Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Chicago Heights, IL

The sense of freedom a motorcycle comes with can be made moot by the harm negligent drivers can do to you when they do not respect your safety. If another driver injured you in Chicago Heights, IL, reach out to the motorcycle accident lawyers of Burger Law today at (312) 500-HURT or contact us online for a no-risk, no-obligation case review.

If you were injured in a motorcycle accident in Chicago Heights, 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, this freedom also comes with a high price. Because motorcycles do not protect their occupants as well as enclosed vehicles, the consequences of a motorcycle accident can be devastating. When that happens to you, there are instant hardships and you need someone to fight for you. You need to find a law firm with a proven track record of winning motorcycle wreck claims in Chicago Heights, IL.

Our team has more than seven decades of combined experience winning cases in negotiations and in the court room. Our motorcycle accident lawyers will aggressively pursue your claim to ensure you get the medical care and financial recovery that you are owed and that you deserve. Do not talk to your insurance or the other side’s insurance without speaking to an attorney first. The insurance adjuster will try to minimize your financial settlement. Our firm has a proven track record of successfully fighting the insurance companies and making sure that they treat our Chicago Heights, IL clients fairly.

To learn more about how our personal injury law firm will defend your rights, call our team at (312) 500-HURT to discuss your motorcycle accident case now.

How Common Are Motorcycle Accidents in Chicago Heights, IL?

Fourteen percent of motor vehicle deaths and four percent of injuries were sustained by motorcyclists, despite only only .06 percent of vehicle traffic being motorcycles, according to research from the National Safety Council. Nationwide, 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, over 50 percent of those crashes came when the motorcycle was going in a straight line, which leads us to believe that the accidents were often due to another driver not respecting motorcyclists on the road. Wrecks happen most frequently in densely populated areas, especially major city streets.

According to research from the Motorcycle Legal Foundation, Illinois is eighth in the country with 280,322 registered motorcycles, and fittingly was eighth in the country in deaths 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 Chicago Heights, IL

There are several things you should do, both at the accident site and throughout the process of recovering from your injuries and seeking compensation, to ensure both your health and the chances of a successful claim.

At the Accident Site

While any collision can be surprising and scary, try to stay as calm as possible. Immediately after the crash, you should:

• Get out of harm’s way — If you can, move out of the way of oncoming traffic. Leave the bike. We know it is your baby, but staying with the bike or trying to move it could put you at risk of further harm. If you are seriously injured, it may be best not to move; instead wait for emergency personnel.
• Do not remove your protective gear — Taking off your helmet or other gear could also make serious injuries even worse. Adrenaline may hide how significant an injury actually is.
• Call 911 — As motorcycle accidents can cause severe injuries, it is probably a good idea to be looked over there instead of trying to go to an emergency room yourself. Police are trained to assign fault in an accident, and will make a police report.
• Gather evidence — Speak to the other driver and get their insurance information. Take photographs of the accident, including damage to all vehicles involved and the surrounding areas. Take more photos than you think you need. Something you do not think matters much may help a motorcycle accident lawyer in Chicago Heights, IL prove someone else’s negligence when you make your claim. See if there are eyewitnesses who can back up your claim.

Lastly, receive medical attention if you have not already.

What to Do in the Days, Weeks and Months Afterwards

After you first seek medical care, inform the insurance company of everybody involved. Then, speak to a motorcycle accident lawyer in Chicago Heights, 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 is also key to building your case. You need to prove how much that accident hurt you, and to do that you need to be able to point to medical records which show all of the costs and treatments directly associated with the accident. The the higher your financial loss, the higher your ultimate compensation will be as well. Go to every follow up, chiropractic or physical therapy appointment your doctor wants you to.
• 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 transportation to and from medical appointments or hiring someone to help take care of your children. Keep all of your receipts and notes about why you needed to pay those expenses. You can also write down your every day experiences 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 filed your claim and hired a motorcycle accident lawyer, let your attorney handle documentation and negotiation. Insurance adjusters use a lot of tactics to avoid paying claims, but your attorney will know how to combat them.
• Do Not Post on 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 say your injuries are debilitating, and the insurance finds out you have been going out on the weekends, they they can say your injuries are not actually that severe.

From your initial consultation, we will be in contact with you every step of the way until we attain the great results you deserve. Let us deal with the investigation, documentation, negotiation and litigation so you can focus on healing.

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

For some minor claims, where fault is clearly established and your medical expenses only include an appointment with your primary care physician, you may not need an attorney to get fair compensation. Give the insurance company your records and expenses, and see if they will throw some extra money on top for the hassle. In a smaller settlement where their policyholder is clearly liable, the insurance company is not going to want to waste their time.

However, in the vast majority of cases, you will need a motorcycle accident attorney for your injury claim. While in a a truly fair society insurance companies would fulfill their obligations when their policyholders injure someone, it usually takes a fair amount of fighting to get them to be fair. You will likely need a motorcycle accident lawyer in Chicago Heights, IL if:

• Your injuries require ongoing treatment — The higher your damages, the more the insurance company will be resistant to reimbursing you for it. If your injuries require future medical treatment or prevent you from earning a living as you used to, you will always need an attorney to hold the insurance adjuster accountable for all of your damages.
• Your damages and the insurance company’s offer are way too far apart — 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 convince you that you do not know how what fair compensation means in your case. By hiring an attorney, 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 is more than party at fault — With some cases, especially wrecks involving more than one vehicle, there may be more than one liable party. For example, a driver may cut your off because they did not see you, causing you to swerve and hit a road hazard that a local government should have fixed. An experienced Chicago Heights, IL motorcycle accident lawyer will conduct a full investigation into the accident and assign a portion of the damages to each liable party. Finding other people who are liable is crucial if your damages exceed the at-fault driver’s policy limits.
• The insurance adjuster is trying to blame you for your injuries — Blaming you for your injuries is a well-known move insurance adjusters use to minimize your claim. If the insurance company say your accident was your own doing, an attorney use their investigate skills and network of experts to conclusively demonstrate how the other party was negligent. If it is true that you were partially at fault, you can still make a recovery under Missouri’s comparative negligence rule. However, you will need an attorney to apply the rule of law and get you that compensation.

Your Chicago Heights, 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 now at (312) 500-HURT to see what we can do for your claim. We start developing our legal strategy from the second you hire us, and do not give up until you get all of compensation you are owed.

Recent Burger Law Chicago Heights, IL Motorcycle Accident Victories

With any type of legal claim, results matter. You want to know that you are giving your case to 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 will fight for you, but a lawyer with client testimonials and 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 Chicago Heights, IL?

In order to file any Chicago Heights, 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 an obligation to keep you safe? 625 ILCS 5/11-1003.1 says that “every driver of a vehicle shall exercise due care,” so other drivers always owe you a duty of care.
2. Breach of duty — Were they neglectful in that duty and cause an accident? Was another 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 the driver?.
5. Damages — Did you sustain losses because of your injuries, such as lost wages and pain and suffering? If your accident resulted in some small lacerations and bruising, but they healed without 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. Consult with a motorcycle accident attorney today at (312) 500-HURT if you are unsure if you have a claim.

How Much is My Chicago Heights, 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 emotional distress, scarring and pain and suffering
• In some rare cases, you can recover punitive damages if the liable party’s behavior was especially egregious, such as if they were drunk driving

Factors that determine how much you will recover include:

• The severity of your injuries; more significant injuries typically 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, we are experts at calculating the full value of someone’s injury claim and insisting the liable party pay all of it. If your injuries lead to future economic damages like lost earning capacity or future surgeries, we will ensure you also get money to pay for that, including calculating for inflation.

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

Pursuant to 735 ILCS 5/13-202, the statute of limitations for motorcycle accident injuries in Chicago Heights, 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 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 time is not included in the two years

While two years may seem like a long time, it takes time to properly build your case. Do not wait to call a motorcycle accident lawyer after you were hurt in a motorcycle accident in Chicago Heights, IL. Call us today at (312) 500-HURT.

What Are Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Chicago Heights, IL?

Motorcycles are not as easy to spot on the road, do not take up as much space on the road. Because of a phenomenon known 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 be aware of larger vehicles, but not for motorcycles. Inattentional blindness contributes to many motorcycle accidents in Chicago Heights, IL.

The most common causes of motorcycles accidents are:

• Left-hand turns — The Motorcycle Legal Foundation reports that 42 percent of all fatal motorcycle crashes occur when a car turns left while and hits a motorcyclist in an intersection. These crashes can happen because of a motorist’s drunkenness, reckless driving 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 have the highest rate of collisions with fixed objects, which is not always the motorcyclist’s fault.
• Road hazards — Cracked pavement, potholes, dead animals, slick surfaces or other roadways debris often do not have much of an impact on a car. However, motorcycles do not have the same level of stability and these hazards can cause a motorcyclist to lose control.
• Malfunctioning parts — 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 collisions.

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

Ninety-four percent of all auto 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 construction company for road hazards
• A motorcycle designer, manufacturer or vendor in a product liability claim
• A employer if their employee injured you while driving, for example in a commercial truck accident

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

Governmental entities are tasked with keeping their roadways safe for citizens to travel on, and when there are road hazards that cause an accident, the municipality 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 Chicago Heights, IL can take on your claim and guide you through the complexities of local and state laws to get you a full financial recovery.

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

The dangers of motorcycles mean that bikers have a higher death rate than people in passenger cars. If you were touched by tragedy and someone you love died in a motorcycle crash, you can make a recovery through a wrongful death claim. While no amount of money can bring back your loved one, it can bring a sense of justice 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 of your loved one’s death, not the date that they were first injured.
• There are three categories of people who can file a wrongful death claim in Illinois. In order of priority, they are:
  1. Immediate family members, such as a spouse, children, grandchildren and grandparents
  2. If there are no immediate family members, siblings and siblings’ descendants can file a claim
  3. If there are no family members, a judge 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 their death
  • Funeral expenses
  • Loss of financial support from the deceased, including any benefits they got from 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 Chicago Heights, IL wrongful death attorneys are not just experts at securing full compensation. We are understanding and kind 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 personal injury claims we take on and win in Chicago Heights, 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 Chicago Heights, IL Today

Our Chicago Heights, IL motorcycle accident lawyers will fight until you get the maximum compensation you are owed; we promise. 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 Chicago Heights, 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 consultation.