Personal Injury Lawyer in St. Charles, IL

Burger Law defends the rights of those who are injured due to negligent and reckless actions. If you have sustained serious injuries in an accident or incident caused by another person’s actions, Burger Law’s personal injury lawyers in St. Charles, IL demand the recovery you are owed and fight for you every step of the way. Reach out to Burger Law now at (866) 935-4153 or fill out our online form.

If you want to know how much your personal injury claim may be worth in St. Charles, or anywhere in Illinois, use our complimentary personal injury calculator.

Those who injured 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 the injured against anyone who is trying to keep them from the recovery they deserve. That includes anything from suing drunk drivers, holding negligent physicians, product manufacturers, dog owners accountable, suing the government, to getting justice and financial security for a family after a loved one 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 St. Charles, IL immediately at (866) 935-4153.

Why Burger Law Is The St. Charles, IL Personal Injury Law Firm For You

Choosing the right personal injury lawyer for you is essential. 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 gauge the abilities of an injury law firm, you need to look at the cases they have won, and what their clients and other lawyers say about them:

Acclaimed St. Charles, IL Personal Injury Lawyers

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

• Martindale-Hubbell Award — AV Preeminent® Rated by Martindale-Hubbell® from NexisLexis® – a notable achievement awarded to less than 5 percent of all lawyers nationwide
• Million and Multi-Million Dollar Advocate Honor — Members of the Million and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, an honor only given to 1 percent of attorneys in the United States.
• Top 100 Trial Lawyers Honor — Selected to the Top 100 Trial Lawyers by The National Trial Lawyers, an invitation-only award that is comprised of the most qualified attorneys in each state.
• Board Certified By the National Board of Trial Advocacy — Board certified in Civil Trial Advocacy and Civil Pretrial Practice Advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Less than 4 percent of all practicing lawyers are certified by an ABA accredited certification board.

Personal Injury Lawyer St. Charles, IL – Cases We Have Won

Our St. Charles, 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 attorneys are dedicated to offering our clients the highest standard of legal representation, and we have tremendous pride in our hard-fought victories. Read about our case results 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 what you may be eligible to recover is going to depend on the circumstances of your claim. We calculate the full extent of your damages so that there is no money left on the table.

Burger Law Reviews

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

What Is a Personal Injury Claim in St. Charles, IL?

A personal injury claim is your right under Illinois law to get a financial recovery for the damage done by another person’s negligence, and to achieve justice. The recovery you receive is meant to make one 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 “put back” all the things you lost in an injury. While we can get compensation for the financial losses you sustained, other damages cannot truly be expressed through dollar signs. If 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 make that go away. What empathetic and skilled personal injury lawyers like those at Burger Law are able to do is ensure your injuries are recognized, and to provide you with financial security as it relates to your injuries.

Is it Worth Hiring Personal Injury Lawyer in St. Charles, IL?

While some cases can be successfully navigated without a lawyer, most of the time you will need one to get the full compensation you deserve in St. Charles, IL. The question to ask when thinking about whether or not to hire a lawyer is, can they increase my compensation? If your injuries were minor, you have minimal lost wages and the insurance company is being mostly fair, you may not need an attorney. But, you should hire legal representation in St. Charles, IL under the following circumstances:

• There is a dispute over who is at fault, or the insurance company says the accident are your fault
• The insurance company is denying they have to cover certain damages
• Your injuries are serious and require ongoing care
• There are multiple parties at fault
• Your damages are more than an insurance company’s policy limits

Our initial conversations and investigations are free, and we will always be honest with you about how much we can help your claim. Our personal injury lawyers take on cases based on a contingency-fee, meaning you do not pay until we win your case, and there is no reason for us 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 St. Charles, IL?

While legal doctrine can be complex, whether or not you can seek compensation generally depends on one particular question: were you injured because someone else was negligent? If so, legally speaking you need to prove the five elements of negligence:

1. Duty of care — You first need to show that the liable party had an obligation to keep you safe. Sometimes, a duty of care is assumed, as St. Charles, IL driver owe drivers, passengers and pedestrians a duty of care, or dog owners owe it to others not to let their dog injure anyone. Other times, a particular relationship must have been agreed to, for instance a doctor-patient relationship or a vendor-buyer relationship.
2. Breach of duty — Did the liable party neglect that responsibility? Did a driver hit you because they were not following the rules of the road? Did a physician 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 show how the incident led to your injuries. For example, you received a concussions after being thrown off your motorcycle, or had bad side effects from a prescription drug.
4. Proximate cause — This determines who ultimately is to blame. If you were injured in an auto accident, it is usually because another driver was negligent. But if the brakes were faulty, a manufacturer or mechanic may be the one who is ultimately liable.
5. Damages — Lastly, you must demonstrate that you sustained some form of financial loss as a direct result of your injuries. 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, damages are easy to prove with the help of an attorney. Once we establish financial losses, we can also pursue compensation for less tangible losses.

The only way to know for certain if you have an injury claim is to speak to an attorney who has handled your type of claim in St. Charles, IL before. You can speak to a personal injury lawyer now at (866) 935-4153.

What Are Common Personal Injury Lawsuits in St. Charles, IL?

Practicing injury law in St. Charles, IL requires that you know how negligence laws apply to a wide range of cases. 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 play a large role 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 hold the liable party accountable no matter the circumstances. We have won millions for our St. Charles, IL clients in the following types of cases:

Auto Accidents

The Bureau of Justice Statistics estimates that there are about 400,000 personal injury claims every year. About 52 percent of those result from auto accidents, such as:

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

Truck accidents can be especially catastrophic 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, 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, causes an accident and injures you, you have an auto accident claim against them.

In some cases, a vehicle manufacturer, construction company or governmental entity may be at fault. As part of our services, your Burger Law personal injury lawyer will carry out a comprehensive investigation into your accident to find out who and what exactly caused your injuries.

Premises Liability

Property owners and managers have an obligation to ensure their premises is not hazardous 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 known as the Illinois Premises Liability Act, mandates 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 something that is not obvious makes the property dangerous, the owner has a responsibility to either repair 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
• Overly steep inclines
• Ledges
• Poorly lit stairs and walking paths
• Black ice
• Wet concrete
• Debris such as litter, fallen leaves and branches, rocks, etc
• Rugs that are not flat
• Stray cords
• 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 in a part of a property you were not allowed to be, ignored warning signs, such as a “wet floor sign,” or were running or acting dangerously, it might be hard to get compensation. The following must be true in order to make a claim:

• The owner or manager created the unsafe conditions; or
• The owner or manager knew about the danger and neglected to repair it; or
• The owner or manager tried to fix the hazard and repaired it negligently; or
• The owner or manager should have known about the condition, either because it happens often, had been there for an extended length of time or due to other complaints

A property owner or insurance adjuster in St. Charles, IL may try to convince you that they do not owe you anything because they had no idea about the condition 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 cause more than 250,000 deaths each year. While not all of those constitutes negligence, when it does, a physician needs to pay for breaking your trust.

Proving a medical malpractice claim will come down to what is known as the standard of care. The standard is how a prudent doctor, in the same area and with the same training as the one you are suing, would treat whatever ailment you saw them for.

Under 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 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 health professional who writes the affidavit 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 general practitioner in Kadoka, South Dakota. Burger Law knows numerous expert witnesses in St. Charles and in other parts of Illinois who can corroborate your claim.

Common instances of medical malpractice in St. Charles, IL include:

• Nursing home negligence
• Birth injuries
• Misdiagnosis and failure to diagnosis
• Leaving objects in after surgery
• Hospital system errors
• Lack of consent
• Failing to order tests that a prudent doctor would
• Ignoring a patient’s complaints
• Not seeking a second opinion or recommending a different treatment plan when theirs is not working
• Prescription errors

Dog Bites

Every day, nearly 1,000 people require emergency care for dog bites, and annually about 12,480 people are hospitalized. According to a Chicago Tribune article, Illinois is the second-highest dog bite state in the country.

510 ILCS 5/, the Illinois Animal Control Act, states that a dog owner is strictly liable for your damages if it bit you, assuming you did not provoke it and were not trespassing. “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 only lead to minor injuries, others can lead to reconstructive surgeries or lifelong disfigurement. In any case, trust in a Burger Law St. Charles, IL personal injury lawyer to ensure you get the maximum 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 three categories of product liability claims in St. Charles, 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 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. 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 demonstrate that the product carried inherent risks when used in a foreseeable manner, that it caused your injuries and that you had not substantially altered the product.

Burger Law’s personal injury lawyers know how to get great results whenever a wrongdoer injured someone else. One of the benefits of choosing a Burger Law St. Charles, 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 St. Charles, IL?

The path 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 verdict. From beginning to end, the personal injury claims process includes:

• Seeking Medical Care — Seek medical care immediately after an injury, and follow your doctor’s treatment plans to a “T.” If you delay, it could bring complications to your claim, and not getting the full treatment will lower your final payout. Our personal injury lawyers have a network of experienced St. Charles, IL health professionals who can help you in your recovery.
• Speaking With an Attorney — Even if you do not know if you need an attorney, you need to know what your options are as soon as possible. A good lawyer will tell you bluntly what your legal recourses are.
• Investigation and Documentation — Once you have hired an attorney, your personal injury lawyer will perform a full investigation into your claim, determine who we need to hold accountable and acquire the evidence they need to get you full compensation. You should also keep detailed records of your expenses related to 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 how we calculated your damages, and insist that nothing but the full amount will be agreed to. Usually, the insurance company will counter our offer with a lower number, and there will be several back-and-forths until they decide to be truly fair.
• Filing a Lawsuit — If negotiations do not result in fair compensation, we will file a lawsuit in court, which begins the formal process of your claim going to trial. While the case is being litigated, we will continue negotiating in an effort to avoid a trial.
• Mediation — Mediation is often the last option for an agreement before trial. 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, we will go into the pre-trial “discovery” phase. In discovery, we take depositions of eyewitnesses and expert witnesses, acquire 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. In fact, we often finally get a fair settlement offer just before trial begins. However, if the insurance company refuses to do the right thing, the case will go in court. Trial consists of:
  • Voir dire
  • Opening statements
  • Testimony and cross-examination
  • Closing arguments
  • Jury instruction
  • Jury deliberation and verdict

Most of our St. Charles, 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, be there to answer all of your questions and manage all the legal aspects of your case so you can focus on your physical recovery.

How Much Is My Personal Injury Claim in St. Charles, IL Worth?

In general, there are two types of damages you can seek 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 the less tangible aspects of your injuries, such as:
  • Pain and suffering
  • Stress and anxiety
  • Loss of ability to enjoy life
  • Scarring and disfigurement
  • Inconvenience
  • Physical impairment
  • Loss of consortium

Sometimes, we may also be able to pursue punitive damages if the at-fault harmed you on purpose or they were 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 available to get you the best possible financial recovery.

What Is the Time Limit for Personal Injury Claims in St. Charles, 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 at the time of injury, you have until your 20th birthday.
2. If you were under a “legal disability” when the injury occurred, you have two years from the date the disability was “removed.”
3. In medical malpractice cases, you have two years from the date you discovered the injury or could reasonably have been expected to discover the injury. No medical malpractice claim can be made more than four years after the injury occurred, unless you were a minor at the time. Then you would have until four years after your 18th birthday.

While two years may 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 (866) 935-4153.

Other cases we win in St. Charles, IL include:

• Truck Crash Lawyers in Illinois
• Wrongful Death Lawyers in Illinois
• Semi-Truck Accident Lawyer in Illinois
• Car Accident Attorney in Illinois

Hire Burger Law

Speak to Personal Injury Lawyer in St. Charles, IL Now

Burger Law’s St. Charles, 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 get the maximum 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 St. Charles, 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 St. Charles, IL personal injury lawyer now at (866) 935-4153 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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