Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Morton, IL

Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Morton, IL

The sense of freedom a motorcycle comes with can be made moot by the harm careless drivers can do to you when they do not follow the rules of the road. If another driver injured you in Morton, IL, speak to the motorcycle accident lawyers of Burger Law now at (779) 800-HURT or fill out our online form for a complimentary consultation.

If you were injured in a motorcycle accident in Morton, 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 a car just cannot emulate. Regrettably, this freedom also comes with a high price. Because of their relative lack of protection, motorcycle accidents can cause serious injuries. When you are injured, it carries immediate hardships and you need someone to stand by your side and ensure you are treated fairly. You want a law firm with a proven track record of winning motorcycle collision cases in Morton, IL.

Burger Law has more than 70 years of combined litigation and trial experience. Our motorcycle accident lawyers will aggressively pursue every legal avenue to make sure justice is served. Do not talk to your insurance or the other side’s insurance without speaking to an attorney first. The insurance adjuster will try to limit 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 Morton, IL clients.

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

How Common Are Motorcycle Accidents in Morton, IL?

Despite the fact that motorcycles make up barely over half a percent of total vehicle miles traveled in the United States, they made up four percent of all injuries and 14 percent of total fatalities in traffic-related accidents in 2020, according to the National Safety Council. In the entire country, in 2020 82,000 people were injured and 5,579 died in motorcycle crashes. In Illinois, there were 3,077 motorcycle crashes which caused 2,404 injuries and 152 fatalities, according to the Illinois 2020 Crash Facts and Statistics. Regrettably, over half of those happened when the motorcycle was going straight ahead, insinuating that the accidents were often due to a car or truck driver was not looking out for bikers. 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 6 p.m. Friday and 6 a.m. Monday.

What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Morton, IL

There are several things you should do, both in the immediate wake of an accident and in the days and weeks that follow, to ensure you make both a physical and financial recovery.

At the Accident Site

While any collision can be surprising and scary, it is vital to think rationally. Immediately after the crash, you should:

• Get to safety — If you can, move out of the way of other vehicles coming down the street. Leave your motorcycle where it is. It is obviously important to you, but staying with the bike or trying to move it could make your injuries worse. If you suspect you have a spine or head injury, it may be best not to move; instead wait for emergency personnel.
• Keep your gear on — Taking off your helmet, gloves, boots, jacket and 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 the injuries caused in a motorcycle wreck can be catastrophic, it may be best to be looked over at the scene instead of trying to seek medical attention later. Police know how to determine liability in an accident, and will make a police report.
• Gather evidence — Talk to any other motorists involved and get their insurance information. Take photographs of the accident, including how the vehicles are positioned and the surrounding areas. Take as many pictures as possible. Something that may seem unimportant at first may help a motorcycle accident lawyer in Morton, IL prove your case down the road. Get the contact info of any eyewitnesses to the accident.

Finally, receive medical attention if you have not already.

What to Do Throughout the Claim Process

Once you have gotten medical treatment, inform both your insurance company and the other driver’s. Then, speak to a motorcycle accident lawyer in Morton, 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 how much that accident hurt you, and to do that you need to be able to point to medical records which show the extent of your injuries. The the higher your financial loss, the higher your non-economic damages 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 also deserve compensation for lost wages from time spent recovering, 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. Keep detailed receipts and notes about why those charges were due to your injury. 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 claim and enlisted the services of a motorcycle accident lawyer, let your attorney handle documentation and negotiation. Insurance adjusters utilize a lot of ploys to devalue claims, but your attorney will know how to hold the adjuster accountable.
• Stay off Social Media — In this day and age, many of us want to share details about our life on social media. However, posting too much on social media can do damage to your claim. If you tell the insurance company that your injuries are keeping you from working, and the insurance sees pictures of you going out on the weekends, they will use it to try and deny your claim.

From the first time you speak with us, we will keep you completely in the loop until we reach the great results you deserve. Allow us to handle the investigation, documentation, negotiation and litigation so you can focus on healing.

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

For accidents involving minor injuries, where there is no discrepancy about who is at fault and your medical expenses are no more than an urgent care visit, you may not need an attorney to get fair compensation. Supply the insurance company with your records and expenses, and ask for a little more for inconvenience. In a a settlement for a relatively small sum of money where not much is disputed, the insurance company will only lose money if they try to deny your claim.

However, in most cases, you will need a motorcycle accident attorney for your injury claim. While it would be nice if insurance companies fulfilled their duty when their policyholders injure someone, it usually takes a fair amount of fighting to get them to do it. You will almost certainly need a motorcycle accident lawyer in Morton, IL if:

• Your injuries are significant — The higher your damages, the more the insurance company will fight back against your claim. If your injuries require future medical treatment or prevent you from earning a living as you used to, you will always need an attorney to convince the insurance company to pay for future damages as well.
• 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 convince you that you do not know how what fair compensation means in your case. 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 cases, especially multi-vehicle accidents, there may be more than one person who was negligent. For example, a driver may cut your off while not looking for you, causing you to swerve and hit an improperly cordoned-off construction site. An experienced Morton, IL motorcycle accident lawyer will conduct a full investigation into the crash and determine all liable parties. Identifying everyone who is liable is key 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 frequent move insurance adjusters use to minimize your claim. If the insurance company say your accident was your own fault, 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 can still make a recovery under Missouri’s comparative negligence rule. However, a lawyer is likely necessary to get you the most possible compensation.

Your Morton, 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. 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 start developing our legal strategy from the second you hire us, and do not let up until you get every bit of compensation you deserve.

Recent Burger Law Morton, IL Motorcycle Accident Victories

You need a lawyer who has shown they can get results in your type of claim before. 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. 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 Morton, IL?

If you want to have a successful claim in Morton, IL, you must have been injured by someone else’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 responsibility 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.
2. Breach of duty — Were they neglectful in that duty and cause an accident? Was the other motorist speeding, texting and driving, drunk driving or otherwise breaking proper procedure behind the wheel?
3. Cause in fact — Were your injuries the direct result of the accident?
4. Proximate cause — Did the person’s negligence cause the accident? If the other driver’s brakes were not working, the liable party may be a manufacturer and not the driver?.
5. Damages — Did you sustain losses because of your injuries, such as lost wages and mental anguish? If your accident caused some bumps and bruises, but they healed without any medical treatment, it would be hard for you to file a claim.

If you were injured through another’s negligence, you can to file an injury claim. Speak to a motorcycle accident attorney immediately at (779) 800-HURT if you have any doubts about the validity of your claim.

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

Your compensation will be a combination of:

• 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
• In some rare cases, you can 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 economic and noneconomic damages
• Whether or not you were partially to blame for your injuries
• If the accident led to permanent disfigurement or disability
• How your life has changed because of your injuries

At Burger Law, our injury attorneys are experts at calculating the full value of someone’s injury claim and demanding the insurance company takes responsibility for 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, IL?

Pursuant to 735 ILCS 5/13-202, the time limit for motorcycle accident injuries in Morton, IL is two years. That means the clock starts ticking on the date the accident occurred to file a lawsuit in court. There are some 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 person responsible for your injuries is outside of the state of Illinois for a time, that period is not included in 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 wait to reach out to a motorcycle accident lawyer after you have been injured in Morton, IL. Call us today at (779) 800-HURT.

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

Motorcycles are not as easy to spot on the road, do not take up as much space on the road. Because of a phenomenon called “inattentional blindness,” drivers are less likely to see a motorcycle — even when they are looking for one. This is because we train our brains to look for larger vehicles, but not for motorcycles. Inattentional blindness contributes to many motorcycle accidents in Morton, IL.

The most common causes of motorcycles accidents are:

• Left-hand turns — According to the Motorcycle Legal Foundation, almost half of all motorcycle accidents that result in fatalities occur when a car turns left while and hits a motorcyclist in an intersection. These crashes can be due to a motorist’s drunkenness, speeding or simple inattention.
• Other collisions — Head on collisions also occur frequently between motorcycles and other types of vehicles. A car may also not see a motorcyclist when turning in front of them. Motorcycles also collide with fixed objects more than any other type of driver, which is not always the motorcyclist’s fault.
• Road hazards — Cracked pavement, potholes, animal carcasses, gravel 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 spin out.
• Malfunctioning 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 cause motorcycle collisions.

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

Ninety-four percent of all motor vehicle accidents are caused by driver error. So, most likely, you will make a claim against another driver. However, other parties that may be held liable include:

• A governmental agency or construction company for road hazards
• A vehicle manufacturer 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, IL Motorcycle Accident if it Did Not Involve Another Vehicle?

States and municipalities are tasked with keeping their roadways safe for use by everyone on the roads, and when there are road hazards that cause an accident, the municipality 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 Morton, IL can handle 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 Morton, IL. What Are My Legal Options?

The dangers of motorcycles mean that bikers have a higher death rate than people in passenger cars. If you were touched by tragedy 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 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, the court can appoint 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 economic and noneconomic damages your loved one incurred from their injuries before passing
  • 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, IL wrongful death attorneys are not just skilled at getting our clients full recoveries. We are empathetic and have helped many families get through the sorrow, anger and confusion that accompanies a fatal auto accident.

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

Our Morton, IL motorcycle accident lawyers will fight until you get the maximum compensation you are owed; we promise. 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 Morton, IL personal injury law firm will fight for your rights, call our team at (779) 800-HURT or complete our online form for a free consultation.