Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Troy, IL

Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Troy, IL

The sense of freedom a motorcycle comes with can be neutralized by the harm negligent drivers can do to you when they do not respect your safety. If another driver injured you in Troy, IL, call the motorcycle accident lawyers of Burger Law today at (779) 800-HURT or contact us online for a free consultation.

If you were injured in a motorcycle accident in Troy, or anywhere in Illinois, find out how much your claim may be worth by using our free personal injury calculator.

Motorcycles are a great way to give yourself a sense of peace. You are connected to the road and your motorcycle in a way that a car just cannot emulate. Unfortunately, there is a potentially dangerous trade-off. Because motorcycles do not protect their occupants as well as enclosed vehicles, motorcycle accidents can cause serious injuries. When you are injured, it carries financial, physical and emotional consequences and you need someone to stand by your side and get you the compensation you deserve. You want an attorney that has demonstrated that they can full compensation in motorcycle crash cases in Troy, IL.

Our attorneys and paralegals have over three decades of experience getting maximum compensation for our clients. Our motorcycle accident lawyers will fight until you recover all of your damages and there is nothing left to fight. Always speak to a lawyer before accepting an insurance company’s offer. The insurance adjuster will try to limit your recovery. 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 Troy, IL clients.

To learn more about how our personal injury law firm will fight for your rights, speak to our team at (779) 800-HURT to go over your motorcycle accident claim immediately.

How Common Are Motorcycle Accidents in Troy, IL?

Despite the fact that motorcycles account for only .06 percent of total vehicle miles traveled in the country, they accounted for four percent of all injuries and 14 percent of all fatalities in traffic-related accidents in 2020, according to the National Safety Council. In the United States, in 2020 82,000 people were injured and 5,579 died in motorcycle crashes. In Illinois, there were 3,077 motorcycle wrecks which resulted in 2,404 injuries and 152 deaths, according to the Illinois 2020 Crash Facts and Statistics. Unfortunately, the majority of those happened when the motorcycle was going in a straight line, insinuating that the accidents were often due to a car or truck driver failing to notice motorcyclists. Crashes are most common in densely populated areas, especially around tolls.

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

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 Troy, IL

There are several steps you should take, both at the accident site and throughout the length of your claim process, to make sure your recover from your injuries both physically and financially.

At the Accident Site

While any wreck can be surprising and scary, try to stay as calm as possible. Immediately after the crash, you should:

• Get to safety — If you can, get to the side of the road and away from other vehicles coming down the street. Leave the bike. It is obviously important to you, but trying to carry it could put you at risk of further harm. If you believe your injuries may be catastrophic, stay still and wait for emergency personnel.
• Do not remove your safety gear — Taking off your helmet or other gear could also exacerbate your injuries. Because of adrenaline, a serious injury may not always hurt as much at first.
• Call 911 — Because motorcycle accidents can cause severe injuries, it is probably a good idea to be looked over at the scene 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 ask for an insurance card. 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 like it does not matter at first may be useful to a motorcycle accident lawyer in Troy, IL when trying to prove your case down the road. See if there are eyewitnesses who can back up your side of the story.

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

What to Do in the Ensuing Weeks and Months

Once you have gotten medical treatment, inform the insurance company of everybody involved. Then, speak to a motorcycle accident lawyer in Troy, 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 aids your financial recovery as well. You need to prove that you sustained financial losses, 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 pain and suffering compensation will be as well. Make sure you attend 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 also deserve compensation for lost wages from time spent recovering, and any out-of-pocket expenses that were necessary, such as transportation to and from medical appointments or hiring someone to help with housework. Keep all of your receipts and explanations for why those charges were necessary. It may also be a good idea to write down your every day experiences showing 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 hired a motorcycle accident lawyer, let your attorney handle documentation and negotiation. Insurance adjusters try to employ a lot of ploys to minimize claims, and it is better to leave communication up to a lawyer who knows how to deal with them.
• Stay off Social Media — In this day and age, many of us want to share details about our life on the Internet. However, even an honest post can do damage to your claim. If you tell the insurance company that your injuries are keeping you from working, and the insurance sees pictures of you going out on the weekends, they they can say your injuries are not actually that severe.

From the first time you speak with us, we will keep you completely in the loop until we reach the great results you deserve. Allow us to handle the legal aspect of your case so you can spend your energy on on your physical and emotional recovery.

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

For some minor claims, where the liable party is taking accountability and your medical expenses only include an emergency room visit, you may not need an attorney to get fair compensation. Supply the insurance company with your records and expenses, and see if they will throw some extra money on top for the trouble. In a a settlement for a relatively small sum of money where not much is disputed, 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 it would be nice if insurance companies fulfilled their obligations when someone is injured under their coverage, it usually takes a fair amount of fighting to get them to be fair. Situations where you will need a motorcycle accident lawyer in Troy, IL include:

• Your injuries are severe — The more your medical expenses and lost wages, the more the insurance company will fight back against your claim. If your injuries require ongoing treatment, you will absolutely need an attorney to hold the insurance adjuster accountable for all of your damages.
• The insurance company’s offer is not close your damages — 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 to take advantage of you. If you enlist the services of a lawyer, the insurance company will know that you will not back down without a fight. In a recent case, Burger Law was able to turn a $3,900 offer into a $100,000 settlement.
• There are multiple liable parties — With some injuries, especially multi-vehicle accidents, there may be more than one liable party. For example, a driver may merge into your line while not looking for you, causing you to swerve and hit an improperly cordoned-off construction site. An experienced Troy, IL motorcycle accident lawyer will be able to investigate the crash and determine all liable parties. Finding other people who are liable is essential if your damages exceed 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 well-known trick insurance adjusters use to devalue your claim. If the insurance company say your accident was your own doing, an attorney use their investigate skills and network of experts to conclusively demonstrate that is not the case. If you were indeed partially at fault, you can still receive some compensation under Missouri’s comparative negligence doctrine. However, a lawyer is likely necessary to get you the best possible results.

Your Troy, IL motorcycle accident lawyer at Burger Law knows how to fight back against tactics insurance adjusters use. We have been doing it for more than 30 years. Our consultations are free, so speak to an attorney now 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 Troy, IL Motorcycle Accident Victories

You need a lawyer who has shown they can get maximum compensation in your type of claim before. Any motorcycle accident lawyer can say they will fight for you, 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 Troy, IL?

If you want to file any Troy, 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 other person have an obligation 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 a duty of care.
2. Breach of duty — Were they neglectful in that duty and did that breach lead to an accident? Was the other motorist speeding, texting and driving, drunk driving or otherwise not following 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 not working, the liable party may be a manufacturer and not the driver?.
5. Damages — Did your injuries lead to losses, such as medical expenses and emotional distress? If your accident caused a few bumps and bruises, but they healed without any medical treatment, it would be hard for you to file a claim.

If you were injured through another’s negligence, you need to file an injury claim. Consult with a motorcycle accident attorney immediately at (779) 800-HURT if you have any doubts about the validity of your claim.

How Much is My Troy, 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, scarring and pain and suffering
• While not common, you may be able to be awarded punitive damages if the liable party’s behavior was especially egregious, such as if they were 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 every dime you are owed and demand that the insurance company 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 accounting for inflation.

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

Pursuant to 735 ILCS 5/13-202, the statute of limitations for motorcycle accident claims in Troy, IL is two years. That means the clock starts ticking on the date the accident occurred to file a claim. Illinois has three exceptions:

• If you or your loved one was a minor at the time of accident, they have until two years after their 18th 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 negligent party is outside of the state of Illinois for a period, that period is not included in the two years

While two years does not sound like it should give you a sense of urgency, 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 Troy, IL. Call us now at (779) 800-HURT.

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

Motorcycles are harder for passenger car drivers to see, as they take up less space. As a result of 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 we train our brains to look for other cars, but not for motorcycles. Inattentional blindness is a leading cause of motorcycle accidents in Troy, IL.

The most common causes of motorcycles accidents are:

• Left-hand turns — According to the Motorcycle Legal Foundation, almost half of all fatal motorcycle crashes occur when a car turns left while and hits a motorcyclist in an intersection. These crashes can be the result of a car driver’s intoxication, reckless driving or simple inattention.
• Other collisions — Head on collisions are also common between motorcycles and passenger cars. It is also common for a car to fail to see a motorcyclist when merging or changing lanes. 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, gravel 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 spin out.
• Defective components — Manufacturers and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recall dozens of motorcycles annually. When dangerous bikes and components are not recalled, it can lead to motorcycle accidents.

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

More than nine out of 10 motor vehicle accidents are the result of human error. So, most likely, you will make a claim against another driver. However, depending on the specifics of your case, you may also be able to make a claim against:

• 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 employer if someone they hired injured you while driving, for example in a commercial truck accident

Can I Sue For My Troy, 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 agency responsible for the neglect may have to compensate you for your injuries. However, suing a government entity in Illinois has added complications. Our motorcycle accident lawyers in Troy, IL can take on 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 Troy, IL. What Are My Legal Options?

The dangers of motorcycles mean that bikers have a higher death rate than people in passenger cars. 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 your loved one died, 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 no family remains, a judge 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 your loved one incurred from their injuries before passing
  • 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 Troy, IL wrongful death attorneys are not just tremendous at getting our clients full recoveries. We are understanding and kind and have helped many families navigate 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 Troy, IL include:

• Survival Action Lawyer in Illinois
• 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 Troy, IL Today

Our Troy, IL motorcycle accident lawyers will not stop fighting until there is nothing left to fight; we promise. 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 Troy, IL personal injury law firm will fight for your rights, call our team at (779) 800-HURT or contact us online for a no obligation case review.