Personal Injury Lawyer in Danville, IL

Burger Law fights on behalf of those who are injured due to negligent and reckless actions. If you or someone you love has been injured because of someone else’s negligent behavior, Burger Law’s personal injury lawyers in Danville demand the recovery you are owed and fight for you every step of the way. Call Burger Law today at (314) 500-HURT or fill out our online form.

To find out how much your personal injury claim may be worth in Danville or anywhere in Illinois, use our free personal injury calculator.

Those who injured you are financially and legally responsible for taking care of your injuries and paying you one hundred percent of what you are owed, but they will not do it willingly. Burger Law’s personal injury lawyer team fights hard for our clients against whoever is standing in the way of justice. That includes anything from suing drunk drivers and taking on large trucking companies, holding negligent doctors, product manufacturers, store owners and dog owners accountable, taking the fight to City Hall, to getting justice and financial security for a family after a loved one passed too soon. If someone breaks the rules and you end up injured, trust in Burger Law to know how to handle your case and get you the full compensation you deserve. If you have questions about your case, the damages you may be able to recover or other questions regarding personal injury claims, call our personal injury lawyers in Danville, Illinois immediately at (314) 500-HURT.

Why Choose Burger Law’s Danville Personal Injury Lawyers For Your Claim

It can be hard to know how to choose the right personal injury lawyer for you. 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 the cases they have won, and their reputation among their clients and peers:

Award-Winning Danville, Illinois Personal Injury Lawyers

The many awards, honors and accolades Burger Law has received from other attorneys include:

• Martindale-Hubbell Award — AV Preeminent® Rated by Martindale-Hubbell® from NexisLexis® – a significant achievement awarded to less than 5 percent of all lawyers in the United States
• 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 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. Fewer than 4 percent of all practicing lawyers are certified by an ABA accredited certification board.

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Personal Injury Lawyers in Danville, Illinois – Recent Victories

Our Danville-based Illinois personal injury lawyers fight for the full rights and recoveries of our clients. We take on and fight all who harm our clients, and we fight for a full recovery every time. Our firm is dedicated to providing our clients the highest standard of legal advocacy, and we have great pride in our hard-fought victories. Read about our recent successes in personal injury claims 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 case is different, and what you may be eligible to recover is going to be based entirely upon the circumstances of your claim. Your recovery is first, and foremost, our only priority. We fight for you so that you are given what you deserve and what you are owed. If you have questions about your case, the damages you may be able to recover, or other questions regarding personal injury claims, call our Illinois personal injury lawyers in Danville immediately at (314) 500-HURT.

Burger Law Client Testimonials

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

What Is a Personal Injury Claim in Illinois?

A personal injury claim is your right under Illinois law to get a financial recovery for the wrong someone else caused, and to hold them accountable for breaking the rules. The purpose of insurance settlements and civil litigation is to make one whole. The idea is to put you in the same position you were in before another person injured you.

In some cases, no lawyer, settlement or verdict is can truly “put back” all the things you lost in an injury. While we can get compensation for medical bills, lost wages and other financial losses, other damages are harder to quantify. If you lost a loved one, lost a limb, are permanently scarred or will have to live the rest of your life in chronic pain, no one can truly change that. 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 accident.

Is it Worth Hiring Personal Injury Lawyer in Illinois?

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 Illinois. The question to ask when considering whether or not to hire a lawyer in Danville is, can they add value to my claim? If your injuries were minor, you did not miss much time off work and the insurance company is being mostly fair, you may not need an attorney. But, you should hire an attorney in Danville if the following is true about your claim:

• There is a dispute about liability, or you are being blamed for your injuries
• The insurance company or liable party’s offer is substantially below the cost of your damages
• Your injuries are significant and require ongoing care
• There are multiple parties at fault
• Your damages exceed an insurance company’s policy limits

We offer consultations for free, and we will always be honest with you about how much we can help your claim. Our Danville-area personal injury lawyers work on a contingency-fee basis, 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.

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Do I Have a Personal Injury Claim in Illinois?

While legal doctrine and state statutes can be confusing, whether or not you have a claim generally depends on one specific question: were you injured because someone else was negligent? If so, legally speaking you have to prove the five elements of negligence:

1. Duty of care — You first need to show that the liable party had a responsibility to care for your safety. In some cases this is automatic, as motorists all owe everyone on the Illinois roads a duty of care, or dog owners owe it to others not to let their dog injure anyone. In other cases a special relationship must be established, such as a doctor-patient relationship or a vendor-patron relationship.
2. Breach of duty — Did the liable party fail in that duty? Did a driver hit you while they were looking at their phone? Did a doctor not order the appropriate tests? Did a product manufacturer fail to recall a product they knew was dangerous?
3. Cause-in-fact — You must show how the incident caused your injuries. For example, you sustained a whiplash injury after being rear ended, or were burned by a defective product when it overheated.
4. Proximate cause — This determines liability. If you were rear ended, it is usually because another driver was negligent. But if the brakes were faulty, a manufacturer or mechanic may be the one who is ultimately liable.
5. Damages — Lastly, you need 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. If you keep solid records of your medical expenses, this last part will be fairly easy to prove with the help of an attorney. Once we establish financial losses, we can also seek compensation for pain and suffering damages.

The only way to know for certain if you have an injury claim is to speak to an attorney who has handled your type of claim in Illinois before. You can speak to a personal injury lawyer now at (314) 500-HURT.

What Are Common Personal Injury Claims in Danville and Illinois?

Being a personal injury lawyer in Illinois requires that your lawyers and firm have a vast knowledge of the different types of cases that people deal with. Knowing the difference between a car accident case and a truck accident case seems simple, but there are many different laws and statutes that can arise in a truck accident case that can be the deciding factor in whether or not the case is successful. A lawyer that only specializes in a certain type of injury claim may not have the experience to take on other cases. At Burger Law, we know how to secure justice for the injured no matter the circumstances. Cases we take on in Danville and throughout Illinois include:

Auto Accidents

The Bureau of Justice Statistics estimates that there are 300,000 to 500,000 personal injury claims every year. 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 due to their relatively limited protection. Under 625 ILCS 5/11-1003.1, all motorists must “exercise due care” to avoid colliding with anybody or anything else on the Illinois roads. That means that anyone behind the wheel automatically owes you a duty of care under Illinois law. If they are negligent, cause an accident and injure you, you have an auto accident claim against them.

In some cases, a vehicle manufacturer, construction company or governmental entity may be fully or partially to blame for your injuries. Your Burger Law personal injury lawyer will conduct a full investigation into your claim to find every liable party and hold them accountable.

Premises Liability

Property owners and managers have an obligation to ensure their premises is safe for people who are legally on it. If you are injured in a slip and fall because a property was unreasonably dangerous, you can make a premises liability claim. 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 dangerous condition that is not obvious, the owner has a responsibility to either repair the condition or warn against it. Examples of a dangerous condition on a property include:

• 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
• 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, ignored warning signs, for example a “wet floor sign,” or were running or acting dangerously, 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 dangerous conditions; or
• The owner or manager knew about the condition and failed to fix 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 company in Illinois may tell you they are not liable for your slip and fall injuries because they had no idea about the condition or the accident was your fault. Do not believe them, and do not accept any settlement offer until you have spoken to a personal injury lawyer.

Medical Malpractice

According to a 2016 study from John Hopkins University, medical errors cause more than 250,000 deaths a year. While not every error constitutes malpractice, when it does a doctor needs to be held accountable for breaking your trust.

Medical malpractice cases come down to what is called the standard of care. The standard refers to how a reasonable and prudent doctor or other healthcare professional, in a specific field and specific location, would treat a specific condition.

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 health professional who writes the affidavit is in the same practice area and geographic region as the health professional you are suing. A neurologist in Danville is held to a different standard of care than a family doctor in Kadoka, South Dakota. Burger Law has a network of expert witnesses in Danville and throughout Illinois who can help verify that your medical malpractice suit is valid.

Common examples of medical malpractice in Illinois include:

• Nursing home negligence
• Birth injuries
• Misdiagnosis and failure to diagnosis
• Leaving objects in after surgery
• Hospital system 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, nearly 1,000 people require emergency care for dog bites, and every year about 12,600 people are hospitalized. According to a Danville 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 if strictly liable for your damages if it bit you, as long as you did not provoke it and were not trespassing. “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 lead to only superficial wounds, others can lead to reconstructive surgeries or permanent scarring. In any case, you likely need an experienced and skilled Illinois personal injury lawyer to ensure you get 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 harm a defective product causes. There are typically three theories a personal injury lawyer will use to make a product liability claim in Illinois:

1. Design defect — This is a defect that occurs even if the product is manufactured correctly. This could include an SUV that is prone to rollover accidents, or a power tool whose guard rails do not offer sufficient protection.
2. Manufacturing defect — This type of defect usually occurs to only one or several individual products, instead of an entire line of products. Examples include a bug getting caught in a soda can, or a seatbelt with a loose screw that comes undone during impact.
3. Marketing defect — Also called “failure to warn,” 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 used in a foreseeable manner, that it caused your injuries when you were using it in a way the manufacturer could have expected or foreseen 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 due to another’s negligence. One of the benefits of choosing a Danville-based Illinois personal injury lawyer with Burger Law is that our team takes on all types of personal injury claims, and this actually gives our lawyers exceptional experience that they can use towards their clients’ advantage. 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 Illinois?

The journey to getting maximum compensation for your injuries begins the day you are injured. While some accidents and injuries settle fairly early, others go completely through to a jury trial. Generally, the personal injury claims process consists of:

• Getting Medical Treatment — Seek medical attention as soon as possible after an injury, and keep attending all treatments that your physician recommends. Waiting too long could bring complications to your claim, and not getting the full treatment will reduce your final payout. Our personal injury lawyers know experienced and trustworthy Illinois 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 consult with one as soon as possible so they can become familiar with your case. A good attorney will be honest with you about the value of your claim and how they can help.
• Investigation and Documentation — Once you have hired an attorney, they will conduct an exhaustive investigation into your claim, determine every liable party and gather the evidence they need to get you full 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 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 full documentation of all of 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 we keep negotiating until they decide to be truly fair.
• 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, a neutral third party hears arguments from both sides and tries to break the stalemate.
• Pre-Trial — If mediation still does not result in a fair settlement, we will go into the pre-trial “discovery” phase. In this phase, we take depositions of eyewitnesses and expert witnesses, gather more evidence and share with and request documentation with the other side.
• Trial — Most personal injury claims are settled before trial. In fact, we often finally get a fair settlement offer just before trial begins. However, if the insurance company still cannot see reason, the case will go in front of a judge and jury. Trial consists of:
  • Jury selection
  • Opening statements
  • Testimony and cross-examination
  • Closing arguments
  • Jury instruction
  • Jury deliberation and verdict

Most of our Illinois 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 handle all the legal aspects of your case so you can focus on healing.

What Compensation Can I Get In My Illinois Personal Injury Claim?

In general, there are two types of compensation available in a personal injury claim: economic damages and non-economic damages:

• Economic damages compensate you for your financial losses related to your injuries, including:
  • Lost wages
  • Lost earning capacity if your injuries result in permanent disability
  • Medical expenses, 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, we may also be able to pursue punitive damages if the liable 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 are rarely awarded, your Burger Law personal injury lawyer will pursue every legal avenue available to get you the best possible financial recovery.

How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Claim in Illinois?

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 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 under 18. 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.

Burger Law’s Illinois personal injury lawyers hold ourselves to the standard of zealous representation. That means we get started on your case the moment you hire us, investigate your case thoroughly, stand up to insurance companies on your behalf and do not let down until you get the full recovery you deserve. We offer the highest standard 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 Illinois 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 Illinois personal injury lawyer now at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a free consultation.

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!

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