the complexities of local and state laws to secure you the compensation you deserve.

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

Motorcyclists are not only at increased risk of a catastrophic injury, but are more likely to be in a fatal accident. If you were touched by tragedy and someone you love died in a motorcycle crash, you can make a wrongful death claim. While no amount of money can bring back your loved one, it can help provide some sense closure and ease the financial burden 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 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 the first chance to file, they are:
  1. Members of the nuclear family, such as a spouse, children, grandchildren and grandparents
  2. When there are no immediate family members, siblings and nieces and nephews can bring a suit
  3. If there are no family members, the court can appoint a plaintiff ad litem to bring a suit
• 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 your loved one, including any work-related benefits
  • Loss of consortium
  • Loss of instruction, education and moral training the deceased would have provided
  • Survivors’ grief, sorrow and mental suffering

Burger Law’s Carpentersville, IL wrongful death attorneys are not just tremendous 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 Carpentersville, 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 Carpentersville, IL Today

Our Carpentersville, IL motorcycle accident lawyers will fight until you get the maximum compensation you are owed; 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 Carpentersville, IL personal injury law firm will fight for your rights, call our team at (779) 800-HURT or complete our online form for a free case review.