Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Marseilles, IL

Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Marseilles, IL

The sense of freedom a motorcycle comes with can be made moot by the injuries careless drivers cause when they do not respect your safety. If you were injured in a motorcycle accident in Marseilles, IL, call the motorcycle accident lawyers of Burger Law now at (779) 800-HURT or fill out our online form for a complimentary case review.

If you were injured in a motorcycle accident in Marseilles, 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 get a feeling of the open road that a car just cannot emulate. Regrettably, there is a potentially dangerous trade-off. Because motorcycles do not protect riders as well as enclosed vehicles, the consequences of a motorcycle accident can be devastating. When that happens to you, there are immediate hardships and you need someone to stand by your side and get you the compensation you deserve. You need to find a lawyer with a proven track record of winning motorcycle accident lawsuits in Marseilles, IL.

Our attorneys and paralegals have 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 agreeing to a settlement. The insurance adjuster wants to minimize your recovery. Our firm has a proven track record of successfully fighting the insurance companies and making sure that they give the full compensation they owe our Marseilles, IL clients.

To find out more about what we can do for you, call our team at (779) 800-HURT to go over your motorcycle accident case for free.

How Common Are Motorcycle Accidents in Marseilles, 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 the National Safety Council. Nationwide, in 2020 82,000 people were injured and 5,579 died in motorcycle crashes. 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 half of those occurred when the motorcycle was driving straight, which means the accidents were often because of another driver failing to notice motorcyclists. Wrecks happen most frequently in metropolitan areas, especially on arterial roads.

According to the Motorcycle Legal Foundation, Illinois is eighth in the nation in terms of both registered motorcycles and motorcycle crash fatalities.

The most common season for motorcycle crashes is summer, and half of all wrecks happen between Friday night and Monday morning.

What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Marseilles, 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.

Immediately After The Accident

While any crash is surprising and scary, it is important to keep a clear head. Immediately after the crash, you should:

• Get to safety — If you can, get to the side of the road and away from other vehicles coming down the street. Leave your motorcycle where it is. 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, gloves, boots, jacket and other gear could also exacerbate your injuries. Because of adrenaline, a serious injury may not always hurt as much at first.
• Call 911 — Because the injuries caused in a motorcycle wreck can be catastrophic, it is probably best to get medical attention at the scene instead of trying to go to an emergency room yourself. Police will also be able to file a report stating who they believe is responsible for the accident.
• Gather evidence — Talk to any other motorists involved and request an insurance card. 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 help a motorcycle accident lawyer in Marseilles, IL prove your case down the road. See if there are eyewitnesses who can corroborate your side of the story.

Lastly, receive medical attention if you have not already.

What to Do in the Days, Weeks and Months Afterwards

After you first seek medical care, notify the insurance company of everybody involved. Then, speak to a motorcycle accident lawyer in Marseilles, 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 not only vital 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 be able to point to medical records which detail the extent of your injuries. The more medical expenses you have, the higher your ultimate compensation will be as well. Go to every follow up, chiropractic or physical therapy appointment your doctor wants you to.
• Keep Track of Everything Related to Your Injuries — You are also owed a financial recovery for lost wages from time when you were unable to work due to your injuries, 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 all of your receipts and notes about why those charges were due to your injury. It may also be a good idea to 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 filed your claim and hired a motorcycle accident lawyer, let your attorney handle documentation and negotiation. Insurance adjusters use a lot of tactics to devalue claims, but your attorney will know how to make the adjuster be honest.
• Do Not Post on 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 do damage to your chances of being fully compensated. If you say your injuries are debilitating, and the insurance finds out you have been going out on the weekends, they they can say your injuries are not actually that severe.

From the moment you hire us, we will be in contact with you every step of the way until we reach the great results you deserve. Allow us to handle the investigation, documentation, negotiation and litigation so you can spend your energy on on your physical and emotional recovery.

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

For minor and clear-cut accidents, where there is no discrepancy about who is at fault and your medical expenses only include an appointment with your primary care physician, you may be able to get compensation on your own. 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 will only lose money if they try to deny your claim.

However, more likely than not you will need the assistance of a motorcycle accident attorney for your injury claim. While it would be nice if insurance companies fulfilled their obligations when someone is injured by their policyholders’ negligence, they usually have to be convinced to. Situations where you will need a motorcycle accident lawyer in Marseilles, 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 future medical treatment or prevent you from earning a living as you used to, you will absolutely need an attorney to convince the insurance company to pay for future damages as well.
• 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 adjuster is only offering a few thousand, they are trying to take advantage of you. If there is an attorney 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 are multiple liable parties — With some injuries, especially multi-vehicle accidents, there may be more than one liable party. For example, a driver may cut your off while not looking for you, causing you to swerve and hit a pothole that a local government should have fixed. A knowledgeable Marseilles, IL motorcycle accident lawyer will conduct a full investigation into the crash and assign a portion of the damages to each liable party. Finding other people who are liable is imperative if your damages exceed 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 frequent tactic insurance adjusters use to devalue your claim. When this happens, an attorney will fight back prove that is not the case. If it is true that you were responsible for a portion of the accident, you can still make a recovery under Missouri’s comparative negligence rule. However, you will need an attorney to apply the rule of law and get you that compensation.

Your Marseilles, IL motorcycle accident lawyer at Burger Law knows how to combat tricks insurance adjusters use. We have been doing it for more than 30 years. We offer an initial conversation and investigation at no charge, so call us at (779) 800-HURT to see what we can do for your claim. We get to work from the second you hire us, and fight until there is nothing left to fight.

Recent Burger Law Marseilles, 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. 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 Marseilles, IL?

In order to file any Marseilles, 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 liable party owe you an obligation to keep you safe? 625 ILCS 5/11-1003.1 stipulates 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 — Did they fail in that duty and cause an accident? Was the other driver speeding, texting and driving, drunk driving or otherwise breaking 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 person who needs to be held accountable for your injuries may be a manufacturer and not another motorist?.
5. Damages — Did your injuries lead to losses, such as medical expenses and mental anguish? If your accident resulted in some small lacerations and bruising, but you did not need any medical treatment, it would be hard for you to make a claim.

If you were injured through another’s negligence, you have an injury claim. Consult with a motorcycle accident attorney now at (779) 800-HURT if you are unsure if you have a claim.

How Much is My Marseilles, IL Motorcycle Accident Claim Worth?

Your compensation will be a combination of:

• 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
• 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 usually lead to higher medical bills and more pain and suffering
• Whether or not you were partially to blame for your injuries
• 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 every dime you are owed and demand that the insurance company takes responsibility for all of it. If your injuries require ongoing medical care, we will ensure you also get money to pay for that, including accounting for inflation.

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

Pursuant to 735 ILCS 5/13-202, the time limit for motorcycle accident injuries in Marseilles, IL is two years. That means you only have two years from the date the accident occurred to file a claim. Illinois has three exceptions:

• If you or your loved one was under the age of 18 when the injuries occurred, 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 does not account against the two years

While two years does not sound like it should give you a sense of urgency, investigating and developing a legal strategy for your claim takes time. Do not hesitate to contact a motorcycle accident lawyer after you have been injured in Marseilles, IL. Call us immediately at (779) 800-HURT.

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

Motorcycles are harder for drivers of enclosed vehicles to see, being smaller. Due to something known as “inattentional blindness,” it is harder for drivers 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 is a leading cause of motorcycle accidents in Marseilles, IL.

The most common causes of motorcycles accidents are:

• Left-hand turns — The Motorcycle Legal Foundation reports that over 40 percent of all motorcycle accidents that result in deaths occur when a car turns left while and hits a motorcyclist in an intersection. These crashes can happen because of a motorist’s intoxication, reckless driving or distracted driving.
• Other collisions — Head on collisions are also common between motorcycles and passenger cars. It is also common for a car to fail to see a motorcyclist when merging or changing lanes. 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, dead animals, wet or icy roadways or other roadways debris 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.
• Defective parts — Manufacturers and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recall dozens of motorcycles annually. When dangerous bikes and components are not recalled, it can cause motorcycle crashes.

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

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

• A governmental body or construction company for road hazards
• A vehicle manufacturer for a defective product
• A employer if their employee injured you while driving, such as in a commercial truck accident

Can I Sue For My Marseilles, IL Motorcycle Accident if it Did Not Involve Another Vehicle?

States and municipalities are supposed to keep their roadways safe for citizens to travel on, and when there are road hazards that cause an accident, the state 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 Marseilles, IL can take on 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 Marseilles, IL. What Are My Legal Options?

Motorcyclists are not only at higher risk of a catastrophic injury, but are more likely to be in a fatal accident. If tragedy struck and a loved one passed away in a motorcycle crash, you can make a wrongful death claim. While no settlement or verdict can fill the whole that is left, it can bring a sense of justice 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 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 of the accident.
• There are three categories of people who 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 siblings’ descendants can bring a suit
  3. If there are no family members, a judge can designate a plaintiff ad litem to file a claim
• 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 consortium
  • Loss of instruction, education and moral training the deceased would have provided
  • Survivors’ grief, sorrow and mental suffering

Burger Law’s Marseilles, 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 accompanies a fatal auto accident.

In addition to motorcycle accidents, other injury cases we take on and win in Marseilles, 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 Marseilles, IL Today

Our Marseilles, IL motorcycle accident lawyers will not stop fighting until there is nothing left to fight; that is our guarantee. You deserve to be financially compensated 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 Marseilles, 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.