Personal Injury Lawyer in Stockton, IL

Burger Law defends the rights of people who are injured because someone else broke
the rules. If you or a loved one are seriously injured all because someone else behaved recklessly or irresponsibly,
Burger Law’s personal injury lawyers in Stockton,
IL demand the recovery you are owed and fight for you every step of the way. Call Burger Law today at (779) 800-HURT or contact us online.

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

Those who injured you are responsible for compensating you for all of your damages, but they will not do it willingly.
Burger Law’s personal injury lawyer team fights back for our clients against whoever is standing in the way of justice.
That includes anything from making claims against large trucking companies, holding negligent physicians, product
manufacturers, business owners accountable, taking the fight to City Hall, to securing justice and financial security
for a family after a loved one passed too soon. If you want to know if you have a claim, what compensation you are owed
or anything else about the personal injury claims process, call our personal injury lawyers in Stockton, IL immediately
at (779) 800-HURT.

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

It can be hard to know how to choose the best personal injury lawyer for you. You want someone who has won your type of
case before 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 the cases they have won, and what their clients and
peers say about them:

Premier Stockton, IL Personal Injury Lawyers

The many awards and honors Burger Law has received from
other lawyers 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 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 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. Fewer than 4 percent of all practicing
  attorneys are certified by an American Bar Association accredited certification board.

Personal Injury Lawyer Stockton, IL – Recent Victories

Our Stockton, IL personal injury lawyers have a demonstrated history of getting great results. We take on all who have
injured our clients, and we fight for a full recovery every time. Our lawyers are committed to offering our clients
amazing legal representation, and we take tremendous pride in our hard-fought victories. Read about our recent victories
for our personal injury clients below:

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

It is worth mentioning that no two cases are the same, and the financial recovery you receive is going to depend on the
your specific injuries. We fight for you so that you are given what you deserve.

Burger Law Client Testimonials

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

What Is a Personal Injury Claim in Stockton, IL?

Under Illinois and U.S. law, you have a right to file a personal injury claim to get monetary reimbursement for the
injuries someone else caused, 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.

In some cases, no attorney, settlement or verdict is can truly return you to how things were before the injury. While
you can be reimbursed for medical bills, lost wages and other financial losses, other damages are harder to quantify. If
a family member died, you lost a limb, are permanently scarred or will have to receive medical treatment for the rest of
your life, no amount of money can make that go away. What empathetic and experienced personal injury lawyers like those
at Burger Law can do is ensure your injuries are recognized, and to give you financial security as it relates to your
accident.

Do I Need a Personal Injury Lawyer in Stockton, 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 Stockton, IL. The question to ask when considering whether or not you need a lawyer
is, can they increase my compensation? If your medical expenses are low, you did not miss much time off work and
the insurance company is being mostly fair, a lawyer might not be necessary. But, you should hire a lawyer in Stockton,
IL if the following is true about your claim:

• There is disagreement about liability, 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 medical treatment
• There are multiple parties that is liable for your injuries
• Your damages exceed the at-fault policyholder’s policy limits

Our initial conversations and investigations are free, and we will always be honest with you about whether or not it is
in your best interest to hire our services. Our personal injury lawyers take on cases based on a contingency-fee, meaning you only pay after you
have received the full compensation you are owed, and there is no reason for us to accept you as a client if we do not
think we can significantly increase the value of your claim.

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

While legal doctrine can be complex, whether or not you have a claim depends on the answer to one particular
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 show that
   the person you are making a claim against had a responsibility to care for your safety. Sometimes, a duty of
   care is assumed, as motorists all owe everyone on the Stockton, IL roads a duty of care, or dog owners owe it to
   others not to let their dog injure anyone. Other times, a special relationship must have been agreed to, for
   instance a doctor-patient relationship or a vendor-buyer relationship.
2. Breach of duty — Did someone fail in that
   responsibility? Did a driver crash into you you because they were looking at their phone? Did a doctor not order
   the appropriate tests? Did a store owner fail to fix an obviously dangerous condition?
3. Cause-in-fact — You must show how the incident
   led to your injuries. For example, you broke your arm when your car was t-boned, or were burned by a defective
   product when it overheated.
4. Proximate cause — This determines liability. If you were hit by a vehicle, it is usually because another
   driver was not driving properly. But if the brakes were defective, a manufacturer or mechanic may be the one who
   is ultimately liable.
5. Damages — Finally, you have to demonstrate 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. If you keep solid records of
   your medical expenses, an attorney will be able to establish your financial losses with an insurance company.
   After proving economic damages, we can pursue a financial recovery for pain and suffering damages.

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 Stockton, IL before. Call a personal injury lawyer now at (779) 800-HURT.

Types of Claims Our Stockton, IL Personal Injury Lawyers Win

Practicing injury law in Stockton, IL mandates that you know how negligence laws apply to a wide range of cases. Knowing
the difference between the laws and defendants applicable to different types of claims is paramount. A lawyer who only
knows how to deal with car insurance companies may not have the experience to take on other cases. At Burger Law, we
know how to secure justice for the injured whenever negligence results in an injury. We have won millions for our
Stockton, IL clients in the following types of cases:

Auto Accidents

Research from the Bureau of Justice Statistics indicate that there are about 400,000 personal
injury claims annually. The majority of those result from auto accidents, including:

• 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 being severely injured 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 keep everyone
else on the road safe. If someone breaks the rules of the road and you end up hurt, you can file a claim.

Sometimes, a vehicle manufacturer, construction company or governmental entity may have at least contributed to your
injuries. Your Burger Law personal injury lawyer will perform an exhaustive investigation into your claim to find every
liable party and hold them accountable.

Premises Liability

Property owners and managers have a duty to ensure their property is safe for people who are not trespassing. If you are
injured 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,
mandates that proprietors owe a duty of care to entrants that is “of reasonable care under the circumstances regarding
the state of the premises or acts done or omitted on them.” Essentially, if something that is not obvious makes the
property dangerous, the owner needs to either fix the condition 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
• Poor lighting
• Black ice
• Wet concrete
• Debris such as litter, fallen leaves and branches, rocks, etc
• Rugs that are not flat
• Electrical cords
• In-ground sprinklers or hardscape features hidden in the grass
• Broken 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, for example a “wet floor sign,” or were running or acting dangerously, you
likely do not have a slip and fall claim. The following must be true in order to make a claim:

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

A property owner or insurance adjuster in Stockton, IL may try to convince you that they are not liable for your slip
and fall injuries 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

According to a 2016 study from John Hopkins University, medical errors cause more than a quarter of a million deaths
annually. While not all of those amount to negligence, when it does, a physician needs to be held accountable
for hurting you.

Your medical malpractice cases is based on what
is referred to as the standard of care. The standard refers to how a prudent healthcare
professional, in a specific field and specific location, would treat a specific condition.

Pursuant 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 vital that the health professional corroborating your allegations 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 pediatrician in Decorah, Iowa. Burger Law relies on numerous expert witnesses in Stockton and all over Illinois who
can corroborate that your doctor violated the standard of care.

Common instances of medical malpractice in Stockton, IL include:

• Nursing home abuse
• Birth injuries
• Misdiagnosis
  and failure to diagnosis
• Forgetting to remove objects after surgery
• Hospital communication errors
• Failure to secure 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
• Prescribing the wrong medication or the wrong dosage

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 insurance companies pay out the second-most
money for dog bites than any state in the country.

510 ILCS 5/, the Illinois Animal Control Act, states that the owner of
a dog is strictly liable for your the injuries their
dog causes, 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, the owner cannot
get out of paying you by saying they did not know the dog was aggressive, or that it was not their fault the animal got
free.

While some dog bites lead to only superficial wounds, others can lead to expensive surgeries or permanent scarring. In
any case, trust in a Burger Law Stockton, IL personal injury lawyer to ensure you get the maximum financial recovery you
deserve.

Product Liability

Strict liability also applies to anyone involved in the chain of distribution of a defective product. There are generally three
theories a personal injury lawyer will use to make a product liability claim in Stockton, 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 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 an entire line of products. Examples include rat droppings getting caught in a soda can, or
   improperly attached electrical outlets.
3. Marketing defect — This refers to labeling that does not mention certain risks when the product is 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 show that the product was “unreasonably dangerous” when used in a foreseeable
manner, 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 great parts of choosing a Burger Law Stockton, 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.

What Is the Personal Injury Claims Process in Stockton, 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 go completely through to a jury trial. From beginning to end, the
path to getting compensation consists of:

• Seeking Medical Care — Seek medical attention as soon as possible after an injury, and do not miss any
  appointments with your doctor, chiropractor or physical therapist. If you delay, it could bring complications to
  your claim, and not getting the full treatment will reduce how much compensation you receive. Our personal
  injury lawyers know trustworthy Stockton, IL doctors, chiropractors and physical therapists who can ensure you
  get the full treatment you need.
• Consulting With an Attorney — Even if you are not sure you are going to need legal representation, you
  need to consult with one as soon as possible so they can become familiar with your case. A good lawyer will be
  straightforward with you about the value of your claim and how they can help.
• Investigation and Documentation — Once you have legal representation, your personal injury lawyer will
  carry out a comprehensive investigation into your claim, determine who we need to hold accountable and gather
  the evidence they need to get you full compensation. You should also keep a record of every dollar you have
  spent because of your injuries, and how they affect your day-to-day life.
• Settlement Demand and Negotiations — Once we 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 how we calculated your damages, and insist that nothing but the full amount
  is acceptable. Usually, they will respond with a lower offer, and there will be several back-and-forths until
  they offer full compensation.
• 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, 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
  discovery, we will speak to eyewitnesses and expert witnesses, obtain 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 the
  settlement we were seeking just before trial begins. However, if the insurance company refuses to do the right
  thing, the case will go in front of a judge and jury. Trial consists of:
  • Jury selection
  • Opening statements
  • Testimony and cross-examination
  • Closing arguments
  • Jury instruction
  • Jury deliberation and verdict

Most of our Stockton, IL clients have never had to deal with seeking compensation for an injury before, and are unsure
of what lies ahead. Burger Law will be by your side from our initial consultation to full compensation, be there to
answer all of your questions and handle all the legal aspects of your case so you can spend your energy on your physical
recovery.

How Much Is My Personal Injury Claim in Stockton, IL Worth?

Typically, 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 resulting from your injuries, for instance:
  • Lost wages
  • Lost earning potential if your injuries result in permanent disability
  • Medical costs, 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, we may also be able to pursue punitive
damages if the negligent 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 are rarely awarded, 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 Stockton, 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 two years to file a claim after your 18th birthday.
2. If you were under a “legal disability” when the injury occurred, you have two years from the date the disability
   was “removed.”
3. In medical malpractice cases, you have two years from the date you discovered the injury or could reasonably
   have been expected to discover the injury. No medical malpractice claim can be made more than four years after
   the injury occurred, unless you were under 18. 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 wait to contact an attorney. Call a personal injury lawyer today at (779)
800-HURT.

Other cases we handle in Stockton, 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 Stockton, IL Now

Burger Law’s Stockton, 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, fight back against insurance companies on your behalf and do not
let down 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 Stockton, 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 Stockton, IL personal injury lawyer now at (779) 800-HURT or contact us online for
a free consultation.