Personal Injury Lawyer in Antioch, IL

Burger Law fights on behalf of those who get hurt due to negligent and reckless actions. When you have sustained serious injuries in an accident or incident caused by another person’s actions, Burger Law’s personal injury lawyers in Antioch, IL demand the recovery you are owed and fight for you every step of the way. Call Burger Law today at (779) 800-HURT or fill out our online form.

To find out the value of your personal injury claim in Antioch, or anywhere in Illinois, use our free personal injury calculator.

The negligent parties that harmed you have an obligation to compensate you for all of your damages, but that does not mean they will do it willingly. Burger Law’s personal injury lawyer team fights hard for the injured against anyone who is trying to keep them from the compensation they deserve. That includes anything from making claims against large trucking companies, holding negligent healthcare professionals, product manufacturers, store owners accountable, taking the fight to the government, to getting justice and financial security for a family after the wrongful death of a loved one. If you would like to discuss the merits of your case further, what compensation you are owed or anything else about the personal injury claims process, speak to one of our personal injury lawyers in Antioch, IL today at (779) 800-HURT.

Why Choose Burger Law’s Antioch, IL Personal Injury Lawyers For Your Claim

Choosing the right personal injury lawyer for your claim is of utmost importance. You want someone with a history of winning similar cases and who you know will not back down from a fight. In order to gauge the abilities of an injury law firm, you need to look at their previous successes, and what their clients and peers say about them:

Premier Antioch, IL Personal Injury Lawyers

The many awards and recognition Burger Law has received from other lawyers include:

• Martindale-Hubbell Award — AV Preeminent® Rated by Martindale-Hubbell® from NexisLexis® – a noteworthy achievement awarded to not more than 5 percent of all attorneys in the country
• Million and Multi-Million Dollar Advocate Honor — Members of the Million and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, an honor only given to 1 percent of attorneys in the United States.
• Top 100 Trial Lawyers Honor — Selected to the Top 100 Trial Lawyers by The National Trial Lawyers, an invitation-only award that is comprised of the most qualified lawyers in each state.
• Board Certified By the National Board of Trial Advocacy — Board certified in Civil Trial Advocacy and Civil Pretrial Practice Advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Less than 4 percent of all practicing attorneys are certified by an ABA accredited certification board.

Personal Injury Lawyer Antioch, IL – Cases We Have Won

Our Antioch, IL personal injury lawyers fight for the full rights and recoveries of our clients. We fight all who harm our clients, and we fight for a full recovery every time. Our firm is committed to offering our clients amazing legal representation, and we take tremendous pride in our well-deserved victories. Check out some of our recent victories for our personal injury clients below:

• $5 Million Settlement – Father Killed By Reckless Truck Driver
• $3 Million Judgment – Son Murdered by Pam Hupp
• $2.5 Million Settlement for Father’s Fatal Car Accident
• From $0 to $2 Million Car Accident Settlement
• $2 Million Settlement – Injured Woman Settles Highway Crash Lawsuit
• $1.435 Million Settlement For Deck Collapse That Injured Couple
• $1 Million Settlement to Family of Man with Sepsis Infection
• Medical Malpractice Case Settles for Over $1 Million
• $900,000 Medical Malpractice Settlement
• $765,000 Settlement After Fatal Collision
• $600,000 Tractor-Trailer Crash
• $600,000 Settlement – Widow in ATV Accident Settles with Property Owner
• Class Action $600,000 Settlement Against the State of Illinois
• $495,000 Uninsured Motorcycle Verdict
• $400,000 Settlement in Employment Discrimination Case
• $350,000 Settlement in Ladder Case

It is important to remember that every injury comes with its own set of circumstances, and what you may be eligible to recover is going to be based entirely upon the circumstances of your claim. We calculate the full extent of your damages so that there is no money left on the table.

Burger Law Reviews

In addition to the videos below, you can see our full list of client testimonials here.

What Is a Personal Injury Claim in Antioch, IL?

A personal injury claim is your right under Illinois law to get financial compensation for the harm done by another person’s negligence, and to achieve justice. The aim of personal injury claims is to make you whole. The idea is to put you in the same position you were in before another person injured you.

In some cases, no outcome in your claim can truly “put back” all the things you lost in an injury. While we can get compensation for medical expenses, lost wages and other financial losses, other damages cannot truly be expressed through dollar signs. If a family member died, you are permanently disabled, are permanently scarred or will have to receive medical care for the rest of your life, no amount of money can make that go away. What empathetic and skilled personal injury lawyers like those at Burger Law can do is ensure your injuries are recognized, and to give you relief from the financial losses resulting from your accident.

Is it Worth Hiring Personal Injury Lawyer in Antioch, IL?

While some cases can be successfully navigated without a lawyer, most of the time you will need one to get the full compensation you deserve in Antioch, IL. The important question is, will I get more money with them? If your medical expenses are low, you did not miss much time off work and the other party’s fault is clearly established, a lawyer might not be necessary. But, you should hire a lawyer in Antioch, IL under the following circumstances:

• There is disagreement over who is to blame, or you are being blamed for your injuries
• The insurance company is denying they have to cover certain damages
• Your injuries are serious and require ongoing medical treatment
• There more than one party that is liable for your damages
• Your damages exceed the liable policyholder’s policy limits

We offer consultations for free, and we will always be honest with you about whether or not it is worth it for you to hire our services. Our personal injury lawyers take on cases based on a contingency-fee, meaning you do not pay until we win your case, and we have no reason to take on your claim if we do not think we can get you substantially more money.

What Do You Need to Prove to Win a Personal Injury Claim in Antioch, IL?

While state statutes can be confusing, whether or not you can seek compensation generally depends on one essential question: did another person’s negligence cause you injuries? From a legal standpoint, you must prove the five elements of negligence:

1. Duty of care — You first need to demonstrate that the person you are making a claim against owed it to you to value your safety. In some cases this is automatic, as motorists all owe everyone on the Antioch, IL roads a duty of care, or dog owners owe it to others not to let their dog injure anyone. Other times, a unique relationship must have formed, for example the relationship between a doctor and patient or between a vendor and a buyer.
2. Breach of duty — Did the other party fail in that obligation? Did a driver crash into you you because they were running a red light? Did a doctor not order the appropriate tests? Did a dog owner let their dog roam unleashed?
3. Causation — You must prove how the incident led to your injuries. For example, you sustained a whiplash injury after being rear ended, or had bad side effects from a prescription drug.
4. Proximate cause — This determines who needs to be held accountable. If you were rear ended, the liable party is usually the driver that hit you. But if the tires were defective, a manufacturer or mechanic may be the one who is ultimately liable.
5. Damages — Lastly, you need to show that the injuries led to financial losses. In personal injury cases, this is usually medical bills and lost wages. If you keep solid records of your medical expenses, this last part will be fairly easy to prove with the help of an attorney. After proving economic damages, we can seek a financial recovery for pain and suffering damages.

If you have any doubts about whether or not you have a case, speak to a lawyer in Antioch, IL who has won a similar claim before. Call a personal injury lawyer today at (779) 800-HURT.

Types of Cases Our Antioch, IL Personal Injury Lawyers Win

Being a personal injury lawyer in Antioch, IL requires that you have a vast knowledge of the different types of cases that people deal with. Knowing the difference between how the law applies to auto accidents, medical malpractice and slip and falls is essential. A lawyer who only knows how to deal with car insurance companies may not be the best choice to get you full compensation in a different claim. At Burger Law, we know how to get great results in any type of claim. Cases we specialize in in Antioch and throughout Illinois include:

Auto Accidents

Research from the Bureau of Justice Statistics indicate that there are 300,000 to 500,000 personal injury claims every year. Just over half of those are auto accident claims, for instance:

• Car Accidents
• Truck Accidents
• Motorcycle Accidents
• Bicycle Accidents
• Pedestrian Accidents

Truck accidents can cause serious injuries because trucks emit an incredible amount of force, and motorcyclists, bicyclists and pedestrians are all at increased risk of catastrophic injury or death as they do not have the same protection closed-vehicle occupants have. Under 625 ILCS 5/11-1003.1, all motorist must “exercise due care” to keep everyone else on the road safe. If someone breaks the rules of the road and you end up hurt, you have an auto accident claim against them.

In some cases, a vehicle manufacturer, construction company or local municipality may have at least contributed to your injuries. As part of our services, your Burger Law personal injury lawyer will conduct a full investigation into your accident to find every liable party and hold them accountable.

Premises Liability

Proprietors have a duty to ensure their premises is not hazardous for invitees and licensees. If you are injured in a slip and fall because a property was unsafe, you deserve compensation. 740 ILCS 130/, also known as the Illinois Premises Liability Act, stipulates that property owners owe a duty of care to entrants that is “of reasonable care under the circumstances regarding the state of the premises or acts done or omitted on them.” Essentially, if there is a hazardous condition that is not obvious, the owner needs to either repair the hazard, post signage or rope it off. Examples of hazardous conditions are:

• Spills
• A recently mopped floor
• Broken concrete on a walkway
• Broken stairs
• Broken decks and balconies
• Potholes
• Sudden changes in surface level
• Ledges
• Poorly lit stairs and walking paths
• Icy or snow-covered concrete
• Wet concrete
• Debris such as litter, fallen leaves and branches, rocks, etc
• Uneven rugs
• Stray cords
• In-ground sprinklers or hardscape features hidden in the grass
• Absence of safety rails

You do not automatically have a claim just because a property had a dangerous condition. If you were trespassing, ignored warning signs, for example a “wet floor sign,” or were running or not behaving in a safe manner, you likely do not have a slip and fall claim. The following must be true in order to make a claim:

• The owner or manager created the hazardous conditions; or
• The owner or manager was aware of the hazard and neglected to repair it; or
• The owner or manager tried to fix the condition and fixed it negligently; or
• The owner or manager should have known about the condition, either because it happens often, had been there for an extended length of time or due to other complaints

A store or insurance adjuster in Antioch, IL may tell you they do not owe you anything because they should not have been reasonable expected to repair or warn against the accident or because you are to blame. Do not believe them, and always speak with a personal injury lawyer before accepting any settlement.

Medical Malpractice

According to a 2016 study from John Hopkins University, medical errors are responsible for over 250,000 deaths a year. While not every error constitutes negligence, when it does, you can make a medical malpractice claim.

Your medical malpractice cases is based on what is called the standard of care. The standard refers to how a prudent doctor, in the same area and with the same training as the one you are making a claim against, would treat a specific condition.

Pursuant to 735 ILCS 5/2-622, any medical malpractice claim needs to be filed along with an affidavit from a health professional who:

• is knowledgeable in the relevant issues of the claim
• practices or teaches the same field as the negligent doctor, or has practiced or taught in that field within the last six years
• is qualified to review the facts of your case, and determines your claim is “reasonable and meritorious”

It is imperative that the health professional who writes the affidavit has the same training and practices in the same area as the health professional you are making a claim against. A thoracic surgeon in Chicago has a different standard of care than a pediatrician in Kadoka, South Dakota. Burger Law has a network of expert witnesses in Antioch and throughout Illinois who can corroborate that your doctor violated the standard of care.

Common instances of medical malpractice in Antioch, IL include:

• Nursing home negligence
• Birth injuries
• Misdiagnosis and failure to diagnosis
• Leaving objects in after surgery
• Hospital communication errors
• Failure to secure consent
• Not ordering tests that a prudent doctor would
• Ignoring a patient’s complaints
• Not seeking a second opinion or recommending a different treatment plan when theirs is not working
• Prescribing the wrong medication or the wrong dosage

Dog Bites

Each day, almost 1,000 people seek emergency medical treatment for dog bites, and every year about 12,600 people are hospitalized. According to a Chicago Tribune article, Illinois has the second-highest rate of dog bites in the country.

510 ILCS 5/, the Illinois Animal Control Act, stipulates that the owner of a dog is strictly liable for your the injuries their dog causes, assuming you did not provoke it and were not trespassing. “Strict liability” means that the owner is liable as a matter of law and you do not have to prove negligence. This means that the owner owes you a recovery even if they did not necessarily do anything wrong.

While some dog bites are minor, others result in expensive surgeries or lifelong disfigurement. Regardless of the severity of your injuries, trust in a Burger Law Antioch, IL personal injury lawyer to ensure you get the full financial recovery you deserve.

Product Liability

Like dog owners, the designers, manufacturers, distributors and vendors of a product are strictly liable for the damages a defective product causes. There are typically three theories a personal injury lawyer will use to make a product liability claim in Antioch, IL:

1. Design defect — This is a defect that was present when the product was initially conceptualized. This could include an SUV that is susceptible to rollover accidents, or a power tool whose safety guards do not prevent injuries.
2. Manufacturing defect — This type of defect affects several individual products instead of an entire line of products. Examples include a bug getting caught in packaging, or improperly attached electrical outlets.
3. Insufficient instructions — This refers to a product that did not carry sufficient warnings when it was put to foreseeable use. For example, a medication that does not include certain side-effects in the labeling.

In order to make a product liability claim, you must demonstrate that the product was “unreasonably dangerous” when it was used in a way a manufacturer could reasonably expect, that it caused your injuries and that the product had not been “substantially” changed from its state at the initial sale.

Burger Law’s personal injury lawyers know how to get great results whenever a wrongdoer injured someone else. One of the benefits of choosing a Burger Law Antioch, IL personal injury lawyer is that our team takes on all types of personal injury claims, and have won your type of claim before. We understand that case types often overlap, and having experience with each type of claim gives our team the perfect understanding of how to fight for our clients’ rights and recoveries.

How Does the Personal Injury Claims Process Work in Antioch, IL?

The journey to getting a financial settlement or verdict for your injuries starts the day you are injured. While some cases only take a few months, others go completely through to a jury trial. Generally, the personal injury claims process includes:

• Getting Medical Treatment — Get medical care immediately after an injury, and do not miss any appointments with your doctor, chiropractor or physical therapist. The insurance company will be harder to deal with if you wait, and not attending all your sessions will reduce your final payout. Our personal injury lawyers work with several experienced Antioch, IL doctors, chiropractors and physical therapists who can help you in your recovery.
• Consulting With an Attorney — Even if you are not sure you are going to need to hire a lawyer, it is best to know what your options are as soon as possible. A good attorney will be honest with you about whether or not their services are needed.
• Investigation and Documentation — Once you have hired an attorney, your personal injury lawyer will carry out an exhaustive investigation into the circumstances surrounding your injuries, determine who we need to hold accountable and acquire the evidence they need to get you maximum compensation. You should also keep detailed records of your expenses related to your injuries, and how they affect your day-to-day life.
• Settlement Demand and Negotiations — Once we have determined the full extent of your damages, we will send a settlement demand package to the liable party’s insurance company. In the package we will include how we calculated your damages, and insist that nothing but the full amount is acceptable. Most of the time, they will respond with a lower offer, and there will be several back-and-forths until they offer full compensation.
• Filing a Lawsuit — If negotiations do not lead anywhere, we will file a lawsuit in court, which begins the formal process of your claim going to trial. During this time, both parties continue negotiating.
• Mediation — If a settlement agreement still has not been reached, your personal injury lawyer and the liable party will likely pursue mediation. In mediation, an unbiased third party will try to get each party to accept the merits of the other side’s arguments.
• Pre-Trial — If mediation still does not result in a fair settlement, the “discovery” phase begins. In discovery, we take depositions of eyewitnesses and expert witnesses, acquire more evidence and share with and request documentation with the other side.
• Trial — It is rare that a personal injury claim makes it all the way to trial. In fact, many times we have gotten the settlement we were seeking in the weeks immediately before trial. However, if the insurance company still cannot see reason, we will fight for your compensation in court. Trial consists of:
  • Jury selection
  • Opening statements
  • Testimony and cross-examination
  • Closing arguments
  • Jury instruction
  • Jury deliberation and verdict

Most of our Antioch, IL clients have never been through the personal injury claims process before, and do not know what to expect. Burger Law will be by your side every step of the way, be there to answer all of your questions and oversee all the legal aspects of your case so you can focus on your physical recovery.

What Types of Compensation Are Available in My Antioch, IL Personal Injury Claim?

In general, your compensation will fall into two categories: economic damages and non-economic damages:

• Economic damages compensate you for your financial losses resulting from your injuries, for instance:
  • Lost wages
  • Lost earning capacity if your injuries do not allow you to earn a living as you used to
  • Medical costs, past and future
  • Out-of-pocket expenses
• Non-economic damages compensate you for the less tangible aspects of your injuries, such as:
  • Pain and suffering
  • Stress and anxiety
  • Loss of ability to enjoy life
  • Scarring and disfigurement
  • Inconvenience
  • Physical impairment
  • Loss of consortium

In some cases, you may also be eligible for punitive damages if the negligent party’s conduct was purposefully harmful or grossly negligent. Examples can include a drunk driver, or a doctor who performs surgery after drinking. While punitive damages are rarely awarded, your Burger Law personal injury lawyer will pursue every legal avenue We can to maximize your compensation.

How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Claim in Antioch, IL?

In Illinois, the statute of limitations is shorter than most states at just two years, under 735 ILCS 5/. That means you must file a claim within two years of when the injury occurred. However, there are three noteworthy exceptions:

1. If you were a minor when the injury occurred, you have two years to file a claim after your 18th birthday.
2. If you were under a “legal disability” when the injury occurred, you have two years from the date the disability was “removed.”
3. In medical malpractice cases, you have two years from the date you discovered the injury or should have discovered the injury. No medical malpractice claim can be made more than four years after the injury occurred, unless you were under 18. Then you would have until four years after your 18th birthday.

While two years may not cause immediate concern, thoroughly investigating an injury and developing a legal strategy takes time. Do not wait to contact an attorney. Call a personal injury lawyer today at (779) 800-HURT.

Other types of claims we handle in Antioch, 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 Personal Injury Lawyer in Antioch, IL Now

Burger Law’s Antioch, IL personal injury lawyers fiercely believe in zealous representation. That means we get started on your case the moment you hire us, pursue every legal option we have, stand up to insurance companies on your behalf and do not give up until you receive the full recovery you deserve. We only give our clients the highest level of legal representation; all of our advice will be based on the facts of the case and our experience, but we always leave the ultimate decisions on your claim to you and your Antioch, IL family. You do not have to pay for someone else’s careless actions. To start on your road to true recovery, call a Burger Law Antioch, IL personal injury lawyer now at (779) 800-HURT or contact us online for a free consultation.