Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Oglesby, IL

The exhilaration you feel when riding a motorcycle can be canceled out by the injuries careless drivers cause when they do not follow the rules of the road. If you were injured in a motorcycle accident in Oglesby, IL, call the motorcycle accident lawyers of Burger Law now at (312) 500-HURT or contact us online for a no-risk, no-obligation case evaluation.

If you were injured in a motorcycle accident in Oglesby, 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 is not possible in an enclosed vehicle. Unfortunately, this freedom also comes with a high price. Because motorcycles do not protect their occupants as well as enclosed vehicles, the consequences of a motorcycle accident can be devastating. When you are injured, there are immediate hardships and you need someone to stand by your side and ensure you are treated fairly. You want a lawyer that has demonstrated that they can get great results in motorcycle accident cases in Oglesby, IL.

Our attorneys and paralegals have over 30 years of experience getting maximum compensation for those injured through the negligence of another. 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 will try to minimize your compensation. 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 Oglesby, IL clients.

To learn more about what we can do for you, speak to our team at (312) 500-HURT to go over your motorcycle accident claim today.

How Common Are Motorcycle Accidents in Oglesby, IL?

Fourteen percent of motor vehicle fatalities and four percent of injuries were sustained by motorcyclists, despite only less than one percent of vehicle traffic being motorcycles, according to research from the National Safety Council. In the entire country, in 2020 there were 82,500 motorcycle accident injuries and 5,579 fatalities. In Illinois, of 3,077 motorcycle accidents, 2,404 caused injuries and 152 were deadly, according to the Illinois 2020 Crash Facts and Statistics. Unfortunately, the majority of those occurred when the motorcycle was going straight ahead, insinuating that the accidents were often caused by a car or truck driver failing to notice motorcyclists. Most of the crashes occurred in urban areas, especially major city streets.

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

Nearly half of deadly motorcycle collisions occur in the summer months, and 50 percent happen between 6 p.m. Friday and 6 a.m. Monday.

What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Oglesby, IL

There are several steps you should take, both in the immediate wake of an accident 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 collision is surprising and scary, try to stay as calm as possible. At the accident site, you should:

• Get out of harm’s way — If possible, move out of the way of oncoming traffic. 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.
• Do not remove your safety gear — Taking off your helmet, gloves, boots, jacket and other gear could also exacerbate your injuries. Adrenaline may hide how significant an injury actually is.
• Call 911 — As the injuries caused in a motorcycle wreck can be catastrophic, it is probably best to be looked over at the scene instead of trying to seek medical attention at urgent care or a doctors’ appointment. Police will also be able to file a report stating who they believe is liable for the accident.
• Gather evidence — Talk to any other motorists involved and request 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 that may seem unimportant at first may help a motorcycle accident lawyer in Oglesby, IL prove your case 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 in the Ensuing Weeks and Months

Once you have gotten medical treatment, notify the insurance company of everybody involved. Then, speak to a motorcycle accident lawyer in Oglesby, 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 physical recovery, but is also key to building your case. You need to prove that you sustained financial losses, and to do that you need to complete copies of medical medical records which show all of the costs and treatments directly associated with the accident. The the higher your financial loss, the higher your pain and suffering compensation will be as well. Go to every follow up, chiropractic or physical therapy appointment your doctor orders for you.
• 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 you incur, such as parking or gas money for going to medical appointments or hiring someone to help with chores around the house. 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 the non-tangible impact of your injuries and your pain and suffering.
• Leave the Insurance Company up to Your Attorney — Once you have filed your claim and hired a motorcycle accident lawyer, let your attorney handle documentation and negotiation. Insurance adjusters use a lot of ploys to avoid paying claims, and it is better to leave communication up to a lawyer who knows how to combat them.
• Do Not Post on Social Media — In this day and age, many of us want to share details about our life on social media. However, even an honest post can ruin your claim. If you tell the insurance company that your injuries are keeping you from working, and the insurance sees pictures of you at a bar, they will use it to attempt to deny your claim.

From the first time you speak with us, we will be in contact with you every step of the way until you get the full financial recovery 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 Oglesby, IL For My Claim?

For accidents involving minor injuries, where the liable party is taking accountability 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. Give the insurance company proof of your financial losses, and see if they will throw some extra money on top 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 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 by their policyholders’ negligence, it usually takes a fair amount of fighting to get them to do it. You will almost certainly need a motorcycle accident lawyer in Oglesby, IL if:

• Your injuries are severe — The more your medical expenses and time spent off work, the more the insurance company will be resistant to reimbursing you for it. If your injuries require ongoing treatment, 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. If there is an attorney working on your claim, the insurance company will know that you will not back down without a fight. 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 cases, 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 because they did not see you, causing you to take defensive action and hit a pothole that a governmental agency should have fixed. A talented Oglesby, IL motorcycle accident lawyer will conduct a full investigation into the wreck and determine all liable parties. Finding other people who are 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 the accident — Blaming you for your injuries is a frequent move insurance adjusters use to avoid paying you. If the insurance company say your injuries are your own doing, an attorney will fight back prove how the other party was negligent. If you were indeed 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 Oglesby, IL motorcycle accident lawyer at Burger Law knows how to fight back against dishonest ploys insurance adjusters use. We have been doing it for over 30 years. Our consultations are free, 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 fight until there is nothing left to fight.

Recent Burger Law Oglesby, 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. 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. Click on 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 Oglesby, IL?

In order to file any Oglesby, IL injury claim, you must have been injured by another person’s negligence. There are five elements to proving negligence in a personal injury claim:

1. Duty of care — Did the liable party 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 other motorists always owe 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 proper procedure behind the wheel?
3. Cause in fact — Did the accident cause your injuries?
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 another motorist?.
5. Damages — Did you sustain losses because of your injuries, such as medical bills and pain and suffering? If your accident caused a few small cuts and bruising, but they healed without any medical treatment, it would be hard for you to file a claim.

If you were injured because of another’s negligence, you have an injury claim. Consult with a motorcycle accident attorney immediately at (312) 500-HURT if you are unsure if you have a claim.

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

Your compensation will be a combination of:

• 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 recover 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 usually lead to higher medical bills and more pain and suffering
• 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, we know how to calculate 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, we will ensure you also get money to pay for that, including adjusting for inflation.

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

Pursuant to 735 ILCS 5/13-202, the statute of limitations for motorcycle accident injuries in Oglesby, IL is two years. That means the clock starts ticking on the date you were injured to file a claim. There are some 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 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 period, that time does not account against 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 call a motorcycle accident lawyer after you were hurt in a motorcycle accident in Oglesby, IL. Call us immediately at (312) 500-HURT.

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

Motorcycles are harder for passenger car drivers to see, as they take up less space. As a result of something referred to as “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 other cars, but not for motorcycles. Inattentional blindness is a leading cause of motorcycle accidents in Oglesby, 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 and hits a motorcyclist in an intersection. These crashes can happen because of a car driver’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. 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 — Cracked pavement, potholes, animal carcasses, slick surfaces or other debris on our streets usually do not affect a car or truck very much. However, motorcycles are less stable and these hazards can cause a motorcyclist to spin out.
• 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 lead to motorcycle crashes.

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

More than nine out of 10 auto accidents are due to human error. So, most likely, you will make a claim against another driver. However, depending on the specifics of your case, you may also be able to make a claim against:

• A governmental agency or contracting company for road hazards
• A motorcycle designer, manufacturer or vendor in a product liability claim
• A company if someone they hired injured you while driving, for example in a commercial truck accident

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

Governmental bodies are tasked with keeping 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, the state of Illinois does not make it easy to sue them. Our motorcycle accident lawyers in Oglesby, IL can handle your claim and guide you through the complexities of local and state laws to secure you the compensation you deserve.

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

Motorcyclists are not only at higher risk of a serious injury, but are more likely to be in a fatal accident. If you were touched by tragedy and someone you love passed away in a motorcycle crash, you can make a recovery through 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 the financial burden that come with your loved one’s 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 of your loved one’s death, 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. 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
• 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 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 Oglesby, IL wrongful death attorneys are not just experts at getting our clients full recoveries. We are compassionate and have helped many families navigate the sorrow, anger and confusion that accompanies a fatal auto accident.

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

Our Oglesby, IL motorcycle accident lawyers will fight until you get the maximum compensation you are owed; that is our guarantee. You are owed a recovery 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 Oglesby, IL personal injury law firm will fight for your rights, call our team at (312) 500-HURT or complete our online form for a no obligation case evaluation.