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Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Lincolnwood, IL
The thrill of riding a motorcycle can be canceled out by the injuries negligent drivers cause when they do not pay attention to your safety. If another driver injured you in Lincolnwood, IL, reach out to the motorcycle accident lawyers of Burger Law immediately at (312) 500-HURT or fill out our online form for a free case review.
If you were injured in a motorcycle accident in Lincolnwood, 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. There is a sense of freedom that a car just cannot emulate. Regrettably, negligent drivers can turn that feeling into catastrophic injuries. Because motorcycles do not protect riders as well as enclosed vehicles, motorcycle accidents can cause serious injuries. When you are injured, it carries immediate economic, physical and emotional consequences and you need someone to fight for you. You want a law firm that has demonstrated that they can full compensation in motorcycle collision lawsuits in Lincolnwood, IL.
Burger Law has more than three decades of experience getting full financial recoveries 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. Do not talk to your insurance or the other side’s insurance without speaking to an attorney first. The insurance adjuster wants to limit your recovery. We know how to fight insurance companies and ensure that they treat our Lincolnwood, IL clients fairly.
To learn more about how our personal injury law firm will fight for your rights, call a lawyer at (312) 500-HURT to discuss your motorcycle accident claim now.
How Common Are Motorcycle Accidents in Lincolnwood, IL?
Even though motorcycles account for only .06 percent of total vehicle miles traveled nationwide, they accounted for four percent of all injuries and 14 percent of all fatalities in traffic-related accidents in 2020, according to data from the National Safety Council. In the United States, in 2020 there were 82,500 motorcycle accident injuries and 5,579 fatalities. In Illinois, of 3,077 motorcycle collisions, 2,404 caused injuries and 152 were fatal, according to the Illinois 2020 Crash Facts and Statistics. Regrettably, over 50 percent of those happened when the motorcycle was going straight ahead, which leads us to believe that the accidents were often due to a car or truck driver failing to notice motorcyclists. Crashes are most common in urban areas, especially on arterial roads.
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 Lincolnwood, IL
There are several things you should do, both at the accident site and throughout the length of your claim process, to ensure you make both a physical and financial recovery.
Immediately After The Accident
While any crash can be jarring, 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 where it is. We know it is your baby, but trying to carry it could exacerbate your injuries. If you believe your injuries may be catastrophic, stay still and wait for EMTs to arrive.
Keep your gear on — Removing your helmet or 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 — Because motorcycle accidents can cause severe injuries, it may be best to get medical attention there instead of leaving and planning to go to an emergency room yourself. Police will also be able to file a report stating who they believe is to blame for the accident.
Gather evidence — Speak to the other driver and request an insurance card. Take pictures of all vehicles and the crash site from different positions. Take more photos than you think you need. Something you do not think matters much may be useful to a motorcycle accident lawyer in Lincolnwood, IL when trying to prove your case when you make your claim. 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 immediately.
What to Do in the Ensuing Weeks and Months
After you first seek medical care, notify both your insurance company and the other driver’s. Then, speak to a motorcycle accident lawyer in Lincolnwood, 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. You need to prove that you sustained financial losses, and to do that you need to complete copies of medical medical records which show all of the costs and treatments you incurred because of your injuries. The the higher your financial loss, the higher your pain and suffering compensation will be as well. Go to 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 spent recovering, and any out-of-pocket expenses that were necessary, such as parking or Uber rides for going to medical appointments or hiring someone to help take care of your children. Keep detailed receipts and explanations for why those charges were necessary. 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 filed your claim 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 tactics to minimize claims, and it is better to leave communication up to an attorney who knows how to make the adjuster be honest.
Do Not Post on Social Media — In this day and age, many of us want to share details about our life on social media. However, even a well-meaning post can do damage to 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 at a bar, they will use it to try and deny your claim.
From the moment you hire us, we will be in contact with you every step of the way until we reach a successful resolution. Allow us to deal with the legal aspect of your case so you can spend your energy on on your medical treatment.
Do I Need a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Lincolnwood, IL For My Claim?
For some minor claims, where the liable party is taking accountability and your medical expenses only include a visit 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 smaller settlement where their policyholder is clearly liable, the adjuster will only lose money if they try to deny 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 their policyholders injure someone, they usually have to be convinced to. Situations where you will need a motorcycle accident lawyer in Lincolnwood, IL include:
Your injuries are significant — The higher your damages, the more the insurance company will try and devalue your injuries. 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 is not being fair — If your damages are starting to creep up into the tens of thousands, and the insurance adjuster is only offering a few thousand, they are trying to take advantage of you. By hiring an attorney, 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 liable party — With some cases, especially crashes involving more than one vehicle, there may be more than one liable party. For example, a driver may merge into your line because they did not see you, causing you to swerve and hit a pothole that a governmental agency should have fixed. A knowledgeable Lincolnwood, IL motorcycle accident lawyer will conduct a full investigation into the accident and determine all liable parties. Identifying everyone who is liable is crucial 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 trick insurance adjusters use to minimize your claim. When this happens, an attorney will fight back conclusively demonstrate how the other party was negligent. If it is true that you were responsible for a portion of the accident, you are not completely barred from compensation under Missouri’s comparative negligence doctrine. However, a lawyer is likely necessary to get you the best possible results.
Your Lincolnwood, IL motorcycle accident lawyer at Burger Law knows how to combat tricks insurance adjusters use. We have been doing it for more than three decades. We offer an initial conversation and investigation at no charge, so speak to an attorney today at (312) 500-HURT to see if we can add value to your claim. We start developing our legal strategy from the moment you hire us, and do not give up until you get every bit of compensation you are owed.
Recent Burger Law Lincolnwood, 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 whose former clients will vouch for them and who has the results to prove it is another thing. Check out the following links to see some recent Burger Law motorcycle accident victories and testimonials:
Do I Have a Motorcycle Accident Claim in Lincolnwood, IL?
In order to have a valid claim in Lincolnwood, 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:
Duty of care — Did the other person have an obligation to keep you safe? 625 ILCS 5/11-1003.1 says 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 — Did the accident cause your injuries?
Proximate cause — Whose negligence caused the accident? If the other driver’s brakes were malfunctioning, the liable party may be a manufacturer and not the driver?.
Damages — Did your injuries lead to losses, such as lost wages and mental anguish? If your accident caused some small cuts and bruising, 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. Speak to a motorcycle accident attorney now at (312) 500-HURT if you are unsure if you have a claim.
How Much is My Lincolnwood, IL Motorcycle Accident Claim Worth?
Non-economic damages, such as emotional distress, scarring and pain and suffering
In some rare cases, you can receive 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, we are experts at calculating every dime you are owed and insist the liable party pay all of it. If your injuries require ongoing medical care, we will ensure you also get money to pay for that, including adjusting for inflation.
How Long Do I Have to File a Motorcycle Accident Claim in Lincolnwood, IL?
Pursuant to 735 ILCS 5/13-202, the statute of limitations for motorcycle accident claims in Lincolnwood, IL is two years. That means you only have two years from the date you were injured to file a lawsuit in court. 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 liable party is outside of the state of Illinois for a period, that time is not included in 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 call a motorcycle accident lawyer after you were hurt in a motorcycle accident in Lincolnwood, IL. Call us today at (312) 500-HURT.
What Are Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Lincolnwood, IL?
Motorcycles are not as easy to spot on the road, as they take up less space. As a result of something referred to as “inattentional blindness,” drivers are less likely to see a motorcycle — even when they are looking for one. This is because most drivers have programmed their brains to look for larger vehicles, but not for motorcycles. Inattentional blindness contributes to many motorcycle accidents in Lincolnwood, IL.
The most common causes of motorcycles accidents are:
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 due to a car driver’s intoxication, speeding or distracted driving.
Other collisions — Head on collisions also occur frequently 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 — Cracked pavement, potholes, dead animals, gravel 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 result in motorcycle crashes.
Who is Liable for My Motorcycle Accident Injuries in Lincolnwood, IL?
A governmental agency or contracting company for not repairing or negligent repairing a road
A motorcycle designer, manufacturer or vendor in a product liability claim
A company if their employee injured you while driving, for example in a commercial truck accident
Can I Sue For My Lincolnwood, IL Motorcycle Accident if it Did Not Involve Another Vehicle?
Governmental bodies are supposed to keep their roadways safe for citizens to travel on, and when there are road hazards that cause an accident, the agency responsible for the neglect may have to compensate you for your injuries. However, suing a government entity in Illinois has added complications. Our motorcycle accident lawyers in Lincolnwood, IL can handle your claim and take the fight to city hall to secure you a full financial recovery.
A Loved One Was Killed in a Motorcycle Crash in Lincolnwood, IL. What Are My Legal Options?
Motorcyclists are not only at increased risk of a catastrophic injury, but are more likely to be in a fatal accident. If you were touched by tragedy and a loved one died in a motorcycle crash, you can make a wrongful death claim. While no amount of money can bring back your loved one, it 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:
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 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. Beginning with who has the first chance to file, they are:
Members of the nuclear family, such as a spouse, children, grandchildren and grandparents
If there are no immediate family members, siblings and siblings’ descendants can file a claim
If there are no family members, a judge can designate a plaintiff ad litem to file a claim
Your compensation will 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 they got from their employment
Loss of instruction, education and moral training the deceased would have provided
Survivors’ grief, sorrow and mental suffering
Burger Law’s Lincolnwood, IL wrongful death attorneys are not just skilled at getting our clients full recoveries. We are compassionate and have helped many families get through the sorrow, anger and confusion that accompanies a fatal auto accident.
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Speak to a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Lincolnwood, IL Today
Our Lincolnwood, 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 Lincolnwood, IL personal injury law firm will fight for your rights, call our team at (312) 500-HURT or contact us online for a free 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…