Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Urbana, IL

Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Urbana, IL

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

If you were injured in a motorcycle accident in Urbana, 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 yourself and connect with people who share your passions. There is a sense of freedom that a car just cannot emulate. Unfortunately, negligent drivers can turn that feeling into catastrophic injuries. 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 ensure you are treated fairly. You want a law firm that has demonstrated that they can full compensation in motorcycle wreck cases in Urbana, IL.

Our team 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. Do not talk to your insurance or the other side’s insurance without speaking to an attorney first. The insurance adjuster will try to devalue your recovery. We know how to stand up to insurance companies and ensure that they treat our Urbana, IL clients fairly.

To discover 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 claim immediately.

How Common Are Motorcycle Accidents in Urbana, IL?

Even though motorcycles account for only .06 percent of total vehicle miles traveled in the United States, they accounted for four percent of all injuries and 14 percent of all fatalities in traffic-related accidents in 2020, according to data from the National Safety Council. In the entire country, in 2020 there were 82,500 motorcycle accident injuries and 5,579 fatalities. In Illinois, there were 3,077 motorcycle accidents which caused 2,404 injuries and 152 fatalities, according to the Illinois 2020 Crash Facts and Statistics. Unfortunately, over 50 percent of those happened when the motorcycle was going straight ahead, which means the accidents were often caused by a car or truck driver not respecting motorcyclists on the road. Crashes are most common in metropolitan areas, especially around tolls.

According to data from the Motorcycle Legal Foundation, Illinois is eighth in the country with 280,322 registered motorcycles, and fittingly was eighth in the country in fatalities in 2017.

Nearly 50 percent of fatal motorcycle accidents occur in the between June and September, and half happen between Friday night and Monday morning.

What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Urbana, IL

There are several 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 accident is jarring, try to stay as calm as possible. Immediately after the crash, you should:

• Get out of harm’s way — If possible, 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 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 take off your protective gear — Taking off your helmet or other gear could also make serious injuries even worse. Adrenaline may hide how significant an injury actually is.
• 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 seek medical attention at urgent care or a doctors’ appointment. Police are trained to assign liability in an accident, and will make a police report.
• Gather evidence — Talk to any other motorists involved and get their insurance information. Take photographs of all vehicles and the crash site from a variety of angles. Take as many pictures as possible. Something you do not think matters much may help a motorcycle accident lawyer in Urbana, IL prove someone else’s negligence in the future. Get the contact info of any eyewitnesses to the accident.

Finally, 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, notify the insurance company of everybody involved. Then, speak to a motorcycle accident lawyer in Urbana, 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:

• Keep Going to Your Medical Appointments — This is not only vital for your health, but aids your financial recovery as well. In order to prove your damages, you need to complete copies of medical medical records which show all of the treatments and related expenses directly associated with the accident. The more medical expenses you have, 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 Detailed Records — You also deserve reimbursement for lost wages from time your injuries caused you to miss out from work, and any out-of-pocket expenses that were necessary, such as transportation to and from medical appointments or hiring someone to help with housework. Manage a file with detailed receipts and notes about why you needed to pay those expenses. You can also write down your every day experiences showing the non-tangible impact of your injuries and your pain and suffering.
• Do Not Talk to the Insurance Company — Once you have filed your claim and hired a motorcycle accident lawyer, let your attorney handle documentation and negotiation. Insurance adjusters utilize a lot of tactics to devalue claims, but your attorney will know how to deal with them.
• Resist Social Media — In this day and age, many of us want to share details about our life with others. However, even an honest post can hurt your case. If you tell the insurance company that your injuries prevent you from working, and the insurance sees pictures of you going out on the weekends, they will use it to attempt to deny your claim.

From the moment you hire us, we will keep you completely in the loop until you get the full financial recovery you are owed. Allow us to deal with the legal aspect of your case so you can focus on healing.

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

For accidents involving minor injuries, where the liable party is taking accountability and your medical expenses only include an emergency room visit, a lawyer may not be able to add much value to your claim. Supply the insurance company with your records and expenses, 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 will only lose money if they try to fight your claim.

However, more likely than not you will need the assistance of a motorcycle accident attorney for your injury claim. While in a perfect world insurance companies would fulfill their responsibility 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 Urbana, IL include:

• Your injuries are significant — The more your medical expenses and time spent off work, 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 precisely value your damages.
• The insurance company’s offer is not close your damages — If your damages are in the tens or hundreds of thousands, and the insurance company’s offer is no where close to that, they are trying convince you that you do not know how what fair compensation means in your case. By hiring an attorney, 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 parties at fault — With some cases, 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 take defensive action and hit a road hazard that a local government should have fixed. An experienced Urbana, IL motorcycle accident lawyer will be able to investigate the accident and assign a portion of the damages to each liable party. Identifying everyone who is 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 — Blaming you for your injuries is a well-known trick insurance adjusters use to avoid paying you. If the insurance company say your injuries are your own doing, an attorney can step in and prove how the other party was negligent. If it is true that you were responsible for a portion of the accident, you can still make a recovery under Missouri’s comparative negligence doctrine. However, you will need an attorney to apply the rule of law and get you that compensation.

Your Urbana, IL motorcycle accident lawyer at Burger Law knows how to combat tricks insurance adjusters use. We have been doing it for more than 30 years. We offer an initial conversation and investigation at no charge, so call us 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 fight until there is nothing left to fight.

Recent Burger Law Urbana, IL Motorcycle Accident Victories

With any type of legal claim, results matter. You want to know that you are putting your case in the hands of 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 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 Urbana, IL?

If you want to file any Urbana, 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 duty to protect you from unreasonable harm? 625 ILCS 5/11-1003.1 stipulates that “every driver of a vehicle shall exercise due care,” so anyone else on the road automatically owes you a duty of care.
2. Breach of duty — Did they fail in that duty and cause an accident? Was another driver 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 — Whose breach of duty caused the accident? If the other driver’s brakes were not working, the person who needs to be held accountable for your injuries may be a manufacturer and not the driver?.
5. Damages — Did your injuries lead to losses, such as lost wages and pain and suffering? If your accident resulted in some small cuts and bruising, but you did not need any medical treatment, it would be hard for you to make a claim.

If you were injured because of another’s negligence, you can to file an injury claim. Speak to a motorcycle accident attorney now at (779) 800-HURT if you have any doubts about the validity of your claim.

How Much is My Urbana, 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 be awarded 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 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, we are experts at calculating every dime you are owed and insist 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 calculating for inflation.

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

According to 735 ILCS 5/13-202, the statute of limitations for motorcycle accident claims in Urbana, IL is two years. That means you only have two years from the date the accident occurred to file a lawsuit in court. There are some 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 when the injuries occurred, they have until two years after the disability ended
• If the person responsible for your injuries leaves the state of Illinois for a time, that time 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 reach out to a motorcycle accident lawyer after you were hurt in a motorcycle accident in Urbana, IL. Call us today at (779) 800-HURT.

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

Motorcycles are not as easy to spot on the road, do not take up as much space on the road. Because of a phenomenon 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 be aware of larger vehicles, but not for motorcycles. Inattentional blindness is a leading cause of motorcycle accidents in Urbana, IL.

Most motorcycle accidents occur because of:

• Left-hand turns — The Motorcycle Legal Foundation reports that 42 percent of all motorcycle accidents that result in deaths occur when a car turns left while the motorcycle was going straight. These crashes can be the result of a car driver’s drunkenness, 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 not see a motorcyclist when merging or changing lanes. Motorcycles also collide with fixed objects more than any other type of motorist, which may be due to a negligent construction company or governmental entity.
• Road hazards — Cracked pavement, potholes, animal carcasses, gravel or other roadways debris usually do not affect a car or truck very much. However, motorcycles are less stable and these hazards can cause a motorcyclist to lose control.
• 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 Urbana, IL?

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

• A governmental entity or construction company for not repairing or negligent repairing a road
• A vehicle designer, manufacturer or vendor for a defective product
• A company if someone they hired injured you while driving, such as in a commercial truck accident

Can I Sue For My Urbana, 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 obstruction or other objects in the road 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 Urbana, IL can take on your claim and guide you through the complexities of local and state laws to secure you a full financial recovery.

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

Motorcyclists are not only at increased risk of a serious injury, but are more likely to perish in a crash. If your worst nightmare came true 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 the financial hardships 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.
• There are three categories of people who 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, the court can appoint a plaintiff ad litem to file a claim
• The damages you can recover include:
  • Under 755 ILCS 5/27-6, the Illinois Survival Act, the economic and noneconomic damages your loved one incurred from their injuries before their death
  • 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 Urbana, IL wrongful death attorneys are not just skilled at securing full compensation. We are compassionate 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 cases we take on and win in Urbana, 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 Urbana, IL Today

Our Urbana, IL motorcycle accident lawyers will not stop fighting until there is nothing left to fight; that is our guarantee. You deserve to be financially compensated for your motorcycle accident. You do not have to pay for someone else’s mistakes. To learn more about how our Urbana, IL personal injury law firm will fight for your rights, call our team at (779) 800-HURT or contact us online for a complimentary consultation.