Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Country Club Hills, IL

Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Country Club Hills, IL

The sense of freedom a motorcycle comes with can be canceled out by the injuries reckless drivers cause when they do not respect your safety. If you were injured in a motorcycle accident in Country Club Hills, IL, reach out to the motorcycle accident lawyers of Burger Law today at (779) 800-HURT or contact us online for a complimentary case evaluation.

If you were injured in a motorcycle accident in Country Club Hills, 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 give yourself a sense of calm. You are connected to the road and your motorcycle in a way that is not possible in an enclosed vehicle. Unfortunately, negligent drivers can turn that feeling into something horrific. Because motorcycles do not protect their occupants as well as enclosed vehicles, motorcycle accidents can cause serious injuries. When you are injured, there are immediate hardships and you need someone to fight for you. You want an attorney that has demonstrated that they can full compensation in motorcycle crash lawsuits in Country Club Hills, 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 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 is out to limit your compensation. We know how to stand up to insurance companies and ensure that they treat our Country Club Hills, IL clients fairly.

To learn more about how our personal injury law firm will defend your rights, call our team at (779) 800-HURT to go over your motorcycle accident case for free.

How Common Are Motorcycle Accidents in Country Club Hills, 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 the National Safety Council. Nationwide, in 2020 82,000 people were injured and 5,579 died in motorcycle crashes. In Illinois, of 3,077 motorcycle collisions, 2,404 caused injuries and 152 were fatal, according to the Illinois 2020 Crash Facts and Statistics. Regrettably, over 50 percent of those crashes came 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 a car or truck driver was not looking out for bikers. Wrecks happen most frequently in metropolitan 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 deadly motorcycle accidents occur in the summer months, and half occur on the weekends.

What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Country Club Hills, IL

There are a number steps you should take, both at the accident site and throughout the length of your claim process, to ensure you make both a physical and financial recovery.

At the Accident Site

While any wreck is jarring, it is important to keep a clear head. At the accident site, you should:

• Get to safety — If possible, move out of the way of oncoming traffic. Leave the bike. It is obviously important to you, 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.
• Do not take off your safety gear — Removing your helmet, gloves, boots, jacket and other gear could also make serious injuries even worse. Because of adrenaline, a serious injury may not always hurt as much at first.
• Call 911 — Because motorcycle accidents can cause severe injuries, it is probably 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 stating who they believe is to blame for the accident.
• 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 you do not think matters much may be useful to a motorcycle accident lawyer in Country Club Hills, IL when trying to prove someone else’s negligence when you make your claim. See if there are eyewitnesses who can corroborate your claim.

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

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 Country Club Hills, 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 pain and suffering compensation will be as well. Go to every every treatment and use all of the equipment and medication your doctor wants you to.
• Keep Track of Everything Related to Your Injuries — You are also entitled to compensation 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. Manage a file with all of your receipts and explanations for why those charges were necessary. 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 claim and hired a motorcycle accident lawyer, your attorney will will now be intermediary between you and the insurance. Insurance adjusters try to employ a lot of ploys to avoid paying claims, and it is better to leave communication up to a lawyer who knows how to combat them.
• Do Not Post on Social Media — In this day and age, many of us want to share details about our life with others. However, even an honest post can hurt your chances of being fully compensated. If you tell the insurance company that your injuries prevent you from working, and the insurance finds out you have been at your friend’s barbecue, they will use it to attempt to devalue your claim.

From the first time you speak with us, we will be in contact with you every step of the way until you get the maximum compensation you are owed. Let us handle the investigation, documentation, negotiation and litigation so you can focus on your medical treatment.

Do I Need a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Country Club Hills, IL For My Claim?

For some minor claims, where there is no discrepancy about who is at fault and your medical expenses only include an appointment with your primary care physician, you may be able to get compensation on your own. Give the insurance company proof of your financial losses, 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 will only lose money if they try to fight 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 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 Country Club Hills, IL include:

• Your injuries are significant — The more your medical bills and lost wages, the more the insurance company will fight back against your claim. If your injuries result in permanent disability, you will always 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 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. By hiring an attorney, 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 is more than party at fault — With some accidents, especially wrecks involving more than one vehicle, there may be more than one person who was negligent. For example, a driver may cut your off because they did not see you, causing you to take defensive action and hit an improperly cordoned-off construction zone. A talented Country Club Hills, IL motorcycle accident lawyer will be able to investigate the wreck and determine all liable parties. Finding other people who are liable is essential if your damages exceed the at-fault driver’s policy limits.
• The insurance adjuster is trying to blame you for your injuries — Trying to say your injuries are your own fault is a classic trick insurance adjusters use to avoid paying you. If the insurance company say your injuries are your own fault, 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 responsible for a portion of the accident, you are not completely barred from compensation under Missouri’s comparative negligence rule. However, a lawyer is likely necessary to get you the best possible results.

Your Country Club Hills, IL motorcycle accident lawyer at Burger Law knows how to combat dishonest ploys insurance adjusters use. We have been doing it for more than three decades. We offer an initial conversation and investigation at no charge, so call us at (779) 800-HURT to see if we can add value to your claim. We start working from the moment you hire us, and fight until there is nothing left to fight.

Recent Burger Law Country Club Hills, 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 will fight for you, 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 Country Club Hills, IL?

If you want to file any Country Club Hills, IL injury claim, 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 liable party have a responsibility to keep you safe? 625 ILCS 5/11-1003.1 mandates 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 did that breach lead to an accident? Was another driver speeding, texting and driving, drunk driving or otherwise not following the rules of the road?
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 your injuries lead to losses, such as lost wages and pain and suffering? If your accident resulted in a few bumps and bruises, but it was not serious enough to seek medical treatment, it would be hard for you to make a claim.

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

How Much is My Country Club Hills, 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, disfigurement and pain and suffering
• While not common, you might be able to receive 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 typically 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, we know how to calculate the full value of someone’s injury claim and insisting the insurance company 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 adjusting for inflation.

How Long Do I Have to File a Motorcycle Accident Claim in Country Club Hills, IL?

Pursuant to 735 ILCS 5/13-202, the statute of limitations for motorcycle accident injuries in Country Club Hills, IL is two years. That means you only have two years from the date you were injured to file a claim. There are some exceptions:

• If you or your loved one was under the age of 18 at the time of accident, they have until two years after their 18th 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 time is not included in the two years

While two years does not sound like it should give you a sense of urgency, investigating and developing a legal strategy for your claim takes time. Do not hesitate to call a motorcycle accident lawyer after you were hurt in a motorcycle accident in Country Club Hills, IL. Call us immediately at (779) 800-HURT.

What Are Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Country Club Hills, IL?

Motorcycles are harder for passenger car drivers to see, do not take up as much space on the road. Because of something referred to as “inattentional blindness,” drivers are less likely to see a motorcycle — even if they are doing their best to be careful. This is because most drivers have programmed their brains to look for larger vehicles, but not for motorcycles. Inattentional blindness contributes to many motorcycle accidents in Country Club Hills, 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 the motorcycle was going straight. These crashes can happen because of a car driver’s drunkenness, reckless driving or distracted driving.
• Other collisions — Head on collisions also occur frequently between motorcycles and other types of vehicles. It is also common for a car 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 — Cracked pavement, potholes, animal carcasses, slick surfaces or other roadways debris often do not have much of an impact on a car. However, motorcycles are less stable and these hazards can cause a motorcyclist to spin out.
• Defective components — 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 cause motorcycle collisions.

Who is Liable for My Motorcycle Accident Injuries in Country Club Hills, IL?

Almost all auto accidents are due to 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 entity or contracting company for road hazards
• A motorcycle manufacturer for a defective product
• A company if their employee injured you while driving, for example in a commercial truck accident

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

Governmental bodies 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 Country Club Hills, IL can pick up your claim and take the fight to city hall to secure you a full financial recovery.

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

Motorcyclists are not only at increased risk of a serious injury, but are more likely to be in a fatal accident. If your worst nightmare came true and a loved one 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 of the accident.
• There are three categories of people who can file a wrongful death claim in Illinois. In order of 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 there are no family members, a judge 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 the deceased incurred from their injuries before passing
  • Funeral expenses
  • Loss of financial support from the deceased, 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 Country Club Hills, 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 comes after a fatal auto accident.

In addition to motorcycle accidents, other personal injury cases we take on and win in Country Club Hills, 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 Country Club Hills, IL Today

Our Country Club Hills, IL motorcycle accident lawyers will not stop fighting until there is nothing left to fight; we promise. You are owed a recovery for your motorcycle accident. You do not have to pay for someone else’s mistakes. To learn more about how our Country Club Hills, IL personal injury law firm will fight for your rights, call our team at (779) 800-HURT or complete our online form for a no obligation case review.