Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Sangamon County, IL

Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Sangamon County, IL

The sense of freedom a motorcycle comes with can be neutralized by the harm careless drivers can do to you when they do not follow the rules of the road. If you were injured in a motorcycle accident in Sangamon County, IL, reach out to the motorcycle accident lawyers of Burger Law now at (779) 800-HURT or contact us online for a free consultation.

If you were injured in a motorcycle accident in Sangamon County, 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 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. Regrettably, there is a potentially dangerous trade-off. Because of their relative lack of protection, the consequences of a motorcycle accident can be devastating. When that happens to you, there are instant hardships and you need someone to fight for you. You need to find an attorney with a proven track record of winning motorcycle collision cases in Sangamon County, IL.

Our team has over three decades of experience getting full financial recoveries for our clients. 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. Always speak to a lawyer before accepting an insurance company’s offer. The insurance adjuster wants to limit your recovery. 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 Sangamon County, IL clients.

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

How Common Are Motorcycle Accidents in Sangamon County, IL?

Fourteen percent of traffic deaths and four percent of injuries were sustained by motorcyclists, despite only only .06 percent of vehicle traffic being motorcycles, 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, there were 3,077 motorcycle crashes which resulted in 2,404 injuries and 152 deaths, according to the Illinois 2020 Crash Facts and Statistics. Unfortunately, the majority of those crashes came when the motorcycle was driving straight, which means the accidents were often due to another driver not respecting motorcyclists on the road. Crashes are most common in metropolitan areas, especially major city streets.

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

Nearly half of fatal motorcycle accidents occur in the between June and September, and 50 percent occur between 6 p.m. Friday and 6 a.m. Monday.

What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Sangamon County, 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 ensure both your health and the chances of a successful claim.

Immediately After The Accident

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

• Get out of harm’s way — If you can, 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 put you at risk of further harm. If you suspect you have a spine or head injury, stay still and wait for emergency personnel.
• Keep your gear on — Taking off your helmet or other gear could also exacerbate your injuries. Adrenaline may hide how bad an injury actually is.
• Call 911 — As the injuries caused in a motorcycle wreck can be catastrophic, it may be a good idea to be looked over at the scene instead of leaving and planning to seek medical attention later. Police will also be able to file a report relating who they believe is to blame for the accident.
• Gather evidence — Talk to any other drivers involved and get their insurance information. Take pictures of all vehicles and the crash site from a variety of angles. 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 Sangamon County, IL prove who is responsible for your injuries in the future. Get the contact info of any eyewitnesses to the accident.

Finally, if you did not seek medical treatment at the scene, do so as quickly as possible.

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 Sangamon County, 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 is also paramount to building your case. You need to prove that you sustained financial losses, and to do that 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 ultimate compensation will be as well. Go to every follow up, chiropractic or physical therapy appointment your doctor orders for you.
• Keep Detailed Records — You also deserve compensation for lost wages from time spent recovering, and any out-of-pocket expenses due to your injuries, such as transportation to and from medical appointments or hiring someone to help with household chores. Manage a file with all of your receipts and notes about why those charges were due to your injury. 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, your attorney will will now be intermediary between you and the insurance. Insurance adjusters utilize a lot of ploys to avoid paying claims, but your attorney will know how to hold the adjuster accountable.
• Do Not Post on Social Media — It is normal to want to share what is going on with your life with others. However, even a well-meaning post can hurt 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 devalue your claim.

From your initial consultation, 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 your physical and emotional recovery.

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

For minor and clear-cut accidents, where the liable party is obvious and your medical expenses only include an urgent care visit, you may be able to get compensation on your own. Give the insurance company your records and expenses, and ask for a little more for the trouble. In a smaller settlement where not much is disputed, the insurance company is not going to want to waste their time.

However, in the vast majority of 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 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 probably need a motorcycle accident lawyer in Sangamon County, IL if:

• Your injuries are significant — The higher your damages, the more the insurance company will fight back against your claim. If your injuries result in permanent disability, you will absolutely need an attorney to hold the insurance adjuster accountable for all of your damages.
• The insurance company’s offer is far below your damages — 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 much you are owed. If you enlist the services of an attorney, 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 parties at fault — With some injuries, especially multi-vehicle accidents, 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 a road hazard that a local government should have fixed. A talented Sangamon County, IL motorcycle accident lawyer will be able to investigate the wreck and determine all liable parties. 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 the accident — Trying to say your injuries are your own fault is a frequent trick insurance adjusters use to minimize your claim. If the insurance company say your accident was your own fault, an attorney will fight back prove that is not the case. If it is true that you were responsible for a portion of the accident, you are not completely barred from compensation under Missouri’s comparative negligence doctrine. However, you will need an attorney to apply the rule of law and get you that compensation.

Your Sangamon County, IL motorcycle accident lawyer at Burger Law knows how to fight back against tricks 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 (779) 800-HURT to see what we can do for your claim. We start developing our legal strategy from the second you hire us, and do not give up until you get all of compensation you are owed.

Recent Burger Law Sangamon County, 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 vouch for 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 Sangamon County, IL?

If you want to have a successful claim in Sangamon County, 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 keep you safe? 625 ILCS 5/11-1003.1 mandates 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 breaking proper procedure behind the wheel?
3. Cause in fact — Were your injuries the direct result of the accident?
4. Proximate cause — Did the person’s breach of duty cause the accident? If the other driver’s brakes were not working, the liable party 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 caused a few bumps and bruises, but they healed without any medical treatment, you likely do not have a claim.

Any time somebody else’s carelessness or recklessness injures you, you have an injury claim. Speak to a motorcycle accident attorney immediately at (779) 800-HURT if you are unsure if you have a claim.

How Much is My Sangamon County, 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 emotional distress, disfigurement and pain and suffering
• While not common, you might 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 usually lead to higher economic and noneconomic damages
• Whether or not you were partially at fault for your injuries
• If the accident led to permanent disfigurement or disability
• How your life has changed because of your injuries

At Burger Law, our injury attorneys know how to calculate 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 Sangamon County, IL?

According to 735 ILCS 5/13-202, the statute of limitations for motorcycle accident claims in Sangamon County, 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 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 liable party 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 wait to contact a motorcycle accident lawyer after you were hurt in a motorcycle accident in Sangamon County, IL. Call us today at (779) 800-HURT.

What Are Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Sangamon County, IL?

Motorcycles are harder for passenger car drivers to see, do not take up as much space on the road. Because of something called “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 look for larger vehicles, but not for motorcycles. Inattentional blindness contributes to many motorcycle accidents in Sangamon County, IL.

Most motorcycle accidents occur because of:

• Left-hand turns — According to the Motorcycle Legal Foundation, almost half of all motorcycle accidents that result in fatalities occur when a car turns left while the motorcycle was going straight. These crashes can happen because of a car driver’s drunkenness, speeding or generally not paying close enough attention to the road.
• Other collisions — Head on collisions also occur frequently between motorcycles and cars or trucks. 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 is not always the motorcyclist’s fault.
• Road hazards — Uneven pavement, potholes, animal carcasses, gravel 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 spin out.
• Defective components — Dozens of motorcycles are recalled every year, either by the manufacturer or by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. If bikes or parts that are defective are allowed to stay on the market, it can cause motorcycle accidents.

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

Almost all auto accidents are the result of driver error. So, most likely, you will make a claim against another driver. However, other parties that may be held liable include:

• A governmental body or construction company for road hazards
• A motorcycle manufacturer 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 Sangamon County, IL Motorcycle Accident if it Did Not Involve Another Vehicle?

Governmental agencies 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 can be held accountable for the motorcycle accident. However, suing a government entity in Illinois has added complications. Our motorcycle accident lawyers in Sangamon County, IL can take on 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 Sangamon County, IL. What Are My Legal Options?

The dangers of motorcycles mean that bikers have a higher death rate than people in enclosed vehicles. If your worst nightmare came true and a loved one 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 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 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 file a claim
  3. If there are no family members, a judge can appoint 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 the deceased, including any benefits related to their employment
  • Loss of consortium
  • Loss of instruction, education and moral training the deceased would have provided
  • Survivors’ grief, sorrow and mental suffering

Burger Law’s Sangamon County, IL wrongful death attorneys are not just skilled 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 claims we we have had great success with in Sangamon County, 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 Sangamon County, IL Today

Our Sangamon County, IL motorcycle accident lawyers will not stop fighting until there is nothing left to fight; that is our guarantee. You are owed a recovery for your motorcycle accident. You do not have to pay for someone else’s mistakes. To learn more about how our Sangamon County, IL personal injury law firm will fight for your rights, call our team at (779) 800-HURT or contact us online for a free case evaluation.