Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in El Paso, IL

 The thrill of riding a motorcycle can be made moot by the harm reckless drivers can do to you when they do not pay attention to your safety. If another driver injured you in El Paso, IL, call the motorcycle accident lawyers of Burger Law now at (312) 500-HURT or contact us online for a free case evaluation.

If you were injured in a motorcycle accident in El Paso, 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 yourself and connect with people who share your passions. You get a feeling of the open road that a car just cannot emulate. Unfortunately, negligent drivers can turn that feeling into something horrific. 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, it carries immediate economic, physical and emotional consequences and you need someone to stand by your side and get you the compensation you deserve. You want a law firm that has demonstrated that they can get great results in motorcycle wreck lawsuits in El Paso, IL.

Burger Law has over 70 years of combined litigation and trial experience. Our motorcycle accident lawyers will aggressively pursue every legal avenue to make sure justice is served. Do not talk to your insurance or the other side’s insurance without speaking to an attorney first. The insurance adjuster wants to minimize your financial settlement. We know how to stand up to insurance companies and ensure that they treat our El Paso, IL clients fairly.

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

How Common Are Motorcycle Accidents in El Paso, IL?

Fourteen percent of motor vehicle 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. In the entire country, in 2020 82,000 people were injured and 5,579 perished in motorcycle crashes. In Illinois, there were 3,077 motorcycle crashes which caused 2,404 injuries and 152 deaths, according to the Illinois 2020 Crash Facts and Statistics. Unfortunately, the majority of those crashes came when a passenger car or truck collided with a motorcycle when the biker was driving in a straight line, which leads us to believe that the accidents were often due to another driver not respecting motorcyclists on the road. Most of the crashes occurred in urban 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.

The most common season for motorcycle crashes is summer, and half of all wrecks happen between 6 p.m. Friday and 6 a.m. Monday.

What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident in El Paso, IL

There are several steps you should take, both at the accident site and in the days and weeks that follow, to make sure your recover from your injuries both physically and financially.

At the Accident Site

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

• Get to safety — If you can, move out of the way of other vehicles coming down the street. Leave the bike. It is obviously important to you, but staying with the bike or trying to move it could put you at risk of further harm. If you are seriously injured, stay still and wait for emergency medical services.
• Do not take off your safety gear — Taking off your helmet, gloves, boots, jacket and other gear could also exacerbate your injuries. Adrenaline may hide how significant an injury actually is.
• Call 911 — Because motorcycle accidents can cause severe injuries, it may be best to get medical attention at the scene instead of leaving and planning to seek medical attention later. Police will also be able to file a report relating who they believe is to blame for the accident.
• Gather evidence — Speak to the other driver and request an insurance card. Take photographs 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 help a motorcycle accident lawyer in El Paso, IL prove who is responsible for your injuries when you make your claim. See if there are eyewitnesses who can back up your side of the story.

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

What to Do Throughout the Claim Process

Once you have gotten medical treatment, inform both your insurance company and the other driver’s. Then, speak to a motorcycle accident lawyer in El Paso, 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 not only vital 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 be able to point to medical records which detail all of the costs and treatments you incurred because of your injuries. 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 Track of Everything Related to Your Injuries — You are also entitled to 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 household chores. Manage a file with detailed receipts and explanations for why those charges were due to your injury. 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.
• 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 utilize a lot of ploys to devalue claims, but your attorney will know how to hold the adjuster accountable.
• Resist Social Media — It is normal to want to share what is going on with your life on social media. However, posting too much on social media can ruin your chances of being fully compensated. If you tell the insurance company that your injuries are keeping you from working, and the insurance sees pictures of you going out on the weekends, they will use it to attempt to devalue your claim.

From your initial consultation, we will keep you completely in the loop until we reach the great results you deserve. 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 El Paso, IL For My Claim?

For minor and clear-cut accidents, where fault is clearly established and your medical expenses are no more than 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 ask for a little more for inconvenience. In a a settlement for a relatively small sum of money 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 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 El Paso, IL include:

• Your injuries are significant — The higher your damages, the more the insurance company will be resistant to reimbursing you for it. If your injuries require ongoing treatment, you will always 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 in the tens or hundreds of thousands, and the insurance adjuster is only offering a few thousand, they are trying convince you that you do not know how much you are owed. If there is a lawyer working on your claim, the insurance company will know that you will not back down without a fight. In a recent case, Burger Law was able to turn a $3,900 offer into a $100,000 settlement.
• There are multiple parties at fault — With some injuries, especially multi-vehicle accidents, 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 aggressive El Paso, IL motorcycle accident lawyer will conduct a full investigation into the wreck and assign a portion of the damages to each liable party. 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 devalue your claim. When this happens, an attorney use their investigate skills and network of experts to prove how the other party was negligent. If you were indeed partially to blame, you can still receive some compensation under Missouri’s comparative negligence rule. However, a lawyer is likely necessary to get you the most possible compensation.

Your El Paso, 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. We offer an initial conversation and investigation for free, so call us at (312) 500-HURT to see what we can do for your claim. We start developing our legal strategy from the moment you hire us, and do not give up until you get all of compensation you are owed.

Recent Burger Law El Paso, 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 past clients will recommend them and who has the 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 El Paso, IL?

In order to have a valid claim in El Paso, IL, 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 have a duty to keep you safe? 625 ILCS 5/11-1003.1 states 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 — 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 — Did the person’s breach of duty cause 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 small lacerations and bruising, but you did not need any medical treatment, it would be hard for you to make a claim.

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

How Much is My El Paso, 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, disfigurement and pain and suffering
• While not common, you may 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 medical bills and more pain and suffering
• Whether or not you were partially at fault for your injuries
• If you sustained permanent disfigurement or disability
• The impact the injuries have had on your ability to live the life you are used to

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 accounting for inflation.

How Long Do I Have to File a Motorcycle Accident Claim in El Paso, IL?

Under 735 ILCS 5/13-202, the statute of limitations for motorcycle accident claims in El Paso, IL is two years. That means the clock starts ticking on the date of the accident to file a lawsuit in court. There are some 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 at the time of accident, they have until two years after the disability ended
• If the person responsible for your injuries 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 reach out to a motorcycle accident lawyer after you were hurt in a motorcycle accident in El Paso, IL. Call us now at (312) 500-HURT.

What Are Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in El Paso, IL?

Motorcycles are harder for passenger car drivers to see, being smaller. As a result 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 be aware of other cars, but not for motorcycles. Inattentional blindness contributes to many motorcycle accidents in El Paso, 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 occur when a car turns left while the motorcycle was going straight. These crashes can be the result of a motorist’s intoxication, reckless driving or simple inattention.
• Other collisions — Head on collisions are also common between motorcycles and other types of vehicles. It is also common for a car not see a motorcyclist when turning in front of them. Motorcycles also have the highest rate of collisions with fixed objects, which may be due to a negligent construction company or governmental entity.
• Road hazards — Cracked pavement, potholes, dead animals, wet or icy roadways 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 — Manufacturers and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recall dozens of motorcycles annually. When dangerous bikes and components are not recalled, it can cause motorcycle collisions.

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

Ninety-four percent of all auto accidents are caused by 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 construction company for not repairing or negligent repairing a road
• A motorcycle designer, manufacturer or vendor for a defective product
• A employer if someone they hired injured you while driving, such as in a commercial truck accident

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

Governmental bodies 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 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 El Paso, 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 El Paso, IL. What Are My Legal Options?

Motorcyclists are not only at increased risk of a catastrophic injury, but are more likely to perish in a crash. If tragedy struck and a family member passed away in a motorcycle crash, you can make a recovery through 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 the financial hardships that come with your loved one’s 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 of your loved one’s death, 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 priority, they are:
  1. Immediate family members, such as a spouse, children, grandchildren and grandparents
  2. When there are no immediate family members, siblings and nieces and nephews can file a claim
  3. If no family remains, 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 your loved one 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, guidance and moral training the deceased would have provided
  • Survivors’ grief, sorrow and mental suffering

Burger Law’s El Paso, 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 accompanies a fatal auto accident.

In addition to motorcycle accidents, other injury claims we take on and win in El Paso, 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 El Paso, IL Today

Our El Paso, IL motorcycle accident lawyers will fight until you get the maximum compensation you are owed; 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 El Paso, IL personal injury law firm will fight for your rights, call our team at (312) 500-HURT or contact us online for a complimentary case review.

Client Reviews

What our clients are saying about us

Juanita Matthews

Year of 2023

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!

Shaunda S.

7 months ago

I am very happy with the staff at Burger Law. I mostly worked with Michael Sheldon, and he did an amazing job. I trusted him completely with my case, and he did not disappoint. I would definitely recommend this team if your ever in need of good attorneys.

Emelia M.

3 months ago

Burger Law Firm is fantastic. Laura and Genevieve were so amazing and helpful throughout the entire process. They helped me with my personal injury case every step of the way and succeeded at getting me the results I desired.

Helen L.

a year ago

We had a great experience with Burger Law for representing us after a serious car accident. Truly impressed by how professional and supportive the entire team is. And, many thanks to Genavieve and Laura – you are amazing!

Judy M.

a year ago

They did an amazing job on my case! Communication with them was great!!! Kept me informed and in the loop with everything that was going on!!! Will definitely be the 1st ones I’ll call if ever I’m in another accident!!! Thank you very much!!!

Chelsea C.

5 months ago

Let me tell you something about Burger Law.. they are so attentive and kind. Jennifer is my savior!! I love the whole team!!! They are truly a miracle team!! I appreciate their business and would recommend it to others.

David D.

2 months ago

Absolutely the best law firm in the St. Louis area. No matter the size of your case you are treated as if you are the only client on the roster. Will explain anything thoroughly and they work around your availability. Very impressed and appreciative of the service.

Lisa B.

11 months ago

Gary and Casey took great care of me for 2.5 years as my lawsuit was finally settled. I feel he helped me achieve justice for me and my 4 children after their father died from medical malpractice and neglect. Thanks to Gary, my kids now have a great start to their college and adult lives. Thank you Gary and Casey, for fighting for us so hard at our most trying and difficult time in our lives thus far. Love and God bless from my family to yours!

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