Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Chicago Ridge, IL

The thrill of riding a motorcycle can be ripped away from you by the injuries negligent drivers cause when they do not follow the rules of the road. If another driver injured you in Chicago Ridge, IL, speak to the motorcycle accident lawyers of Burger Law immediately at (312) 500-HURT or contact us online for a complimentary case evaluation.

If you were injured in a motorcycle accident in Chicago Ridge, 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. You are connected to the road and your motorcycle in a way that a car just cannot emulate. Regrettably, there is a potentially dangerous trade-off. Because of their relative lack of protection, motorcycle accidents can cause serious injuries. When you are injured, there are immediate economic, physical and emotional consequences and you need someone to fight for you. You need to find a lawyer with a proven track record of winning motorcycle collision cases in Chicago Ridge, IL.

Burger Law has over 30 years of experience getting maximum compensation for our clients. 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 is out to devalue your recovery. Our firm has a proven track record of successfully fighting the insurance companies and making sure that they give the full compensation they owe our Chicago Ridge, IL clients.

To learn more about how our personal injury law firm will fight for your rights, call our team at (312) 500-HURT to go over your motorcycle accident claim for free.

How Common Are Motorcycle Accidents in Chicago Ridge, IL?

Fourteen percent of traffic fatalities and four percent of injuries were sustained by motorcyclists, despite only barely over half a percent of vehicle traffic being motorcycles, according to research from the National Safety Council. Nationwide, in 2020 82,000 people were injured and 5,579 passed away in motorcycle crashes. In Illinois, of 3,077 motorcycle accidents, 2,404 caused injuries and 152 were deadly, according to the Illinois 2020 Crash Facts and Statistics. Unfortunately, over 50 percent of those happened when a passenger car or truck collided with a motorcycle when the biker was driving in a straight line, insinuating that the accidents were often due to another driver not respecting motorcyclists on the road. Most of the crashes occurred in densely populated areas, especially on arterial roads.

According to 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 between June and September, and half occur on the weekends.

What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Chicago Ridge, IL

There are several things you should do, both immediately following the accident and in the days and weeks that follow, to ensure you make both a physical and financial recovery.

At the Accident Site

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

• Get to safety — If you are physically able, 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 exacerbate your injuries. If you believe your injuries may be catastrophic, it may be best not to move; instead wait for emergency personnel.
• Keep your gear on — Removing your helmet or other gear could also make serious injuries even worse. Adrenaline may hide how bad an injury actually is.
• Call 911 — Because 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 will also be able to file a report relating who they believe is responsible for the accident.
• Gather evidence — Talk to any other drivers involved and ask for an insurance card. Take pictures of all vehicles and the crash site from a variety of angles. Take as many pictures as possible. Something you do not think is that big of a deal may help a motorcycle accident lawyer in Chicago Ridge, IL prove who is responsible for your injuries when you make your claim. See if there are eyewitnesses who can corroborate your claim.

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

What to Do Throughout the Claim Process

After you first seek medical care, inform the insurance company of everybody involved. Then, speak to a motorcycle accident lawyer in Chicago Ridge, 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:

• Continue Medical Treatment — This is obviously the best thing for your health, but is also key to making sure you get full compensation. You need to prove how much that accident hurt you, 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 the higher your financial loss, the higher your non-economic damages compensation will be as well. Go to every follow up, chiropractic or physical therapy appointment your doctor orders for you.
• Keep Track of Everything Related to Your Injuries — 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 with chores around the house. Manage a file with detailed receipts and notes about why you needed to pay those expenses. You can also write down your every day experiences showing 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, let your attorney handle documentation and negotiation. Insurance adjusters use a lot of ploys to avoid paying claims, and it is better to leave communication up to an attorney who knows how to make the adjuster be honest.
• Resist Social Media — In this day and age, many of us want to share details about our life on the Internet. However, even a well-meaning post can ruin 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 will use it to attempt to deny your claim.

From the moment you hire us, we will keep you completely in the loop until we attain the great results you deserve. Let us handle the legal aspect of your case so you can spend your energy on on your medical treatment.

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

For minor and clear-cut accidents, where there is no discrepancy about who is at fault and your medical expenses only include an urgent care visit, a lawyer may not be able to add much value to your claim. Supply the insurance company with your records and expenses, and ask for a little more for the trouble. In a smaller settlement where their policyholder is clearly liable, the adjuster will only lose money if they try to deny your claim.

However, in the vast majority of cases, you will need the assistance of a motorcycle accident attorney for your injury claim. While in a perfect world insurance companies would fulfill their responsibility when their policyholders injure someone, they usually have to be convinced to. You will almost certainly need a motorcycle accident lawyer in Chicago Ridge, IL if:

• Your injuries require ongoing treatment — The higher your damages, the more the insurance company will fight back against your claim. If your injuries result in permanent disability, you will absolutely need an attorney to convince the insurance company to pay for future damages as well.
• The insurance company’s offer is far below your damages — If your damages are starting to creep up into the tens of thousands, and the insurance company’s offer is no where close to that, 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. 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 parties at fault — With some accidents, especially crashes involving more than one vehicle, there may be more than one liable party. For example, a driver may cut your off while not looking for you, causing you to take defensive action and hit an improperly cordoned-off construction zone. An aggressive Chicago Ridge, IL motorcycle accident lawyer will conduct a full investigation into the wreck and determine all liable parties. Identifying everyone who is liable is imperative if your damages exceed the at-fault driver’s policy limits.
• You are being blamed for the accident — Trying to say your injuries are your own fault is a frequent trick insurance adjusters use to avoid paying you. If the insurance company say your injuries are your own doing, an attorney will fight back prove how the other party was negligent. If it is true that you were responsible for a portion of the accident, you can still receive some compensation under Missouri’s comparative negligence doctrine. However, you will need an attorney to apply the rule of law and get you that compensation.

Your Chicago Ridge, IL motorcycle accident lawyer at Burger Law knows how to fight back against 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 get to work from the second you hire us, and do not give up until you get every bit of compensation you are owed.

Recent Burger Law Chicago Ridge, IL Motorcycle Accident Victories

You need a lawyer who has shown they can get maximum compensation in your type of claim before. A motorcycle accident lawyer saying they know how to get full compensation is one thing, 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 Chicago Ridge, IL?

If you want to file any Chicago Ridge, IL injury claim, you must have sustained an injury that was caused by someone else’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 protect you from unreasonable harm? 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 a duty of care.
2. Breach of duty — Were they neglectful in that duty and cause an accident? Was the other 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 — Whose negligence 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 caused a few bumps and bruises, but you did not need any medical treatment, you likely do not have a claim.

If you were injured because of another’s negligence, you have an injury claim. Speak to a motorcycle accident attorney today at (312) 500-HURT if you have any doubts about the validity of your claim.

How Much is My Chicago Ridge, 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 may be able to recover punitive damages if you were injured by extreme recklessness, such as drunk driving

Factors that might make your compensation 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 to blame for your injuries
• If the accident led to permanent disfigurement or disability
• The impact the injuries have had on your ability to live the life you are used to

At Burger Law, we know how to calculate every dime you are owed and demand that the liable party takes responsibility for 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 Ridge, IL?

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

• If you or your loved one was under the age of 18 when the injuries occurred, they have until two years after their 18th 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 negligent party leaves the state of Illinois for a period, that time does not account against 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 call a motorcycle accident lawyer after you have been injured in Chicago Ridge, IL. Call us now at (312) 500-HURT.

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

Motorcycles are not as easy to spot on the road, as they take up less space. Due to something known as “inattentional blindness,” drivers are less likely to see a motorcycle — even when they are looking for one. 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 Chicago Ridge, IL.

The most common causes of motorcycles accidents are:

• Left-hand turns — The Motorcycle Legal Foundation reports that over 40 percent of all fatal motorcycle crashes involve a car turning left while the motorcycle was going straight. These crashes can be the result of a car driver’s intoxication, reckless driving or distracted driving.
• Other collisions — Head on collisions also occur frequently between motorcycles and cars or trucks. It is also common for a car not see a motorcyclist when merging or changing lanes. Motorcycles also have the highest rate of collisions with fixed objects, which is not always the motorcyclist’s fault.
• Road hazards — Cracked pavement, potholes, animal carcasses, slick surfaces or other debris on our streets often do not have much of an impact on a car. However, motorcycles are less stable and these hazards can cause a motorcyclist to lose control.
• Malfunctioning parts — Dozens of motorcycles are recalled every year, either by the manufacturer or by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. When dangerous bikes and components are not recalled, it can lead to motorcycle collisions.

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

More than nine out of 10 auto accidents are the result of human error. So, most likely, you will make a claim against another driver. However, depending on the specifics of your case, you may also be able to make a claim against:

• A governmental agency or construction company for road hazards
• A vehicle designer, manufacturer or vendor for a defective product
• A employer if their employee injured you while driving, such as in a commercial truck accident

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

Governmental agencies are supposed to keep their roadways safe for use by everyone on the roads, and when there are road hazards that cause an accident, the agency responsible for the neglect 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 Chicago Ridge, IL can take on your claim and guide you through the complexities of local and state laws to secure you a full financial recovery.

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

Motorcyclists are not only at increased risk of a serious injury, but are more likely to perish in a crash. If your worst nightmare came true and a loved one passed away 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 bring a sense of justice 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 of the accident.
• 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 file a claim
• Your compensation will include:
  • Under 755 ILCS 5/27-6, the Illinois Survival Act, the personal injury damages incurred by the deceased before their death, for example their medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering
  • 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 Chicago Ridge, IL wrongful death attorneys are not just skilled at securing full compensation. We are empathetic and have helped many families navigate the sorrow, anger and confusion that comes after a fatal auto accident.

In addition to motorcycle accidents, other personal injury cases we take on and win in Chicago Ridge, 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 Ridge, IL Today

Our Chicago Ridge, 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 did nothing to deserve being in this situation, and you should not have to pay for it. To learn more about how our Chicago Ridge, IL personal injury law firm will fight for your rights, call our team at (312) 500-HURT or contact us online for a no obligation consultation.