Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Henry County, IL

 The exhilaration you feel when riding a motorcycle can be neutralized by the harm careless drivers can do to you when they do not pay attention to your safety. If another driver injured you in Henry County, IL, reach out to the motorcycle accident lawyers of Burger Law immediately at (312) 500-HURT or fill out our online form for a complimentary consultation.

If you were injured in a motorcycle accident in Henry County, 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 get your blood racing. You are connected to the road and your motorcycle in a way that a car just cannot emulate. Regrettably, there is a potentially dangerous trade-off. Because motorcycles do not protect their occupants as well as enclosed vehicles, motorcycle accidents can cause serious injuries. When that happens to you, it carries immediate hardships and you need someone to fight for you. You need to find a law firm with a proven track record of winning motorcycle wreck cases in Henry County, IL.

Our team has more than seven decades of combined experience winning cases in negotiations and in the court room. Our motorcycle accident lawyers will fight until we win your case and there is nothing left to fight. Always speak to a lawyer before accepting an insurance company’s offer. The insurance adjuster wants to minimize your compensation. We know how to stand up to insurance companies and ensure that they treat our Henry County, IL clients fairly.

To learn more about how our personal injury law firm will defend your rights, call our team at (312) 500-HURT to discuss your motorcycle accident case immediately.

How Common Are Motorcycle Accidents in Henry County, 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 research from the National Safety Council. In the entire country, in 2020 there were 82,500 motorcycle accident injuries and 5,579 fatalities. In Illinois, there were 3,077 motorcycle crashes which caused 2,404 injuries and 152 fatalities, according to the Illinois 2020 Crash Facts and Statistics. Sadly, over half of those happened 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 because of another driver was not looking out for bikers. Wrecks happen most frequently in densely populated areas, especially on arterial roads.

According to data 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 wrecks occur in the summer months, and 50 percent occur between 6 p.m. Friday and 6 a.m. Monday.

What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Henry County, IL

There are several things you should do, both immediately following the 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 can be jarring, it is important to keep a clear head. Immediately after the crash, you should:

• Get to safety — If possible, get to the side of the road and away from oncoming traffic. Leave the bike. We know it is a treasure for 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.
• Keep your gear on — Removing your helmet or other gear could also exacerbate your injuries. Because of adrenaline, a serious injury may not always hurt as much at first.
• Call 911 — Because motorcycle accidents can cause severe injuries, it may be a good idea to get medical attention there instead of trying to go to an emergency room yourself. Police are trained to assign liability in an accident, and will make a police report.
• Gather evidence — Speak to the other driver 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 unimportant at first may help a motorcycle accident lawyer in Henry County, IL prove your case down the road. See if there are eyewitnesses who can back up your side of the story.

Finally, receive medical attention if you have not already.

What to Do in the Ensuing Weeks and Months

Once you have gotten medical treatment, notify the insurance company of everybody involved. Then, speak to a motorcycle accident lawyer in Henry County, 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 obviously the best thing for your physical recovery, but is also key to making sure you get full compensation. You need to prove that you sustained financial losses, and to do that 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. Make sure you attend every every treatment and use all of the equipment and medication your doctor prescribes.
• Keep Track of Everything Related to Your Injuries — You are also owed a financial recovery for lost wages from time your injuries caused you to miss out from work, and any out-of-pocket expenses you incur, such as transportation to and from medical appointments or hiring someone to help with housework. Keep detailed receipts and notes about why you needed to pay those expenses. 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 injuries and hired a motorcycle accident lawyer, let your attorney handle documentation and negotiation. Insurance adjusters try to employ a lot of ploys to devalue 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 with others. However, posting too much on social media can hurt your claim. If you tell the insurance company that your injuries are keeping you from working, and the insurance sees pictures of you at your friend’s barbecue, they they can say your injuries are not actually that severe.

From the first time you speak with us, we will keep you updated throughout your claim until we reach the great results you deserve. Let us deal with the legal aspect of your case so you can focus on your medical treatment.

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

For accidents involving minor injuries, where there is no discrepancy about who is at fault and your medical bills only include an emergency room visit, 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 the trouble. 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, more likely than not hiring a motorcycle accident lawyer will be the only way to get fair compensation in your injury claim. While it would be nice if insurance companies fulfilled their obligations when someone is injured under their coverage, it usually takes a fair amount of fighting to get them to do it. You will likely need a motorcycle accident lawyer in Henry County, IL if:

• Your injuries require ongoing treatment — The more your medical expenses and time spent off work, the more the insurance company will be resistant to reimbursing you for it. 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.
• Your damages and the insurance company’s offer are way too far apart — If your damages are in the tens or hundreds of thousands, and the insurance company’s offer is no where close to that, they are trying to take advantage of you. If there is an attorney working on your claim, the insurance company will know that you mean business. 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 wrecks involving more than one vehicle, there may be more than one party that caused your injuries. For example, a driver may cut your off while not looking for you, causing you to take defensive action and hit an improperly cordoned-off construction zone. A talented Henry County, IL motorcycle accident lawyer will be able to investigate the accident and determine all liable parties. Finding other people who are liable is essential if you are owed more compensation than the at-fault driver’s policy limits.
• You are being blamed for your injuries — Trying to say your injuries are your own fault is a classic move insurance adjusters use to avoid paying you. If the insurance company say your accident was your own doing, an attorney can step in and 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 doctrine. However, you will need an attorney to apply the rule of law and get you that compensation.

Your Henry County, IL motorcycle accident lawyer at Burger Law knows how to combat tactics insurance adjusters use. We have been doing it for over three decades. We offer an initial conversation and investigation for free, so speak to an attorney now at (312) 500-HURT to see if we can add value to your claim. We get to work from the second you hire us, and do not give up until you get every bit of compensation you are owed.

Recent Burger Law Henry County, 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 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 Henry County, IL?

If you want to file any Henry County, 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 other person owe you 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 that duty.
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 the rules of the road?
3. Cause in fact — Did the accident cause your injuries?
4. Proximate cause — Did the person’s negligence cause the accident? If the other driver’s brakes were malfunctioning, the liable party may be a manufacturer and not another motorist?.
5. Damages — Did you sustain losses because of your injuries, such as lost wages and mental anguish? If your accident resulted in some bruises or scrapes, but it was not serious enough to seek medical treatment, it would be hard for you to file a claim.

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

How Much is My Henry County, IL Motorcycle Accident Claim Worth?

In any personal injury claim, you are owed compensation for:

• Economic damages, such as money you lost out on from time off work recovering, medical bills and out-of-pocket expenses
• Non-economic damages, such as mental anguish, scarring and pain and suffering
• While not common, you may be able to receive punitive damages if the liable party’s behavior was especially egregious, such as if they were drunk driving

Factors that might make your recovery higher or lower include:

• The severity of your injuries; more significant injuries usually lead to higher medical bills and more pain and suffering
• 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 enjoy life

At Burger Law, our injury attorneys know how to calculate the full value of someone’s injury claim and insisting the liable party 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 Henry County, IL?

Under 735 ILCS 5/13-202, the statute of limitations for motorcycle accident injuries in Henry County, IL is two years. That means the clock starts ticking on the date of the accident to file a claim. Illinois has three 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 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 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 wait to contact a motorcycle accident lawyer after you have been injured in Henry County, IL. Call us immediately at (312) 500-HURT.

What Are Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Henry County, IL?

Motorcycles are not as easy to spot on the road, being smaller. Because of 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 be aware of larger vehicles, but not for motorcycles. Inattentional blindness contributes to many motorcycle accidents in Henry County, 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 the result of a car driver’s intoxication, speeding or distracted driving.
• Other collisions — Head on collisions are also common between motorcycles and passenger cars. A car may also to fail to 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 — Uneven pavement, potholes, dead animals, gravel or other debris on our streets usually do not affect a vehicle with more than two wheels very much. However, motorcycles are less stable and these hazards can cause a motorcyclist to spin out.
• Malfunctioning components — Manufacturers and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recall dozens of motorcycles annually. When dangerous bikes and components are not recalled, it can result in motorcycle accidents.

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

Ninety-four percent of all motor vehicle accidents are due to driver 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 agency or contracting 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 Henry County, IL Motorcycle Accident if it Did Not Involve Another Vehicle?

Governmental agencies are tasked with keeping their roadways safe for use by everyone on the roads, and when obstruction or other objects in the road 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 sue them. Our motorcycle accident lawyers in Henry County, IL can pick up your claim and take the fight to city hall to get you a full financial recovery.

A Loved One Was Killed in a Motorcycle Crash in Henry County, IL. What Are My Legal Options?

The dangers of motorcycles mean that bikers have a higher death rate than people in enclosed vehicles. If your worst nightmare came true 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 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.
• 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. When there are no immediate family members, siblings and nieces and nephews can file a claim
  3. If there are no family members, the court can appoint a plaintiff ad litem to file a claim
• 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 Henry County, 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 injury claims we take on and win in Henry County, 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 Henry County, IL Today

Our Henry County, 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 did nothing to deserve being in this situation, and you should not have to pay for it. To learn more about how our Henry County, 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 case review.