Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Zion, IL

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

If you were injured in a motorcycle accident in Zion, 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 are connected to the road and your motorcycle in a way that a car just cannot emulate. Unfortunately, negligent drivers can turn that feeling into catastrophic injuries. Because motorcycles do not protect riders as well as enclosed vehicles, the consequences of a motorcycle accident can be devastating. When that happens to you, it carries economic, physical and emotional consequences and you need someone to fight for you. You need to find an attorney that has demonstrated that they can full compensation in motorcycle collision cases in Zion, IL.

Our attorneys and paralegals have over three decades of experience getting full financial recoveries for those injured through the negligence of another. Our motorcycle accident lawyers will aggressively pursue your claim to ensure you get the medical care and financial recovery that you are owed and that you deserve. Do not talk to your insurance or the other side’s insurance without speaking to an attorney first. The insurance adjuster will try to limit your financial settlement. Our firm has a proven track record of successfully fighting the insurance companies and making sure that they give 100 percent of what they owe our Zion, IL clients.

To find out more about what we can do for you, speak to our team at (312) 500-HURT to discuss your motorcycle accident claim immediately.

How Common Are Motorcycle Accidents in Zion, IL?

Even though motorcycles account for only .06 percent of total vehicle miles traveled nationwide, they accounted for four percent of all injuries and 14 percent of total deaths in traffic-related accidents in 2020, according to research from the National Safety Council. In the United States, in 2020 there were 82,500 motorcycle accident injuries and 5,579 deaths. In Illinois, of 3,077 motorcycle crashes, 2,404 caused injuries and 152 were fatal, according to the Illinois 2020 Crash Facts and Statistics. Sadly, over half of those happened when a passenger car or truck collided with a motorcycle when the biker was driving in a straight line, which means the accidents were often caused by a car or truck driver not respecting motorcyclists on the road. Most of the crashes occurred in densely populated areas, especially major city streets.

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

Nearly half of deadly motorcycle accidents occur in the summer months, and half occur on the weekends.

What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Zion, IL

There are several steps you should take, both immediately following the accident and throughout the length of your claim process, to ensure you make both a physical and financial recovery.

Immediately After The Accident

While any wreck can be surprising and scary, it is important to keep a clear head. Immediately after the crash, you should:

• Get out of harm’s way — If you can, move out of the way of oncoming traffic. Leave your motorcycle behind. We know it is a treasure for you, but trying to carry it could make your injuries worse. If you are seriously injured, stay still and wait for emergency personnel.
• Keep your gear on — Taking off your helmet, gloves, boots, jacket and other gear could also exacerbate your injuries. Because of adrenaline, a serious injury may not always hurt as much at first.
• Call 911 — As motorcycle accidents can cause severe injuries, it is probably a good idea to get medical attention 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 responsible for the accident.
• Gather evidence — Talk to any other motorists involved and request an insurance card. Take pictures 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 Zion, IL when trying to prove who is responsible for your injuries down the road. See if there are eyewitnesses who can corroborate your claim.

Lastly, receive medical attention if you have not already.

What to Do in the Ensuing Weeks and Months

After you first seek medical care, inform both your insurance company and the other driver’s. Then, speak to a motorcycle accident lawyer in Zion, 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 not only vital for your health, but aids your financial recovery as well. 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 non-economic damages compensation will be as well. Make sure you attend every follow up, chiropractic or physical therapy appointment your doctor wants you to.
• Keep Track of Everything Related to Your Injuries — 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 you incur, such as parking or gas money for going to medical appointments or hiring someone to help take care of your kids. Keep all of your receipts and notes about why you needed to pay those expenses. It may also be a good idea to 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 notified the insurance company about your accident and hired a motorcycle accident lawyer, let your attorney handle documentation and negotiation. Insurance adjusters try to employ a lot of tactics to minimize claims, but your attorney will know how to deal with them.
• Resist Social Media — It is commonplace to want to share what is going on with your life on the Internet. However, posting too much on social media can do damage to your case. If you say your injuries are debilitating, and the insurance finds out you have been 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 you get the maximum compensation you are owed. Let us deal with the investigation, documentation, negotiation and litigation so you can spend your energy on on healing.

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

For some minor claims, where the liable party is obvious and your medical expenses only include an emergency room visit, a lawyer may not be able to add much value to your claim. Give the insurance company proof of your financial losses, and see if they will throw some extra money on top for the hassle. In a a settlement for a relatively small sum of money where not much is disputed, the adjuster is not going to want to waste their time.

However, in the vast majority of cases, 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. You will likely need a motorcycle accident lawyer in Zion, IL if:

• Your injuries are severe — The more your medical expenses and lost wages, the more the insurance company will try and devalue your injuries. 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 hold the insurance adjuster accountable for all of your damages.
• The insurance company’s offer is far below your damages — 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 a lawyer, the insurance company will know that you mean business. 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 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. A talented Zion, 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 your injuries — Trying to say your injuries are your own fault is a frequent trick insurance adjusters use to avoid paying you. If the insurance company say your accident was your own doing, 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 can still receive some 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 Zion, IL motorcycle accident lawyer at Burger Law knows how to combat tricks insurance adjusters use. We have been doing it for over three decades. Our consultations are 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 moment you hire us, and do not let up until you get every bit of compensation you deserve.

Recent Burger Law Zion, 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 recommend 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 Zion, IL?

In order to file any Zion, 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 liable party have an obligation to protect you from unreasonable harm? 625 ILCS 5/11-1003.1 states 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 driver speeding, texting and driving, drunk driving or otherwise not following 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 breach of duty 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 your injuries lead to losses, such as lost wages and mental anguish? If your accident resulted in some small cuts and bruising, but it was not serious enough to seek medical treatment, it would be hard for you to file a claim.

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

How Much is My Zion, 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 mental anguish, scarring and pain and suffering
• In some rare cases, you can receive punitive damages if you were injured by extreme recklessness, such as drunk driving

Factors that determine how much you will recover include:

• The severity of your injuries; more significant injuries usually 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
• How your life has changed because of your injuries

At Burger Law, our injury attorneys know how to calculate the full value of someone’s injury claim and insisting the insurance company 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 Zion, IL?

Under 735 ILCS 5/13-202, the statute of limitations for motorcycle accident claims in Zion, IL is two years. That means the clock starts ticking on the date the accident occurred to file a lawsuit in court. Illinois has three exceptions:

• If you or your loved one was a minor 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 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 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 Zion, IL. Call us immediately at (312) 500-HURT.

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

Motorcycles are not as easy to spot on the road, do not take up as much space on the road. Due to something referred to as “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 larger vehicles, but not for motorcycles. Inattentional blindness contributes to many motorcycle accidents in Zion, IL.

The most common causes of motorcycles accidents are:

• Left-hand turns — The Motorcycle Legal Foundation reports that almost half of all motorcycle accidents that result in deaths occur when a car turns left while the motorcycle was going straight. These crashes can be due to a motorist’s intoxication, speeding or generally not paying close enough attention to the road.
• Other collisions — Head on collisions also occur frequently between motorcycles and other types of vehicles. It is also common for a car to fail to see a motorcyclist when turning in front of them. Motorcycles also collide with fixed objects more than any other type of driver, which may be due to a negligent construction company or governmental entity.
• Road hazards — Uneven pavement, potholes, animal carcasses, gravel or other roadways debris often do not have much of an impact on a car. However, motorcycles do not have the same level of stability and these hazards can cause a motorcyclist to spin out.
• Malfunctioning 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 result in motorcycle crashes.

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

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

• A governmental body or contracting company for road hazards
• A vehicle manufacturer in a product liability claim
• A employer if their employee injured you while driving, such as in a commercial truck accident

Can I Sue For My Zion, 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 Zion, IL can handle your claim and guide you through the complexities of local and state laws to get you a full financial recovery.

A Loved One Was Killed in a Motorcycle Crash in Zion, 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 a loved one died in a motorcycle crash, you can make a recovery through a wrongful death claim. While no settlement or verdict can fill the whole that is left, it can bring a sense of justice 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 of your loved one’s death, 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 nieces and nephews can file a claim
  3. If there are no family members, a judge 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 economic and noneconomic damages the deceased 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 Zion, IL wrongful death attorneys are not just skilled at getting our clients full recoveries. 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 injury cases we we have had great success with in Zion, 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 Zion, IL Today

Our Zion, 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 Zion, IL personal injury law firm will fight for your rights, call our team at (312) 500-HURT or contact us online for a no obligation case evaluation.