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Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Oregon, IL
The exhilaration you feel when riding a motorcycle can be ripped away from you by the harm negligent drivers can do to you when they do not respect your safety. If another driver injured you in Oregon, IL, speak to the motorcycle accident lawyers of Burger Law today at (312) 500-HURT or contact us online for a free case evaluation.
If you were injured in a motorcycle accident in Oregon, 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 give yourself a sense of calm. 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 motorcycles do not protect riders as well as enclosed vehicles, the consequences of a motorcycle accident can be devastating. 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 crash cases in Oregon, IL.
Burger Law has over three decades of experience getting full financial recoveries for those injured through the negligence of another. Our motorcycle accident lawyers will fight until you recover all of your damages 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 100 percent of what they owe our Oregon, IL clients.
To learn more about what we can do for you, call a lawyer at (312) 500-HURT to discuss your motorcycle accident case today.
How Common Are Motorcycle Accidents in Oregon, IL?
Even though motorcycles account for only .06 percent of all vehicle miles traveled nationwide, they made up four percent of all injuries and 14 percent of all fatalities in traffic-related accidents in 2020, according to data from the National Safety Council. In the entire country, 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 fatal, according to the Illinois 2020 Crash Facts and Statistics. Unfortunately, over half of those crashes came when the motorcycle was driving straight, insinuating that the accidents were often due to another driver failing to notice motorcyclists. Crashes are most common in metropolitan areas, especially major city streets.
The most common season for motorcycle crashes is summer, and half of all wrecks happen between Friday night and Monday morning.
What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Oregon, IL
There are a number things you should do, both in the immediate wake of an accident 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 crash can be jarring, try to stay as calm as possible. Immediately after the crash, you should:
Get out of harm’s way — If possible, get to the side of the road and away from oncoming traffic. Leave the bike. It is obviously important to you, but trying to carry it could exacerbate your injuries. If you suspect you have a back or head injury, stay still and wait for emergency personnel.
Do not take off your safety gear — Taking off your helmet or other gear could also make injuries worse. Shock may hide how severe an injury actually is.
Call 911 — Because the injuries caused in a motorcycle wreck can be catastrophic, it may be best to get medical attention at the scene instead of leaving and planning to go to an emergency room yourself. Police are trained to assign fault 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 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 Oregon, IL prove your case in the future. See if there are eyewitnesses who can back up your claim.
Finally, receive medical attention if you have not already.
What to Do Throughout the Claim Process
Once you have gotten medical treatment, notify both your insurance company and the other driver’s. Then, speak to a motorcycle accident lawyer in Oregon, 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:
Keep Going to Your Medical Appointments — This is not only vital for your health, but aids your financial recovery as well. In order to prove your damages, you need to be able to point to medical records which detail the extent of your injuries. 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 when you were unable to work due to your injuries, 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. You can also keep a daily journal showing 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 filed your claim and hired a motorcycle accident lawyer, let your attorney handle documentation and negotiation. Insurance adjusters use a lot of tactics to devalue claims, and it is better to leave communication up to an attorney who knows how to combat them.
Resist Social Media — In this day and age, many of us want to share details about our life with others. However, posting too much on social media can hurt your case. If you tell the insurance company that your injuries prevent you from working, and the insurance finds out you have been at a bar, they will use it to attempt to 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 deal with the investigation, documentation, negotiation and litigation so you can focus on your medical treatment.
Do I Need a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Oregon, IL For My Claim?
For accidents involving minor injuries, where there is no discrepancy about who is at fault and your medical bills are no more than an urgent care visit, you may be able to get compensation on your own. Give the insurance company your records and expenses, and see if they will throw some extra money on top for inconvenience. In a smaller settlement where not much is disputed, the adjuster will only lose money if they try to fight your claim.
However, in most cases, you will need the assistance of a motorcycle accident attorney for your injury claim. While it would be nice if insurance companies fulfilled their responsibility when their policyholders injure someone, they usually have to be convinced to. You will probably need a motorcycle accident lawyer in Oregon, 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 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 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. If there is a lawyer on the case, 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 parties at fault — 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 while not looking for you, causing you to take defensive action and hit a road hazard that a local government should have fixed. A talented Oregon, IL motorcycle accident lawyer will conduct a full investigation into 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.
You are being blamed for your injuries — Trying to say your injuries are your own fault is a classic trick insurance adjusters use to avoid paying you. When this happens, an attorney use their investigate skills and network of experts to prove how the other party was negligent. If you were indeed 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 Oregon, 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 three decades. Our consultations are free, so speak to an attorney now at (312) 500-HURT to see what we can do for your claim. We get to work from the second you hire us, and do not give up until you get all of compensation you are owed.
Recent Burger Law Oregon, IL Motorcycle Accident Victories
With any type of legal claim, results matter. You want to feel confident 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 know how to get full compensation is one thing, 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:
Do I Have a Motorcycle Accident Claim in Oregon, IL?
If you want to file any Oregon, 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:
Duty of care — Did the other person owe you an obligation to keep you safe? 625 ILCS 5/11-1003.1 states that “every driver of a vehicle shall exercise due care,” so other motorists always owe you a duty of care.
Cause in fact — Were your injuries the direct result of the accident?
Proximate cause — Whose negligence caused the accident? If the other driver’s brakes were malfunctioning, the person who needs to compensate you may be a manufacturer and not another motorist?.
Damages — Did you sustain losses because of your injuries, such as medical bills and pain and suffering? If your accident resulted in some bruises or scrapes, but it was not serious enough to seek 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. Consult with a motorcycle accident attorney immediately at (312) 500-HURT if you are unsure if you have a claim.
How Much is My Oregon, IL Motorcycle Accident Claim Worth?
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 might make your recovery higher or lower include:
The severity of your injuries; more significant injuries tend to lead to higher medical bills and more pain and suffering
Whether or not you were partially at fault for your injuries
If you sustained permanent disfigurement or disability
How your life has changed because of your injuries
At Burger Law, we know how to calculate every dime you are owed and demand that the liable party takes responsibility for 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 calculating for inflation.
How Long Do I Have to File a Motorcycle Accident Claim in Oregon, IL?
Pursuant to 735 ILCS 5/13-202, the statute of limitations for motorcycle accident injuries in Oregon, IL is two years. That means you only have two years from the date of the accident 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 leaves the state of Illinois for a period, that period 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 reach out to a motorcycle accident lawyer after you were hurt in a motorcycle accident in Oregon, IL. Call us immediately at (312) 500-HURT.
What Are Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Oregon, IL?
Motorcycles are harder for drivers of enclosed vehicles to see, being smaller. Due to something referred to as “inattentional blindness,” it is harder for drivers to see a motorcycle — even when they are looking for one. This is because most drivers have programmed their brains to be aware of other cars, but not for motorcycles. Inattentional blindness contributes to many motorcycle accidents in Oregon, IL.
Most motorcycle accidents occur because of:
Left-hand turns — According to the Motorcycle Legal Foundation, almost half of all fatal motorcycle crashes occur when a car turns left while the motorcycle was going straight. These crashes can happen because of a motorist’s intoxication, reckless driving or generally not paying close enough attention to the road.
Other collisions — Head on collisions also occur frequently 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 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 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 lead to motorcycle crashes.
Who is Liable for My Motorcycle Accident Injuries in Oregon, IL?
A governmental body or contracting company for not repairing or negligent repairing a road
A motorcycle designer, manufacturer or vendor for a defective product
A company if someone they hired injured you while driving, for example in a commercial truck accident
Can I Sue For My Oregon, IL Motorcycle Accident if it Did Not Involve Another Vehicle?
Governmental bodies 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 municipality may have to compensate you for your injuries. However, suing a government entity in Illinois has added complications. Our motorcycle accident lawyers in Oregon, IL can pick up your claim and take the fight to city hall to secure you a full financial recovery.
A Loved One Was Killed in a Motorcycle Crash in Oregon, IL. What Are My Legal Options?
Motorcyclists are not only at increased risk of a serious injury, but are more likely to be in a fatal accident. If your worst nightmare came true and someone you love passed away 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:
A wrongful death claim can be made when some is killed by 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.
There are three categories of people who can file a wrongful death claim in Illinois. In order of priority, they are:
Members of the nuclear family, such as a spouse, children, grandchildren and grandparents
If there are no immediate family members, siblings and siblings’ descendants can bring a suit
If there are no family members, the court can appoint 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 your loved one, including any work-related benefits
Loss of instruction, guidance and moral training the deceased would have provided
Survivors’ grief, sorrow and mental suffering
Burger Law’s Oregon, IL wrongful death attorneys are not just tremendous at securing full compensation. We are empathetic and have helped many families navigate the sorrow, anger and confusion that accompanies a fatal auto accident.
In addition to motorcycle accidents, other personal injury cases we we have had great success with in Oregon, IL include:
Speak to a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Oregon, IL Today
Our Oregon, 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 Oregon, IL personal injury law firm will fight for your rights, call our team at (312) 500-HURT or contact us online for a no obligation case evaluation.
Client Reviews
What our clients are saying about us
Anonymous
This law firm is absolutely amazing. They took on my case, when nobody else would! They fought hard for me when it seemed there was no hope. They kept me informed and always asked for my input before making decisions on my case. Gary puts himself into every case unlike most law firm owners. Gary and his team really care about every one of their clients, and fights hard to get you a fair settlement. They actually won my case out of court, and then reduced my fees to make sure I could get my car fixed and be able to get back to some normality. I would recommend Burger Law over and above any other firm! If you go somewhere else you aren’t getting the best!
Genevieve and Laura have assisted me in my personal injury claim and have made the process so much less stressful. They are extremely knowledgeable, professional, and attentive. Laura is always on top of everything and very sweet. I had no idea how to navigate this process and they have made me feel at ease and like they truly cared about the outcome.
Cara Barton
It has been a long 4 years, but it is finally over! Burger law did a great job handling my case. Grant Doty answered all my questions, promptly returned my phone calls, frequently kept me updated and insured me that he was fighting for me. Jennifer Zini also did a wonderful job, great customer service. It was pleasure getting to know the Burger Law team!
S. Alred
After a driver unexpectedly pulled out right in front of my motorcycle & I suffered injuries, the at-fault driver’s insurance company offered me a $10,000 settlement. I hired Burger Law & they won a $109,000 settlement. I was very happy with the outcome. They were easy to work with & fully explained each step of the process & kept me informed along the way.
At Burger Law | St. Louis Personal Injury Lawyer, we are a team of personal injury attorneys who have earned many distinctions and peer-reviewed awards for our civil litigation and trial work in Missouri and Illinois. A few of the honors we have earned include the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Top 100 Trial Lawyer Award, a Martindale-Hubbell AV rating, Super Lawyers selection as one of the top attorneys in the field of personal injury and board certifications in Civil Litigation.
Personal injury lawyers who demand justice in Southern Illinois. The role of a personal injury lawyer in Southern Illinois should be more than just getting you a great settlement…