Personal Injury Lawyer in Marseilles, IL

Burger Law defends the rights of people who get hurt because someone else did no respect their safety. When you has been injured in an accident or incident caused by another person’s actions, Burger Law’s personal injury lawyers in Marseilles, 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 contact us online.

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

Those who injured you are financially and legally responsible for taking care of your injuries and paying you 100 percent of what you are owed, but they will not do it willingly. Burger Law’s personal injury lawyer team fights hard for our clients against anyone who is trying to keep them from the money they deserve. That includes anything from making claims against large trucking companies, holding negligent healthcare professionals, product manufacturers, business owners accountable, taking the fight to City Hall, to getting justice and financial security for Marseilles residents after a a family member passed too soon. If you want to understand if you have a claim, what compensation you are owed or other questions regarding personal injury claims, call our personal injury lawyers in Marseilles, IL now at (779) 800-HURT.

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

It can be hard to know how to choose the right personal injury lawyer for you. You want someone who has won your type of case before and who is not afraid of a fight. In order to gauge the abilities of an injury law firm, you need to look at the cases they have won, and their reputation among their clients and peers:

Acclaimed Marseilles, IL Personal Injury Lawyers

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

• Martindale-Hubbell Award — AV Preeminent® Rated by Martindale-Hubbell® from NexisLexis® – a significant achievement awarded to not more than 5 percent of all attorneys 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 ABA accredited certification board.

Personal Injury Lawyer Marseilles, IL – Recent Victories

Our Marseilles, IL personal injury lawyers have a demonstrated history of getting great results. We fight all who have injured our clients, and we fight for a full recovery every time. Our firm is devoted to offering our clients the highest standard of legal representation, and we take tremendous pride in our hard-fought successes. Read about our recent successes in personal injury claims below:

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

It is important to remember that every 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 we get the maximum amount of compensation possible.

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 Marseilles, IL

A personal injury claim is your right under Illinois law to get monetary reimbursement for the harm someone else is responsible for, and to achieve justice. The objective of personal injury claims is to make you whole. The goal is to put you in the same position you were in before another person injured you.

Sometimes, no outcome in your claim can fully return you to how things were before the injury. While we can get compensation for medical bills, time spent off work recovering and other financial losses, other damages cannot truly be expressed through dollar signs. If a family member died, you lost a limb, are permanently scarred or will have to live the rest of your life in chronic pain, no one can truly change that. What empathetic and skilled 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 provide you with relief from the financial losses resulting from your accident.

Do I Need a Personal Injury Lawyer in Marseilles, 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 Marseilles, IL. The important question is, will I get more money with them? If your injuries were not significant, you have minimal lost wages and the other party’s fault is clearly established, you may not need an attorney. But, you will need a lawyer in Marseilles, IL under the following circumstances:

• There is a dispute over who is to blame, or the insurance company says the accident are your fault
• The insurance company is denying they have to cover certain damages
• Your injuries are significant and require ongoing care
• There more than one party that is liable for your injuries
• Your damages are more than an insurance company’s policy limits

We offer consultations for free, and we are always direct 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 there is no reason for us to take on your claim if we do not think we can get you substantially more money.

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

While civil law can be complex, whether or not you can seek compensation generally depends on one particular 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 demonstrate that the person you are making a claim against owed it to you to value your safety. Sometimes, a duty of care is assumed, as Marseilles, IL driver owe everyone else on the roads a duty of care, or dog owners owe it to others not to let their dog injure anyone. In other cases, a special relationship must be established, for example the relationship between a doctor and patient or between a vendor and a buyer.
2. Breach of duty — Did the liable party neglect that responsibility? Did a driver hit you while they were texting and driving? Did a doctor not order the appropriate tests? Did a dog owner let their dog roam unleashed?
3. Cause-in-fact — You must demonstrate how the incident led to your injuries. For instance, you received a concussions after being thrown off your motorcycle, or were burned by a defective product when it overheated.
4. Proximate cause — This determines liability. If you were injured in an auto accident, the liable party is usually the driver that hit you. But if the brakes were defective, a manufacturer or mechanic may be the one who is ultimately liable.
5. Damages — Lastly, you need to show that the accident caused economic harm. In most cases damages are medical bills and lost wages. With access to your medical records, damages are easy to prove with the help of an attorney. Once we establish financial losses, we can also seek compensation for pain and suffering damages.

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

Types of Cases Our Marseilles, IL Personal Injury Lawyers Take on

Being a personal injury lawyer in Marseilles, 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 have the experience to take on other cases. At Burger Law, we know how to get great results whenever negligence results in an injury. Cases we specialize in in Marseilles and throughout Illinois include:

Auto Accidents

The Bureau of Justice Statistics estimates that there are about 400,000 personal injury claims every year. About 52 percent 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 increased risk of catastrophic injury or death as they do not have the same protection closed-vehicle occupants have. 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.

In some cases, a vehicle manufacturer, construction company or governmental entity may be at fault. Your Burger Law personal injury lawyer will carry out a complete 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 unreasonably dangerous, you may have a premises liability claim. 740 ILCS 130/, also known as the Illinois Premises Liability Act, mandates that property owners have a duty of care to entrants that is “of reasonable care under the circumstances regarding the state of the premises or acts done or omitted on them.” Essentially, if something that is not obvious makes the property dangerous, the owner has a responsibility to either fix the hazard or warn against it. Examples of hazardous conditions are:

• 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
• Stray 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 trespassing, did not pay attention to 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 dangerous conditions; or
• The owner or manager was aware of the hazard and failed to fix it; or
• The owner or manager tried to repair the hazard and fixed it negligently; or
• The owner or manager should have known about the condition, either because it happens often, had been there for an extended length of time or due to other complaints

A store or insurance company in Marseilles, IL may tell you they are not liable for your slip and fall injuries because they had no idea about the condition or because the accident was your fault. Do not believe them, and do not accept any settlement offer until you have spoken to a personal injury lawyer.

Medical Malpractice

According to a 2016 study from John Hopkins University, medical errors cause more than 250,000 deaths each year. 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 called the standard of care. The standard refers to how a prudent healthcare professional, in the same area and with the same training as the one you are making a claim against, would treat a specific condition.

Pursuant to 735 ILCS 5/2-622, any medical malpractice lawsuit 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 claim is in the same practice area and geographic region as the health professional you are suing. A thoracic surgeon in Chicago is held to a different standard of care than a family doctor in Kadoka, South Dakota. Burger Law knows numerous expert witnesses in Marseilles and throughout Illinois who can corroborate your claim.

Common examples of medical malpractice in Marseilles, IL include:

• Nursing home abuse
• Birth injuries
• Misdiagnosis and failure to diagnosis
• Leaving objects in during surgery
• Hospital system errors
• Failure to secure consent
• Not ordering tests that a prudent doctor would
• Ignoring a patient’s complaints
• Not changing course when their treatment plan is not working
• Prescribing the wrong medication or the wrong dosage

Dog Bites

Each day, almost 1,000 people seek 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, states that the owner of a dog is strictly liable for your the injuries their dog causes, as long as you did not provoke it and were not trespassing. “Strict liability” means that the owner is automatically liable, whether they were negligent or not. This means, the owner cannot get out of paying you by saying they did not know the dog was aggressive, or that it was not their fault the animal got free.

While some dog bites only lead to minor injuries, others result in expensive surgeries or lifelong scarring. Regardless of the severity of your injuries, trust in a Burger Law Marseilles, IL personal injury lawyer to secure you the full financial recovery you are owed.

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 Marseilles, IL:

1. Design defect — This is a defect that was present when the product was initially designed. 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 affects several individual products instead of an entire line of products. Examples include a bug getting caught in packaging, or improperly attached electrical outlets.
3. Marketing defect — This refers to a product that did not carry sufficient warnings when it was put to foreseeable use. For example, a medication that does not include certain side-effects in the labeling.

In order to make a product liability claim, you must demonstrate that the product carried inherent risks when used in a foreseeable manner, that it caused your 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 through no fault of their own. One of the benefits of choosing a Burger Law Marseilles, 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.

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

The journey to securing maximum compensation for your injuries starts the day you are injured. 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:

• Seeking Medical Treatment — Get medical treatment 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 attending all your appointments will reduce your final payout. Our personal injury lawyers know reliable Marseilles, IL health professionals who can help you in your recovery.
• Speaking With an Attorney — Even if you are not sure you are going to need legal representation, it is best to know what your options are as soon as possible. A good attorney will be straightforward with you about the value of your claim and how they can help.
• Investigation and Documentation — Once you have retained a lawyer’s services, your personal injury lawyer will perform an exhaustive investigation into your claim, determine every liable party and acquire the evidence required for full compensation. 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 know how much your claim is worth, 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 will be agreed to. Most of the time, they will respond with a lower offer, and there will be several back-and-forths until they decide to be truly fair.
• Filing a Lawsuit — If negotiations do not lead anywhere, we will file a lawsuit in court, which begins the formal process of your claim going to trial. During this time, 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 hears arguments from both sides and tries to break the stalemate.
• Pre-Trial — If mediation still does not result in a fair settlement, the “discovery” phase begins. In discovery, we will speak to eyewitnesses and expert witnesses, obtain more evidence and both parties will share with the other what they plan to use as evidence in trial.
• Trial — It is rare that a personal injury claim makes it all the way to trial. Indeed, 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 front of a judge and jury. Trial consists of:
  • Jury selection
  • Opening statements
  • Testimony and cross-examination
  • Closing arguments
  • Jury instruction
  • Jury deliberation and verdict

Most of our Marseilles, IL clients have never been through the personal injury claims process before, and are unsure of what lies ahead. Burger Law will be by your side 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 your physical recovery.

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

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

• Economic damages compensate you for your financial losses related to your injuries, including:
  • Lost wages
  • Lost earning 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 put a dollar figure on, including:
  • 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 at-fault party’s conduct was purposefully harmful or grossly negligent. 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 We can to maximize your compensation.

What Is the Time Limit for Personal Injury Claims in Marseilles, 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 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 should have discovered the injury. No medical malpractice claim can be made more than four years after the injury occurred, unless you were under 18. Then you would have until your 22nd birthday.

While two years may seem like a long time, 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 (779) 800-HURT.

Other cases we get great results in in Marseilles, 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 Marseilles, IL Now

Burger Law’s Marseilles, IL personal injury lawyers hold ourselves to the standard of zealous representation. That means we get started on your case immediately, pursue every legal option we have, stand up to insurance companies on your behalf and do not give up until you receive the full recovery 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 Marseilles, 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 Marseilles, IL personal injury lawyer now at (779) 800-HURT or contact us online for a free consultation.