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Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Crest Hill, IL
The sense of freedom a motorcycle comes with can be neutralized by the injuries negligent drivers cause when they do not follow the rules of the road. If another driver injured you in Crest Hill, IL, call the motorcycle accident lawyers of Burger Law now at (312) 500-HURT or fill out our online form for a no-risk, no-obligation case review.
If you were injured in a motorcycle accident in Crest Hill, 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 enjoy the road and relax. You get a feeling of the open road 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, it carries economic, physical and emotional consequences and you need someone to stand by your side and ensure you are treated fairly. You need to find a law firm that has demonstrated that they can full compensation in motorcycle accident claims in Crest Hill, IL.
Burger Law has over 70 years of combined litigation and trial experience. Our motorcycle accident lawyers will tenaciously pursue every legal avenue to make sure justice is served. Always speak to a lawyer before accepting an insurance company’s offer. The insurance adjuster wants to devalue your recovery. We know how to fight insurance companies and ensure that they give 100 percent of what they owe our Crest Hill, IL clients.
To learn more about what we can do for you, speak to a lawyer at (312) 500-HURT to discuss your motorcycle accident claim today.
How Common Are Motorcycle Accidents in Crest Hill, IL?
Fourteen percent of traffic deaths 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 perished in motorcycle crashes. In Illinois, of 3,077 motorcycle crashes, 2,404 caused injuries and 152 were fatal, according to the Illinois 2020 Crash Facts and Statistics. Regrettably, over 50 percent of those occurred 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 caused by another driver not respecting motorcyclists on the road. Wrecks happen most frequently in metropolitan areas, especially around tolls.
Just under half of deadly motorcycle collisions occur in the between June and September, and half happen on the weekends.
What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Crest Hill, IL
There are a number steps you should take, both in the immediate wake of an accident and throughout the length of your claim process, to ensure both your health and the chances of a successful claim.
Immediately After The Accident
While any crash can be jarring, try to stay as calm as possible. Immediately after the crash, you should:
Get to safety — If you are physically able, get to the side of the road and away from other vehicles coming down the street. Leave your motorcycle behind. We know it is your baby, but trying to carry it could exacerbate your injuries. If you suspect you have a back or head injury, it may be best not to move; instead wait for emergency personnel.
Keep your gear on — 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 — As motorcycle accidents can cause severe injuries, it may be best to get medical attention at the scene instead of trying to go to an emergency room yourself. Police know how to assign liability in an accident, and will make a police report.
Gather evidence — Talk to any other drivers involved and get their insurance information. Take pictures of the accident, including damage to all vehicles involved and the surrounding areas. 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 Crest Hill, IL when trying to prove your case in the future. Get the contact info of any eyewitnesses to the accident.
Finally, receive medical attention if you have not already.
What to Do Throughout the Claim Process
Once you have gotten medical treatment, inform the insurance company of everybody involved. Then, speak to a motorcycle accident lawyer in Crest Hill, 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 not only vital for your health, but aids your financial recovery as well. In order to prove your damages, you need to complete copies of medical medical records which detail the extent of your injuries. 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 prescribes.
Keep Detailed Records — You also deserve compensation for lost wages from time spent recovering, and any out-of-pocket expenses you incur, such as parking or gas money for going to medical appointments or hiring someone to help with housework. Manage a file with all of your receipts and notes about why those charges were due to your injury. It may also be a good idea to keep a daily journal showing the non-tangible impact of your injuries and your pain and suffering.
Leave the Insurance Company up to Your Attorney — Once you have informed the insurance company about your injuries and hired a motorcycle accident lawyer, let your attorney handle documentation and negotiation. Insurance adjusters utilize a lot of tactics to avoid paying claims, but your attorney will know 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 a well-meaning post can do damage to your case. 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 they can say your injuries are not actually that severe.
From the moment you hire us, we will keep you updated throughout your claim until we reach a successful resolution. Let us handle the investigation, documentation, negotiation and litigation so you can focus on your physical and emotional recovery.
Do I Need a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Crest Hill, IL For My Claim?
For minor and clear-cut accidents, where the liable party is obvious and your medical bills only include an appointment with your primary care physician, you may not need an attorney to get fair compensation. Supply the insurance company with your records and expenses, and ask for a little more for inconvenience. In a a settlement for a relatively small sum of money where their policyholder is clearly liable, 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 in a a truly fair society insurance companies would fulfill their obligations when their policyholders injure someone, they usually have to be convinced to. Situations where you will need a motorcycle accident lawyer in Crest Hill, IL include:
Your injuries are severe — The more your medical bills and time spent off work, the more the insurance company will be resistant to reimbursing you for it. 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 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 an attorney working on your claim, the insurance company will know that you will not back down without a fight. 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 injuries, especially wrecks involving more than one vehicle, there may be more than one party that caused your injuries. For example, a driver may merge into your line because they did not see you, causing you to take defensive action and hit a road hazard that a local government should have fixed. A talented Crest Hill, IL motorcycle accident lawyer will conduct a full investigation into the crash and determine all liable parties. Identifying everyone who is liable is key if your damages exceed the at-fault driver’s policy limits.
You are being blamed for your injuries — Blaming you for your injuries is a classic trick insurance adjusters use to minimize your claim. When this happens, an attorney use their investigate skills and network of experts to 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, a lawyer is likely necessary to get you the most possible compensation.
Your Crest Hill, IL motorcycle accident lawyer at Burger Law knows how to fight back against tactics insurance adjusters use. We have been doing it for more than 30 years. Our consultations are free, so speak to an attorney today at (312) 500-HURT to see what we can do for your claim. We start working from the moment you hire us, and fight until there is nothing left to fight.
Recent Burger Law Crest Hill, 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 past 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:
Do I Have a Motorcycle Accident Claim in Crest Hill, IL?
If you want to file any Crest Hill, IL injury claim, you must have sustained an injury that was caused by another person’s negligence. There are five elements to proving negligence in a personal injury claim:
Duty of care — Did the liable party have an obligation to protect you from unreasonable harm? 625 ILCS 5/11-1003.1 states that “every driver of a vehicle shall exercise due care,” so other drivers always owe you a duty of care.
Cause in fact — Did the accident cause your injuries?
Proximate cause — Whose breach of duty caused the accident? If the other driver’s brakes were not working, the person who needs to be held accountable for your injuries may be a manufacturer and not another motorist?.
Damages — Did you sustain losses because of your injuries, such as medical expenses and emotional distress? If your accident resulted in some bruises or scrapes, but they healed without any 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. 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 Crest Hill, IL Motorcycle Accident Claim Worth?
In any personal injury claim, you are owed compensation for:
Non-economic damages, such as mental anguish, disfigurement and pain and suffering
In some rare cases, you can receive 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 medical bills and more pain and suffering
Whether or not you were partially to blame for your injuries
If you sustained permanent disfigurement or disability
How your life has changed because of your injuries
At Burger Law, our injury attorneys 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 adjusting for inflation.
How Long Do I Have to File a Motorcycle Accident Claim in Crest Hill, IL?
Pursuant to 735 ILCS 5/13-202, the statute of limitations for motorcycle accident claims in Crest Hill, IL is two years. That means the clock starts ticking on the date of the accident to file a lawsuit in court. Illinois has three exceptions:
If you or your loved one was a minor when the injuries occurred, 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 person responsible for your injuries 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 hesitate to contact a motorcycle accident lawyer after you have been injured in Crest Hill, IL. Call us now at (312) 500-HURT.
What Are Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Crest Hill, IL?
Motorcycles are harder for passenger car drivers to see, do not take up as much space on the road. As a result of something called “inattentional blindness,” it is harder for drivers to see a motorcycle — even when they are looking for one. This is because we train our brains to look for other cars, but not for motorcycles. Inattentional blindness is a leading cause of motorcycle accidents in Crest Hill, IL.
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Left-hand turns — The Motorcycle Legal Foundation reports that almost half of all motorcycle accidents that result in deaths occur when a car turns left while and hits a motorcyclist in an intersection. These crashes can be the result of a car driver’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 cars or trucks. A car may also not 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, animal carcasses, wet or icy roadways or other debris on our streets usually do not affect a car or truck very much. However, motorcycles are less stable and these hazards can cause a motorcyclist to fall.
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 Crest Hill, IL?
A governmental agency or contracting company for not repairing or negligent repairing a road
A vehicle designer, manufacturer or vendor in a product liability claim
A company if someone they hired injured you while driving, such as in a commercial truck accident
Can I Sue For My Crest Hill, IL Motorcycle Accident if it Did Not Involve Another Vehicle?
States and municipalities are tasked with keeping their roadways safe for citizens to travel on, and when obstruction or other objects in the road cause an accident, the state may have to compensate you for your injuries. However, suing a government entity in Illinois has added complications. Our motorcycle accident lawyers in Crest Hill, 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 Crest Hill, 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 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 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:
A wrongful death claim can be made when some dies because of another’s negligence or wrongdoing.
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.
There are three categories of people who can file a wrongful death claim in Illinois. In order of priority, they are:
Immediate family members, such as a spouse, children, grandchildren and grandparents
When there are no immediate family members, siblings and nieces and nephews can file a claim
If there are no family members, a judge can appoint a plaintiff ad litem to bring a suit
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 instruction, education and moral training the deceased would have provided
Survivors’ grief, sorrow and mental suffering
Burger Law’s Crest Hill, IL wrongful death attorneys are not just skilled at getting our clients full recoveries. 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 personal injury cases we we have had great success with in Crest Hill, IL include:
Speak to a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Crest Hill, IL Today
Our Crest Hill, IL motorcycle accident lawyers will not stop fighting until there is nothing left to fight; that is our guarantee. 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 Crest Hill, IL personal injury law firm will fight for your rights, call our team at (312) 500-HURT or fill out our online form for a complimentary consultation.
Client Reviews
What our clients are saying about us
Anonymous
This law firm is absolutely amazing. They took on my case, when nobody else would! They fought hard for me when it seemed there was no hope. They kept me informed and always asked for my input before making decisions on my case. Gary puts himself into every case unlike most law firm owners. Gary and his team really care about every one of their clients, and fights hard to get you a fair settlement. They actually won my case out of court, and then reduced my fees to make sure I could get my car fixed and be able to get back to some normality. I would recommend Burger Law over and above any other firm! If you go somewhere else you aren’t getting the best!
Genevieve and Laura have assisted me in my personal injury claim and have made the process so much less stressful. They are extremely knowledgeable, professional, and attentive. Laura is always on top of everything and very sweet. I had no idea how to navigate this process and they have made me feel at ease and like they truly cared about the outcome.
Cara Barton
It has been a long 4 years, but it is finally over! Burger law did a great job handling my case. Grant Doty answered all my questions, promptly returned my phone calls, frequently kept me updated and insured me that he was fighting for me. Jennifer Zini also did a wonderful job, great customer service. It was pleasure getting to know the Burger Law team!
S. Alred
After a driver unexpectedly pulled out right in front of my motorcycle & I suffered injuries, the at-fault driver’s insurance company offered me a $10,000 settlement. I hired Burger Law & they won a $109,000 settlement. I was very happy with the outcome. They were easy to work with & fully explained each step of the process & kept me informed along the way.
Burger Law | St. Louis Personal Injury Lawyer is a team of St. Louis area personal injury attorneys who have earned many distinctions and peer-reviewed awards for our work in civil litigation and trial work in Missouri and Illinois. A few of the honors we have earned include the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Top 100 Trial Lawyer Award, a Martindale-Hubbell AV rating (the preeminent peer rating standard for legal expertise and ethical standards), Super Lawyers selection as one of the top attorneys in the field of personal injury and board certifications in Civil Litigation. When you are ready to hire our experienced legal team to represent you and demand the compensation you deserve, call us at (866) 934-9059 right away.
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