Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Wood River, IL

Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Wood River, IL

The sense of freedom a motorcycle comes with can be ripped away from you by the harm reckless drivers can do to you when they do not pay attention to your safety. If you were injured in a motorcycle accident in Wood River, IL, reach out to the motorcycle accident lawyers of Burger Law immediately at (779) 800-HURT or contact us online for a free case evaluation.

If you were injured in a motorcycle accident in Wood River, 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. 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 crash cases in Wood River, IL.

Our team has over 70 years of combined experience winning cases in negotiations and in the court room. Our motorcycle accident lawyers will fight until you recover all of your damages and there is nothing left to fight. 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 compensation. Our firm has a proven track record of successfully fighting the insurance companies and making sure that they treat our Wood River, IL clients fairly.

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 claim for free.

How Common Are Motorcycle Accidents in Wood River, IL?

Fourteen percent of motor vehicle deaths and four percent of injuries were sustained by motorcyclists, despite only less than one percent of vehicle traffic being motorcycles, according to research from the National Safety Council. Nationwide, in 2020 there were 82,500 motorcycle accident injuries and 5,579 fatalities. In Illinois, of 3,077 motorcycle accidents, 2,404 caused injuries and 152 were deadly, according to the Illinois 2020 Crash Facts and Statistics. Unfortunately, over half of those crashes came when a passenger car or truck collided with a motorcycle when the biker was driving in a straight line, insinuating that the accidents were often due to another driver failing to notice motorcyclists. Most of the crashes occurred in metropolitan areas, especially on arterial roads.

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

Nearly half of fatal motorcycle wrecks occur in the in the summer when the weather is nicer, and half occur between 6 p.m. Friday and 6 a.m. Monday.

What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Wood River, IL

There are several things you should do, both at the accident site and in the days and weeks that follow, to make sure your recover from your injuries both physically and financially.

At the Accident Site

While any crash is jarring, it is vital to think rationally. Immediately after the crash, you should:

• Get out of harm’s way — If you are physically able, 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 believe your injuries may be catastrophic, stay still and wait for EMTs to arrive.
• Do not remove your safety gear — Removing your helmet, gloves, boots, jacket and 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 — As the injuries caused in a motorcycle wreck can be catastrophic, it is probably best 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 liable for the accident.
• Gather evidence — Speak to the other driver and get their insurance information. Take pictures of all vehicles and the crash site from a variety of angles. Take as many pictures as possible. Something that may seem unimportant at first may help a motorcycle accident lawyer in Wood River, IL prove your case 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 crash site, do so as quickly as possible.

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 Wood River, 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 key to building your case. You need to prove how much that accident hurt you, and to do that you need to be able to point to 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. 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 also deserve a financial recovery for lost wages from time spent recovering, and any out-of-pocket expenses due to your injuries, such as transportation to and from medical appointments or hiring someone to help with housework. Manage a file with detailed receipts and explanations for why you needed to pay those expenses. You can also keep a daily journal detailing how your injuries have affected you physically and emotionally for a record of 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 use a lot of tricks to avoid paying claims, and it is better to leave communication up to an attorney who knows how to combat them.
• Resist Social Media — It is normal to want to share what is going on with your life on the Internet. However, even an honest post can do damage to your chances of being fully compensated. If you tell the insurance company that your injuries are keeping 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 you get the full financial recovery you are owed. Allow us to handle the legal aspect of your case so you can spend your energy on on your medical treatment.

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

For minor and clear-cut accidents, where there is no discrepancy about who is at fault and your medical expenses only include an urgent care 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 inconvenience. 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 it would be nice if insurance companies fulfilled their duty when their policyholders injure someone, they usually have to be convinced to. You will almost certainly need a motorcycle accident lawyer in Wood River, IL if:

• 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 future medical treatment or prevent you from earning a living as you used to, you will absolutely 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 in the tens or hundreds 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. Burger Law has added hundreds of thousands of dollars to claims, including turning a $3,900 offer into a $100,000 settlement.
• There is more than party at fault — With some accidents, especially crashes involving more than one vehicle, there may be more than one party that caused 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 a road hazard that a local government should have fixed. An aggressive Wood River, IL motorcycle accident lawyer will be able to investigate the crash and determine all liable parties. Identifying everyone who is liable is crucial if you are owed more compensation than the at-fault driver’s policy limits.
• You are being blamed for the accident — Trying to say your injuries are your own fault is a frequent move insurance adjusters use to avoid paying you. If the insurance company say your injuries are your own fault, an attorney use their investigate skills and network of experts to prove how the other party was negligent. If it is true that you were responsible for a portion of the accident, you are not completely barred from compensation under Missouri’s comparative negligence doctrine. However, a lawyer is likely necessary to get you the most possible compensation.

Your Wood River, IL motorcycle accident lawyer at Burger Law knows how to combat dishonest ploys 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 working from the second you hire us, and do not let up until you get every bit of compensation you deserve.

Recent Burger Law Wood River, 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. 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 Wood River, IL?

If you want to file any Wood River, 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 other person have an obligation to keep you safe? 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 that duty.
2. Breach of duty — Did they fail in that duty and did that breach lead to an accident? Was the other motorist speeding, texting and driving, drunk driving or otherwise breaking the rules of the road?
3. Cause in fact — Were your injuries the direct result of the accident?
4. Proximate cause — Did the person’s negligence cause the accident? If the other driver’s brakes were malfunctioning, the liable party may be a manufacturer and not another motorist?.
5. Damages — Did you sustain losses because of your injuries, such as lost wages and emotional distress? If your accident resulted in a few bruises or scrapes, but you did not need any medical treatment, you likely do not have a claim.

Any time somebody else’s carelessness or recklessness injures you, you need 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 Wood River, 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
• While not common, you may be able to recover 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 contributed to the accident
• If the accident led to 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 know how to calculate the full value of someone’s injury claim and insisting the liable party takes responsibility for all of it. If your injuries require ongoing medical care, 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 Wood River, IL?

Pursuant to 735 ILCS 5/13-202, the statute of limitations for motorcycle accident injuries in Wood River, IL is two years. That means you only have two years from the date of the accident to file a claim. There are some exceptions:

• If you or your loved one was under the age of 18 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 person responsible for your injuries leaves the state of Illinois for a period, that time 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 contact a motorcycle accident lawyer after you have been injured in Wood River, IL. Call us now at (779) 800-HURT.

What Are Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Wood River, IL?

Motorcycles are not as easy to spot on the road, being smaller. Due to something called “inattentional blindness,” drivers are less likely to see a motorcycle — even if they are doing their due diligence. 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 Wood River, IL.

Most motorcycle accidents occur because of:

• Left-hand turns — The Motorcycle Legal Foundation reports that over 40 percent of all fatal motorcycle crashes occur when a car turns left while the motorcycle was going straight. These crashes can happen because of a car driver’s drunkenness, reckless driving or distracted driving.
• Other collisions — Head on collisions also occur frequently between motorcycles and cars or trucks. A car may also to fail to 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, dead animals, slick surfaces or other debris on our streets usually do not affect a car or truck very much. However, motorcycles do not have the same level of stability and these hazards can cause a motorcyclist to spin out.
• Defective 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 Wood River, IL?

More than nine out of 10 auto accidents are the result of driver error. So, most of the time another motorist is responsible for your injuries. However, depending on the specifics of your case, you may also be able to make a claim against:

• A governmental agency 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 Wood River, 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 state may have to compensate you for your injuries. However, suing a government entity in Illinois has added complications. Our motorcycle accident lawyers in Wood River, IL can pick up your claim and take the fight to city hall to secure you the compensation you deserve.

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

The dangers of motorcycles mean that bikers have a higher death rate than people in enclosed vehicles. If tragedy struck and someone you love 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:

• A wrongful death claim can be made when some is killed by another’s negligence or wrongdoing.
• The Illinois statute of limitations for wrongful death claims is two years from the date your loved one died, not the date that they were first injured.
• 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, a judge can designate 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 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, education and moral training the deceased would have provided
  • Survivors’ grief, sorrow and mental suffering

Burger Law’s Wood River, IL wrongful death attorneys are not just tremendous at securing full compensation. We are compassionate 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 take on and win in Wood River, 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 Wood River, IL Today

Our Wood River, IL motorcycle accident lawyers will fight until you get the maximum compensation you are owed; we promise. You deserve to be financially compensated 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 Wood River, IL personal injury law firm will fight for your rights, call our team at (779) 800-HURT or complete our online form for a no obligation case review.