Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Freeport, IL

Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Freeport, IL

The thrill of riding a motorcycle can be ripped away from you by the harm negligent drivers can do to you when they do not follow the rules of the road. If you were injured in a motorcycle accident in Freeport, IL, call the motorcycle accident lawyers of Burger Law now at (312) 500-HURT or contact us online for a free case review.

If you were injured in a motorcycle accident in Freeport, 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. Unfortunately, negligent drivers can turn that feeling into catastrophic injuries. Because of their relative lack of protection, motorcycle accidents can cause serious injuries. When that happens to you, it carries immediate financial, physical and emotional consequences and you need someone to stand by your side and ensure you are treated fairly. You want a lawyer with a proven track record of winning motorcycle crash cases in Freeport, IL.

Our attorneys and paralegals have more than 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 financial settlement. We know how to fight insurance companies and ensure that they give the full compensation they owe our Freeport, IL clients.

To discover more about what we can do for you, speak to an attorney at (312) 500-HURT to go over your motorcycle accident case immediately.

How Common Are Motorcycle Accidents in Freeport, IL?

Fourteen percent of motor vehicle fatalities and four percent of injuries were sustained by motorcyclists, despite only only .06 percent of vehicle traffic being motorcycles, according to data from the National Safety Council. In the entire country, in 2020 there were 82,500 motorcycle accident injuries and 5,579 deaths. In Illinois, there were 3,077 motorcycle accidents which resulted in 2,404 injuries and 152 fatalities, according to the Illinois 2020 Crash Facts and Statistics. Unfortunately, the majority 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 because of another driver not respecting motorcyclists on the road. Most of the crashes occurred in urban areas, especially major city streets.

According to 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 Freeport, IL

There are a number steps you should take, both at the accident site and throughout the length of your claim process, to make sure your recover from your injuries both physically and financially.

Immediately After The Accident

While any accident can be 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 your motorcycle behind. We know it is a treasure for you, but trying to carry it could make your injuries worse. If you are seriously injured, stay still and wait for emergency personnel.
• Keep your gear on — Removing your helmet, gloves, boots, jacket and other gear could also make injuries worse. Adrenaline may hide how serious an injury actually is.
• Call 911 — Because motorcycle accidents can cause severe injuries, it is probably a good idea to get medical attention at the scene instead of leaving and planning to seek medical attention at urgent care or a doctors’ appointment. Police know how to determine liability in an accident, and will make a police report.
• 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 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 Freeport, IL when trying to prove your case in the future. See if there are eyewitnesses who can corroborate your claim.

Lastly, if you did not opt to get medical treatment at the scene, do so as quickly as possible.

What to Do in the Days, Weeks and Months Afterwards

After you first seek medical care, notify both your insurance company and the other driver’s. Then, speak to a motorcycle accident lawyer in Freeport, 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. You need to prove how much that accident hurt you, and to do that you need to complete copies of medical medical records which show all of the costs and treatments directly associated with the accident. The more medical expenses you have, the higher your pain and suffering compensation will be as well. Make sure you attend every every treatment and use all of the equipment and medication your doctor prescribes.
• Keep Detailed Records — You also deserve a financial recovery for lost wages from time your injuries caused you to miss out from work, and any out-of-pocket expenses due to your injuries, such as transportation to and from medical appointments or hiring someone to help with household chores. Keep detailed receipts and notes about why those charges were necessary. You can also 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 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 tactics to minimize claims, but your attorney will know how to combat them.
• 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 prevent you from working, and the insurance finds out you have been going out on the weekends, they will use it to attempt to devalue your claim.

From the moment you hire us, we will keep you updated throughout your claim until we reach the great results you deserve. Allow us to deal with the legal aspect of your case so you can spend your energy on on healing.

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

For minor and clear-cut accidents, where the liable party is taking accountability and your medical bills only include an emergency room visit, a lawyer may not be able to add much value to your claim. Supply the insurance company with proof of your financial losses, and see if they will throw some extra money on top for the hassle. In a smaller settlement where not much is disputed, the adjuster 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 duty when someone is injured by their policyholders’ negligence, it usually takes a fair amount of fighting to get them to be fair. Situations where you will need a motorcycle accident lawyer in Freeport, IL include:

• Your injuries are severe — The higher your damages, the more the insurance company will try to avoid their responsibility. 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 precisely value your damages.
• The insurance company’s offer is not close 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 convince you that you do not know how what fair compensation means in your case. 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 is more than party at fault — With some accidents, especially multi-vehicle accidents, there may be more than one person who was negligent. For example, a driver may merge into your line because they did not see you, causing you to take defensive action and hit an improperly cordoned-off construction zone. A talented Freeport, IL motorcycle accident lawyer will be able to investigate the crash and determine all liable parties. Finding other people who are liable is imperative 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 move insurance adjusters use to avoid paying you. When this happens, an attorney use their investigate skills and network of experts to prove that is not the case. If you were indeed responsible for a portion of the accident, you are not completely barred from compensation under Missouri’s comparative negligence rule. However, you will need an attorney to apply the rule of law and get you that compensation.

Your Freeport, IL motorcycle accident lawyer at Burger Law knows how to combat tactics insurance adjusters use. We have been doing it for over three decades. 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 working from the second you hire us, and do not give up until you get all of compensation you deserve.

Recent Burger Law Freeport, IL Motorcycle Accident Victories

You need a lawyer who has shown they can get results in your type of claim before. A motorcycle accident lawyer saying they know how to get full compensation is one thing, but a lawyer with client testimonials and 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 Freeport, IL?

In order to file any Freeport, 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 other person have a responsibility to protect you from unreasonable harm? 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 — Were they neglectful 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 — Were your injuries the direct result of the accident?
4. Proximate cause — Did the person’s breach of duty cause the accident? If the other driver’s brakes were malfunctioning, the person who needs to be held accountable for your injuries may be a manufacturer and not the driver?.
5. Damages — Did you sustain losses because of your injuries, such as lost wages and mental anguish? If your accident resulted in some small cuts and bruising, but you did not need any medical treatment, it would be hard for you to file a claim.

Any time somebody else’s carelessness or recklessness injures you, you need to file an injury claim. Speak to a motorcycle accident attorney now at (312) 500-HURT if you are unsure if you have a claim.

How Much is My Freeport, 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
• 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 tend to lead to higher economic and noneconomic damages
• Whether or not you contributed to the accident
• 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 insurance company pay all of it. If your injuries require ongoing medical care, that will also be part of your settlement or verdict, including calculating for inflation.

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

Pursuant to 735 ILCS 5/13-202, the time limit for motorcycle accident injuries in Freeport, 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 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 period, that time does not account against 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 reach out to a motorcycle accident lawyer after you have been injured in Freeport, IL. Call us today at (312) 500-HURT.

What Are Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Freeport, IL?

Motorcycles are harder for drivers of enclosed vehicles to see, as they take up less space. Due to a phenomenon known as “inattentional blindness,” drivers are less likely to see a motorcycle — even if they are doing their best to be careful. This is because we train our brains to look for larger vehicles, but not for motorcycles. Inattentional blindness contributes to many motorcycle accidents in Freeport, IL.

Most motorcycle accidents occur because of:

• Left-hand turns — The Motorcycle Legal Foundation reports that 42 percent of all fatal motorcycle crashes involve a car turning left while the motorcycle was going straight. These crashes can be due to a car driver’s drunkenness, speeding or simple inattention.
• Other collisions — Head on collisions are also common between motorcycles and cars or trucks. A car may also not see a motorcyclist when merging or changing lanes. Motorcycles also collide with fixed objects more than any other type of driver, which is not always the motorcyclist’s fault.
• Road hazards — Uneven 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 spin out.
• Defective components — 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 crashes.

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

Ninety-four percent of all motor vehicle accidents are due to human error. So, most of the time another motorist is responsible for your injuries. However, other parties that may be held accountable include:

• A governmental body or construction company for not repairing or negligent repairing a road
• A vehicle manufacturer 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 Freeport, 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 obstruction or other objects in the road cause an accident, the state can be held accountable for the motorcycle accident. However, the state of Illinois does not make it easy to sue them. Our motorcycle accident lawyers in Freeport, 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 Freeport, 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 you were touched by tragedy and a family member 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 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:

• 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.
• Three groups of people related to the deceased 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 nieces and nephews can bring a suit
  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 their death
  • 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 Freeport, IL wrongful death attorneys are not just skilled at getting our clients full recoveries. We are empathetic 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 injury cases we take on and win in Freeport, 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 Freeport, IL Today

Our Freeport, 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 Freeport, IL personal injury law firm will fight for your rights, call our team at (312) 500-HURT or contact us online for a free case evaluation.