Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Quincy, IL

Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Quincy, IL

The exhilaration you feel when riding a motorcycle can be canceled out by the injuries reckless drivers cause when they do not respect your safety. If you were injured in a motorcycle accident in Quincy, IL, call the motorcycle accident lawyers of Burger Law now at (779) 800-HURT or contact us online for a complimentary case evaluation.

If you were injured in a motorcycle accident in Quincy, 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. There is a sense of freedom that you do not get in an enclosed vehicle. Regrettably, there is a potentially dangerous trade-off. Because of their relative lack of protection, motorcycle accidents can cause serious injuries. When that happens to you, it carries instant hardships and you need someone to stand by your side and ensure you are treated fairly. You want an attorney with a proven track record of winning motorcycle accident cases in Quincy, IL.

Our team has more than three decades of experience getting maximum compensation for our clients. Our motorcycle accident lawyers will tenaciously pursue your claim to ensure you get the medical care and financial recovery that you are owed and that you deserve. Always speak to a lawyer before agreeing to a settlement. The insurance adjuster wants to limit 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 Quincy, IL clients.

To discover more about how our personal injury law firm will fight for your rights, speak to a lawyer at (779) 800-HURT to discuss your motorcycle accident case today.

How Common Are Motorcycle Accidents in Quincy, IL?

Fourteen percent of motor vehicle deaths and four percent of injuries were sustained by motorcyclists, despite only only .06 percent of vehicle traffic being motorcycles, according to research from the National Safety Council. Nationwide, in 2020 there were 82,500 motorcycle accident injuries and 5,579 deaths. In Illinois, of 3,077 motorcycle collisions, 2,404 caused injuries and 152 were deadly, 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 a car or truck driver not respecting motorcyclists on the road. Wrecks happen most frequently in metropolitan areas, especially on arterial roads.

According to research from the Motorcycle Legal Foundation, Illinois is eighth in the country with over 280,000 registered motorcycles, and proportionately was eighth in the country in deaths in 2017.

The most common season for motorcycle crashes is summer, and half of all wrecks happen on the weekends.

What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Quincy, IL

There are a number steps you should take, both in the immediate wake of an accident and in the days and weeks that follow, to ensure you make both a physical and financial recovery.

At the Accident Site

While any wreck is jarring, try to stay as calm as possible. At the accident site, you should:

• Get to safety — If you are physically able, move out of the way of oncoming traffic. Leave the bike. It is obviously important to you, but staying with the bike or trying to move it could exacerbate your injuries. If you believe your injuries may be catastrophic, it may be best not to move; instead wait for emergency personnel.
• Do not remove your safety gear — Removing your helmet, gloves, boots, jacket and other gear could also make serious injuries even worse. Shock may hide how serious an injury actually is.
• Call 911 — Because motorcycle accidents can cause severe injuries, it may be best to get medical attention there instead of trying to go to an emergency room yourself. Police will also be able to file a report stating who they believe is to blame for the accident.
• Gather evidence — Speak to the other driver and request an insurance card. 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 matters much may help a motorcycle accident lawyer in Quincy, IL prove someone else’s negligence 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 scene, do so immediately.

What to Do Throughout the Claim Process

Once you have gotten medical treatment, inform both your insurance company and the other driver’s. Then, speak to a motorcycle accident lawyer in Quincy, 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 obviously the best thing for your physical recovery, but is also essential to making sure you get full compensation. In order to prove your damages, you need to complete copies of medical medical records which detail all of the costs and treatments directly associated with the accident. The the higher your financial loss, the higher your ultimate compensation will be as well. Go to every every treatment and use all of the equipment and medication your doctor wants you to.
• Keep Track of Everything Related to Your Injuries — You are also owed a financial recovery 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 parking or Uber rides for going to 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 write down your every day experiences showing how your injuries have affected you physically and emotionally for a record of your pain and suffering.
• Leave the Insurance Company up to Your Attorney — Once you have filed your claim and enlisted the services of a motorcycle accident lawyer, your attorney will handle all communication with the insurance. Insurance adjusters use a lot of tactics to minimize claims, and it is better to leave communication up to a lawyer who knows how to combat them.
• Do Not Post on Social Media — It is commonplace to want to share what is going on with your life on social media. However, even a well-meaning post can ruin your case. If you say your injuries are debilitating, and the insurance finds out you have been at a bar, they will use it to try and deny your claim.

From your initial consultation, we will keep you updated throughout your claim until you get the maximum compensation you are owed. Allow us to handle the legal aspect of your case so you can spend your energy on on healing.

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

For accidents involving minor injuries, where there is no discrepancy about who is at fault and your medical expenses are no more than an urgent care visit, you may not need an attorney to get fair compensation. Supply the insurance company with proof of your financial losses, and ask for a little more for the trouble. In a smaller settlement where their policyholder is clearly liable, the adjuster is not going to want to waste their time.

However, more likely than not hiring a motorcycle accident lawyer will be the only way to get fair compensation in your injury claim. While in a a truly fair society insurance companies would fulfill their duty when their policyholders injure someone, it usually takes a fair amount of fighting to get them to do it. Situations where you will need a motorcycle accident lawyer in Quincy, 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 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. By hiring a lawyer, the insurance company will know that you mean business. 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 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 swerve and hit an improperly cordoned-off construction zone. An aggressive Quincy, IL motorcycle accident lawyer will be able to investigate the crash and assign a portion of the damages to each liable party. Finding other people who are liable is imperative if your damages exceed 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 frequent move insurance adjusters use to avoid paying you. If the insurance company say your accident was your own fault, an attorney can step in and prove that is not the case. If you were indeed responsible for a portion of the accident, 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 Quincy, IL motorcycle accident lawyer at Burger Law knows how to combat dishonest ploys insurance adjusters use. We have been doing it for more than three decades. Our consultations are free, so call us at (779) 800-HURT to see if we can add value to your claim. We start developing our legal strategy from the second you hire us, and do not let up until you get every bit of compensation you are owed.

Recent Burger Law Quincy, IL Motorcycle Accident Victories

You need a lawyer who has shown they can get results in your type of claim before. 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. 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 Quincy, IL?

If you want to file any Quincy, 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 other person owe you a responsibility to protect you from unreasonable harm? 625 ILCS 5/11-1003.1 stipulates that “every driver of a vehicle shall exercise due care,” so other motorists always owe you that duty.
2. Breach of duty — Were they neglectful 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 negligence cause 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 another motorist?.
5. Damages — Did your injuries lead to losses, such as lost wages and emotional distress? If your accident resulted in a few small cuts and bruising, 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 have an injury claim. Speak to a motorcycle accident attorney today at (779) 800-HURT if you are unsure if you have a claim.

How Much is My Quincy, 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
• While not common, you may be able to receive punitive damages if you were injured by extreme recklessness, such as drunk driving

Factors that might make your compensation 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 contributed to the accident
• If the accident led to permanent disfigurement or disability
• The impact the injuries have had on your ability to enjoy life

At Burger Law, we are experts at calculating every dime you are owed and insist the insurance company pay all of it. If your injuries require ongoing medical care, that will also be part of your settlement or verdict, including adjusting for inflation.

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

Pursuant to 735 ILCS 5/13-202, the statute of limitations for motorcycle accident claims in Quincy, IL is two years. That means you only have two years from the date the accident occurred 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 their 20th 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 person responsible for your injuries leaves the state of Illinois for a period, that time is not included in the two years

While two years may seem like a long time, it takes time to properly build your case. Do not hesitate to contact a motorcycle accident lawyer after you were hurt in a motorcycle accident in Quincy, IL. Call us today at (779) 800-HURT.

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

Motorcycles are harder for drivers of enclosed vehicles to see, being smaller. Because of a phenomenon called “inattentional blindness,” drivers are less likely to see a motorcycle — even if they are doing their due diligence. 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 Quincy, IL.

Most motorcycle accidents occur because of:

• Left-hand turns — According to data from the Motorcycle Legal Foundation, over 40 percent of all fatal motorcycle crashes occur when a car turns left while the motorcycle was going straight. These crashes can be the result of a car driver’s drunkenness, speeding or simple inattention.
• Other collisions — Head on collisions are also common between motorcycles and other types of vehicles. It is also common for a car not 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 — Cracked pavement, potholes, dead animals, slick surfaces or other debris on our streets usually do not affect a vehicle with more than two wheels very much. However, motorcycles are less stable and these hazards can cause a motorcyclist to lose control.
• Defective parts — 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 cause motorcycle crashes.

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

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

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

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

States and municipalities are supposed to keep their roadways safe for citizens to travel on, and when there are road hazards that cause an accident, the state can be held responsible for the motorcycle accident. However, the state of Illinois does not make it easy to hold them accountable. Our motorcycle accident lawyers in Quincy, IL can handle your claim and take the fight to city hall to get you a full financial recovery.

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

The dangers of motorcycles mean that bikers have a higher death rate than people in passenger cars. If tragedy struck and a loved one died in a motorcycle crash, you can make a wrongful death claim. While it is impossible to put a monetary value on your loved one’s life 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:

• 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 that they were first injured.
• There are three categories of people who can file a wrongful death claim in Illinois. Beginning with who has the first chance to file, they are:
  1. Immediate family members, such as a spouse, children, grandchildren and grandparents
  2. If there are no immediate family members, siblings and siblings’ descendants can bring a suit
  3. If there are no family members, the court 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 your loved one, 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 Quincy, IL wrongful death attorneys are not just skilled at securing full compensation. We are empathetic 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 Quincy, 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 Quincy, IL Today

Our Quincy, IL motorcycle accident lawyers will fight until you get the maximum compensation you are owed; 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 Quincy, IL personal injury law firm will fight for your rights, call our team at (779) 800-HURT or contact us online for a complimentary case review.