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Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Lincoln, IL
Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Lincoln, IL
The exhilaration you feel when riding a motorcycle can be canceled out by the injuries reckless drivers cause when they do not pay attention to your safety. If another driver injured you in Lincoln, IL, reach out to the motorcycle accident lawyers of Burger Law today at (312) 500-HURT or complete our online form for a no-risk, no-obligation consultation.
If you were injured in a motorcycle accident in Lincoln, 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 give yourself a sense of calm. You are connected to the road and your motorcycle in a way that a car just cannot emulate. Unfortunately, negligent drivers can turn that feeling into catastrophic injuries. 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 stand by your side and get you the compensation you deserve. You want a lawyer that has demonstrated that they can get great results in motorcycle wreck lawsuits in Lincoln, IL.
Burger Law has more than three decades of experience getting maximum compensation for those injured through the negligence of another. Our motorcycle accident lawyers will fight until you recover all of your damages and there is nothing left to fight. Always speak to a lawyer before agreeing to a settlement. The insurance adjuster is out to limit your recovery. Our firm has a proven track record of successfully fighting the insurance companies and making sure that they treat our Lincoln, 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 claim today.
How Common Are Motorcycle Accidents in Lincoln, IL?
Even though motorcycles make up less than one percent of total traffic miles traveled in the United States, they made up four percent of all injuries and 14 percent of all fatalities in traffic-related accidents in 2020, according to the National Safety Council. In the United States, in 2020 82,000 people were injured and 5,579 died 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. Unfortunately, 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, which means the accidents were often caused by another driver failing to notice motorcyclists. Most of the crashes occurred in densely populated areas, especially major city streets.
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 Lincoln, IL
There are several things you should do, 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.
At the Accident Site
While any collision is surprising and scary, it is vital to think rationally. Immediately after the crash, you should:
Get to safety — If you are physically able, move out of the way of oncoming traffic. 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.
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 — As the injuries caused in a motorcycle wreck can be catastrophic, it is probably a good idea to get medical attention at the scene instead of leaving and planning to go to an emergency room yourself. Police know how to determine fault in an accident, and will make a police report.
Gather evidence — Talk to any other motorists involved and get their insurance information. Take pictures 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 Lincoln, IL prove your case when you make your claim. Get the contact info of any eyewitnesses to the accident.
Finally, receive medical attention if you did not already do so.
What to Do in the Ensuing Weeks and Months
Once you have gotten medical treatment, inform the insurance company of everybody involved. Then, speak to a motorcycle accident lawyer in Lincoln, 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 obviously the best thing 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 show the extent of your injuries. The more medical expenses you have, the higher your pain and suffering compensation will be as well. Make sure you attend 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 spent recovering, and any out-of-pocket expenses you incur, such as parking or Uber rides for going to medical appointments or hiring someone to help take care of your kids. Keep detailed receipts and notes about why you needed to pay those expenses. You can also write down your every day experiences showing the non-tangible impact of your injuries and your pain and suffering.
Do Not Talk to the Insurance Company — Once you have notified the insurance company about your injuries and hired a motorcycle accident lawyer, your attorney will will now be intermediary between you and the insurance. Insurance adjusters try to employ a lot of tricks to minimize claims, but your attorney will know how to deal with them.
Resist Social Media — It is commonplace to want to share what is going on with your life on the Internet. However, posting too much on social media can ruin your claim. If you say your injuries are debilitating, 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 your initial consultation, we will keep you completely in the loop until we reach the great results you deserve. Let us deal with the legal aspect of your case 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 Lincoln, IL For My Claim?
For minor and clear-cut accidents, where the liable party is obvious and your medical bills are no more than a visit with your primary care physician, you may not need an attorney to get fair compensation. Give the insurance company your records and expenses, and ask for a little more for the hassle. In a smaller settlement where their policyholder is clearly liable, the insurance company 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 in a perfect world insurance companies would fulfill their responsibility when someone is injured by their policyholders’ negligence, it usually takes a fair amount of fighting to get them to do it. Situations where you will need a motorcycle accident lawyer in Lincoln, IL include:
Your injuries are severe — The more your medical expenses and lost wages, 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 precisely value your damages.
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 to take advantage of you. By hiring a lawyer, the insurance company will know that you are serious about getting the full compensation you deserve. 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 is responsible for your injuries. For example, a driver may cut your off while not looking for you, causing you to swerve and hit a road hazard that a local government should have fixed. A knowledgeable Lincoln, IL motorcycle accident lawyer will conduct a full investigation into the crash 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 the accident — Blaming you for your injuries 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 partially to blame, you are not completely barred from compensation under Missouri’s comparative negligence rule. However, a lawyer is likely necessary to get you the most possible compensation.
Your Lincoln, IL motorcycle accident lawyer at Burger Law knows how to fight back against 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 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 Lincoln, 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 are the best is one thing, but a lawyer whose former 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:
Do I Have a Motorcycle Accident Claim in Lincoln, IL?
If you want to have a successful claim in Lincoln, IL, 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 have an obligation 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.
Cause in fact — Were your injuries the direct result of the accident?
Proximate cause — Did the person’s breach of duty cause the accident? If the other driver’s brakes were not working, the person who needs to compensate you may be a manufacturer and not the driver?.
Damages — Did your injuries lead to losses, such as medical expenses and mental anguish? If your accident resulted in some bumps and bruises, but you did not need any medical treatment, you likely do not have a claim.
Any time somebody else’s carelessness or recklessness injures you, you can to file 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 Lincoln, IL Motorcycle Accident Claim Worth?
Non-economic damages, such as emotional distress, scarring and pain and suffering
While not common, you may be able to be awarded punitive damages if you were injured by extreme recklessness, such as drunk driving
Factors that might make your compensation higher or lower include:
The severity of your injuries; more significant injuries typically lead to higher economic and noneconomic damages
Whether or not you were partially to blame 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 insisting the liable party takes responsibility for 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 Lincoln, IL?
Pursuant to 735 ILCS 5/13-202, the time limit for motorcycle accident claims in Lincoln, IL is two years. That means the clock starts ticking on the date of the accident to file a claim. There are some 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 at the time of accident, they have until two years after the disability ended
If the negligent party leaves the state of Illinois for a period, that period does not account against the two years
While two years may seem like a long time, it takes time to properly build your case. Do not wait to contact a motorcycle accident lawyer after you were hurt in a motorcycle accident in Lincoln, IL. Call us now at (312) 500-HURT.
What Are Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Lincoln, IL?
Motorcycles are harder for drivers of enclosed vehicles to see, being smaller. 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 most drivers have programmed their brains to look for other cars, but not for motorcycles. Inattentional blindness contributes to many motorcycle accidents in Lincoln, IL.
Most motorcycle accidents occur because of:
Left-hand turns — According to the Motorcycle Legal Foundation, over 40 percent of all motorcycle accidents that result in fatalities 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 distracted driving.
Other collisions — Head on collisions also occur frequently between motorcycles and other types of vehicles. 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 may be due to a negligent construction company or governmental entity.
Road hazards — Cracked pavement, potholes, animal carcasses, gravel or other roadways debris usually do not affect a car or truck very much. However, motorcycles are less stable and these hazards can cause a motorcyclist to lose control.
Defective components — 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 crashes.
Who is Liable for My Motorcycle Accident Injuries in Lincoln, IL?
A governmental body or contracting company for road hazards
A vehicle designer, manufacturer or vendor in a product liability claim
A employer if their employee injured you while driving, such as in a commercial truck accident
Can I Sue For My Lincoln, IL Motorcycle Accident if it Did Not Involve Another Vehicle?
Governmental agencies 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 agency responsible for the neglect can be held responsible for the motorcycle accident. However, suing a government entity in Illinois has added complications. Our motorcycle accident lawyers in Lincoln, IL can handle your claim and take the fight to city hall to secure you the compensation you deserve.
A Loved One Was Killed in a Motorcycle Crash in Lincoln, IL. What Are My Legal Options?
The dangers of motorcycles mean that bikers have a higher death rate than people in enclosed vehicles. If tragedy struck and a loved one died 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 the financial burden 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 is killed by 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. 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 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 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 benefits related to their employment
Loss of instruction, guidance and moral training the deceased would have provided
Survivors’ grief, sorrow and mental suffering
Burger Law’s Lincoln, IL wrongful death attorneys are not just tremendous at securing full compensation. We are compassionate and have helped many families navigate the sorrow, anger and confusion that comes after a fatal auto accident.
In addition to motorcycle accidents, other personal injury claims we take on and win in Lincoln, IL include:
Speak to a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Lincoln, IL Today
Our Lincoln, 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 do not have to pay for someone else’s mistakes. To learn more about how our Lincoln, 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.
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…