Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Whiteside County, IL

Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Whiteside County, IL

The thrill of riding a motorcycle can be neutralized by the injuries reckless drivers cause when they do not pay attention to your safety. If another driver injured you in Whiteside County, IL, call the motorcycle accident lawyers of Burger Law immediately at (779) 800-HURT or fill out our online form for a no-risk, no-obligation case review.

If you were injured in a motorcycle accident in Whiteside 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 enjoy the road and relax. You get a feeling of the open road that a car just cannot emulate. Unfortunately, this freedom also comes with a high price. Because of their relative lack of protection, the consequences of a motorcycle accident can be devastating. When you are injured, there are financial, physical and emotional consequences and you need someone to fight for you. You want an attorney with a proven track record of winning motorcycle accident lawsuits in Whiteside County, IL.

Our attorneys and paralegals have more than 30 years of experience getting full financial recoveries for our clients. Our motorcycle accident lawyers will fight until we win your case and there is nothing left to fight. Always speak to a lawyer before agreeing to a settlement. The insurance adjuster will try to devalue your recovery. Our firm has a proven track record of successfully fighting the insurance companies and making sure that they give the full compensation they owe our Whiteside County, IL clients.

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

How Common Are Motorcycle Accidents in Whiteside County, IL?

Despite the fact that motorcycles make up barely over half a percent of all traffic miles traveled in the United States, 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. Nationwide, in 2020 82,000 people were injured and 5,579 died in motorcycle crashes. 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 half of those crashes came when the motorcycle was going straight ahead, insinuating that the accidents were often caused by another driver not respecting motorcyclists on the road. Most of the crashes occurred in metropolitan areas, especially around tolls.

According to findings 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 between 6 p.m. Friday and 6 a.m. Monday.

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

There are a number 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 crash can be jarring, try to stay as calm as possible. At the accident site, you should:

• Get to safety — If possible, move out of the way of other vehicles coming down the street. Leave the bike. We know it is your baby, but staying with the bike or trying to move it could exacerbate your injuries. If you suspect you have a spine or head injury, it may be best not to move; instead wait for emergency personnel.
• Do not take off your safety gear — Removing your helmet, gloves, boots, jacket and other gear could also make serious injuries even worse. Adrenaline may hide how severe an injury actually is.
• Call 911 — As the injuries caused in a motorcycle wreck can be catastrophic, it may be best to get medical attention at the scene instead of leaving and planning to go to an emergency room yourself. Police will also be able to file a report relating who they believe is responsible for the accident.
• Gather evidence — Speak to the other driver and ask for an insurance card. Take pictures of all vehicles and the crash site from a variety of angles. Take more photos than you think you need. Something you do not think is that big of a deal may be useful to a motorcycle accident lawyer in Whiteside County, IL when trying to prove your case when you make your claim. Get the contact info of any eyewitnesses to the accident.

Lastly, receive medical attention if you have not already.

What to Do Throughout the Claim Process

Once you have gotten medical treatment, inform the insurance company of everybody involved. Then, speak to a motorcycle accident lawyer in Whiteside 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:

• Continue Medical Treatment — This is obviously the best thing for your health, but aids your financial recovery as well. In order to prove your damages, you need to be able to point to medical records which detail 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 follow up, chiropractic or physical therapy appointment your doctor wants you to.
• Keep Track of Everything Related to Your Injuries — You also deserve reimbursement for lost wages from time your injuries caused you to miss out from work, and any out-of-pocket expenses you incur, 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 all of your receipts and notes about why those charges were necessary. You can also 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 use a lot of tricks to avoid paying claims, but your attorney will know how to deal with them.
• Do Not Post on 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 case. If you tell the insurance company that your injuries are keeping you from working, and the insurance finds out you have been at a bar, they will use it to attempt to devalue your claim.

From the first time you speak with us, we will be in contact with you every step of the way until we reach the great results you deserve. Let us deal with the legal aspect of your case so you can focus on healing.

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

For accidents involving minor injuries, where there is no discrepancy about who is at fault and your medical expenses only include a visit with your primary care physician, a lawyer may not be able to add much value to your claim. Give the insurance company your records and expenses, and see if they will throw some extra money on top for the trouble. In a smaller settlement where their policyholder is clearly liable, the adjuster is not going to want to waste their time.

However, more likely than not you will need the assistance of a motorcycle accident attorney for your injury claim. While it would be nice if insurance companies fulfilled their responsibility when their policyholders injure someone, they usually have to be convinced to. You will likely need a motorcycle accident lawyer in Whiteside County, IL if:

• Your injuries require ongoing treatment — The more your medical bills and time spent off work, the more the insurance company will try and devalue your injuries. 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 starting to creep up into the tens 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 much you are owed. By hiring an attorney, 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 injuries, especially multi-vehicle accidents, there may be more than one party that caused your injuries. For example, a driver may cut your off because they did not see you, causing you to swerve and hit an improperly cordoned-off construction site. An aggressive Whiteside County, IL motorcycle accident lawyer will be able to investigate the wreck and determine all liable parties. Finding other people who are liable is essential if your damages exceed the at-fault driver’s policy limits.
• The insurance adjuster is trying to blame you for your injuries — Blaming you for your injuries is a classic trick insurance adjusters use to avoid paying you. If the insurance company say your accident was your own doing, an attorney can step in and prove that is not the case. If you were indeed partially to blame, you are not completely barred from compensation under Missouri’s comparative negligence doctrine. However, a lawyer is likely necessary to get you the best possible results.

Your Whiteside County, 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 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 Whiteside 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. 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. 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 Whiteside County, IL?

In order to file any Whiteside County, 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 owe you a responsibility 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 the other 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 — Did the person’s negligence cause 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 another motorist?.
5. Damages — Did your injuries lead to losses, such as medical expenses and pain and suffering? If your accident caused a few bruises or scrapes, but you did not need any medical treatment, you likely do not have a claim.

If you were injured because of 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 Whiteside County, IL Motorcycle Accident Claim Worth?

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

• 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, disfigurement 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 might make your recovery higher or lower 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 you sustained permanent disfigurement or disability
• The impact the injuries have had on your ability to enjoy life

At Burger Law, our injury attorneys are experts at calculating the full value of someone’s injury claim and insisting the liable party takes responsibility for 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 adjusting for inflation.

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

Under 735 ILCS 5/13-202, the statute of limitations for motorcycle accident claims in Whiteside County, IL is two years. That means the clock starts ticking on the date of the accident to file a lawsuit in court. Illinois has three 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 liable party is outside of the state of Illinois for a time, that period is not included in the two years

While two years does not sound like it should give you a sense of urgency, investigating and developing a legal strategy for your claim takes time. Do not hesitate to reach out to a motorcycle accident lawyer after you were hurt in a motorcycle accident in Whiteside County, IL. Call us now at (779) 800-HURT.

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

Motorcycles are harder for drivers of enclosed vehicles to see, as they take up less space. Due to something known as “inattentional blindness,” drivers are less likely to see a motorcycle — even when they are looking for one. This is because most drivers have programmed their brains to be aware of larger vehicles, but not for motorcycles. Inattentional blindness contributes to many motorcycle accidents in Whiteside County, IL.

Most motorcycle accidents occur because of:

• Left-hand turns — According to the Motorcycle Legal Foundation, 42 percent 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 motorist’s drunkenness, speeding or simple inattention.
• Other collisions — Head on collisions are also common between motorcycles and passenger cars. A car may also not see a motorcyclist when turning in front of them. Motorcycles also collide with fixed objects more than any other type of motorist, which is not always the motorcyclist’s fault.
• 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 lose control.
• Malfunctioning parts — 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 Whiteside County, IL?

Almost all motor vehicle accidents are due to driver 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 road hazards
• A motorcycle manufacturer for a defective product
• A employer if their employee injured you while driving, for example in a commercial truck accident

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

Governmental agencies are tasked with keeping their roadways safe for citizens to travel on, and when obstruction or other objects in the road cause an accident, the state can be held responsible for the motorcycle accident. However, suing a government entity in Illinois has added complications. Our motorcycle accident lawyers in Whiteside County, IL can take on your claim and guide you through the complexities of local and state laws to get you the compensation you deserve.

A Loved One Was Killed in a Motorcycle Crash in Whiteside County, 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 someone you love died in a motorcycle crash, you can make a recovery through a wrongful death claim. While no settlement or verdict can bring back your loved one, it 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 bring a suit
  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 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 the deceased, including any work-related benefits
  • Loss of consortium
  • Loss of instruction, guidance and moral training the deceased would have provided
  • Survivors’ grief, sorrow and mental suffering

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

Our Whiteside County, IL motorcycle accident lawyers will not stop fighting until there is nothing left to fight; 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 Whiteside County, 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 evaluation.