Personal Injury Lawyer in Belvidere, IL

Burger Law fights on behalf of people who get hurt because of the negligence of another. If you or someone you love are seriously injured because of someone else’s negligent behavior, Burger Law’s personal injury lawyers in Belvidere, IL demand the recovery you are owed and fight for you every step of the way. Call Burger Law now at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online.

To find out how much compensation you may be owed in Belvidere, or anywhere in Illinois, complete our free personal injury calculator.

Those who harmed you are financially and legally responsible for taking care of your injuries and paying you all of what you are owed, but they will not do it willingly. Burger Law’s personal injury lawyer team fights back for the injured against anyone who is trying to keep them from the recovery they deserve. We handle a variety of cases, including suing large trucking companies, holding negligent healthcare professionals, product manufacturers, pet owners responsible, taking the fight to City Hall, to getting justice and financial security for a family after a a family member passed too soon. If you want to understand if you have a claim, the damages you may be able to recover or anything else about the personal injury claims process, call our personal injury lawyers in Belvidere, IL as soon as possible at (314) 500-HURT.

Why Burger Law Is The Belvidere, IL Personal Injury Law Firm For You

It can be hard to know how to choose the right personal injury lawyer for you. You want someone who has won your type of case before and who is not afraid of a fight. In order to gauge the abilities of an injury law firm, you need to look at their previous victories, and what their clients and peers say about them:

Acclaimed Belvidere, IL Personal Injury Lawyers

The many awards and accolades Burger Law has received from other law firms include:

• Martindale-Hubbell Award — AV Preeminent® Rated by Martindale-Hubbell® from NexisLexis® – a notable achievement awarded to not more than 5 percent of all lawyers nationwide
• 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 honor 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 American Bar Association accredited certification board.

Personal Injury Lawyer Belvidere, IL – Cases We Have Won

Our Belvidere, IL personal injury lawyers have a demonstrated history of getting great results. We fight all who harm our clients, and we fight for a full recovery every time. Our attorneys are committed to providing our clients the highest standard of legal advocacy, and we have great pride in our hard-fought victories. Read about our case results 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 the financial recovery you are owed is going to depend on the circumstances of your claim. We calculate the full extent of your damages so that we get the maximum amount of compensation possible.

Burger Law Client Success Stories

Beyond the videos below, you can see our full list of client testimonials here.

What Is a Personal Injury Claim in Belvidere, IL?

Under Illinois and U.S. law, you have a right to file a personal injury claim to get a financial recovery for the injuries someone else caused, and to achieve justice. The compensation you receive is meant to make you whole. The goal is to put you in the same position you were in before sustained the damages caused by another’s negligence.

Sometimes, no lawyer or financial award can fully return you to how things were before the injury. While you can be reimbursed for medical bills, lost wages and other financial losses, other damages are less tangible. If you lost a loved one, you are permanently disabled, are permanently scarred or will have to receive medical care for the rest of your life, no legal process can make that go away. What compassionate and experienced personal injury lawyers like those at Burger Law can do is secure you fair compensation in order to provide a sense of justice and recognition, and to give you financial security as it relates to your injuries.

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

That depends on the specifics of your case, but most of the time, yes, you will need a personal injury lawyer to recover the full value of your claim in Belvidere, IL. The important question is, can they add value to my claim? If your injuries were not significant, you did not miss much time off work and the other party’s fault is clearly established, you may not need an attorney. But, you should hire a lawyer in Belvidere, IL under the following circumstances:

• There is disagreement about who is to blame, or the insurance company says the injuries are your fault
• The insurance company is denying they have to cover certain damages
• Your injuries are serious and require ongoing care
• There more than one party at fault
• Your damages are more than the at-fault policyholder’s policy limits

Our initial conversations and investigations are free, and we will always be honest with you about how much value we can add your claim. Our personal injury lawyers take on cases based on a contingency-fee, meaning you only pay after you have received the full compensation you deserve, and there is no reason for us to accept you as a client 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 Belvidere, IL?

While the legal specifics concerning negligence and liability can be hard to navigate, whether or not you can seek compensation depends on the answer to one specific question: did someone else’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 liable party owed it to you to value your safety. In some cases this is automatic, as Belvidere, IL driver owe everyone else on the roads a duty of care, or dog owners owe it to others not to let their dog injure anyone. In other cases, a unique relationship must have been agreed to, for example a doctor-patient relationship or a vendor-patron relationship.
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 physician prescribe the wrong dosage? Did a trucking company force their employee to drive longer than regulations allow?
3. Causation — You must demonstrate how the incident resulted in your injuries. For example, you received a concussions after being thrown off your motorcycle, or were burned by a defective product when it overheated.
4. Proximate cause — This determines liability. If you were hit by a vehicle, the liable party is usually the driver that hit you. But if the brakes were faulty, someone in the product’s chain of distribution may be ultimately liable.
5. Damages — Lastly, you have to show that you sustained some form of financial loss as a direct result of your injuries. In personal injury cases, this is usually medical expenses and lost wages. With access to your medical records, an attorney will be able to establish your financial losses with an insurance company. After proving economic damages, we can pursue a financial recovery for the other ways your injuries have affected you.

If you have any doubts about the validity of your claim, speak to a lawyer in Belvidere, IL who has won a similar claim before. You can speak to a personal injury lawyer today at (314) 500-HURT.

Types of Claims Our Belvidere, IL Personal Injury Lawyers Win

Being a personal injury lawyer in Belvidere, 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 that only specializes in a certain type of injury claim 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 whenever negligence results in an injury. Cases we take on in Belvidere and throughout Illinois include:

Auto Accidents

The Bureau of Justice Statistics estimates that there are 300,000 to 500,000 personal injury claims annually. About 52 percent of those are auto accident claims, including:

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

Truck accidents can cause serious injuries because of the amount of force they carry in an accident, 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, anyone behind the wheel must “exercise due care” to avoid colliding with anybody or anything else on the Illinois roads. If someone breaks the rules of the road, causes an accident and injures you, 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. Your Burger Law personal injury lawyer will conduct an exhaustive investigation into your accident to find every liable party and hold them accountable.

Premises Liability

Proprietors have an obligation to ensure their property is not hazardous for people who are legally on it. If you sustain damages in a slip and fall because a property was unsafe, you can make a premises liability claim. 740 ILCS 130/, also referred to as the Illinois Premises Liability Act, states that property owners have 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.” Generally, if there is a dangerous condition that is not obvious, the owner has a responsibility 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
• Overly steep inclines
• Ledges
• Poor lighting
• Icy or snow-covered concrete
• Wet concrete
• Debris such as litter, fallen leaves and branches, rocks, etc
• Rugs that are not flat
• Electrical 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 in a part of a property you were not allowed to be, did not pay attention to warning signs, such as a “wet floor sign,” or were running or not behaving in a safe manner, it might be hard to get compensation. The following must be true in order to make a claim:

• The owner or manager created the hazardous conditions; or
• The owner or manager knew about the condition and failed to fix it; or
• The owner or manager tried to repair the condition and repaired 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 property owner or insurance adjuster in Belvidere, IL may tell you they are not liable for your slip and fall injuries because they should not have been reasonable expected to repair or warn against the accident or because you are to blame. That is not true, and do not accept any settlement offer until you have spoken to a personal injury lawyer.

Medical Malpractice

Based on data from John Hopkins University, medical errors cause over a quarter of a million deaths a year. While not every error constitutes negligence, when it does, a healthcare professional needs to pay for breaking your trust.

Proving a medical malpractice claim is based on what is known as the standard of care. The standard is how a prudent physician, in the same area and with the same training as the one you are suing, would treat a specific condition.

Under 735 ILCS 5/2-622, any medical malpractice claim must be accompanied by 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 vital that the health professional corroborating your allegations is in the same practice area and geographic region 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 relies on a network of expert witnesses in Belvidere and in other parts of Illinois who can help verify that your medical malpractice suit is valid.

Common examples of medical malpractice in Belvidere, IL include:

• Nursing home negligence
• Birth injuries
• Misdiagnosis and failure to diagnosis
• Leaving objects in during surgery
• Hospital system errors
• Failure to secure consent
• Failing to order tests that a prudent doctor would
• Blowing off a patient’s complaints
• Not seeking a second opinion or recommending a different treatment plan when theirs is not working
• Prescription errors

Dog Bites

Each day, almost 1,000 people seek emergency care for dog bites, and annually about 12,480 people are hospitalized. According to a Chicago Tribune article, Illinois is the second-highest dog bite state in the country.

510 ILCS 5/, the Illinois Animal Control Act, mandates that a dog owner is strictly liable for your damages if it bit you, assuming there was no provocation and you were legally allowed to be where you were. “Strict liability” means that the owner is automatically liable, whether they were negligent or not. This means, the owner cannot get out of paying you by saying they did not know the dog was aggressive, or that it was not their fault the animal got free.

While some dog bites are minor, others can lead to expensive surgeries or permanent scarring. Regardless of the seriousness of your injuries, trust in a Burger Law Belvidere, IL personal injury lawyer to secure you the full compensation you are owed.

Product Liability

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

1. Design defect — This is a defect that occurs even if the product is manufactured correctly. This could include tables or furniture that naturally tip over, 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 rat droppings getting caught in a soda can, or improperly attached electrical outlets.
3. Marketing defect — 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 recover compensation, you must demonstrate that the product carried inherent risks when used in a foreseeable manner, that it was the proximate cause of injuries and that the product had not been “substantially” changed from its state at the initial sale.

Burger Law’s personal injury lawyers will take on any case in which someone was injured through no fault of their own. One of the benefits of choosing a Burger Law Belvidere, IL personal injury lawyer is that we are not limited to any one type of claim, and this actually gives our lawyers exceptional experience that they can use to benefit all their clients. 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.

What Is the Personal Injury Claims Process in Belvidere, IL?

The path to getting maximum compensation for your injuries starts the second you are injured. While some cases only take a few months, others go completely through to a jury trial. Generally, the path to getting compensation includes:

• Getting Medical Treatment — Seek medical treatment immediately after an injury, and follow your doctor’s treatment plans to a “T.” Waiting too long could bring complications to your claim, and not attending all your appointments will reduce how much compensation you receive. Our personal injury lawyers work with several experienced Belvidere, IL health professionals who can help you in your recovery.
• Consulting With an Attorney — Even if you are not sure you are going to need legal representation, you need to know what your options are as soon as possible. A good attorney will be straightforward with you about whether or not their services are needed.
• Investigation and Documentation — Once you have hired an attorney, your personal injury lawyer will conduct a comprehensive investigation into your claim, determine who we need to hold accountable and obtain the evidence they need to get you full compensation. You can help by keeping detailed records of your expenses related to your injuries, and how keeping a journal detailing how your injuries have affected your 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 full documentation of all of your damages, and demand a financial recovery for all the ways your injuries have affected you. Most of the time, the insurance company will counter our offer with a lower number, and there will be several back-and-forths until they agree to pay for 100 percent of your damages.
• 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, we will continue negotiating in an effort to avoid a trial.
• Mediation — If a settlement agreement still has not been reached, your personal injury lawyer and the liable party will likely pursue mediation. In mediation, a neutral third party will try to get each party to accept the merits of the other side’s arguments.
• Pre-Trial — If mediation fails, the “discovery” phase begins. In discovery, we will speak to eyewitnesses and expert witnesses, gather more evidence and share with and request documentation with the other side.
• Trial — Only six percent of personal injury claims go to trial. Indeed, many times we have gotten a fair settlement offer just before trial begins. However, if the insurance company still cannot see reason, we will fight for your compensation in front of a judge and jury. Trial consists of:
  • Voir dire
  • Opening statements
  • Testimony and cross-examination
  • Closing arguments
  • Jury instruction
  • Jury deliberation and verdict

Most people who speak with our Belvidere, IL personal injury lawyers have never been through the personal injury claims process before, and are unsure of what lies ahead. Burger Law will be your advocate every step of the way, be there to answer all of your questions and handle all documentation, negotiation and litigation so you can spend your energy on your physical recovery.

How Much Is My Personal Injury Claim in Belvidere, IL Worth?

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

• Economic damages compensate you for the economic harm resulting from your injuries, including:
  • Lost wages
  • Lost earning potential if your injuries do not allow you to earn a living as you used to
  • Medical expenses, past and future
  • Out-of-pocket expenses
• Non-economic damages compensate you for losses that are harder to quantify, including:
  • Pain and suffering
  • Stress and anxiety
  • Loss of ability to enjoy life
  • Scarring and disfigurement
  • Inconvenience
  • Physical impairment
  • Loss of consortium

Though rare, you may also be eligible for punitive damages if the at-fault party’s conduct was purposefully harmful or incredibly reckless. Examples can include a drunk driver, or a doctor who performs surgery after drinking. While punitive damages do not apply to most personal injury claims, your Burger Law personal injury lawyer will pursue every legal avenue possible to maximize your compensation.

What Is the Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Claims in Belvidere, IL?

In Illinois, the statute of limitations is shorter than most states at just two years, under 735 ILCS 5/. That means the clock starts ticking when your accident occurs, and expires after two years. However, there are three notable exceptions:

1. If you were a minor at the time of injury, 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 could reasonably have been expected to discover the injury. No medical malpractice claim can be made more than four years after the injury occurred, unless you were a minor at the time. Then you would have until your 22nd birthday.

While two years may seem like a long time, 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 (314) 500-HURT.

Hire Burger Law

Speak to Personal Injury Lawyer in Belvidere, IL Now

Burger Law’s Belvidere, IL personal injury lawyers hold ourselves to the standard of zealous representation. That means we start working for your recovery 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 maximum recovery you deserve. We only give our clients the highest standard of legal representation; all of our advice will be sincere and in your best interest, but we always leave the ultimate decisions on your claim to you and your Belvidere, 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 Belvidere, IL personal injury lawyer now at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a free consultation.