Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Northbrook, IL

Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Northbrook, IL

The exhilaration you feel when riding a motorcycle can be made moot by the injuries negligent drivers cause when they do not follow the rules of the road. If another driver injured you in Northbrook, IL, call the motorcycle accident lawyers of Burger Law now at (779) 800-HURT or complete our online form for a no-risk, no-obligation case review.

If you were injured in a motorcycle accident in Northbrook, 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 yourself and build a camaraderie with people who share your passions. You get a feeling of the open road that is not possible in an enclosed vehicle. Unfortunately, negligent drivers can turn that feeling into catastrophic injuries. Because motorcycles do not protect their occupants as well as enclosed vehicles, motorcycle accidents can cause serious injuries. When you are injured, there are instant financial, physical and mental consequences and you need someone to fight for you. You need to find a law firm with a proven track record of winning motorcycle crash lawsuits in Northbrook, IL.

Our attorneys and paralegals have over 70 years of combined litigation and trial experience. 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 minimize your compensation. We know how to stand up to insurance companies and ensure that they treat our Northbrook, IL clients fairly.

To learn more about what we can do for you, speak to a lawyer at (779) 800-HURT to discuss your motorcycle accident case immediately.

How Common Are Motorcycle Accidents in Northbrook, IL?

Even though motorcycles account for less than one percent of all traffic miles traveled in the country, they accounted for four percent of all injuries and 14 percent of all 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 wrecks, 2,404 caused injuries and 152 were deadly, according to the Illinois 2020 Crash Facts and Statistics. Unfortunately, over half of those occurred when a passenger car or truck collided with a motorcycle when the biker was driving in a straight line, insinuating that the accidents were often caused by another driver failing to notice motorcyclists. Most of the crashes occurred in urban areas, especially on arterial roads.

According to research from the Motorcycle Legal Foundation, Illinois is eighth in the country with 280,322 registered motorcycles, and fittingly was eighth in the country in fatalities in 2017.

Almost 50 percent of deadly motorcycle accidents occur in the summer months, and 50 percent occur between Friday night and Monday morning.

What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Northbrook, IL

There are a number steps you should take, both at the accident site and in the days and weeks that follow, to make sure your recover from your injuries both physically and financially.

Immediately After The Accident

While any collision is surprising and scary, try to stay as calm as possible. 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 the bike. 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, 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 injuries worse. Because of adrenaline, a serious injury may not always hurt as much at first.
• Call 911 — Because motorcycle accidents can cause severe injuries, it may be best to get medical attention there instead of leaving and planning 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 — Speak to the other driver and get their insurance information. Take pictures of the accident, including how the vehicles are positioned and the surrounding areas. Take more photos than you think you need. Something that may seem like it does not matter at first may be useful to a motorcycle accident lawyer in Northbrook, IL when trying to prove who is responsible for your injuries in the future. See if there are eyewitnesses who can corroborate 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 in the Days, Weeks and Months Afterwards

Once you have gotten medical treatment, notify both your insurance company and the other driver’s. Then, speak to a motorcycle accident lawyer in Northbrook, 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 not only vital for your health, but is also vital to making sure you get full compensation. In order to prove your damages, you need to be able to point to medical records which show 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 prescribes.
• Keep Track of Everything Related to Your Injuries — You are also entitled to reimbursement for lost wages from time your injuries caused you to miss out from work, and any out-of-pocket expenses you incur, such as transportation to and from medical appointments or hiring someone to help with housework. Keep all of your receipts and notes about why those charges were due to your injury. You can also keep a daily journal detailing how your injuries have affected you physically and emotionally for a record of your pain and suffering.
• Do Not Talk to the Insurance Company — Once you have notified the insurance company about your accident and enlisted the services of a motorcycle accident lawyer, your attorney will will now be intermediary between you and the insurance. Insurance adjusters try to employ a lot of tactics to devalue claims, but your attorney will know how to hold the adjuster accountable.
• Stay off Social Media — It is normal to want to share what is going on with your life on social media. However, posting too much on social media can hurt your chances of being fully compensated. 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 devalue your claim.

From the first time you speak with us, we will keep you completely in the loop until you get the full financial recovery you are owed. Let us handle the legal aspect of your case so you can focus on healing.

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

For some minor claims, 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, 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 the hassle. In a a settlement for a relatively small sum of money where their policyholder is clearly liable, the insurance company will only lose money if they try to fight your claim.

However, more likely than not you will need the assistance of a motorcycle accident attorney for your injury claim. While it would be nice if insurance companies fulfilled their duty when someone is injured under their coverage, they usually have to be convinced to. Situations where you will need a motorcycle accident lawyer in Northbrook, IL include:

• Your injuries are significant — 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 precisely value your damages.
• 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 company’s offer is no where close to that, they are trying to take advantage of you. If there is a lawyer working on your claim, the insurance company will know that you mean business. In a recent case, Burger Law was able to turn a $3,900 offer into a $100,000 settlement.
• There is more than liable party — With some injuries, especially crashes 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 a pothole that a governmental agency should have fixed. A knowledgeable Northbrook, 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 crucial 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 move insurance adjusters use to avoid paying you. If the insurance company say your injuries are your own fault, an attorney use their investigate skills and network of experts to prove how the other party was negligent. If you were indeed partially at fault, you are not completely barred from 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 Northbrook, IL motorcycle accident lawyer at Burger Law knows how to combat tactics insurance adjusters use. We have been doing it for over 30 years. 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 get to work from the moment you hire us, and fight until there is nothing left to fight.

Recent Burger Law Northbrook, 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. 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. 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 Northbrook, IL?

If you want to have a successful claim in Northbrook, 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 states that “every driver of a vehicle shall exercise due care,” so other drivers always owe you that duty.
2. Breach of duty — Were they neglectful in that duty and did that breach lead to an accident? Was another motorist speeding, texting and driving, drunk driving or otherwise breaking the rules of the road?
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 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 medical bills and pain and suffering? If your accident resulted in some small cuts and bruising, but you did not need any medical treatment, it would be hard for you to make a claim.

If you were injured through another’s negligence, you need to file an injury claim. Consult with a motorcycle accident attorney now at (779) 800-HURT if you are unsure if you have a claim.

How Much is My Northbrook, 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
• In some rare cases, you can receive punitive damages if the liable party’s behavior was especially egregious, such as if they were 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 were partially to blame for your injuries
• If you sustained 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 insisting the liable party pay 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 Northbrook, IL?

Pursuant to 735 ILCS 5/13-202, the time limit for motorcycle accident injuries in Northbrook, 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 leaves the state of Illinois for a time, that time is not included in 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 have been injured in Northbrook, IL. Call us now at (779) 800-HURT.

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

Motorcycles are harder for drivers of enclosed vehicles to see, as they take up less space. As a result of something called “inattentional blindness,” it is harder for drivers to see a motorcycle — even if they are doing their due diligence. This is because we train our brains to be aware of other cars, but not for motorcycles. Inattentional blindness contributes to many motorcycle accidents in Northbrook, IL.

Most motorcycle accidents occur because of:

• Left-hand turns — The Motorcycle Legal Foundation reports that almost half of all fatal motorcycle crashes occur when a car turns left while and hits a motorcyclist in an intersection. These crashes can happen because of a motorist’s intoxication, reckless driving or distracted driving.
• Other collisions — Head on collisions are also common between motorcycles and other types of vehicles. It is also common for a car to fail to see a motorcyclist when turning in front of them. Motorcycles also have the highest rate of collisions with fixed objects, which may be due to a negligent construction company or governmental entity.
• Road hazards — Uneven pavement, potholes, animal carcasses, gravel or other roadways debris usually do not affect a car or truck very much. However, motorcycles are less stable and these hazards can cause a motorcyclist to fall.
• Malfunctioning 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 collisions.

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

More than nine out of 10 motor vehicle accidents are the result of human error. So, most of the time another driver is liable. However, other parties that may be held accountable include:

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

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

States and municipalities 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 state may have to compensate you for your injuries. However, suing a government entity in Illinois has added complications. Our motorcycle accident lawyers in Northbrook, IL can pick up your claim and take the fight to city hall to secure you the compensation you deserve.

A Loved One Was Killed in a Motorcycle Crash in Northbrook, 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 tragedy struck and a family member died in a motorcycle crash, you can make a wrongful death claim. While no amount of money can bring back your loved one, it can help provide some sense closure 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 that they were first injured.
• Three groups of people related to the deceased can file a wrongful death claim in Illinois. Beginning with who has the first chance to file, 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 nieces and nephews can bring a suit
  3. If there are no family members, 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 economic and noneconomic damages the deceased incurred from their injuries before passing
  • Funeral expenses
  • Loss of financial support from the deceased, 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 Northbrook, IL wrongful death attorneys are not just tremendous 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 cases we we have had great success with in Northbrook, 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 Northbrook, IL Today

Our Northbrook, 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 Northbrook, IL personal injury law firm will fight for your rights, call our team at (779) 800-HURT or fill out our online form for a no obligation consultation.