Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Wrigleyville, IL

The thrill of riding a motorcycle can be ripped away from you by the injuries careless drivers cause when they do not pay attention to your safety. If another driver injured you in Wrigleyville, IL, call the motorcycle accident lawyers of Burger Law now at (312) 500-HURT or fill out our online form for a free consultation.

If you were injured in a motorcycle accident in Wrigleyville, 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 enjoy yourself and build a camaraderie with people who share your passions. You get a feeling of the open road that is not possible in an enclosed vehicle. Regrettably, negligent drivers can turn that feeling into catastrophic injuries. Because of their relative lack of protection, the consequences of a motorcycle accident can be devastating. When that happens to you, there are instant economic, physical and mental consequences and you need someone to fight for you. You want a law firm with a proven track record of winning motorcycle wreck claims in Wrigleyville, IL.

Our team 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. Do not talk to your insurance or the other side’s insurance without speaking to an attorney first. The insurance adjuster is out to limit your compensation. We know how to stand up to insurance companies and ensure that they give the full compensation they owe our Wrigleyville, IL clients.

To discover more about how our personal injury law firm will defend your rights, speak to a lawyer at (312) 500-HURT to go over your motorcycle accident case today.

How Common Are Motorcycle Accidents in Wrigleyville, IL?

Fourteen percent of traffic deaths and four percent of injuries were sustained by motorcyclists, despite only only .06 percent of vehicle traffic being motorcycles, according to data from the National Safety Council. In the entire country, in 2020 there were 82,500 motorcycle accident injuries and 5,579 deaths. In Illinois, there were 3,077 motorcycle crashes which caused 2,404 injuries and 152 deaths, according to the Illinois 2020 Crash Facts and Statistics. Regrettably, 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, which leads us to believe that the accidents were often due to another driver not respecting motorcyclists on the road. Wrecks happen most frequently in metropolitan areas, especially around tolls.

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

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 Wrigleyville, IL

There are a number steps you should take, 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 can be surprising and scary, it is important to keep a clear head. At the accident site, you should:

• Get to safety — If you are physically able, get to the side of the road and away from oncoming traffic. Leave the bike. It is obviously important to you, but staying with the bike or trying to move it could put you at risk of further harm. If you suspect you have a spine or head injury, it may be best not to move; instead wait for emergency personnel.
• Keep your gear on — Removing your helmet or other gear could also make injuries worse. Because of adrenaline, a serious injury may not always hurt as much at first.
• Call 911 — Because the injuries caused in a motorcycle wreck can be catastrophic, it may be best to get medical attention there instead of trying to go to an emergency room yourself. 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 pictures of the accident, including damage to all vehicles involved and the surrounding areas. Take as many pictures as possible. Something that may seem unimportant at first may be useful to a motorcycle accident lawyer in Wrigleyville, IL when trying to prove who is responsible for your injuries when you make your claim. See if there are eyewitnesses who can back up your side of the story.

Lastly, if you did not seek medical treatment at the crash site, 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 Wrigleyville, 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 obviously the best thing for your health, but is also paramount to making sure you get full compensation. You need to prove how much that accident hurt you, and to do that you need to complete copies of medical medical records which show all of the costs and treatments directly associated with the accident. The more medical expenses you have, 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 Detailed Records — You are also entitled to compensation for lost wages from time when you were unable to work due to your injuries, and any out-of-pocket expenses that were necessary, such as parking or gas money for going to medical appointments or hiring someone to help take care of your kids. Manage a file with detailed receipts and notes about why you needed to pay those expenses. You can also keep a daily journal 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 enlisted the services of a motorcycle accident lawyer, your attorney will handle all communication with the insurance. Insurance adjusters utilize a lot of tricks to devalue claims, but your attorney will know how to make the adjuster be honest.
• Resist Social Media — It is normal to want to share what is going on with your life on social media. 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 they can say your injuries are not actually that severe.

From your initial consultation, we will keep you completely in the loop until we attain a successful resolution. Allow us to handle the investigation, documentation, negotiation and litigation so you can focus on your physical and emotional recovery.

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

For some minor claims, where the liable party is obvious 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 your records and expenses, and see if they will throw some extra money on top for the hassle. In a smaller settlement where not much is disputed, the insurance company 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, it usually takes a fair amount of fighting to get them to do it. You will probably need a motorcycle accident lawyer in Wrigleyville, IL if:

• Your injuries are significant — The more your medical bills and time spent off work, the more the insurance company will fight back against your claim. 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 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 adjuster is only offering a few thousand, 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 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 is more than liable party — With some injuries, especially multi-vehicle accidents, there may be more than one person who was negligent. 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 Wrigleyville, IL motorcycle accident lawyer will conduct a full investigation into the wreck and determine all liable parties. Identifying everyone who is liable is crucial if your damages exceed the at-fault driver’s policy limits.
• You are being blamed for the accident — Blaming you for your injuries is a well-known trick insurance adjusters use to minimize your claim. If the insurance company say your injuries are your own doing, an attorney can step in and prove that is not the case. If it is true that you were 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 Wrigleyville, IL motorcycle accident lawyer at Burger Law knows how to fight back against dishonest ploys insurance adjusters use. We have been doing it for over 30 years. We offer an initial conversation and investigation for free, so speak to an attorney today at (312) 500-HURT to see what we can do for your claim. We start working from the second you hire us, and fight until there is nothing left to fight.

Recent Burger Law Wrigleyville, 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 are the best is one thing, but a lawyer whose former clients will vouch for them and who has the 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 Wrigleyville, IL?

If you want to have a successful claim in Wrigleyville, IL, 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 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 motorist speeding, texting and driving, drunk driving or otherwise breaking proper procedure behind the wheel?
3. Cause in fact — Were your injuries the direct result of the accident?
4. Proximate cause — Did the person’s breach of duty 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 lost wages and emotional distress? If your accident caused a few bruises or scrapes, but they healed without any medical treatment, you likely do not have a claim.

If you were injured through another’s negligence, you have an injury claim. Consult with a motorcycle accident attorney today at (312) 500-HURT if you have any doubts about the validity of your claim.

How Much is My Wrigleyville, 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, disfigurement and pain and suffering
• While not common, you might be able to recover 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 contributed to the accident
• If you sustained 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 every dime you are owed and demand that the insurance company pay 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 Wrigleyville, IL?

Pursuant to 735 ILCS 5/13-202, the time limit for motorcycle accident claims in Wrigleyville, IL is two years. That means you only have two years from the date you were injured to file a claim. Illinois has three exceptions:

• If you or your loved one was under the age of 18 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 negligent party leaves the state of Illinois for a period, that time is not included in the two years

While two years may seem like a long time, it takes time to properly build your case. Do not wait to contact a motorcycle accident lawyer after you have been injured in Wrigleyville, IL. Call us today at (312) 500-HURT.

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

Motorcycles are harder for passenger car drivers to see, being smaller. As a result of a phenomenon called “inattentional blindness,” drivers are less likely to see a motorcycle — even when they are looking for one. This is because we train our brains to be aware of other cars, but not for motorcycles. Inattentional blindness is a leading cause of motorcycle accidents in Wrigleyville, IL.

The most common causes of motorcycles accidents are:

• Left-hand turns — According to the Motorcycle Legal Foundation, over 40 percent of all motorcycle accidents that result in fatalities occur when a car turns left while the motorcycle was going straight. These crashes can be due to a car driver’s drunkenness, 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 have the highest rate of collisions with fixed objects, which is not always the motorcyclist’s fault.
• Road hazards — Cracked pavement, potholes, dead animals, wet or icy roadways or other roadways debris usually do not affect a vehicle with more than two wheels very much. However, motorcycles do not have the same level of stability and these hazards can cause a motorcyclist to lose control.
• Defective parts — Dozens of motorcycles are recalled every year, either by the manufacturer or by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. If bikes or parts that are defective are allowed to stay on the market, it can lead to motorcycle accidents.

Who is Liable for My Motorcycle Accident Injuries in Wrigleyville, 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 agency or contracting company for not repairing or negligent repairing a road
• A vehicle manufacturer in a product liability claim
• A company if someone they hired injured you while driving, such as in a commercial truck accident

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

States and municipalities are tasked with keeping their roadways safe for citizens to travel on, and when there are road hazards that cause an accident, the municipality can be held responsible for the motorcycle accident. However, suing a government entity in Illinois has added complications. Our motorcycle accident lawyers in Wrigleyville, IL can take on 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 Wrigleyville, IL. What Are My Legal Options?

Motorcyclists are not only at higher risk of a catastrophic injury, but are more likely to be in a fatal accident. If you were touched by tragedy 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. Members of the nuclear family, such as a spouse, children, grandchildren and grandparents
  2. If there are no immediate family members, siblings and nieces and nephews can file a claim
  3. If no family remains, 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 benefits related to 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 Wrigleyville, 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 comes after a fatal auto accident.

In addition to motorcycle accidents, other injury cases we we have had great success with in Wrigleyville, IL include:

• Truck Crash Lawyers in Illinois
• Wrongful Death Lawyers in Illinois
• Semi-Truck Accident Lawyer in Illinois
• Car Accident Attorney in Illinois

HIRE BURGER LAW

Speak to a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Wrigleyville, IL Today

Our Wrigleyville, 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 do not have to pay for someone else’s mistakes. To learn more about how our Wrigleyville, IL personal injury law firm will fight for your rights, call our team at (312) 500-HURT or fill out our online form for a no obligation case review.

Client Reviews

What our clients are saying about us

Juanita Matthews

Year of 2023

This law firm is absolutely amazing. They took on my case, when nobody else would! They fought hard for me when it seemed there was no hope. They kept me informed and always asked for my input before making decisions on my case. Gary puts himself into every case unlike most law firm owners. Gary and his team really care about every one of their clients, and fights hard to get you a fair settlement. They actually won my case out of court, and then reduced my fees to make sure I could get my car fixed and be able to get back to some normality. I would recommend Burger Law over and above any other firm! If you go somewhere else you aren’t getting the best!

Shaunda S.

7 months ago

I am very happy with the staff at Burger Law. I mostly worked with Michael Sheldon, and he did an amazing job. I trusted him completely with my case, and he did not disappoint. I would definitely recommend this team if your ever in need of good attorneys.

Emelia M.

3 months ago

Burger Law Firm is fantastic. Laura and Genevieve were so amazing and helpful throughout the entire process. They helped me with my personal injury case every step of the way and succeeded at getting me the results I desired.

Helen L.

a year ago

We had a great experience with Burger Law for representing us after a serious car accident. Truly impressed by how professional and supportive the entire team is. And, many thanks to Genavieve and Laura – you are amazing!

Judy M.

a year ago

They did an amazing job on my case! Communication with them was great!!! Kept me informed and in the loop with everything that was going on!!! Will definitely be the 1st ones I’ll call if ever I’m in another accident!!! Thank you very much!!!

Chelsea C.

5 months ago

Let me tell you something about Burger Law.. they are so attentive and kind. Jennifer is my savior!! I love the whole team!!! They are truly a miracle team!! I appreciate their business and would recommend it to others.

David D.

2 months ago

Absolutely the best law firm in the St. Louis area. No matter the size of your case you are treated as if you are the only client on the roster. Will explain anything thoroughly and they work around your availability. Very impressed and appreciative of the service.

Lisa B.

11 months ago

Gary and Casey took great care of me for 2.5 years as my lawsuit was finally settled. I feel he helped me achieve justice for me and my 4 children after their father died from medical malpractice and neglect. Thanks to Gary, my kids now have a great start to their college and adult lives. Thank you Gary and Casey, for fighting for us so hard at our most trying and difficult time in our lives thus far. Love and God bless from my family to yours!

View More Reviews on Google Maps and Yelp