Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Normal, IL

Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Normal, IL

The thrill of riding a motorcycle can be canceled out by the harm reckless drivers can do to you when they do not follow the rules of the road. If another driver injured you in Normal, IL, speak to the motorcycle accident lawyers of Burger Law immediately at (312) 500-HURT or contact us online for a free consultation.

If you were injured in a motorcycle accident in Normal, 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 is not possible in an enclosed vehicle. Unfortunately, negligent drivers can turn that feeling into something horrific. Because motorcycles do not protect riders as well as enclosed vehicles, motorcycle accidents can cause serious injuries. When that happens to you, there are instant hardships and you need someone to fight for you. You want a law firm that has demonstrated that they can full compensation in motorcycle crash cases in Normal, IL.

Our attorneys and paralegals have more than seven decades of combined litigation and trial experience. Our motorcycle accident lawyers will fight until we win your case and there is nothing left to fight. Do not talk to your insurance or the other side’s insurance without speaking to an attorney first. The insurance adjuster is out to minimize your financial settlement. 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 Normal, IL clients.

To find out more about how our personal injury law firm will fight for your rights, call a lawyer at (312) 500-HURT to go over your motorcycle accident claim for free.

How Common Are Motorcycle Accidents in Normal, IL?

Even though motorcycles account for barely over half a percent of all traffic miles traveled in the United States, 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 entire country, in 2020 82,000 people were injured and 5,579 passed away in motorcycle crashes. In Illinois, of 3,077 motorcycle accidents, 2,404 caused injuries and 152 were deadly, according to the Illinois 2020 Crash Facts and Statistics. Regrettably, over 50 percent of those occurred when the motorcycle was going straight ahead, insinuating that the accidents were often because of a car or truck driver not respecting motorcyclists on the road. Most of the crashes occurred in densely populated 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 fittingly was eighth in the country in deaths in 2017.

Almost half of deadly motorcycle accidents occur in the summer months, and half occur between 6 p.m. Friday and 6 a.m. Monday.

What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Normal, IL

There are a number things you should do, both at the accident site and throughout the process of recovering from your injuries and seeking compensation, to make sure your recover from your injuries both physically and financially.

Immediately After The Accident

While any wreck can be surprising and scary, it is vital to think rationally. At the accident site, you should:

• Get to safety — If you are physically able, get to the side of the road and away from other vehicles coming down the street. Leave the bike. It is obviously important to you, but staying with the bike or trying to move it could make your injuries worse. If you are seriously injured, 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. Adrenaline may hide how bad 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 trying to go to an emergency room yourself. Police will also be able to file a report relating who they believe is liable for the accident.
• Gather evidence — Talk to any other motorists involved and ask for an insurance card. Take pictures of the accident, including damage to all vehicles involved 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 Normal, IL prove your case in the future. See if there are eyewitnesses who can back up your side of the story.

Lastly, if you did not opt to get medical treatment at the crash site, do so immediately.

What to Do Throughout the Claim Process

After you first seek medical care, notify both your insurance company and the other driver’s. Then, speak to a motorcycle accident lawyer in Normal, 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. In order to prove your damages, you need to complete copies of medical medical records which detail the extent 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 wants you to.
• Keep Detailed Records — You are also owed reimbursement for lost wages from time your injuries caused you to miss out from work, and any out-of-pocket expenses due to your injuries, such as transportation to and from medical appointments or hiring someone to help look after your children. Keep detailed receipts and notes about why those charges were necessary. 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.
• Do Not Talk to the Insurance Company — Once you have notified the insurance company about your injuries and hired 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 make the adjuster be honest.
• Stay off Social Media — It is normal to want to share what is going on with your life on social media. However, even a well-meaning post can do damage to your case. If you say your injuries are debilitating, and the insurance sees pictures of you at your friend’s barbecue, they will use it to try and deny your claim.

From the first time you speak with us, we will keep you updated throughout your claim until you get the maximum compensation you are owed. Allow us to deal with the legal aspect of your case so you can focus on healing.

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

For some minor claims, where the liable party is taking accountability and your medical bills are no more than an urgent care visit, you may not need an attorney to get fair compensation. Give the insurance company proof of your financial losses, and ask for a little more for the trouble. In a smaller settlement where not much is disputed, the adjuster will only lose money if they try to deny your claim.

However, more likely than not you will need a motorcycle accident attorney for your injury claim. While in a a truly fair society insurance companies would fulfill their responsibility when someone is injured under their coverage, they usually have to be convinced to. You will likely need a motorcycle accident lawyer in Normal, IL if:

• Your injuries require ongoing treatment — 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 absolutely need an attorney to hold the insurance adjuster accountable for all of your damages.
• The insurance company is not being fair — 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. 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 accidents, especially multi-vehicle accidents, there may be more than one liable party. For example, a driver may cut your off because they did not see you, causing you to take defensive action and hit an improperly cordoned-off construction zone. A talented Normal, IL motorcycle accident lawyer will be able to investigate the wreck and assign a portion of the damages to each liable party. Finding other people who are liable is essential 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 well-known move insurance adjusters use to minimize your claim. If the insurance company say your injuries are your own doing, an attorney can step in and 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 doctrine. However, you will need an attorney to apply the rule of law and get you that compensation.

Your Normal, 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 speak to an attorney today at (312) 500-HURT to see what we can do for your claim. We start working from the moment you hire us, and do not give up until you get every bit of compensation you are owed.

Recent Burger Law Normal, 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 are the best, but a lawyer whose past clients will recommend 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 Normal, IL?

If you want to file any Normal, IL injury claim, you must have sustained an injury that was caused 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 have 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 other motorists always owe you a duty of care.
2. Breach of duty — Did they fail in that duty and did that breach lead to an accident? Was the other motorist speeding, texting and driving, drunk driving or otherwise not following proper procedure behind the wheel?
3. Cause in fact — Were your injuries the direct result of the accident?
4. Proximate cause — Whose negligence caused the accident? If the other driver’s brakes were not working, the person who needs to compensate you may be a manufacturer and not another motorist?.
5. Damages — Did you sustain losses because of your injuries, such as lost wages and emotional distress? If your accident resulted in some bruises or scrapes, but they healed without any medical treatment, it would be hard for you to file a claim.

Any time somebody else’s carelessness or recklessness injures you, you need to file an injury claim. Consult with a motorcycle accident attorney today at (312) 500-HURT if you have any doubts about the validity of your claim.

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

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

• 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, disfigurement 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 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, we are experts at calculating the full value of someone’s injury claim and insisting the liable party 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 Normal, IL?

Under 735 ILCS 5/13-202, the statute of limitations for motorcycle accident injuries in Normal, IL is two years. That means the clock starts ticking on the date you were injured to file a claim. Illinois has three exceptions:

• If you or your loved one was a minor 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 negligent party 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 hesitate to contact a motorcycle accident lawyer after you were hurt in a motorcycle accident in Normal, IL. Call us immediately at (312) 500-HURT.

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

Motorcycles are harder for drivers of enclosed vehicles to see, as they take up less space. Because of a phenomenon known as “inattentional blindness,” drivers are less likely to see a motorcycle — even when they are looking for one. This is because most drivers have programmed their brains to be aware of larger vehicles, but not for motorcycles. Inattentional blindness contributes to many motorcycle accidents in Normal, IL.

Most motorcycle accidents occur because of:

• Left-hand turns — According to data from the Motorcycle Legal Foundation, 42 percent of all motorcycle accidents that result in deaths involve a car turning left while the motorcycle was going straight. These crashes can happen because of a car driver’s drunkenness, reckless driving or simple inattention.
• Other collisions — Head on collisions are also common between motorcycles and other types of vehicles. 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 may be due to a negligent construction company or governmental entity.
• Road hazards — Uneven pavement, potholes, animal carcasses, slick surfaces or other debris on our streets 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 parts — 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 result in motorcycle crashes.

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

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

• A governmental entity or construction company for road hazards
• A motorcycle designer, manufacturer or vendor for a defective product
• A company if their employee injured you while driving, such as in a commercial truck accident

Can I Sue For My Normal, 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 state may have to compensate you for your injuries. However, the state of Illinois does not make it easy to sue them. Our motorcycle accident lawyers in Normal, 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 Normal, IL. What Are My Legal Options?

The dangers of motorcycles mean that bikers have a higher death rate than people in enclosed vehicles. If you were touched by tragedy and someone you love died in a motorcycle crash, you can make a recovery through a wrongful death claim. While no settlement or verdict can bring back your loved one, 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:

• 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 your loved one died, not the date of the accident.
• Three groups of people related to the deceased 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. When there are no immediate family members, siblings and siblings’ descendants can bring a suit
  3. If no family remains, a judge can designate a plaintiff ad litem to file a claim
• 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 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 Normal, IL wrongful death attorneys are not just experts at securing full compensation. We are understanding and kind 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 claims we take on and win in Normal, 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 Normal, IL Today

Our Normal, 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 Normal, IL personal injury law firm will fight for your rights, call our team at (312) 500-HURT or fill out our online form for a complimentary case evaluation.