Personal Injury Lawyer in Huntley, IL

Burger Law defends the rights of those who are injured because someone else broke the rules. When you are seriously injured in an accident or incident caused by another person’s actions, Burger Law’s personal injury lawyers in Huntley, IL demand the recovery you are owed and fight for you every step of the way. Reach out to Burger Law today at (779) 800-HURT or fill out our online form.

To calculate how much your personal injury claim may be worth in Huntley, or anywhere in Illinois, fill out our free personal injury calculator.

Those who hurt you are financially and legally responsible for taking care of your injuries and paying you 100 percent of what you are owed, but they will not do it willingly. Burger Law’s personal injury lawyer team fights hard for the injured against whoever is standing in the way of justice. We handle a variety of cases, including making claims against large trucking companies, holding negligent physicians, product manufacturers, store owners accountable, suing City Hall, to getting justice and financial security for a family after the wrongful death of a loved one. If you have questions about your case, the damages you may be able to recover or other questions regarding personal injury claims, speak to one of our personal injury lawyers in Huntley, IL today at (779) 800-HURT.

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

Choosing the right personal injury lawyer for your claim is essential. You want someone with a history of winning similar cases and who is not afraid of a fight. In order to gauge the abilities of an injury law firm, you need to take into account their previous successes, and their reputation among their clients and peers:

Award-Winning Huntley, IL Personal Injury Lawyers

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

• Martindale-Hubbell Award — AV Preeminent® Rated by Martindale-Hubbell® from NexisLexis® – a noteworthy achievement awarded to 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 award that is comprised of the most qualified lawyers in each state.
• Board Certified By the National Board of Trial Advocacy — Board certified in Civil Trial Advocacy and Civil Pretrial Practice Advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Fewer than 4 percent of all practicing lawyers are certified by an American Bar Association accredited certification board.

Personal Injury Lawyer Huntley, IL – Recent Successes

Our Huntley, IL personal injury lawyers have a demonstrated history of getting great results. We fight all who have injured our clients, and we demand nothing but full compensation. Our attorneys are dedicated to giving our clients amazing legal representation, and we take great pride in our well-deserved successes. Check out some of our recent victories for our personal injury clients below:

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

It is important to remember that every injury comes with its own set of circumstances, and what you may be eligible to recover is going to be based entirely upon the your specific accident. We calculate the full extent of your damages so that you secure what you deserve.

Burger Law Client Success Stories

Beyond the videos below, you can check out more client testimonials here.

What Is a Personal Injury Claim in Huntley, IL?

A personal injury claim is your right under Illinois law to get monetary reimbursement for the injuries someone else caused, and to hold them accountable for breaking the rules. The aim of insurance settlements and civil litigation is to make one 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, settlement or verdict is can truly “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 a family member died, you lost a limb, are disfigured or will have to receive medical care for the rest of your life, no legal process can change that. What empathetic and skilled personal injury lawyers like those at Burger Law can 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 Huntley, 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 Huntley, IL. The important question is, will I get more money with them? If your medical expenses are low, you have minimal lost wages and the other party’s fault is clearly established, a lawyer might not be necessary. But, you will need an attorney in Huntley, IL under the following circumstances:

• There is a dispute over who is at fault, or the insurance company says the injuries are your fault
• The insurance company is denying they have to cover certain damages
• Your injuries are significant and require extensive medical treatment
• There more than one party that is liable for your injuries
• Your damages exceed the liable policyholder’s policy limits

We offer consultations for free, and we are always straightforward about how much value we can add your claim. Our personal injury lawyers work on a contingency-fee basis, meaning you only pay after you have received the full compensation you deserve, and we have no reason to take on your claim if we do not think we can get you substantially more money.

Do I Have a Personal Injury Case in Huntley, IL?

While civil law can be complex, whether or not you can seek compensation generally depends on one specific question: were you injured because someone else was negligent? If so, legally speaking you must 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 Huntley, IL roads a duty of care, or store owners need their properties to be reasonable safe for anyone who legally enters. In other cases, a special relationship must have formed, for example a doctor-patient relationship or a vendor-patron relationship.
2. Breach of duty — Did someone neglect that responsibility? Did a driver hit you while they were texting and driving? Did a physician misdiagnose a condition? Did a product manufacturer fail to recall a product they knew was dangerous?
3. Cause-in-fact — You must demonstrate how the incident led to 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 who ultimately is at fault. If you were hit by a vehicle, 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 — Finally, you need to show that the incident led to economic harm. In personal injury cases, this is usually 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 pursue a financial recovery for less tangible losses.

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

What Are Common Personal Injury Case in Huntley, IL?

Practicing injury law in Huntley, 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 laws 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 have the experience to take on other cases. At Burger Law, we know how to hold the liable party accountable in any type of claim. Cases we specialize in in Huntley 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 result from auto accidents, 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, anyone behind the wheel must “exercise due care” to avoid colliding with anybody or anything else on the Illinois roads. If a driver is negligent 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. Your Burger Law personal injury lawyer will conduct a comprehensive investigation into your accident to find every liable party and hold them accountable.

Premises Liability

Property owners and managers have a responsibility to take reasonable measures to make sure their property does not carry any risks for people who are legally on it. If you sustain damages in a slip and fall because a property was unsafe, you deserve compensation. 740 ILCS 130/, also called the Illinois Premises Liability Act, stipulates that proprietors 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.” Generally, if something that is not obvious makes the property dangerous, the owner needs 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
• 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
• Wiring
• In-ground sprinklers or hardscape features hidden in the grass
• Absence of safety rails

You do not automatically have a claim just because a property had a dangerous condition. If you were trespassing, did not pay attention to 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 was aware of the hazard and failed to repair it; or
• The owner or manager tried to repair the danger 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 property owner or insurance adjuster in Huntley, IL may tell you they do not owe you anything because they should not have been reasonable expected to repair or warn against the accident or because you are to blame. That is not true, and always speak with a personal injury lawyer before accepting any settlement.

Medical Malpractice

Based on research from John Hopkins University, medical errors are responsible for over 250,000 deaths annually. While not all of those amount to malpractice, when it does, you can make a medical malpractice claim.

Proving a medical malpractice claim will come down to what is known as the standard of care. The standard refers to how a prudent physician, in a specific field and specific location, would treat a specific condition.

Pursuant to 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 imperative that the doctor corroborating your claim has the same training and practices in the same area as the health professional you are making a claim against. A neurologist in Chicago has a different standard of care than a family doctor in Rockland, Maine. Burger Law has a network of expert witnesses in Huntley and throughout Illinois who can help verify that your medical malpractice suit is valid.

Common instances of medical malpractice in Huntley, IL include:

• Nursing home abuse
• Birth injuries
• Misdiagnosis and failure to diagnosis
• Forgetting to remove objects during surgery
• Hospital communication errors
• Lack of 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

Every day, almost 1,000 people require emergency care for dog bites, and every year about 12,480 people are hospitalized. According to a Chicago Tribune article, Illinois insurance companies pay out the second-most money for dog bites than any state in the country.

510 ILCS 5/, the Illinois Animal Control Act, states that the owner of a dog is strictly liable for your the injuries their dog causes, 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, 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 result in expensive surgeries or lifelong scarring. In any case, trust in a Burger Law Huntley, IL personal injury lawyer to secure you the full compensation you deserve.

Product Liability

Like dog owners, anyone in the chain of distribution of a product is strictly liable for the damages a defective product causes. There are typically three theories a personal injury lawyer will use to make a product liability claim in Huntley, 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 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 packaging, or a seatbelt with a loose screw that comes undone during impact.
3. Marketing defect — This refers to a product that did not carry sufficient warnings when it was put to foreseeable use. For example, an electric shaver not mentioning that shock can occur if used in the shower.

In order to make a product liability claim, you must show that the product carried inherent risks when it was used in a way a manufacturer could reasonably expect, that it was the proximate cause of injuries and that you had not substantially modified the product.

Burger Law’s personal injury lawyers know how to get great results whenever someone was injured due to another’s negligence. One of the great parts of choosing a Burger Law Huntley, IL personal injury lawyer 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.

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

The journey to securing a financial settlement or verdict for your injuries can be long and complex. 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 care as soon as possible after an injury, and do not miss any appointments with your doctor, chiropractor or physical therapist. If you delay, it could bring complications to your claim, and not attending all your appointments will reduce your final payout. Our personal injury lawyers have a network of experienced Huntley, IL health professionals who can help you in your recovery.
• Discussing Your Case With an Attorney — Even if you are not sure you are going to need legal representation, you need 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 whether or not their services are needed.
• Investigation and Documentation — Once you have legal representation, your personal injury lawyer will perform a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding your injuries, ascertain every liable party and acquire the evidence required for 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 have determined the full extent of your damages, we will send a settlement demand package to those who are liable for compensating you. In the package we will include how we calculated your damages, and insist that nothing but the full amount is acceptable. Usually, they will respond with a lower offer, and we keep negotiating until they offer full compensation.
• 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 — If a settlement agreement still has not been reached, your personal injury lawyer and the liable party will likely pursue mediation. In mediation, an objective third party will try to get each party to accept the merits of the other side’s arguments.
• Pre-Trial — If mediation still does not result in a fair settlement, the “discovery” phase begins. In this phase, we take depositions of eyewitnesses and expert witnesses, acquire more evidence and share with and request documentation with the other side.
• Trial — Only six percent of personal injury claims go to trial. Indeed, we often finally get the settlement we were seeking in the weeks immediately before trial. However, if the insurance company refuses to do the right thing, 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 people who speak with our Huntley, IL personal injury lawyers have never had to deal with seeking compensation for an injury 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 oversee all documentation, negotiation and litigation so you can focus on healing.

What Types of Compensation Are Available in My Huntley, 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 potential if your injuries result in permanent disability
  • Medical expenses, past and future
  • Out-of-pocket expenses
• Non-economic damages compensate you for losses that are harder to quantify, such as:
  • Pain and suffering
  • Stress and anxiety
  • Loss of ability to enjoy life
  • Scarring and disfigurement
  • Inconvenience
  • Physical impairment
  • Loss of consortium

In some cases, you may also be eligible for punitive damages if the 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 possible to maximize your compensation.

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

In Illinois, the statute of limitations is relatively short at two years for most personal injury claims, under 735 ILCS 5/. That means the clock starts ticking when your accident occurs, and expires after two years. However, there are three important 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 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 wait to contact an attorney. Call a personal injury lawyer today at (779) 800-HURT.

Other cases we take on in Huntley, 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 Huntley, IL Now

Burger Law’s Huntley, IL personal injury lawyers fiercely believe in 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 are awarded the full compensation 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 Huntley, 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 Huntley, IL personal injury lawyer now at (779) 800-HURT or contact us online for a free consultation.