Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Melrose Park, IL

Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Melrose Park, IL

The thrill of riding a motorcycle can be neutralized by the injuries reckless drivers cause when they do not respect your safety. If another driver injured you in Melrose Park, IL, call the motorcycle accident lawyers of Burger Law immediately at (312) 500-HURT or complete our online form for a no-risk, no-obligation case evaluation.

If you were injured in a motorcycle accident in Melrose Park, 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 are connected to the road and your motorcycle in a way that you do not get in an enclosed vehicle. Unfortunately, negligent drivers can turn that feeling into something horrific. Because of their relative lack of protection, motorcycle accidents can cause serious injuries. When you are injured, it carries economic, physical and emotional consequences and you need someone to stand by your side and get you the compensation you deserve. You need to find a law firm with a proven track record of winning motorcycle collision cases in Melrose Park, IL.

Burger Law has more than 70 years of combined experience winning cases in negotiations and in the court room. Our motorcycle accident lawyers will aggressively pursue every legal avenue to make sure justice is served. Always speak to a lawyer before agreeing to a settlement. The insurance adjuster will try to devalue your compensation. We know how to fight insurance companies and ensure that they give 100 percent of what they owe our Melrose Park, IL clients.

To find out more about what we can do for you, call a lawyer at (312) 500-HURT to discuss your motorcycle accident claim now.

How Common Are Motorcycle Accidents in Melrose Park, IL?

Despite the fact that motorcycles account for only .06 percent of total vehicle miles traveled nationwide, they made up 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 entire country, in 2020 there were 82,500 motorcycle accident injuries and 5,579 deaths. In Illinois, of 3,077 motorcycle crashes, 2,404 caused injuries and 152 were fatal, according to the Illinois 2020 Crash Facts and Statistics. Sadly, over half of those happened when the motorcycle was going straight ahead, insinuating that the accidents were often caused by a car or truck driver not respecting motorcyclists on the road. Crashes are most common in densely populated areas, especially on arterial roads.

According to findings from the Motorcycle Legal Foundation, Illinois is eighth in the country with over 280,000 registered motorcycles, and fittingly was eighth in the country in fatalities in 2017.

Nearly 50 percent of deadly motorcycle wrecks occur in the summer months, and half happen between 6 p.m. Friday and 6 a.m. Monday.

What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Melrose Park, IL

There are several steps you should take, both in the immediate wake of an accident and in the days and weeks that follow, to make sure your recover from your injuries both physically and financially.

At the Accident Site

While any crash can be 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 other vehicles coming down the street. Leave your motorcycle behind. 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 believe your injuries may be catastrophic, stay still and wait for emergency medical services.
• Keep your gear on — Removing your helmet, gloves, boots, jacket and other gear could also make injuries worse. Adrenaline may hide how significant an injury actually is.
• Call 911 — Because the injuries caused in a motorcycle wreck can be catastrophic, it is probably a good idea to be looked over at the scene instead of leaving and planning to seek medical attention at urgent care or a doctors’ appointment. Police will also be able to file a report relating who they believe is liable for the accident.
• Gather evidence — Talk to any other drivers involved and request an insurance card. 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 is that big of a deal may help a motorcycle accident lawyer in Melrose Park, IL prove someone else’s negligence in the future. Get the contact info of any eyewitnesses to the accident.

Finally, receive medical attention if you have not already.

What to Do in the Ensuing Weeks and Months

After you first seek medical care, inform the insurance company of everybody involved. Then, speak to a motorcycle accident lawyer in Melrose Park, 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:

• Continue Medical Treatment — This is obviously the best thing for your health, but aids your financial recovery as well. You need to prove how much that accident hurt you, and to do that you need to be able to point to 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 ultimate 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 are also entitled to reimbursement for lost wages from time spent recovering, and any out-of-pocket expenses due to your injuries, such as parking or gas money for going to medical appointments or hiring someone to help with chores around the house. Manage a file with all of your receipts and notes about why you needed to pay those expenses. It may also be a good idea to write down your every day experiences detailing 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 injuries and enlisted the services of a motorcycle accident lawyer, your attorney will will now be intermediary between you and the insurance. Insurance adjusters utilize a lot of tricks to minimize claims, and it is better to leave communication up to an attorney who knows how to hold the adjuster accountable.
• Do Not Post on Social Media — It is normal to want to share what is going on with your life with others. However, even a well-meaning post can do damage to your claim. If you tell the insurance company that your injuries prevent you from working, 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 you get the maximum compensation you are owed. Let us deal with the investigation, documentation, negotiation and litigation so you can spend your energy on on your medical treatment.

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

For minor and clear-cut accidents, where fault is clearly established and your medical bills only include an emergency room visit, a lawyer may not be able to add much value to your claim. Supply the insurance company with your records and expenses, and see if they will throw some extra money on top for inconvenience. In a smaller settlement where their policyholder is clearly liable, the adjuster will only lose money if they try to fight your claim.

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 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 Melrose Park, 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 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 starting to creep up into the tens of thousands, and the insurance adjuster is only offering a few thousand, they are trying convince you that you do not know how much you are owed. By hiring an attorney, the insurance company will know that you are serious about getting the full compensation you deserve. 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 injuries, especially multi-vehicle accidents, 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 an improperly cordoned-off construction site. A talented Melrose Park, IL motorcycle accident lawyer will conduct a full investigation into the accident and determine all liable parties. Finding other people who are liable is imperative 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 well-known trick insurance adjusters use to avoid paying you. If the insurance company say your accident was your own fault, an attorney use their investigate skills and network of experts to conclusively demonstrate 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 doctrine. However, a lawyer is likely necessary to get you the most possible compensation.

Your Melrose Park, IL motorcycle accident lawyer at Burger Law knows how to combat dishonest ploys insurance adjusters use. We have been doing it for more than three decades. We offer an initial conversation and investigation at no charge, so call us 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 let up until you get every bit of compensation you deserve.

Recent Burger Law Melrose Park, 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 are the best is one thing, but a lawyer whose former clients will vouch for 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:

• $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 Melrose Park, IL?

If you want to have a valid claim in Melrose Park, IL, 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 other person owe you a duty to protect you from unreasonable harm? 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 that duty.
2. Breach of duty — Were they neglectful in that duty and did that breach lead to an accident? Was another driver speeding, texting and driving, drunk driving or otherwise not following the rules of the road?
3. Cause in fact — Were your injuries the direct result of the accident?
4. Proximate cause — Whose breach of duty caused 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 the driver?.
5. Damages — Did your injuries lead to losses, such as lost wages and pain and suffering? If your accident caused some bruises or scrapes, but they healed without any medical treatment, you likely do not have a claim.

If you were injured through another’s negligence, you have an injury claim. Speak to a motorcycle accident attorney immediately at (312) 500-HURT if you are unsure if you have a claim.

How Much is My Melrose Park, IL Motorcycle Accident Claim Worth?

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

• Economic damages, such as lost wages, medical bills and out-of-pocket expenses
• 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 determine how much you will recover include:

• The severity of your injuries; more significant injuries typically lead to higher economic and noneconomic damages
• Whether or not you contributed to the accident
• If the accident led to permanent disfigurement or disability
• How your life has changed because of your injuries

At Burger Law, we know how to calculate the full value of someone’s injury claim and insisting the insurance company takes responsibility for all of it. If your injuries lead to future economic damages like lost earning capacity or future surgeries, 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 Melrose Park, IL?

Under 735 ILCS 5/13-202, the statute of limitations for motorcycle accident claims in Melrose Park, IL is two years. That means the clock starts ticking on the date the accident occurred to file a lawsuit in court. Illinois has three exceptions:

• If you or your loved one was a minor at the time of accident, they have until two years after their 18th 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 period, 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 hesitate to reach out to a motorcycle accident lawyer after you were hurt in a motorcycle accident in Melrose Park, IL. Call us today at (312) 500-HURT.

What Are Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Melrose Park, IL?

Motorcycles are harder for passenger car drivers to see, being smaller. As a result of a phenomenon called “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 larger vehicles, but not for motorcycles. Inattentional blindness is a leading cause of motorcycle accidents in Melrose Park, 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 and hits a motorcyclist in an intersection. These crashes can be the result of a car driver’s intoxication, reckless driving or generally not paying close enough attention to the road.
• Other collisions — Head on collisions also occur frequently between motorcycles and cars or trucks. A car may also to fail to see a motorcyclist when turning in front of them. Motorcycles also collide with fixed objects more than any other type of motorist, which is not always the motorcyclist’s fault.
• Road hazards — Cracked pavement, potholes, dead animals, slick surfaces or other debris on our streets often do not have much of an impact on a car. However, motorcycles do not have the same level of stability and these hazards can cause a motorcyclist to lose control.
• Malfunctioning components — Manufacturers and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recall dozens of motorcycles annually. 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 Melrose Park, IL?

Almost all motor vehicle accidents are due to human error. So, most of the time another driver is responsible for your injuries. However, depending on the specifics of your case, you may also be able to make a claim against:

• A governmental body or contracting company for not repairing or negligent repairing a road
• A vehicle designer, manufacturer or vendor in a product liability claim
• A employer if someone they hired injured you while driving, such as in a commercial truck accident

Can I Sue For My Melrose Park, 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 obstruction or other objects in the road cause an accident, the state may have to compensate you for your injuries. However, the state of Illinois does not make it easy to hold them accountable. Our motorcycle accident lawyers in Melrose Park, IL can handle your claim and guide you through the complexities of local and state laws to secure you a full financial recovery.

A Loved One Was Killed in a Motorcycle Crash in Melrose Park, 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 your worst nightmare came true and a loved one passed away in a motorcycle crash, you can make a wrongful death claim. While no amount of money 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:

• 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 of your loved one’s death, not the date that they were first injured.
• 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. When there are no immediate family members, siblings and siblings’ descendants can bring a suit
  3. If there are no family members, the court can designate 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 they got from their employment
  • Loss of consortium
  • Loss of instruction, guidance and moral training the deceased would have provided
  • Survivors’ grief, sorrow and mental suffering

Burger Law’s Melrose Park, IL wrongful death attorneys are not just experts at securing full compensation. We are understanding and kind and have helped many families get through the sorrow, anger and confusion that comes after a fatal auto accident.

In addition to motorcycle accidents, other injury claims we we have had great success with in Melrose Park, 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 Melrose Park, IL Today

Our Melrose Park, IL motorcycle accident lawyers will fight until you get the maximum compensation you are owed; 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 Melrose Park, IL personal injury law firm will fight for your rights, call our team at (312) 500-HURT or contact us online for a complimentary case review.