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Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Godfrey, IL
Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Godfrey, IL
The sense of freedom a motorcycle comes with can be made moot by the injuries negligent drivers cause when they do not pay attention to your safety. If another driver injured you in Godfrey, IL, speak to the motorcycle accident lawyers of Burger Law now at (779) 800-HURT or complete our online form for a free case review.
If you were injured in a motorcycle accident in Godfrey, 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 get a feeling of the open road that you do not get in an enclosed vehicle. Unfortunately, there is a potentially dangerous trade-off. 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, there are hardships and you need someone to fight for you. You want an attorney that has demonstrated that they can get great results in motorcycle collision claims in Godfrey, IL.
Our attorneys and paralegals have over 70 years of combined experience winning cases in negotiations and in the court room. 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. Always speak to a lawyer before accepting an insurance company’s offer. The insurance adjuster is out to minimize your recovery. We know how to fight insurance companies and ensure that they treat our Godfrey, IL clients fairly.
To learn more about how our personal injury law firm will fight for your rights, speak to an attorney at (779) 800-HURT to discuss your motorcycle accident claim now.
How Common Are Motorcycle Accidents in Godfrey, IL?
Even though motorcycles account for less than one percent of total traffic miles traveled nationwide, they made up four percent of all injuries and 14 percent of total fatalities in traffic-related accidents in 2020, according to research from the National Safety Council. In the United States, in 2020 there were 82,500 motorcycle accident injuries and 5,579 deaths. In Illinois, of 3,077 motorcycle collisions, 2,404 caused injuries and 152 were deadly, according to the Illinois 2020 Crash Facts and Statistics. Regrettably, over half of those crashes came when the motorcycle was going in a straight line, which means the accidents were often because of another driver was not looking out for bikers. Crashes are most common in metropolitan areas, especially major city streets.
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 Godfrey, IL
There are a number steps you should take, both in the immediate wake of an accident and in the days and weeks that follow, to ensure both your health and the chances of a successful claim.
Immediately After The Accident
While any accident is jarring, it is important to keep a clear head. Immediately after the crash, you should:
Get to safety — If possible, move out of the way of other vehicles coming down the street. Leave the bike. We know it is your baby, but staying with the bike or trying to move it could make your injuries worse. If you believe your injuries may be catastrophic, stay still and wait for EMTs to arrive.
Do not remove your protective gear — Taking off 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 — As the injuries caused in a motorcycle wreck can be catastrophic, it may be best to be looked over 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 — 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 as many pictures as possible. Something you do not think is that big of a deal may help a motorcycle accident lawyer in Godfrey, IL prove someone else’s negligence in the future. See if there are eyewitnesses who can corroborate your claim.
Finally, if you did not seek medical treatment at the scene, do so immediately.
What to Do in the Ensuing Weeks and Months
After you first seek medical care, notify the insurance company of everybody involved. Then, speak to a motorcycle accident lawyer in Godfrey, 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:
Keep Going to Your Medical Appointments — This is not only vital for your health, but is also vital to building your case. You need to prove that you sustained financial losses, and to do that you need to be able to point to medical records which show all of the treatments and related expenses directly associated with the accident. The more medical expenses you have, the higher your non-economic damages compensation will be as well. Make sure you attend every follow up, chiropractic or physical therapy appointment your doctor prescribes.
Keep Track of Everything Related to Your Injuries — You also deserve compensation for lost wages from time spent recovering, and any out-of-pocket expenses due to your injuries, 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. 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 accident and enlisted the services of a motorcycle accident lawyer, let your attorney handle documentation and negotiation. Insurance adjusters try to employ a lot of ploys to avoid paying claims, but your attorney will know how to hold the adjuster accountable.
Resist Social Media — In this day and age, many of us want to share details about our life with others. However, posting too much on social media can hurt your case. If you say your injuries are debilitating, and the insurance finds out you have been at a bar, they will use it to attempt to deny your claim.
From your initial consultation, we will be in contact with you every step of the way until we reach a successful resolution. Let us deal with the investigation, documentation, negotiation and litigation so you can focus on your physical and emotional recovery.
Get a Free Consultation
We offer free consultations and are available 24/7 to take your call. Live chat, text, and virtual meetings are available.
Do I Need a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Godfrey, IL For My Claim?
For some minor claims, where fault is clearly established and your medical expenses only include an appointment with your primary care physician, 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 a settlement for a relatively small sum of money where not much is disputed, the adjuster is not going to want to waste their time.
However, in most cases, you will need a motorcycle accident attorney for your injury claim. While in a a truly fair society insurance companies would fulfill their duty 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 Godfrey, IL include:
Your injuries are severe — The more your medical bills and time spent off work, 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 precisely value your damages.
Your damages and the insurance company’s offer are way too far apart — 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 an attorney on the case, 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 is more than liable party — 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 a pothole that a local government should have fixed. A talented Godfrey, IL motorcycle accident lawyer will be able to investigate the wreck and determine all liable parties. Identifying everyone who is liable is essential if your damages exceed the at-fault driver’s policy limits.
The insurance adjuster is trying to blame you for the accident — Trying to say your injuries are your own fault is a frequent move insurance adjusters use to avoid paying you. If the insurance company say your injuries are your own doing, 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 best possible results.
Your Godfrey, IL motorcycle accident lawyer at Burger Law knows how to combat tricks insurance adjusters use. We have been doing it for over 30 years. We offer an initial conversation and investigation for free, so speak to an attorney now at (779) 800-HURT to see if we can add value to your claim. We get to work from the moment you hire us, and fight until there is nothing left to fight.
Recent Burger Law Godfrey, IL Motorcycle Accident Victories
With any type of legal claim, results matter. You want to know that you are giving your case to 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. Click on the following links to see some recent Burger Law motorcycle accident victories and testimonials:
Do I Have a Motorcycle Accident Claim in Godfrey, IL?
If you want to file any Godfrey, 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:
Duty of care — Did the liable party owe you a duty to protect you from unreasonable harm? 625 ILCS 5/11-1003.1 mandates that “every driver of a vehicle shall exercise due care,” so other motorists always owe you a duty of care.
Cause in fact — Did the accident cause your injuries?
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 another motorist?.
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 they healed without any medical treatment, you likely do not have a claim.
If you were injured because of another’s negligence, you can to file an injury claim. Speak to a motorcycle accident attorney now at (779) 800-HURT if you have any doubts about the validity of your claim.
How Much is My Godfrey, IL Motorcycle Accident Claim Worth?
In any personal injury claim, you are owed compensation for:
Non-economic damages, such as emotional distress, scarring and pain and suffering
In some rare cases, you can recover 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 at fault 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, our injury attorneys know how to calculate the full value of someone’s injury claim and demanding the insurance company takes responsibility for all of it. If your injuries require ongoing medical care, that will also be part of your settlement or verdict, including accounting for inflation.
How Long Do I Have to File a Motorcycle Accident Claim in Godfrey, IL?
Pursuant to 735 ILCS 5/13-202, the statute of limitations for motorcycle accident injuries in Godfrey, IL is two years. That means the clock starts ticking on the date the accident occurred to file a lawsuit in court. There are some exceptions:
If you or your loved one was a minor at the time of accident, they have until their 20th 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 time 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 call a motorcycle accident lawyer after you were hurt in a motorcycle accident in Godfrey, IL. Call us now at (779) 800-HURT.
What Are Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Godfrey, IL?
Motorcycles are not as easy to spot on the road, being smaller. Because of a phenomenon known as “inattentional blindness,” it is harder for drivers 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 is a leading cause of motorcycle accidents in Godfrey, IL.
The most common causes of motorcycles accidents are:
Left-hand turns — The Motorcycle Legal Foundation reports that 42 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 motorist’s drunkenness, speeding or simple inattention.
Other collisions — Head on collisions also occur frequently between motorcycles and cars or trucks. A car may also 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, 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 — 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 accidents.
Who is Liable for My Motorcycle Accident Injuries in Godfrey, IL?
A governmental body or contracting company for road hazards
A motorcycle designer, manufacturer or vendor in a product liability claim
A employer if someone they hired injured you while driving, for example in a commercial truck accident
Can I Sue For My Godfrey, IL Motorcycle Accident if it Did Not Involve Another Vehicle?
States and municipalities are tasked with keeping 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 can be held responsible for the motorcycle accident. However, the state of Illinois does not make it easy to hold them accountable. Our motorcycle accident lawyers in Godfrey, IL can handle your claim and guide you through the complexities of local and state laws to get you a full financial recovery.
A Loved One Was Killed in a Motorcycle Crash in Godfrey, IL. What Are My Legal Options?
The dangers of motorcycles mean that bikers have a higher death rate than people in passenger cars. If tragedy struck and a family member 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:
Members of the nuclear family, 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 no family remains, the court 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 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 instruction, education and moral training the deceased would have provided
Survivors’ grief, sorrow and mental suffering
Burger Law’s Godfrey, IL wrongful death attorneys are not just skilled at getting our clients full recoveries. We are compassionate 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 Godfrey, IL include:
Speak to a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Godfrey, IL Today
Our Godfrey, IL motorcycle accident lawyers will fight until you get the maximum compensation you are owed; 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 Godfrey, IL personal injury law firm will fight for your rights, call our team at (779) 800-HURT or fill out our online form for a no obligation case evaluation.
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.
At Burger Law | St. Louis Personal Injury Lawyer, we are a team of personal injury attorneys who have earned many distinctions and peer-reviewed awards for our 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, Super Lawyers selection as one of the top attorneys in the field of personal injury and board certifications in Civil Litigation.
Personal injury lawyers who demand justice in Southern Illinois. The role of a personal injury lawyer in Southern Illinois should be more than just getting you a great settlement…