Personal Injury Lawyer in Justice, IL

Burger Law defends the rights of people who are injured because of negligent and reckless actions. If you or a loved one has been injured all because someone else behaved recklessly or irresponsibly, Burger Law’s personal injury lawyers in Justice, 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 compensation you may be owed in Justice, or anywhere in Illinois, check out our free personal injury calculator.

The negligent parties that hurt you have an obligation to compensate you for all of your damages, but they will not do it willingly. Burger Law’s personal injury lawyer team fights hard for our clients against anyone who is trying to keep them from the recovery they are owed. We handle a litany of cases, including making claims against large trucking companies, holding negligent physicians, product manufacturers, dog owners responsible, taking the fight to the government, to getting justice and financial security for Justice residents after the wrongful death of a loved one. If you have questions about your case, what compensation you are owed or other questions regarding personal injury claims, call our personal injury lawyers in Justice, IL now at (779) 800-HURT.

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

Choosing the right personal injury lawyer for you is of utmost importance. You want someone with a history of winning similar cases and who is not afraid to take your case all the way to trial if they have to. In order to have a good understanding of the abilities of a law firm, you need to look at their previous victories, and what their clients and peers say about them:

Acclaimed Justice, IL Personal Injury Lawyers

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

• Martindale-Hubbell Award — AV Preeminent® Rated by Martindale-Hubbell® from NexisLexis® – a notable achievement awarded to less than 5 percent of all lawyers in the U.S.
• 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 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. Fewer than 4 percent of all practicing lawyers are certified by an American Bar Association accredited certification board.

Personal Injury Lawyer Justice, IL – Recent Victories

Our Justice, IL personal injury lawyers fight for the full rights and recoveries of our clients. We fight all who harm our clients, and we fight for a full recovery every time. Our lawyers are committed to offering our clients amazing legal advocacy, and we have great pride in our well-deserved successes. Read about our recent victories 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 worth mentioning that every case is different, and what you may be eligible to recover is going to depend on the your specific injuries. We calculate the full extent of your damages so that we get the maximum amount of compensation possible.

Burger Law Client Testimonials

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

What Is a Personal Injury Claim in Justice, IL?

A personal injury claim is your right under Illinois law to get monetary reimbursement for the damage done by another person’s negligence, and to hold the rule breakers accountable. The compensation you receive is intended to make one whole. The idea is to put you in the same position you were in before another person injured you.

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 bills, lost wages and other financial losses, other damages cannot truly be expressed through dollar signs. If you lost a loved one, you are permanently disabled, are permanently scarred or will have to live the rest of your life in chronic pain, no legal process can 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 acknowledgment, and to give you financial security as it relates to your injuries.

Do I Need a Personal Injury Lawyer in Justice, IL?

That depends on the specifics of your case, but most of the time, yes, you will need a personal injury lawyer to get the full compensation you deserve in Justice, IL. The important question is, can they add value to my claim? If your injuries were minor, you have minimal lost wages and the insurance adjuster is being reasonable, a lawyer might not be necessary. But, you should hire an attorney in Justice, IL if the following is true about your claim:

• There is a dispute about who is at fault, 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 are multiple parties that is liable for your damages
• Your damages exceed the liable policyholder’s policy limits

We offer consultations for free, and we will always be honest with you about how much value we can add your claim. Our 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 accept you as a client if we do not think we can significantly increase your final payout.

How Do I Know if I Have a Personal Injury Case in Justice, IL?

While the legal literature concerning negligence and liability can be confusing, whether or not you can seek compensation generally depends on one essential question: were you injured because someone else was negligent? From a legal standpoint, you need to prove the five elements of negligence:

1. Duty of care — You first need to demonstrate 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 Justice, IL roads a duty of care, or dog owners owe it to others to keep their dog from biting anyone. In other cases, a unique relationship must have been agreed to, for example the relationship between a doctor and patient or between a vendor and a buyer.
2. Breach of duty — Did the other party neglect that obligation? Did a driver hit you because they were looking at their phone? Did a doctor fail to diagnose a condition? Did a store owner not salt the ice in front of their property sufficiently?
3. Cause-in-fact — You must prove how the accident led to your injuries. For example, you received road rash after being thrown off your motorcycle, or were burned by a defective product when it overheated.
4. Proximate cause — This determines who ultimately is at fault. If you were injured in an auto accident, the liable party is usually the driver that hit you. But if the tires were defective, a manufacturer or mechanic may be the one who is ultimately liable.
5. Damages — Finally, you have to show that the accident led to economic harm. In most cases damages are medical bills and wages you could not earn while you were not able to work. With access to your medical records, an attorney will be able to establish your financial losses with an insurance company. After proving economic damages, we can seek compensation for pain and suffering damages.

The only way to know for certain if you have an injury claim is to consult with an attorney who has handled your type of claim in Justice, IL before. Get in touch with a personal injury lawyer now at (779) 800-HURT.

Types of Cases Our Justice, IL Personal Injury Lawyers Win

Being a personal injury lawyer in Justice, IL mandates that you know how negligence laws apply to a wide range of cases. 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. Cases we take on in Justice and throughout Illinois include:

Auto Accidents

Statistics from the Bureau of Justice Statistics indicate that there are 300,000 to 500,000 personal injury claims annually. Just over half of those result from auto accidents, for instance:

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

Truck accidents can be especially catastrophic because trucks emit so much, and motorcyclists, bicyclists and pedestrians are all at heightened risk of being severely injured as they do not have the same protection closed-vehicle occupants have. Under 625 ILCS 5/11-1003.1, anyone behind the wheel must “exercise due care” to keep everyone else on the road safe. If a driver is negligent, causes an accident and injures you, you can file a claim.

In some cases, a vehicle manufacturer, construction company or local municipality may have at least contributed to your injuries. Your Burger Law personal injury lawyer will conduct a complete investigation into your claim to find every liable party and hold them accountable.

Premises Liability

Proprietors have a duty to take reasonable measures to make sure their premises is safe for people who are legally on it. If you sustain damages in a slip and fall because a property was unreasonably dangerous, you deserve compensation. 740 ILCS 130/, also referred to as the Illinois Premises Liability Act, stipulates that proprietors owe a duty of care to people who legally enter their property that is “of reasonable care under the circumstances regarding the state of the premises or acts done or omitted on them.” Basically, if something that is not obvious makes the property unsafe, the owner needs to either fix the hazard, post signage or rope it off. Some hazardous conditions 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
• Uneven rugs
• Wiring
• In-ground sprinklers or hardscape features hidden in the grass
• Absence of safety rails

Not all injuries on a property lead to a valid premises liability claim. If you were trespassing, ignored warning signs, such as a “wet floor sign,” or were running or acting dangerously, 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 was aware of the condition and neglected to fix it; or
• The owner or manager tried to fix 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 store or insurance company in Justice, IL may try to convince you that they do not owe you anything because they had no idea about the condition or because the accident was your fault. That is not true, 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 over a quarter of a million deaths a year. While not every error amount to malpractice, when it does, you can make a medical malpractice claim.

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

According to 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 doctor you are suing, 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 is in the same practice area and geographic region as the health professional you are making a claim against. A thoracic surgeon in Chicago has a different standard of care than a general practitioner in Rockport, Maine. Burger Law has a network of expert witnesses in Justice and all over Illinois who can corroborate your claim.

Common examples of medical malpractice in Justice, IL include:

• Nursing home abuse
• Birth injuries
• Misdiagnosis and failure to diagnosis
• Forgetting to remove objects during surgery
• Hospital communication errors
• Lack of consent
• Not ordering tests that a prudent doctor would
• Ignoring a patient’s complaints
• Not sending you to a specialist or recommending a different treatment plan when theirs is not working
• Prescription errors

Dog Bites

Every day, nearly 1,000 people require emergency medical treatment for dog bites, and annually 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, mandates 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 lead to only superficial wounds, others result in expensive surgeries or permanent disfigurement. Regardless of the seriousness of your injuries, trust in a Burger Law Justice, IL personal injury lawyer to ensure you get the best possible compensation you deserve.

Product Liability

Strict liability also applies to anyone involved in the chain of distribution of a defective product. There are typically three theories a personal injury lawyer will use to make a product liability claim in Justice, 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 affects several individual products instead of every product with the same design. Examples include a bug getting caught in packaging, or a seatbelt with a loose screw that comes undone during impact.
3. Failure to warn — 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 carried inherent risks when it was used in a way a manufacturer could anticipate, that it was the proximate cause of injuries and that the product had not been “substantially” changed from its state at the initial sale.

Burger Law’s personal injury lawyers know how to get great results whenever a rule breaker injured someone else. One of the great parts of choosing a Burger Law Justice, 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 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 Justice, IL?

The journey to securing a financial settlement or verdict for your injuries can be long and complex. While some accidents and injuries settle fairly early, others can take several years before a jury finally renders a verdict. From beginning to end, the personal injury claims process includes:

• Getting Medical Treatment — Seek medical attention immediately after an injury, and keep attending all treatments that your physician recommends. The insurance company will be harder to deal with if you wait, and not getting the full treatment will lower how much compensation you receive. Our personal injury lawyers have a network of experienced Justice, IL doctors, chiropractors and physical therapists who can help you in your recovery.
• Consulting With an Attorney — Even if you do not know if you need an attorney, it is best to know what your options are as soon as possible. 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, your personal injury lawyer will conduct an exhaustive investigation into your claim, ascertain every liable party and acquire the evidence they need to get you the best possible financial recovery. You should also keep a record of every dollar you have spent because of your injuries, and how keeping a journal detailing how your injuries have affected your life.
• Settlement Demand and Negotiations — Once we have determined the full extent of your damages, we will send a settlement demand package to those who are liable for compensating you. 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 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 file a lawsuit in court, which begins the formal process of your claim going to trial. While the case is being litigated, 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 will speak to eyewitnesses and expert witnesses, gather more evidence and share with and request documentation with the other side.
• Trial — It is rare that a personal injury claim makes it all the way to trial. Indeed, 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, the case will go 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 Justice, 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 your advocate every step of the way, be there to answer all of your questions and manage all documentation, negotiation and litigation so you can focus on healing.

What Compensation Can I Get In My Justice, IL Personal Injury Claim?

Typically, there are two types of damages you can be compensated for 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 bills, past and future
  • Out-of-pocket expenses
• Non-economic damages compensate you for losses that are harder to put a dollar figure on, such as:
  • Pain and suffering
  • Stress and anxiety
  • Loss of ability to enjoy life
  • Scarring and disfigurement
  • Inconvenience
  • Physical impairment
  • Loss of consortium

Though rare, you may also be eligible for punitive damages if the negligent harmed you intentionally or they were grossly negligent. 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 get you the best possible financial recovery.

How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Claim in Justice, 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 noteworthy 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 should have discovered 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, thoroughly investigating an injury and developing a legal strategy takes time. Do not hesitate to contact an attorney. Call a personal injury lawyer today at (779) 800-HURT.

Other types of claims we get great results in in Justice, 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 Justice, IL Now

Burger Law’s Justice, IL personal injury lawyers hold ourselves to the standard of zealous representation. That means we start working for your recovery the moment you hire us, pursue every legal option we have, stand up to insurance companies on your behalf and do not let down until you get the maximum compensation you deserve. We offer the highest level of legal advocacy; 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 Justice, 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 Justice, IL personal injury lawyer now at (779) 800-HURT or contact us online for a free consultation.