Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Niles, IL

The sense of freedom a motorcycle comes with can be neutralized by the injuries careless drivers cause when they do not respect your safety. If another driver injured you in Niles, 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 consultation.

If you were injured in a motorcycle accident in Niles, 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 get your blood racing. You get a feeling of the open road that you do not get in an enclosed vehicle. Unfortunately, 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, there are instant hardships and you need someone to stand by your side and ensure you are treated fairly. You need to find a law firm that has demonstrated that they can full compensation in motorcycle crash claims in Niles, IL.

Our attorneys and paralegals have over seven decades of combined experience winning cases in negotiations and in the court room. Our motorcycle accident lawyers will aggressively 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 devalue your compensation. Our firm has a proven track record of successfully fighting the insurance companies and making sure that they treat our Niles, IL clients fairly.

To find out more about how our personal injury law firm will fight for your rights, speak to our team at (312) 500-HURT to discuss your motorcycle accident claim immediately.

How Common Are Motorcycle Accidents in Niles, IL?

Fourteen percent of motor vehicle fatalities and four percent of injuries were sustained by motorcyclists, despite only barely over half a percent of vehicle traffic being motorcycles, according to research from the National Safety Council. In the United States, in 2020 there were 82,500 motorcycle accident injuries and 5,579 deaths. In Illinois, of 3,077 motorcycle wrecks, 2,404 caused injuries and 152 were deadly, according to the Illinois 2020 Crash Facts and Statistics. Regrettably, the majority of those happened when the motorcycle was going in a straight line, which means the accidents were often because of a car or truck driver failing to notice motorcyclists. Wrecks happen most frequently in densely populated areas, especially major city streets.

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

Nearly 50 percent of deadly motorcycle accidents occur in the in the summer when the weather is nicer, and half occur on the weekends.

What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Niles, IL

There are several things you should do, both at the accident site and throughout the process of recovering from your injuries and seeking compensation, to ensure both your health and the chances of a successful claim.

Immediately After The Accident

While any crash can be jarring, it is vital to think rationally. Immediately after the crash, you should:

• Get to safety — If possible, get to the side of the road and away from oncoming traffic. Leave the bike. We know it is your baby, but trying to carry 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 or other gear could also make injuries worse. Shock may hide how serious an injury actually is.
• Call 911 — Because the injuries caused in a motorcycle wreck can be catastrophic, it is probably a good idea to get medical attention at the scene instead of leaving and planning to seek medical attention later. Police know how to assign liability in an accident, and will make a police report.
• Gather evidence — Speak to the other driver and get their insurance information. Take photographs of the accident, including damage to all vehicles involved and the surrounding areas. Take as many pictures as possible. Something that may seem like it does not matter at first may be useful to a motorcycle accident lawyer in Niles, IL when trying to prove someone else’s negligence in the future. Get the contact info of any eyewitnesses to the accident.

Lastly, receive medical attention if you did not already do so.

What to Do Throughout the Claim Process

After you first seek medical care, inform the insurance company of everybody involved. Then, speak to a motorcycle accident lawyer in Niles, 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 is also vital to building your case. In order to prove your damages, 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. 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 are also entitled to reimbursement for lost wages from time spent recovering, and any out-of-pocket expenses you incur, such as transportation to and from medical appointments or hiring someone to help with housework. Manage a file with all of your receipts and explanations for why you needed to pay those expenses. 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 informed the insurance company about your accident and enlisted the services of a motorcycle accident lawyer, let your attorney handle documentation and negotiation. Insurance adjusters try to employ a lot of tactics to devalue claims, but your attorney will know how to deal with them.
• Stay off 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 going out on the weekends, they will use it to try and deny your claim.

From the moment you hire us, we will keep you completely in the loop until we attain a successful resolution. Let us deal with the legal aspect of your case so you can spend your energy on on healing.

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

For minor and clear-cut accidents, where there is no discrepancy about who is at fault and your medical bills are no more than an appointment with your primary care physician, a lawyer may not be able to add much value to your claim. 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 adjuster will only lose money if they try to deny your claim.

However, in most cases, 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 be fair. Situations where you will need a motorcycle accident lawyer in Niles, IL include:

• Your injuries are significant — The more your medical bills and lost wages, 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 company’s offer is no where close to that, they are trying to take advantage of you. By hiring a lawyer, 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 are multiple liable parties — With some injuries, especially wrecks involving more than one vehicle, there may be more than one person who was negligent. For example, a driver may merge into your line because they did not see you, causing you to take defensive action and hit an improperly cordoned-off construction zone. A talented Niles, IL motorcycle accident lawyer will be able to investigate the accident and assign a portion of the damages to each liable party. Identifying everyone who is 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 move insurance adjusters use to avoid paying you. If the insurance company say your accident was your own doing, 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 partially to blame, you can still make a recovery under Missouri’s comparative negligence doctrine. However, you will need an attorney to apply the rule of law and get you that compensation.

Your Niles, IL motorcycle accident lawyer at Burger Law knows how to combat dishonest ploys insurance adjusters use. We have been doing it for over 30 years. We offer an initial conversation and investigation for free, so speak to an attorney now at (312) 500-HURT to see if we can add value to your claim. We start working from the second you hire us, and do not let up until you get all of compensation you deserve.

Recent Burger Law Niles, IL Motorcycle Accident Victories

With any type of legal claim, results matter. You want to know that you are putting your case in the hands of 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. A motorcycle accident lawyer saying they are the best is one thing, 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 Niles, IL?

In order to file any Niles, IL injury claim, 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 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 that duty.
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 breach of duty 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 emotional distress? If your accident caused a few bruises or scrapes, but they healed without any medical treatment, you likely do not have a claim.

Any time somebody else’s carelessness or recklessness injures you, you need to file 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 Niles, 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, disfigurement and pain and suffering
• While not common, you may be able to recover punitive damages if you were injured by extreme recklessness, such as drunk driving

Factors that might make your recovery 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
• The impact the injuries have had on your ability to live the life you are used to

At Burger Law, we know how to calculate every dime you are owed and insist the insurance company takes responsibility for all of it. If your injuries require ongoing medical care, 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 Niles, IL?

Under 735 ILCS 5/13-202, the time limit for motorcycle accident claims in Niles, IL is two years. That means you only have two years from the date of the accident 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 two years after their 18th birthday
• If you or a loved one was under a legal disability at the time of accident, they have until two years after the disability ended
• If the negligent party is outside of the state of Illinois for a time, that time 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 wait to call a motorcycle accident lawyer after you have been injured in Niles, IL. Call us immediately at (312) 500-HURT.

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

Motorcycles are harder for passenger car drivers to see, being smaller. Due to something known as “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 other cars, but not for motorcycles. Inattentional blindness is a leading cause of motorcycle accidents in Niles, 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 involve a car turning left while and hits a motorcyclist in an intersection. These crashes can be the result of a motorist’s drunkenness, reckless driving or generally not paying close enough attention to the road.
• Other collisions — Head on collisions are also common between motorcycles and passenger cars. It is also common for a car not 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 — Uneven pavement, potholes, dead animals, wet or icy roadways 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.
• Defective 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 result in motorcycle collisions.

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

Almost all motor vehicle accidents are due to human error. So, most of the time another motorist is liable. However, other parties that may be held accountable include:

• A governmental entity or construction company for not repairing or negligent repairing a road
• A vehicle 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 Niles, IL Motorcycle Accident if it Did Not Involve Another Vehicle?

Governmental entities are supposed to keep their roadways safe for use by everyone on the roads, and when obstruction or other objects in the road 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 Niles, IL can take on your claim and guide you through the complexities of local and state laws to get you a full financial recovery.

A Loved One Was Killed in a Motorcycle Crash in Niles, IL. What Are My Legal Options?

Motorcyclists are not only at increased risk of a serious injury, but are more likely to perish in a crash. If you were touched by tragedy and a loved one passed away in a motorcycle crash, you can make a recovery through 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 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 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 priority, they are:
  1. Immediate family members, such as a spouse, children, grandchildren and grandparents
  2. When there are no immediate family members, siblings and nieces and nephews can file a claim
  3. If no family remains, a judge can designate a plaintiff ad litem to bring a suit
• 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 the deceased, including any benefits related to 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 Niles, IL wrongful death attorneys are not just experts 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.

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

Our Niles, 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 Niles, IL personal injury law firm will fight for your rights, call our team at (312) 500-HURT or contact us online for a complimentary consultation.