Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Vermilion County, IL

Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Vermilion County, IL

The sense of freedom a motorcycle comes with can be canceled out by the harm careless drivers can do to you when they do not follow the rules of the road. If another driver injured you in Vermilion County, IL, reach out to the motorcycle accident lawyers of Burger Law immediately at (779) 800-HURT or contact us online for a no-risk, no-obligation case evaluation.

If you were injured in a motorcycle accident in Vermilion 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 get your blood racing. You get a feeling of the open road that you do not get in an enclosed vehicle. Regrettably, there is a potentially dangerous trade-off. Because of their relative lack of protection, motorcycle accidents can cause serious injuries. When you are injured, it carries immediate hardships and you need someone to fight for you. You need to find a law firm that has demonstrated that they can get great results in motorcycle accident claims in Vermilion County, IL.

Burger Law has more than seven decades of combined litigation and trial experience. Our motorcycle accident lawyers will aggressively pursue every legal avenue to make sure justice is served. Always speak to a lawyer before accepting an insurance company’s offer. The insurance adjuster is out to limit your financial settlement. We know how to fight insurance companies and ensure that they give the full compensation they owe our Vermilion County, IL clients.

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

How Common Are Motorcycle Accidents in Vermilion County, IL?

Despite the fact that motorcycles make up barely over half a percent of all vehicle miles traveled in the country, they accounted for four percent of all injuries and 14 percent of all deaths 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, of 3,077 motorcycle crashes, 2,404 caused injuries and 152 were deadly, according to the Illinois 2020 Crash Facts and Statistics. Sadly, over 50 percent of those crashes came when the motorcycle was driving straight, which means the accidents were often due to a car or truck driver was not looking out for bikers. Wrecks happen most frequently in densely populated areas, especially around tolls.

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

Just under half of deadly motorcycle wrecks occur in the summer months, and 50 percent happen between Friday night and Monday morning.

What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Vermilion County, IL

There are a number things you should do, both in the immediate wake of an 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 collision can be surprising and scary, it is important to keep a clear head. Immediately after the crash, you should:

• Get to safety — If you are physically able, 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 staying with the bike or trying to move 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.
• Keep your gear on — Removing your helmet, gloves, boots, jacket and other gear could also make injuries worse. Shock may hide how bad an injury actually is.
• Call 911 — Because the injuries caused in a motorcycle wreck can be catastrophic, it is probably best to get medical attention there instead of leaving and planning to go to an emergency room yourself. Police know how to determine fault in an accident, and will make a police report.
• 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 as many pictures as possible. Something you do not think is that big of a deal may be useful to a motorcycle accident lawyer in Vermilion County, IL when trying to prove your case down the road. See if there are eyewitnesses who can corroborate your side of the story.

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

What to Do Throughout the Claim Process

After you first seek medical care, notify the insurance company of everybody involved. Then, speak to a motorcycle accident lawyer in Vermilion 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:

• Keep Going to Your Medical Appointments — This is not only vital for your health, but is also essential 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 show all of the costs and treatments directly associated with the accident. The the higher your financial loss, the higher your non-economic damages compensation will be as well. Go to every every treatment and use all of the equipment and medication your doctor orders for you.
• Keep Detailed Records — You also deserve a financial recovery for lost wages from time your injuries caused you to miss out from work, and any out-of-pocket expenses due to your injuries, such as transportation to and from 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 keep a daily journal detailing 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 try to employ a lot of tactics to avoid paying claims, and it is better to leave communication up to an attorney 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, posting too much on social media can ruin your chances of being fully compensated. If you say your injuries are debilitating, and the insurance sees pictures of you at a bar, they will use it to try and devalue your claim.

From your initial consultation, we will keep you completely in the loop until we attain the great results you deserve. Let us handle the legal aspect of your case so you can focus on your medical treatment.

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

For minor and clear-cut accidents, where there is no discrepancy about who is at fault and your medical expenses are no more than an appointment with your primary care physician, you may be able to get compensation on your own. Supply the insurance company with 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 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 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 be fair. You will almost certainly need a motorcycle accident lawyer in Vermilion County, IL if:

• Your injuries are severe — The more your medical bills and time spent off work, the more the insurance company will be resistant to reimbursing you for it. If your injuries result in permanent disability, you will absolutely need an attorney to hold the insurance adjuster accountable for all of your damages.
• Your damages and the insurance company’s offer are way too far apart — 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 what fair compensation means in your case. By hiring a lawyer, the insurance company will know that you are serious about getting the full compensation you deserve. 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 cases, especially wrecks involving more than one vehicle, there may be more than one person who was negligent. For example, a driver may cut your off while not looking for you, causing you to swerve and hit a road hazard that a governmental agency should have fixed. An experienced Vermilion County, IL motorcycle accident lawyer will conduct a full investigation into the crash and determine all liable parties. Identifying everyone who is liable is imperative if you are owed more compensation than 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 move insurance adjusters use to minimize your claim. If the insurance company say your accident was your own doing, an attorney will fight back prove that is not the case. If you were indeed partially at fault, 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 Vermilion 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 call us at (779) 800-HURT to see if we can add value to your claim. We start working from the moment you hire us, and do not give up until you get every bit of compensation you deserve.

Recent Burger Law Vermilion County, IL Motorcycle Accident Victories

With any type of legal claim, results matter. You want to feel confident 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 with client testimonials and 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 Vermilion County, IL?

In order to file any Vermilion County, IL injury claim, 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 owe you 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 — Were they neglectful in that duty and did that breach lead to an accident? Was another motorist speeding, texting and driving, drunk driving or otherwise not following proper procedure behind the wheel?
3. Cause in fact — Were your injuries the direct result of the accident?
4. Proximate cause — Whose negligence caused 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 lost wages and emotional distress? If your accident resulted in a few bumps and bruises, but you did not need any medical treatment, it would be hard for you to make a claim.

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

How Much is My Vermilion County, IL Motorcycle Accident Claim Worth?

In any personal injury claim, you are owed compensation for:

• 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 receive 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 typically lead to higher economic and noneconomic damages
• Whether or not you were partially to blame for your injuries
• If you sustained permanent disfigurement or disability
• How your life has changed because of your injuries

At Burger Law, we are experts at calculating the full value of someone’s injury claim and demanding the liable party pay all of it. If your injuries lead to future economic damages like lost earning capacity or future surgeries, that will also be part of your settlement or verdict, including calculating for inflation.

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

Pursuant to 735 ILCS 5/13-202, the statute of limitations for motorcycle accident claims in Vermilion County, IL is two years. That means the clock starts ticking on the date you were injured 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 liable 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 wait to call a motorcycle accident lawyer after you were hurt in a motorcycle accident in Vermilion County, IL. Call us immediately at (779) 800-HURT.

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

Motorcycles are harder for passenger car drivers to see, being smaller. Due to a phenomenon 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 Vermilion County, IL.

The most common causes of motorcycles accidents are:

• Left-hand turns — The Motorcycle Legal Foundation reports that over 40 percent of all fatal motorcycle crashes occur when a car turns left while and hits a motorcyclist in an intersection. These crashes can be due to a motorist’s intoxication, speeding or simple inattention.
• Other collisions — Head on collisions also occur frequently between motorcycles and other types of vehicles. A car may also to fail to see a motorcyclist when turning in front of them. 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 — Uneven pavement, potholes, animal carcasses, wet or icy roadways or other roadways debris usually do not affect a vehicle with more than two wheels very much. 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. If bikes or parts that are defective are allowed to stay on the market, it can result in motorcycle collisions.

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

Almost all 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 construction company for road hazards
• A motorcycle manufacturer 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 Vermilion County, IL Motorcycle Accident if it Did Not Involve Another Vehicle?

Governmental entities are supposed to keep their roadways safe for use by everyone on the roads, and when obstruction or other objects in the road cause an accident, the municipality 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 Vermilion County, IL can take on your claim and take the fight to city hall to get you a full financial recovery.

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

Motorcyclists are not only at higher risk of a catastrophic injury, but are more likely to perish in a crash. If your worst nightmare came true and a family member died 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:

• 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. If there are no immediate family members, siblings and siblings’ descendants can file a claim
  3. If no family remains, the court can designate a plaintiff ad litem to bring a suit
• The damages you can recover 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 your loved one, including any work-related benefits
  • Loss of consortium
  • Loss of instruction, education and moral training the deceased would have provided
  • Survivors’ grief, sorrow and mental suffering

Burger Law’s Vermilion County, IL wrongful death attorneys are not just experts at securing full compensation. 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 claims we we have had great success with in Vermilion 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 Vermilion County, IL Today

Our Vermilion County, 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 Vermilion County, IL personal injury law firm will fight for your rights, call our team at (779) 800-HURT or fill out our online form for a no obligation case review.