Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Morton Grove, IL

The sense of freedom a motorcycle comes with can be made moot by the injuries careless drivers cause when they do not follow the rules of the road. If another driver injured you in Morton Grove, IL, reach out to the motorcycle accident lawyers of Burger Law immediately at (312) 500-HURT or contact us online for a free case review.

If you were injured in a motorcycle accident in Morton Grove, 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 get a feeling of the open road that you do not get in an enclosed vehicle. Regrettably, this freedom also comes with a high price. Because of their relative lack of protection, the consequences of a motorcycle accident can be devastating. When you are injured, there are instant financial, physical and mental consequences and you need someone to stand by your side and get you the compensation you deserve. You want a law firm with a proven track record of winning motorcycle accident cases in Morton Grove, IL.

Burger Law has over 70 years of combined litigation and trial experience. Our motorcycle accident lawyers will tenaciously pursue your claim to ensure you get the medical care and financial recovery that you are owed and that you deserve. Do not talk to your insurance or the other side’s insurance without speaking to an attorney first. The insurance adjuster will try to minimize your compensation. We know how to stand up to insurance companies and ensure that they give the full compensation they owe our Morton Grove, IL clients.

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

How Common Are Motorcycle Accidents in Morton Grove, IL?

Even though motorcycles make up barely over half a percent of all vehicle miles traveled nationwide, they made up four percent of all injuries and 14 percent of total deaths 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 perished in motorcycle crashes. In Illinois, of 3,077 motorcycle accidents, 2,404 caused injuries and 152 were fatal, according to the Illinois 2020 Crash Facts and Statistics. Regrettably, over 50 percent of those crashes came when the motorcycle was driving straight, which means the accidents were often caused by a car or truck driver not respecting motorcyclists on the road. Wrecks happen most frequently in metropolitan areas, especially major city streets.

According to data from the Motorcycle Legal Foundation, Illinois is eighth in the country with close to 300,000 registered motorcycles, and proportionately was eighth in the country in fatalities in 2017.

Almost 50 percent of deadly motorcycle collisions occur in the in the summer when the weather is nicer, and 50 percent happen between Friday night and Monday morning.

What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Morton Grove, IL

There are a number steps you should take, both in the immediate wake of an accident 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 accident is jarring, it is vital to think rationally. At the accident site, you should:

• Get to safety — If possible, move out of the way of oncoming traffic. Leave your motorcycle where it is. It is obviously important to you, but trying to carry it could put you at risk of further harm. If you believe your injuries may be catastrophic, stay still and wait for emergency personnel.
• Do not remove your safety gear — Removing your helmet or other gear could also make serious injuries even worse. Shock may hide how serious an injury actually is.
• Call 911 — Because motorcycle accidents can cause severe injuries, it may be best 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 — Speak to the other driver and ask for an insurance card. Take pictures of all vehicles and the crash site from different positions. Take as many pictures as possible. Something you do not think matters much may be useful to a motorcycle accident lawyer in Morton Grove, IL when trying to prove who is responsible for your injuries in the future. Get the contact info of any eyewitnesses to the accident.

Lastly, receive medical attention if you have not already.

What to Do Throughout the Claim Process

Once you have gotten medical treatment, notify both your insurance company and the other driver’s. Then, speak to a motorcycle accident lawyer in Morton Grove, 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 physical recovery, but aids your financial recovery as well. In order to prove your damages, you need to be able to point to medical records which detail all of the costs and treatments you incurred because of your injuries. The more medical expenses you have, 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 also deserve a financial recovery 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 household chores. Manage a file with detailed receipts and explanations for 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 filed your claim and enlisted the services of a motorcycle accident lawyer, your attorney will handle all communication with the insurance. Insurance adjusters utilize a lot of ploys to minimize claims, and it is better to leave communication up to an attorney who knows how to combat them.
• Resist Social Media — In this day and age, many of us want to share details about our life on the Internet. 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 finds out you have been going out on the weekends, they will use it to try and deny your claim.

From your initial consultation, we will keep you updated throughout your claim until you get the maximum compensation you are owed. 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 Morton Grove, IL For My Claim?

For some minor claims, where fault is clearly established and your medical expenses only include an appointment with your primary care physician, you may be able to get compensation on your own. Supply the insurance company with your records and expenses, and ask for a little more for inconvenience. In a smaller settlement where not much is disputed, the adjuster is not going to want to waste their time.

However, in the vast majority of cases, you will need a motorcycle accident attorney for your injury claim. While in a perfect world insurance companies would fulfill 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 probably need a motorcycle accident lawyer in Morton Grove, IL if:

• Your injuries are severe — The higher your damages, the more the insurance company will be resistant to reimbursing you for it. If your injuries result in permanent disability, you will absolutely 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 a lawyer, 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 party that is responsible for your injuries. For example, a driver may cut your off while not looking for you, causing you to take defensive action and hit a pothole that a governmental agency should have fixed. An experienced Morton Grove, IL motorcycle accident lawyer will conduct a full investigation into the wreck and assign a portion of the damages to each liable party. Identifying everyone who is liable is imperative if you are owed more compensation than the at-fault driver’s policy limits.
• The insurance adjuster is trying to blame you for your injuries — Blaming you for your injuries is a frequent move insurance adjusters use to devalue your claim. If the insurance company say your injuries are your own fault, an attorney can step in and conclusively demonstrate how the other party was negligent. If it is true that you were responsible for a portion of the accident, you can still receive some compensation under Missouri’s comparative negligence rule. However, you will need an attorney to apply the rule of law and get you that compensation.

Your Morton Grove, IL motorcycle accident lawyer at Burger Law knows how to fight back against 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 call us at (312) 500-HURT to see what we can do for your claim. We start developing our legal strategy from the second you hire us, and do not give up until you get all of compensation you are owed.

Recent Burger Law Morton Grove, IL Motorcycle Accident Victories

With any type of legal claim, results matter. You want to know that you are giving your case to the best possible lawyer, and that they are going to fight hard to make sure you get 100 percent of the recovery and compensation you deserve. Any motorcycle accident lawyer can say they will fight for you, but a lawyer with client testimonials and results to prove it is another thing. Check out the following links to see some recent Burger Law motorcycle accident victories and 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 Morton Grove, IL?

In order to have a valid claim in Morton Grove, IL, you must have sustained an injury that was caused 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 have an obligation 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 a duty of care.
2. Breach of duty — Did they fail in that duty and cause an accident? Was another 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 — Whose negligence caused the accident? If the other driver’s brakes were malfunctioning, the liable party may be a manufacturer and not the driver?.
5. Damages — Did your injuries lead to losses, such as lost wages and emotional distress? 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 need to file an injury claim. Speak to a motorcycle accident attorney today at (312) 500-HURT if you have any doubts about the validity of your claim.

How Much is My Morton Grove, 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 mental anguish, scarring and pain and suffering
• While not common, you may be able to be awarded punitive damages if the liable party’s behavior was especially egregious, such as if they were drunk driving

Factors that might make your compensation higher or lower include:

• The severity of your injuries; more significant injuries tend to 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
• How your life has changed because of your injuries

At Burger Law, we are experts at calculating the full value of someone’s injury claim and demanding the liable party pay 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 accounting for inflation.

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

According to 735 ILCS 5/13-202, the statute of limitations for motorcycle accident claims in Morton Grove, IL is two years. That means the clock starts ticking on the date you were injured to file a lawsuit in court. Illinois has three exceptions:

• If you or your loved one was a minor 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 negligent party leaves the state of Illinois for a period, that period is not included in the two years

While two years does not sound like it should give you a sense of urgency, it takes time to properly build your case. Do not wait to contact a motorcycle accident lawyer after you have been injured in Morton Grove, IL. Call us immediately at (312) 500-HURT.

What Are Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Morton Grove, IL?

Motorcycles are harder for drivers of enclosed vehicles to see, do not take up as much space on the road. Because of something known as “inattentional blindness,” it is harder for drivers to see a motorcycle — even when they are looking for one. This is because we train our brains to be aware of other cars, but not for motorcycles. Inattentional blindness is a leading cause of motorcycle accidents in Morton Grove, IL.

The most common causes of motorcycles accidents are:

• Left-hand turns — The Motorcycle Legal Foundation reports that almost half 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 simple inattention.
• Other collisions — Head on collisions also occur frequently between motorcycles and passenger cars. A car may also to fail to see a motorcyclist when merging or changing lanes. Motorcycles also collide with fixed objects more than any other type of driver, 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 usually do not affect a car or truck very much. However, motorcycles do not have the same level of stability and these hazards can cause a motorcyclist to fall.
• Defective components — Dozens of motorcycles are recalled every year, either by the manufacturer or by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. When dangerous bikes and components are not recalled, it can lead to motorcycle crashes.

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

Almost all auto accidents are the result of driver error. So, most of the time another driver is responsible for your injuries. However, other parties that may be held liable include:

• A governmental body or construction company for not repairing or negligent repairing a road
• A vehicle designer, manufacturer or vendor for a defective product
• A company if their employee injured you while driving, for example in a commercial truck accident

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

Governmental agencies 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 municipality can be held accountable for the motorcycle accident. However, suing a government entity in Illinois has added complications. Our motorcycle accident lawyers in Morton Grove, IL can pick up 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 Morton Grove, 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 family member 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 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 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.
• There are three categories of people who can file a wrongful death claim in Illinois. In order of priority, they are:
  1. Immediate family members, such as a spouse, children, grandchildren and grandparents
  2. If there are no immediate family members, siblings and nieces and nephews can bring a suit
  3. If no family remains, 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 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 Morton Grove, 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 injury cases we we have had great success with in Morton Grove, 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 Morton Grove, IL Today

Our Morton Grove, 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 Morton Grove, IL personal injury law firm will fight for your rights, call our team at (312) 500-HURT or complete our online form for a free consultation.