Personal Injury Lawyer in Macon County, IL

Burger Law defends the rights of those who are injured because of the negligence of another. If you has been injured all because someone else behaved recklessly or irresponsibly, Burger Law’s personal injury lawyers in Macon County, IL demand the recovery you are owed and fight for you every step of the way. Reach out to Burger Law now at (779) 800-HURT or fill out our online form.

To find out how much compensation you may be owed in Macon County, or anywhere in Illinois, complete our complimentary personal injury calculator.

The negligent parties that harmed you are financially and legally responsible for taking care of your injuries and paying you all of what you are owed, but they will not do it willingly. Burger Law’s personal injury lawyer team fights back for the injured against anyone who is trying to keep them from the money they deserve. That includes anything from making claims against large trucking companies, holding negligent doctors, product manufacturers, store owners accountable, suing the government, to securing justice and financial security for Macon County residents 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 Macon County, IL immediately at (779) 800-HURT.

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

Choosing the right personal injury lawyer for you is crucial. You want someone with a history of winning similar cases and who you know will not back down from a fight. In order to gauge the abilities of an injury law firm, you need to take into account their previous victories, and their reputation among their clients and peers:

Premier Macon County, 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 notable achievement awarded to less than 5 percent of all attorneys 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 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. Fewer than 4 percent of all practicing attorneys are certified by an American Bar Association accredited certification board.

Personal Injury Lawyer Macon County, IL – Recent Successes

Our Macon County, IL personal injury lawyers fight for the full rights and recoveries of our clients. We fight all who have injured our clients, and we insist on nothing but maximum compensation. Our lawyers are committed to offering our clients the highest standard of legal advocacy, and we take tremendous pride in our hard-fought successes. Check out some of 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 worth mentioning that every injury comes with its own set of circumstances, and the financial recovery you receive is going to depend on the your specific injuries. We fight for you so that you secure what you are owed.

Burger Law Client Success Stories

Beyond the videos below, you can see our full list of client testimonials here.

Definition of a Personal Injury Claim in Macon County, 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 achieve justice. The aim of insurance settlements and civil litigation is to make one whole. The goal is convert all the ways an injury affected you into a dollar amount.

Sometimes, no attorney, settlement or verdict is can fully return you to how things were before the injury. While we can get compensation for the financial losses you sustained, other damages are harder to quantify. If a family member died, you are permanently disabled, are disfigured or will have to receive medical treatment for the rest of your life, no one can truly change that. What empathetic and talented personal injury lawyers like those at Burger Law can do is ensure your injuries are recognized, and to provide you with relief from the financial losses resulting from your accident.

Do I Need a Personal Injury Lawyer in Macon County, 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 Macon County, IL. The thing to ask yourself is, can they add value to my claim? If your injuries were not severe, you did not miss much time off work and the other party’s fault is clearly established, you may not need an attorney. But, you will need legal representation in Macon County, IL under the following circumstances:

• There is disagreement over who is to blame, or you are being blamed for your injuries
• The insurance company is denying they have to cover certain damages
• Your injuries are significant and require extensive care
• There more than one party at fault
• Your damages are more than an insurance company’s policy limits

We offer consultations for free, and we are always straightforward about how much we can help 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 the value of your claim.

What Do You Need to Prove to Win a Personal Injury Claim in Macon County, IL?

While legal doctrine can be complex, whether or not you have a claim depends on the answer to one essential question: were you injured because someone else was negligent? From a legal standpoint, you have 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. Sometimes, a duty of care is assumed, as motorists all owe everyone on the Macon County, IL roads a duty of care, or dog owners owe it to others to keep their dog from biting anyone. In other cases, a particular relationship must have been agreed to, such as the relationship between a doctor and patient or between a vendor and a buyer.
2. Breach of duty — Did the other party fail in that obligation? Did a driver hit you while they were texting and driving? Did a physician not order the appropriate tests? Did a product manufacturer not properly test their products?
3. Causation — You must prove how the incident resulted in your injuries. For example, you sustained a whiplash injury after being rear ended, or had bad side effects from a prescription drug.
4. Proximate cause — This determines who needs to be held accountable. If you were rear ended, it is usually because another driver was not driving properly. But if the tires were not safe, someone in the vehicle’s chain of distribution may be ultimately liable.
5. Damages — Finally, you have to show that you sustained some form of financial loss as a direct result of your injuries. In most cases damages are medical bills and lost wages. With access to your medical records, this last part will be fairly easy to prove with the help of an attorney. After proving economic damages, we can pursue a financial recovery for the other ways your injuries have affected you.

If you have any doubts about whether or not you have a case, speak to a lawyer in Macon County, IL who has won a similar claim before. You can speak to a personal injury lawyer now at (779) 800-HURT.

Types of Cases Our Macon County, IL Personal Injury Lawyers Take on

Being a personal injury lawyer in Macon County, IL mandates 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 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 no matter the circumstances. Cases we take on in Macon County and throughout Illinois include:

Auto Accidents

The Bureau of Justice Statistics estimates that there are 300,000 to 500,000 personal injury claims in any given year. Just over half of those are auto accident claims, such as:

• 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 heightened risk of catastrophic injury or death due to their relatively limited protection. Under 625 ILCS 5/11-1003.1, all motorist must “exercise due care” to avoid colliding with anybody or anything else on the Illinois roads. If someone breaks the rules of the road, causes an accident and injures you, you can file a claim.

Sometimes, a vehicle manufacturer, construction company or governmental entity may be fully or partially to blame for your injuries. As part of our services, your Burger Law personal injury lawyer will perform a complete investigation into your claim to find every liable party and hold them accountable.

Premises Liability

Proprietors have an obligation to ensure their premises does not carry any risks for invitees and licensees. 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 property owners 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 there is a hazardous 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
• Poor lighting
• Black ice
• 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
• Broken 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, such as 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 unsafe conditions; or
• The owner or manager was aware of the hazard and failed to repair 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 property owner or insurance adjuster in Macon County, IL may try to convince you that 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 do not accept any settlement offer until you have spoken to a personal injury lawyer.

Medical Malpractice

Based on research from John Hopkins University, medical errors cause more than 250,000 deaths a year. While not all of those constitutes malpractice, when it does, a doctor needs to be held accountable for hurting you.

Proving a medical malpractice claim will come down to what is known as the standard of care. The standard is how a reasonable physician, in the same area and with the same training as the one you are suing, would treat a specific condition.

Pursuant to 735 ILCS 5/2-622, any medical malpractice claim 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 essential that the doctor corroborating your allegations is in the same practice area and geographic region as the health professional you are suing. A neurologist in Chicago is held to a different standard of care than a general practitioner in Camden, Maine. Burger Law has a network of expert witnesses in Macon County and throughout Illinois who can corroborate your claim.

Common instances of medical malpractice in Macon County, IL include:

• Nursing home abuse
• Birth injuries
• Misdiagnosis and failure to diagnosis
• Forgetting to remove objects 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, almost 1,000 people require emergency medical treatment for dog bites, and every year about 12,600 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, stipulates that a dog owner is strictly liable for your damages if it bit you, as long as 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 lead to only superficial wounds, others result in expensive surgeries or permanent disfigurement. Regardless of the seriousness of your injuries, you likely need an experienced and skilled Macon County, IL personal injury lawyer to secure you the best possible compensation you deserve.

Product Liability

Like dog owners, the designers, manufacturers, distributors and vendors of a product are strictly liable for the injuries stemming from a defective product. There are typically three theories a personal injury lawyer will use to make a product liability claim in Macon County, IL:

1. Design defect — This is a defect that was present when the product was initially conceptualized. This could include tables or furniture that naturally tip over, or an electrical appliance that melts when turned on high.
2. Manufacturing defect — This type of defect usually occurs to only one or several individual products, instead of every product with the same design. Examples include 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 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 recover compensation, you must demonstrate that the product carried inherent risks when it was used in a way a manufacturer could reasonably expect, that it caused your injuries and that you had not significantly 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 benefits of choosing a Burger Law Macon County, IL personal injury lawyer is that we are not limited to any one type of claim, 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.

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

The journey to getting a financial settlement or verdict for your injuries starts the day you are injured. While some accidents and injuries settle fairly early, others can take several years before a jury finally renders a decision. Generally, the path to getting compensation includes:

• Seeking Medical Care — Get medical care immediately after an injury, and follow your doctor’s treatment plans to a “T.” Waiting too long could bring complications to your claim, and not getting the full treatment will lower your final payout. Our personal injury lawyers know experienced Macon County, IL doctors, chiropractors and physical therapists who can help you in your recovery.
• Discussing Your Case 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 lawyer will be honest with you about whether or not their services are needed.
• Investigation and Documentation — Once you have hired an attorney, your personal injury lawyer will perform an exhaustive investigation into the circumstances surrounding your injuries, ascertain who we need to hold accountable and acquire the evidence needed for full compensation. 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 full documentation of all of your damages, and insist that nothing but the full amount will be agreed to. Usually, they will respond with a lower offer, and we keep negotiating until they decide to be truly fair.
• 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. While the case is being litigated, 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, an objective third party hears arguments from both sides and tries to break the stalemate.
• Pre-Trial — If mediation fails, we will go into the pre-trial “discovery” phase. In discovery, we will speak to eyewitnesses and expert witnesses, gather more evidence and share with and request documentation with the other side.
• Trial — Only six percent of personal injury claims go to trial. In fact, many times we have gotten a fair settlement offer on the eve of trial. However, if the insurance company still cannot see reason, we will defend your rights in court. Trial consists of:
  • Jury selection
  • Opening statements
  • Testimony and cross-examination
  • Closing arguments
  • Jury instruction
  • Jury deliberation and verdict

Most of our Macon County, IL clients have never been through the personal injury claims process before, and do not know what to expect. Burger Law will be your advocate from our initial consultation to full compensation, keep you up to date on the status of your claim and oversee all documentation, negotiation and litigation so you can focus on your physical recovery.

What Types of Compensation Are Available in My Macon County, IL Personal Injury Claim?

In general, your compensation will fall into two categories: economic damages and non-economic damages:

• Economic damages compensate you for the economic harm resulting from 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, 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, we may also be able to pursue punitive damages if the negligent 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 maximize your compensation.

How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Claim in Macon County, IL?

In Illinois, the statute of limitations is shorter than most states at just two years, under 735 ILCS 5/. That means the clock starts ticking when your accident occurs, and expires after two years. 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 your 22nd birthday.

While two years may not cause immediate concern, your attorney will want as much time as possible to build your case. Do not delay in speaking to an attorney. Call a personal injury lawyer today at (779) 800-HURT.

Other types of claims we take on in Macon County, 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 Macon County, IL Now

Burger Law’s Macon County, 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, stand up to insurance companies on your behalf and do not let down until you are awarded the full recovery you deserve. We offer the highest standard of legal representation; 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 Macon County, 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 Macon County, IL personal injury lawyer now at (779) 800-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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