Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Steward, IL

The sense of freedom a motorcycle comes with can be made moot by the harm negligent drivers can do to you when they do not respect your safety. If you were injured in a motorcycle accident in Steward, IL, reach out to the motorcycle accident lawyers of Burger Law immediately at (312) 500-HURT or contact us online for a complimentary case evaluation.

If you were injured in a motorcycle accident in Steward, 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 a car just cannot emulate. Unfortunately, negligent drivers can turn that feeling into catastrophic injuries. Because of their relative lack of protection, the consequences of a motorcycle accident can be devastating. When you are injured, it carries hardships and you need someone to fight for you. You need to find a law firm with a proven track record of winning motorcycle accident claims in Steward, IL.

Our team has more than 70 years of combined experience winning cases in negotiations and in the court room. Our motorcycle accident lawyers will aggressively pursue every legal avenue to make sure justice is served. Always speak to a lawyer before agreeing to a settlement. The insurance adjuster is out to minimize your compensation. 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 Steward, IL clients.

To discover more about what we can do for you, call a lawyer at (312) 500-HURT to go over your motorcycle accident case now.

How Common Are Motorcycle Accidents in Steward, IL?

Even though motorcycles make up barely over half a percent of all traffic miles traveled in the country, they made up four percent of all injuries and 14 percent of total fatalities in traffic-related accidents in 2020, according to the National Safety Council. Nationwide, in 2020 82,000 people were injured and 5,579 died in motorcycle crashes. In Illinois, of 3,077 motorcycle accidents, 2,404 caused injuries and 152 were deadly, according to the Illinois 2020 Crash Facts and Statistics. Sadly, the majority of those crashes came 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 due to another driver failing to notice motorcyclists. Crashes are most common in urban areas, especially on arterial roads.

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

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 Steward, IL

There are several things you should do, both immediately following the accident and in the days and weeks that follow, to ensure both your health and the chances of a successful claim.

At the Accident Site

While any collision is surprising and scary, 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. We know it is a treasure for you, but trying to carry it could put you at risk of further harm. If you suspect you have a back or head injury, stay still and wait for EMTs to arrive.
• Keep your gear on — Removing your helmet or other gear could also exacerbate your injuries. Shock may hide how bad an injury actually is.
• Call 911 — As motorcycle accidents can cause severe injuries, it may be a good idea to be looked over at the scene instead of trying to go to an emergency room yourself. Police are trained to assign liability in an accident, and will make a police report.
• Gather evidence — Speak to the other driver and get their insurance information. Take photographs of all vehicles and the crash site from a variety of angles. Take more photos than you think you need. Something that may seem unimportant at first may be useful to a motorcycle accident lawyer in Steward, IL when trying to prove someone else’s negligence when you make your claim. Get the contact info of any eyewitnesses to the accident.

Lastly, receive medical attention if you did not already do so.

What to Do Throughout the Claim Process

Once you have gotten medical treatment, notify the insurance company of everybody involved. Then, speak to a motorcycle accident lawyer in Steward, 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 aids your financial recovery as well. You need to prove how much that accident hurt you, and to do that you need to be able to point to medical records which show all of the costs and treatments you incurred because of your injuries. The more medical expenses you have, 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 Track of Everything Related to Your Injuries — You are also entitled to a financial recovery for lost wages from time spent recovering, and any out-of-pocket expenses due to your injuries, such as parking or gas money for going to medical appointments or hiring someone to help with chores around the house. Keep all of your receipts and notes about why those charges were due to your injury. It may also be a good idea to keep a daily journal detailing 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 enlisted the services of a motorcycle accident lawyer, your attorney will handle all communication with the insurance. Insurance adjusters try to employ a lot of tricks to avoid paying claims, but your attorney will know how to make the adjuster be honest.
• Do Not Post on Social Media — It is normal to want to share what is going on with your life with others. However, posting too much on social media can hurt your case. If you say your injuries are debilitating, and the insurance sees pictures of you at your friend’s barbecue, they will use it to attempt to devalue your claim.

From your initial consultation, we will be in contact with you every step of the way until you get the maximum compensation you are owed. Allow us to deal with the legal aspect of your case so you can spend your energy on on healing.

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

For some minor claims, where fault is clearly established and your medical expenses only include an emergency room visit, a lawyer may not be able to add much value to your claim. Give the insurance company proof of your financial losses, and ask for a little more for inconvenience. In a a settlement for a relatively small sum of money where not much is disputed, the insurance company will only lose money if they try to fight your claim.

However, more likely than not you will need a motorcycle accident attorney for your injury claim. While it would be nice if insurance companies fulfilled their responsibility when their policyholders injure someone, it usually takes a fair amount of fighting to get them to do it. You will probably need a motorcycle accident lawyer in Steward, IL if:

• Your injuries are severe — The more your medical bills and lost wages, the more the insurance company will try to avoid their responsibility. If your injuries result in permanent disability, 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 to take advantage of you. If you enlist the services of a lawyer, 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 are multiple parties at fault — 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 take defensive action and hit an improperly cordoned-off construction zone. An aggressive Steward, IL motorcycle accident lawyer will be able to investigate the accident and assign a portion of the damages to each liable party. Finding other people who are liable is key 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 — Trying to say your injuries are your own fault is a frequent trick insurance adjusters use to devalue your claim. If the insurance company say your injuries are your own doing, an attorney will fight back conclusively demonstrate 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 Steward, IL motorcycle accident lawyer at Burger Law knows how to combat tactics insurance adjusters use. We have been doing it for more than 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 start developing our legal strategy from the second you hire us, and do not give up until you get all of compensation you deserve.

Recent Burger Law Steward, 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 with client testimonials and 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 Steward, IL?

If you want to file any Steward, IL injury claim, you must have sustained an injury that was caused by someone else’s negligence. There are five elements to proving negligence in a personal injury claim:

1. Duty of care — Did the liable party have a duty to keep you safe? 625 ILCS 5/11-1003.1 says 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 another 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 — Whose breach of duty 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?.
5. Damages — Did your injuries lead to losses, such as lost wages and mental anguish? If your accident caused some bruises or scrapes, but they healed without any medical treatment, you likely do not have a claim.

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

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

Your compensation will be a combination of:

• Economic damages, such as lost wages, 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 tend to lead to higher economic and noneconomic damages
• 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 live the life you are used to

At Burger Law, our injury attorneys know how to calculate the full value of someone’s injury claim and demanding 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 calculating for inflation.

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

Pursuant to 735 ILCS 5/13-202, the statute of limitations for motorcycle accident claims in Steward, IL is two years. That means you only have two years from the date you were injured 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 at the time of accident, they have until two years after the disability ended
• If the person responsible for your injuries is outside of the state of Illinois for a time, that period 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 have been injured in Steward, IL. Call us immediately at (312) 500-HURT.

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

Motorcycles are harder for passenger car drivers to see, being smaller. Due to something known as “inattentional blindness,” drivers are less likely to see a motorcycle — even if they are doing their due diligence. This is because we train our brains to look for other cars, but not for motorcycles. Inattentional blindness contributes to many motorcycle accidents in Steward, IL.

The most common causes of motorcycles accidents are:

• Left-hand turns — The Motorcycle Legal Foundation reports that over 40 percent of all motorcycle accidents that result in deaths 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 generally not paying close enough attention to the road.
• Other collisions — Head on collisions are also common between motorcycles and passenger cars. It is also common for a car not see a motorcyclist when merging or changing lanes. Motorcycles also collide with fixed objects more than any other type of motorist, which is not always the motorcyclist’s fault.
• Road hazards — Cracked pavement, potholes, animal carcasses, gravel or other roadways debris often do not have much of an impact on a car. 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 cause motorcycle collisions.

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

More than nine out of 10 motor vehicle accidents are caused by human error. So, most likely, you will make a claim against another driver. However, other parties that may be held accountable include:

• A governmental entity or contracting company for not repairing or negligent repairing a road
• A vehicle designer, manufacturer or vendor in a product liability claim
• A employer if their employee injured you while driving, such as in a commercial truck accident

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

States and municipalities are tasked with keeping their roadways safe for use by everyone on the roads, and when there are road hazards that cause an accident, the municipality may have to compensate you for your injuries. However, the state of Illinois does not make it easy to hold them accountable. Our motorcycle accident lawyers in Steward, IL can pick up your claim and take the fight to city hall to get you the compensation you deserve.

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

The dangers of motorcycles mean that bikers have a higher death rate than people in enclosed vehicles. If you were touched by tragedy and a family member 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:

• 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 your loved one died, 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 nieces and nephews can file a claim
  3. If there are no family members, a judge 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 economic and noneconomic damages the deceased incurred from their injuries before their death
  • 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 Steward, IL wrongful death attorneys are not just skilled at getting our clients full recoveries. We are empathetic and have helped many families get through 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 Steward, 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 Steward, IL Today

Our Steward, 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 do not have to pay for someone else’s mistakes. To learn more about how our Steward, 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.

Client Reviews

What our clients are saying about us

Juanita Matthews

Year of 2023

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!

Shaunda S.

7 months ago

I am very happy with the staff at Burger Law. I mostly worked with Michael Sheldon, and he did an amazing job. I trusted him completely with my case, and he did not disappoint. I would definitely recommend this team if your ever in need of good attorneys.

Emelia M.

3 months ago

Burger Law Firm is fantastic. Laura and Genevieve were so amazing and helpful throughout the entire process. They helped me with my personal injury case every step of the way and succeeded at getting me the results I desired.

Helen L.

a year ago

We had a great experience with Burger Law for representing us after a serious car accident. Truly impressed by how professional and supportive the entire team is. And, many thanks to Genavieve and Laura – you are amazing!

Judy M.

a year ago

They did an amazing job on my case! Communication with them was great!!! Kept me informed and in the loop with everything that was going on!!! Will definitely be the 1st ones I’ll call if ever I’m in another accident!!! Thank you very much!!!

Chelsea C.

5 months ago

Let me tell you something about Burger Law.. they are so attentive and kind. Jennifer is my savior!! I love the whole team!!! They are truly a miracle team!! I appreciate their business and would recommend it to others.

David D.

2 months ago

Absolutely the best law firm in the St. Louis area. No matter the size of your case you are treated as if you are the only client on the roster. Will explain anything thoroughly and they work around your availability. Very impressed and appreciative of the service.

Lisa B.

11 months ago

Gary and Casey took great care of me for 2.5 years as my lawsuit was finally settled. I feel he helped me achieve justice for me and my 4 children after their father died from medical malpractice and neglect. Thanks to Gary, my kids now have a great start to their college and adult lives. Thank you Gary and Casey, for fighting for us so hard at our most trying and difficult time in our lives thus far. Love and God bless from my family to yours!

View More Reviews on Google Maps and Yelp