Personal Injury Lawyer in East Peoria, IL

Burger Law fights on behalf of those who get hurt because someone else did no respect their safety. If you or a family member have sustained serious injuries all because someone else behaved recklessly or irresponsibly, Burger Law’s personal injury lawyers in East Peoria, 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 the value of your personal injury claim in East Peoria, or anywhere in Illinois, take a look at our free personal injury calculator.

The negligent people that hurt you are responsible for compensating 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 our clients against whoever is standing in the way of justice. We handle a litany of cases, including suing drunk drivers, holding negligent physicians, product manufacturers, animal owners accountable, suing City Hall, to getting justice and financial security for East Peoria residents 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 other questions regarding personal injury claims, call our personal injury lawyers in East Peoria, IL today at (314) 500-HURT.

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

It can be difficult 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 you know will not back down from a fight. In order to have a good understanding of the abilities of a law firm, you need to look at the cases they have won, and their reputation among their clients and peers:

Acclaimed East Peoria, IL Personal Injury Lawyers

The numerous awards and recognition Burger Law has received from other law firms include:

• Martindale-Hubbell Award — AV Preeminent® Rated by Martindale-Hubbell® from NexisLexis® – a noteworthy 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 award that is made up 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 lawyers are certified by an American Bar Association accredited certification board.

Personal Injury Lawyer East Peoria, IL – Recent Victories

Our East Peoria, IL personal injury lawyers fight for the full rights and recoveries of our clients. We fight all who have hurt our clients, and we fight for a full recovery every time. Our attorneys are devoted to providing our clients amazing legal advocacy, and we take great pride in our hard-fought victories. Read about 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 you are given what you deserve.

Burger Law Client Success Stories

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

What Is a Personal Injury Claim in East Peoria, IL?

Under Illinois and U.S. law, you have a right to file a personal injury claim to get monetary reimbursement for the injuries done by another person’s negligence, and to hold wrongdoers accountable. The recovery you receive is intended to make you whole. The goal 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 fully “put back” all the things you lost in an injury. While we can get compensation for the financial losses you sustained, other damages cannot truly be expressed through dollar signs. If a family member died, you are permanently disabled, are disfigured or will have to live the rest of your life in chronic pain, no legal process can change that. What compassionate and talented personal injury lawyers like those at Burger Law are able to do is ensure your injuries are recognized, and to provide you with relief from the financial losses resulting from your injuries.

Do I Need a Personal Injury Lawyer in East Peoria, IL?

That depends on the specifics of your case, but most of the time, yes, you will need a personal injury lawyer to ensure no money is left on the table in East Peoria, IL. The question to ask when thinking about whether or not you need a lawyer is, will I get more money with them? If your medical expenses are low, you have minimal lost wages and the insurance adjuster is being reasonable, you may not need an attorney. But, you should hire a lawyer in East Peoria, IL under the following circumstances:

• There is disagreement about liability, or you are being blamed for your injuries
• The initial settlement offer is well below what you are owed
• Your injuries are significant and require ongoing medical treatment
• 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 whether or not it is in your best interest to hire our services. Our personal injury lawyers take on cases based on a contingency-fee, meaning you only pay after you have received the full compensation you are owed, and there is no reason for us to take on your claim if we do not think we can significantly increase your final payout.

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

While state statutes can be confusing, whether or not you have a claim generally depends on one specific 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 had an obligation to keep you safe. In some cases this is automatic, as motorists all owe everyone on the East Peoria, IL 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 be established, such as a doctor-patient relationship or a vendor-patron relationship.
2. Breach of duty — Did the liable party neglect that duty? Did a driver hit you because they were distracted? Did a doctor prescribe the wrong dosage? Did a dog owner let their dog roam unleashed?
3. Causation — You must demonstrate how the incident led to your injuries. For instance, you sustained a whiplash injury after being rear ended, or had bad side effects from a prescription drug.
4. Proximate cause — This determines liability. If you were rear ended, it is usually because another driver broke the rules of the road. But if the tires were faulty, a manufacturer or mechanic may be the one who is ultimately liable.
5. Damages — Lastly, you must show 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. Once we establish financial losses, we can also seek compensation for pain and suffering damages.

If you have any doubts about whether or not you have a case, speak to a lawyer in East Peoria, IL who has won a similar claim before. Get in touch with a personal injury lawyer today at (314) 500-HURT.

Types of Claims Our East Peoria, IL Personal Injury Lawyers Win

Being a personal injury lawyer in East Peoria, IL mandates that you 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 regulations and statutes concerning truck accidents that can be the deciding factor in whether or not the case is successful. 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 no matter the circumstances. We have won millions for our East Peoria, IL clients in the following types of cases:

Auto Accidents

The Bureau of Justice Statistics estimates that there are about 400,000 personal injury claims annually. Just over half 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 an incredible amount of force, and motorcyclists, bicyclists and pedestrians are all at heightened risk of being severely injured 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 have an auto accident claim against them.

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 carry out an exhaustive investigation into your accident to find out who and what exactly caused your injuries.

Premises Liability

Proprietors have a responsibility to ensure their premises does not carry any risks for invitees and licensees. 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 called the Illinois Premises Liability Act, mandates that proprietors 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 there is a dangerous condition that is not obvious, the owner has a responsibility to either fix 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
• Overly steep inclines
• Ledges
• Poor lighting
• 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, 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 unsafe conditions; or
• The owner or manager was aware of the condition and neglected to fix it; or
• The owner or manager tried to repair the hazard 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 store or insurance company in East Peoria, 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

Based on data from John Hopkins University, medical errors cause more than 250,000 deaths annually. While not all of those constitutes malpractice, when it does, a physician needs to be held accountable for breaking your trust.

Proving a medical malpractice claim will come down to what is referred to as 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 suing, would treat whatever ailment you saw them for.

Pursuant to 735 ILCS 5/2-622, any medical malpractice suit 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 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. An anesthesiologist in Chicago is held to a different standard of care than a general practitioner in Kadoka, South Dakota. Burger Law has a network of expert witnesses in East Peoria and in other parts of Illinois who can corroborate that your doctor violated the standard of care.

Common instances of medical malpractice in East Peoria, 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
• Ignoring a patient’s complaints
• Not changing course when their treatment plan is not working
• Prescription errors

Dog Bites

Each day, nearly 1,000 people require emergency medical treatment 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, stipulates 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 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 can lead to reconstructive surgeries or lifelong disfigurement. In any case, trust in a Burger Law East Peoria, IL personal injury lawyer to ensure you get the full compensation you deserve.

Product Liability

Strict liability also applies to anyone involved in the chain of distribution of a defective product. There are three types of product liability claims in East Peoria, IL:

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 safety guards do not prevent injuries.
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 a soda can, or improperly attached electrical outlets.
3. Insufficient instructions — This refers to labeling 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 recover compensation, you must show that the product was “unreasonably dangerous” when used in a foreseeable manner, 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 great parts of choosing a Burger Law East Peoria, 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.

What Is the Personal Injury Claims Process in East Peoria, IL?

The path to getting maximum compensation for your injuries can be long and complex. While some cases only take a few months, others can take several years before a jury finally renders a decision. From beginning to end, the path to getting compensation includes:

• Getting Medical Care — Seek medical attention as soon as possible after an injury, and follow your doctor’s treatment plans to a “T.” The insurance company will be harder to deal with if you wait, and not attending all your appointments will lower how much compensation you receive. Our personal injury lawyers have a network of reliable East Peoria, 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, 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 legal representation, your personal injury lawyer will conduct a comprehensive investigation into your claim, ascertain 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 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 demand a financial recovery for all the ways your injuries have affected you. Most of the time, they will respond with a lower offer, and there will be several back-and-forths until they agree to pay for 100 percent 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, 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, obtain 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 in the weeks immediately before trial. However, if the insurance company refuses to do the right thing, 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 East Peoria, IL personal injury lawyers have never had to deal with seeking compensation for an injury before, and do not know what to expect. Burger Law will be by your side from our initial consultation to full compensation, keep you up to date on the status of your claim and handle all the legal aspects of your case so you can focus on healing.

What Compensation Can I Recover In My East Peoria, 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 related to 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 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 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 get you the best possible financial recovery.

What Is the Time Limit for Personal Injury Claims in East Peoria, 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 notable exceptions:

1. If you were a minor when the injury occurred, you have until your 20th 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 four years after your 18th 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 hesitate to contact an attorney. Call a personal injury lawyer today at (314) 500-HURT.

Other cases we handle in East Peoria, IL include:

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Speak to Personal Injury Lawyer in East Peoria, IL Now

Burger Law’s East Peoria, IL 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, fight back against insurance companies on your behalf and do not let down until you get the maximum compensation you are owed. We only give our clients the highest level 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 East Peoria, 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 East Peoria, IL personal injury lawyer now at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a free consultation.