Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Toulon, IL

Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Toulon, IL

The exhilaration you feel when riding a motorcycle can be canceled out by the harm negligent drivers can do to you when they do not follow the rules of the road. If another driver injured you in Toulon, IL, reach out to the motorcycle accident lawyers of Burger Law immediately at (779) 800-HURT or contact us online for a free case review.

If you were injured in a motorcycle accident in Toulon, 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 you do not get in an enclosed vehicle. Unfortunately, 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, there are instant hardships and you need someone to stand by your side and get you the compensation you deserve. You want a law firm that has demonstrated that they can full compensation in motorcycle wreck cases in Toulon, IL.

Burger Law has more than seven decades of combined experience winning cases in negotiations and in the court room. Our motorcycle accident lawyers will tenaciously 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 limit your financial settlement. We know how to stand up to insurance companies and ensure that they give 100 percent of what they owe our Toulon, IL clients.

To find out more about how our personal injury law firm will defend your rights, call a lawyer at (779) 800-HURT to go over your motorcycle accident case immediately.

How Common Are Motorcycle Accidents in Toulon, IL?

Despite the fact that motorcycles account for barely over half a percent of total traffic miles traveled in the country, they made up four percent of all injuries and 14 percent of all fatalities in traffic-related accidents in 2020, according to research from the National Safety Council. In the entire country, in 2020 82,000 people were injured and 5,579 perished in motorcycle crashes. In Illinois, of 3,077 motorcycle crashes, 2,404 caused injuries and 152 were fatal, according to the Illinois 2020 Crash Facts and Statistics. Sadly, over 50 percent of those crashes came when the motorcycle was going in a straight line, which leads us to believe that the accidents were often due to another driver was not looking out for bikers. Wrecks happen most frequently in densely populated areas, especially on arterial roads.

According to findings from the Motorcycle Legal Foundation, Illinois is eighth in the country with close to 300,000 registered motorcycles, and proportionately was eighth in the country in deaths in 2017.

Nearly half of deadly motorcycle collisions occur in the summer months, and half occur on the weekends.

What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Toulon, IL

There are several steps you should take, both immediately following the 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 is jarring, it is vital to think rationally. At the accident site, you should:

• Get to safety — If possible, move out of the way of other vehicles coming down the street. Leave your motorcycle behind. It is obviously important to you, but staying with the bike or trying to move it could make your injuries worse. If you believe your injuries may be catastrophic, stay still and wait for emergency medical services.
• Do not take off your safety gear — Taking off your helmet or other gear could also make serious injuries even worse. Because of adrenaline, a serious injury may not always hurt as much at first.
• Call 911 — Because motorcycle accidents can cause severe injuries, it may be a good idea to get medical attention 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 relating who they believe is liable for the accident.
• Gather evidence — Talk to any other motorists involved and ask for an insurance card. Take photographs of all vehicles and the crash site from different positions. 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 Toulon, IL prove someone else’s negligence when you make your claim. See if there are eyewitnesses who can corroborate your side of the story.

Lastly, receive medical attention if you have not already.

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 Toulon, 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 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 complete copies of medical medical records which show the extent of your injuries. 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 prescribes.
• 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 Uber rides 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. 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, let your attorney handle documentation and negotiation. Insurance adjusters try to employ a lot of tricks to minimize claims, and it is better to leave communication up to an attorney who knows how to hold the adjuster accountable.
• Resist Social Media — It is normal to want to share what is going on with your life on social media. However, posting too much on social media can ruin your claim. If you tell the insurance company that your injuries prevent you from working, and the insurance sees pictures of you at a bar, they they can say your injuries are not actually that severe.

From the moment you hire us, we will be in contact with you every step of the way until we reach a successful resolution. Allow us to deal with the investigation, documentation, negotiation and litigation so you can spend your energy on on your medical treatment.

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

For minor and clear-cut accidents, where the liable party is taking accountability and your medical expenses are no more than an emergency room visit, you may not need an attorney to get fair compensation. Give the insurance company proof of your financial losses, and see if they will throw some extra money on top for the hassle. In a smaller settlement where their policyholder is clearly liable, the insurance company 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, they usually have to be convinced to. Situations where you will need a motorcycle accident lawyer in Toulon, IL include:

• Your injuries require ongoing treatment — The higher your damages, the more the insurance company will try and devalue your injuries. If your injuries result in permanent disability, you will always need an attorney to precisely value your damages.
• Your damages and the insurance company’s offer are way too far apart — If your damages are starting to creep up into the tens 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 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 are multiple parties at fault — With some accidents, especially crashes involving more than one vehicle, there may be more than one party that is responsible for your injuries. 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 site. A knowledgeable Toulon, IL motorcycle accident lawyer will conduct a full investigation into the accident and determine all liable parties. Finding other people who are liable is key 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 tactic insurance adjusters use to devalue your claim. When this happens, an attorney use their investigate skills and network of experts to 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 Toulon, IL motorcycle accident lawyer at Burger Law knows how to fight back against dishonest ploys insurance adjusters use. We have been doing it for more than 30 years. We offer an initial conversation and investigation for 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 fight until there is nothing left to fight.

Recent Burger Law Toulon, 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 know how to get full compensation 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 Toulon, IL?

In order to file any Toulon, IL injury claim, you must have been injured 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 owe you a responsibility to protect you from unreasonable harm? 625 ILCS 5/11-1003.1 mandates that “every driver of a vehicle shall exercise due care,” so other motorists always owe you that duty.
2. Breach of duty — Did they fail in that duty and did that breach lead to an accident? Was another motorist 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 — Whose breach of duty caused the accident? If the other driver’s brakes were not working, 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 resulted in a few small lacerations and bruising, but they healed without any medical treatment, you likely do not have a claim.

If you were injured through another’s negligence, you can to file an injury claim. Consult with a motorcycle accident attorney today at (779) 800-HURT if you are unsure if you have a claim.

How Much is My Toulon, 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, scarring and pain and suffering
• In some rare cases, you can recover punitive damages if you were injured by extreme recklessness, such as 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 contributed to the accident
• If you sustained 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 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, 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 Toulon, IL?

According to 735 ILCS 5/13-202, the time limit for motorcycle accident injuries in Toulon, IL is two years. That means you only have two years from the date the accident occurred to file a claim. Illinois has three exceptions:

• If you or your loved one was a minor when the injuries occurred, 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 period, that time does not account against the two years

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

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

Motorcycles are not as easy to spot on the road, as they take up less space. Because of a phenomenon called “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 look for other cars, but not for motorcycles. Inattentional blindness contributes to many motorcycle accidents in Toulon, IL.

The most common causes of motorcycles accidents are:

• Left-hand turns — The Motorcycle Legal Foundation reports that 42 percent of all motorcycle accidents that result in fatalities involve a car turning left while the motorcycle was going straight. These crashes can happen because of a car driver’s intoxication, speeding or distracted driving.
• Other collisions — Head on collisions also occur frequently between motorcycles and passenger cars. A car may also 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, dead animals, wet or icy roadways or other debris on our streets 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.
• Defective parts — 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 Toulon, IL?

Ninety-four percent of all 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 body or contracting company for not repairing or negligent repairing a road
• A vehicle manufacturer for a defective product
• A company if their employee injured you while driving, for example in a commercial truck accident

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

Governmental bodies are tasked with keeping their roadways safe for citizens to travel on, and when there are road hazards that 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 Toulon, IL can pick up your claim and guide you through the complexities of local and state laws to get you a full financial recovery.

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

Motorcyclists are not only at higher risk of a catastrophic injury, but are more likely to be in a fatal accident. If you were touched by tragedy and a family member passed away in a motorcycle crash, you can make a wrongful death claim. While no settlement or verdict can fill the whole that is left, it can help provide some sense closure 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.
• Three groups of people related to the deceased can file a wrongful death claim in Illinois. Beginning with who has the first chance to file, they are:
  1. Members of the nuclear family, 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 no family remains, the court can designate a plaintiff ad litem to file a claim
• 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 passing
  • Funeral expenses
  • Loss of financial support from your loved one, including any benefits they got from 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 Toulon, IL wrongful death attorneys are not just skilled at getting our clients full recoveries. We are understanding and kind 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 claims we we have had great success with in Toulon, 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 Toulon, IL Today

Our Toulon, 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 Toulon, 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 review.