Personal Injury Lawyer in Crest Hill, IL

Burger Law defends the rights of people who get hurt because someone else did no respect their safety. If you or a family member has been injured in an accident or incident caused by another person’s actions, Burger Law’s personal injury lawyers in Crest Hill, IL demand the recovery you are owed and fight for you every step of the way. Reach out to Burger Law now at (779) 800-HURT or fill out our online form.

To calculate the value of your personal injury claim in Crest Hill, or anywhere in Illinois, use our complimentary personal injury calculator.

Those who hurt you are financially and legally responsible for taking care of your injuries and paying you all of what you are owed, 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 recovery they are owed. That includes anything from making claims against drunk drivers, holding negligent physicians, product manufacturers, dog owners accountable, suing the government, to securing justice and financial security for a family after the wrongful death of a loved one. If you would like to discuss the validity of your case further, the damages you may be able to recover or anything else about the personal injury claims process, call our personal injury lawyers in Crest Hill, IL now at (779) 800-HURT.

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

Choosing the right personal injury lawyer for your case is crucial. 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 take into account the cases they have won, and their reputation among their clients and other attorneys:

Premier Crest Hill, IL Personal Injury Lawyers

The numerous awards and honors Burger Law has received from other attorneys 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 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 award that is made up of the most qualified attorneys 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 lawyers are certified by an American Bar Association accredited certification board.

Personal Injury Lawyer Crest Hill, IL – Cases We Have Won

Our Crest Hill, 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 amazing legal representation, 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 worth mentioning that no two cases are the same, and the compensation you receive is going to depend on the circumstances of your claim. We fight for you so that you are given what you deserve.

Burger Law Reviews

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

Definition of a Personal Injury Claim in Crest Hill, IL

A personal injury claim is your right under Illinois law to get a financial recovery for the injuries done by another person’s negligence, and to achieve justice. The recovery you receive is meant to make you whole. The idea is to put you in the same position you were in before another person injured you.

Sometimes, no outcome in your claim can fully “put back” all the things you lost in an injury. While you can be reimbursed for medical expenses, lost wages and other financial losses, other damages cannot truly be expressed through dollar signs. If you lost a loved one, you lost a limb, are disfigured or will have to live the rest of your life in chronic pain, no amount of money can make that go away. What empathetic and skilled personal injury lawyers like those at Burger Law are able to do is ensure your injuries are recognized, and to provide you with financial security as it relates to your accident.

Is it Worth Hiring Personal Injury Lawyer in Crest Hill, IL?

While some cases can be successfully navigated without a lawyer, most of the time you will need one to recover the full value of your claim in Crest Hill, IL. The thing to ask yourself is, can they add value to my claim? If your injuries were not significant, you have minimal lost wages and the insurance adjuster is being reasonable, you may not need an attorney. But, you will need a lawyer in Crest Hill, 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 significant and require extensive care
• There are multiple parties that is liable for your damages
• Your damages exceed an insurance company’s policy limits

Our initial conversations and investigations are free, and we are always direct about how much value we can add your claim. Our personal injury lawyers take on cases based on a contingency-fee, meaning you do not pay until we win your case, 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.

Do I Have a Personal Injury Claim in Crest Hill, IL?

While state statutes can be complex, whether or not you can seek compensation depends on the answer to one particular question: did another person’s negligence cause you injuries? If so, legally speaking you need to prove the five elements of negligence:

1. Duty of care — You first need to show that the liable party owed it to you to value your safety. Sometimes, a duty of care is assumed, as motorists all owe everyone on the Crest Hill, IL roads a duty of care, or store owners need their properties to be reasonable safe for anyone who legally enters. Other times, a special relationship must have formed, for example a doctor-patient relationship or a vendor-patron relationship.
2. Breach of duty — Did the other party neglect that duty? Did a driver hit you while they were looking at their phone? Did a physician prescribe the wrong dosage? Did a product manufacturer not properly test their products?
3. Cause-in-fact — You must show how the incident resulted in your injuries. For example, you received a concussions after being thrown off your motorcycle, or had bad side effects from a prescription drug.
4. Proximate cause — This determines who ultimately is to blame. If you were injured in an auto accident, it is usually because another driver was negligent. But if the brakes were not safe, a manufacturer or mechanic may be the one who is ultimately liable.
5. Damages — Lastly, you have to demonstrate that you sustained some form of financial loss as a direct result of your injuries. In most cases damages are medical expenses and wages you could not earn while you were not able to work. With access to your medical records, 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 the other ways your injuries have affected you.

If you have any doubts about the validity of your claim, speak to a lawyer in Crest Hill, IL who has won a similar claim before. You can speak to a personal injury lawyer now at (779) 800-HURT.

Types of Cases Our Crest Hill, IL Personal Injury Lawyers Handle

Practicing injury law in Crest Hill, IL requires that your lawyers and firm 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 hold the liable party accountable in any type of claim. We have won millions for our Crest Hill, IL clients in the following types of cases:

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 result from auto accidents, including:

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

Truck accidents can cause serious injuries because trucks emit so much, and motorcyclists, bicyclists and pedestrians are all at increased risk of catastrophic injury or death due to their relatively limited protection. 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 and you end up hurt, you can file a claim.

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

Premises Liability

Proprietors have a duty to take reasonable measures to make sure their property is not hazardous for people who are legally on it. If you are injured in a slip and fall because a property was unsafe, you can make a premises liability claim. 740 ILCS 130/, also known as the Illinois Premises Liability Act, states that property owners have a duty of care to people who lawfully enter their property that is “of reasonable care under the circumstances regarding the state of the premises or acts done or omitted on them.” Essentially, if something that is not obvious makes the property dangerous, the owner has a responsibility to either repair the condition, 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
• Black ice
• 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
• Broken 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, ignored warning signs, for example a “wet floor sign,” or were running or not acting in a safe manner, it might be hard to get compensation. Successful premises liability claims depend on the following:

• The owner or manager created the unsafe conditions; or
• The owner or manager knew about the danger and neglected to fix it; or
• The owner or manager tried to repair the danger 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 Crest Hill, 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 the accident was your fault. 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 cause more than 250,000 deaths a year. While not all of those amount to malpractice, when it does, a physician needs to be held accountable for breaking your trust.

Your medical malpractice cases will come down to what is referred to as the standard of care. The standard refers to how a reasonable physician, in the same area and with the same training as the one you are making a claim against, would treat whatever ailment you saw them for.

Under 735 ILCS 5/2-622, any medical malpractice suit 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 doctor corroborating your allegations has the same training and practices in the same area as the health professional you are making a claim against. An anesthesiologist in Chicago is held to a different standard of care than a family doctor in Rockland, Maine. Burger Law relies on a network of expert witnesses in Crest Hill and all over Illinois who can corroborate your claim.

Common examples of medical malpractice in Crest Hill, IL include:

• Nursing home negligence
• Birth injuries
• Misdiagnosis and failure to diagnosis
• Leaving objects in after surgery
• Hospital system errors
• Lack of consent
• Not ordering 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

Every day, nearly 1,000 people seek emergency medical treatment for dog bites, and every year dog bites lead to about 12,600 hospitalizations. 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, stipulates that a dog owner is strictly liable for your the injuries their dog causes, as long as 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 that the owner owes you a recovery even if they did not necessarily do anything wrong.

While some dog bites only lead to minor injuries, others can lead to reconstructive surgeries or permanent scarring. In any case, you likely need an experienced and skilled Crest Hill, IL personal injury lawyer to ensure you get the maximum financial recovery you deserve.

Product Liability

Strict liability also applies to anyone involved in the chain of distribution of a defective product. There are generally three theories a personal injury lawyer will use to make a product liability claim in Crest Hill, 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 an electrical appliance that melts when turned on high.
2. Manufacturing defect — This type of defect usually occurs to only one or several individual products, instead of every product with the same design. Examples include rat droppings getting caught in packaging, or improperly attached electrical outlets.
3. Insufficient instructions — This refers to instructions that does not mention certain risks when the product is put to foreseeable use. For example, a medication that does not include certain side-effects in the labeling.

In order to have a successful claim, you must demonstrate that the product was “unreasonably dangerous” when it was used in a way a manufacturer could anticipate, that it was the proximate cause of injuries and that you had not substantially altered the product.

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 great parts of choosing a Burger Law Crest Hill, 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.

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

The journey 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. From beginning to end, the personal injury claims process consists of:

• Getting Medical Care — Get medical treatment 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 getting the full treatment will lower your final payout. Our personal injury lawyers have a network of experienced Crest Hill, IL health professionals who can help you in your recovery.
• Speaking With an Attorney — Even if you do not know if you need an attorney, you need to consult with one as soon as possible so they can become familiar with your case. A good attorney will tell you bluntly what your legal options are.
• 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 the best possible financial recovery. You can help by keeping a record of every dollar you have spent because of your injuries, and how they affect your day-to-day life.
• Settlement Demand and Negotiations — Once we know how much your claim is worth, 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, 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 all of your damages.
• Filing a Lawsuit — If the insurance company will not be fair in negotiations, we will proceed to litigating the case and setting up a trial. During this time, both parties continue negotiating.
• Mediation — Mediation is often the last option for an agreement before trial. 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 still does not result in a fair settlement, we will go into the pre-trial “discovery” phase. In discovery, we will speak to eyewitnesses and expert witnesses, acquire more evidence and both parties will share with the other what they plan to use as evidence in trial.
• Trial — Only six percent of personal injury claims go to trial. Indeed, 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:
  • Voir dire
  • Opening statements
  • Testimony and cross-examination
  • Closing arguments
  • Jury instruction
  • Jury deliberation and verdict

Most of our Crest Hill, IL clients have never been through the personal injury claims process before, and are unsure of what lies ahead. Burger Law will be by your side every step of the way, keep you up to date on the status of your claim and oversee all the legal aspects of your case so you can spend your energy on your physical recovery.

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

Typically, there are two types of damages you can seek in a personal injury claim: economic damages and non-economic damages:

• Economic damages compensate you for your financial losses resulting from your injuries, for instance:
  • Lost wages
  • Lost earning potential if your injuries do not allow you to earn a living as you used to
  • Medical bills, 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

Sometimes, you may also be eligible for punitive damages if the at-fault harmed you intentionally or they were 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 available to maximize your compensation.

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

In Illinois, the statute of limitations is relatively short at two years for most personal injury claims, under 735 ILCS 5/. That means you must file a claim within two years of when the injury occurred. However, there are three notable exceptions:

1. If you were under 18 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 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, your attorney will want as much time as possible to build your case. Do not delay in speaking to an attorney. Call a personal injury lawyer today at (779) 800-HURT.

Other cases we handle in Crest Hill, 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 Crest Hill, IL Now

Burger Law’s Crest Hill, 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, investigate your case thoroughly, stand up to insurance companies on your behalf and do not give up until you get the full compensation you deserve. We only give our clients the highest level of legal advocacy; 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 Crest Hill, 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 Crest Hill, IL personal injury lawyer now at (779) 800-HURT or contact us online for a free consultation.