Is It Worth It to Hire Car Accident Attorney in Boone County, IL?
There are countless factors involved in car accidents that make each case different. For many, a car accident is a jarring event that causes no small amount of residual stress. The fact remains that any time you are hurt in a car accident caused by someone else, you deserve financial compensation from the person who caused you harm and their insurance company. However, to receive the compensation you are rightfully owed, you may need a good car accident attorney to fight for you.
Sometimes you can resolve a minor car accident in a way that is favorable for all parties without involving car accident attorneys. However some factors require legal help. It is vital that you have a car accident attorney on your side if the following applies to your case:
- Your injuries are significant
- The insurance company is not offering a fair settlement
- The other driver is uninsured or underinsured
- You are unsure of the legal procedures and rights following a car accident
- The other driver or their insurance company is saying you are at fault
- There are other complications to your case, such as those involving multiple parties, hit and run accident or were hit by a government vehicle
Resources for Your Boone County, IL Car Accident Claim
At Burger Law, we believe that our role as your personal injury law firm extends beyond arguing your case and communicating with the insurance company; we believe it is also important to provide free education and resources to people injured in car accidents to to help them through their injury claims. Burger Law has written books on car accident and personal injury cases, created a Youtube channel and we are always willing to answer questions.
Other Resources
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Why Choose Burger Law For Your Boone County, IL Car Accident Claim
When you are facing a legal issue, it is important to pick the best law firm to represent you. Burger Law is highly respected and experienced law firm that has been protecting the rights of the injured for more than three decades. Below are some of the reasons why you should choose Burger Law for your legal needs.
Recognized Leaders in Car Accident Claims
To ensure you get full compensation, you need to put your case in the capable hands of a car accident attorney who has earned the respect of the Boone County, IL legal community and knows how to get results. In order to have a good understanding of the abilities of a law firm, you need to take into account the cases they have won, and their reputation among their clients and peers. The many awards, honors and accolades Burger Law has received from the Boone County, IL legal community include:
- Martindale-Hubbell Award — AV Preeminent® Rated by Martindale-Hubbell® from NexisLexis® – a significant achievement awarded to less than 5 percent of all lawyers in the U.S.
- Million and Multi-Million Dollar Advocate Honor — Members of the Million and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, an honor only given to 1 percent of attorneys in the United States.
- Top 100 Trial Lawyers Honor — Selected to the Top 100 Trial Lawyers by The National Trial Lawyers, an invitation-only award 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. Less than 4 percent of all practicing lawyers are certified by an American Bar Association accredited certification board.
Understanding and Knowledgeable Attorneys
At Burger Law, we know the terrible financial, physical and emotional hardships an injury can cause. That is why we have a client-centered approach. With over 30 years of experience, our attorneys have the knowledge and expertise to handle even the most complex legal cases. We are committed to helping our clients achieve the best possible outcome, and we work faithfully to ensure they do. You need to focus on healing; trust in us to take on the insurance company.
Customized Approach
At Burger Law, we know that no two clients or cases are the same. That is why we treat each claim individually. Our attorneys explain the legal process to you and keep in constant contact so you know the status of your claim.
Commitment to Excellence
At Burger Law, we are devoted to excellence in everything we do. We have high moral expectations for ourselves and the insurance adjusters we stand up to. We pursue every legal avenue to get you the compensation you deserve.
Our Reviews and Victories
Any car accident attorney can say they know how to handle your case, but having a demonstrated track record of success is another matter entirely. We are one of the highest-reviewed law firms, with a 4.9 rating from almost 500 reviews. You can also look at our client testimonials and case victories.
Get a free consultation with an car accident attorney in Boone County, IL immediately at (314) 500-HURT, or keep reading to find out more about pursuing compensation in a car accident and what Burger Law can do for you.
How Do You Determine Liability in Car Accident in Boone County, IL?
Assigning liability in a car wreck is the first step toward collecting damages. To do that, you and your car accident attorney must prove the five elements of negligence:
- Duty of care — That the other driver had an obligation to keep you safe. Under Illinois Law, all drivers owe all others on the road "due care."
- Breach of duty — That they failed in their responsibility. Did they drive with excessive speed or drive drunk?
- Cause in fact — That the crash directly led to your injury. For example, you were rear ended and got a concussion from hitting your head on the dashboard.
- Proximate cause — That the breach of duty caused the crash. Were you rear ended because a driver was distracted, or because a mechanic was negligent and their brakes were not working.
- Damages — That you sustained losses because of your injuries. Do you have medical bills, lost wages and emotional distress you can make a claim for?
Fault is determined by a police officer, insurance adjuster, attorney, mediator or jury. In some cases, the negligent driver will admit that they are to blame, but too often reckless drivers deny they did anything wrong. After an accident, police officers will evaluate the accident scene and speak to both parties to help make their report. Then, insurance adjusters will review the police report and other evidence to assign blame. While adjusters are trained to do this, their real job is to make sure their company's profits stay high by denying and minimizing claims. That means they may deny that it was the other driver's fault, even if that is patently false.
In those cases, you need to hire a car accident attorney to ensure you get the compensation you are owed. The attorney will acquire more evidence, take depositions of all parties involved, and hire crash experts to interpret photographs and the damage to both vehicles to show how the accident occurred. Then they will send this information to the insurance adjuster to get them to be fair.
If the insurance company remains firm, your claim might require a mediation, where a neutral third party helps analyze the evidence and determine fault. If that fails, your car accident attorney can file a lawsuit in civil court and take your claim in front of a judge and jury.
The Illinois Comparative Negligence Rule
In many states, including Illinois, adjusters, lawyers and juries can apply the comparative negligence or comparative fault rule to personal injury claims. In comparative fault, you will be compensated for the percentage of the accident that is not your fault.
Meaning, if your damages total $100,000 but you share 30 percent of the blame for your injury, you will receive $70,000. Keep in mind that 735 ILCS 5/2-1116 states that:
The plaintiff shall be barred from recovering damages if the trier of fact finds that the contributory fault on the part of the plaintiff is more than 50 percent of the proximate cause of the injury or damage for which recovery is sought.
That means that if you are over half to blame for the accident, you will not be able to recover any compensation in Boone County, IL.
Serious Injuries in Boone County, IL Car Accidents
Catastrophic injuries in car accidents have a significant impact on your daily life and future, leading to long-term physical, mental and economic consequences. Some common examples of serious injuries in car accidents include:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) — This can occur when the head is violently shaken or struck, causing bleeding and disrupting the brain's function. Symptoms can range from mild, such as a headache or confusion, to severe, such as loss of consciousness or permanent cognitive impairment.
- Spinal cord injuries — These can occur when the spinal cord is damaged, resulting in loss of mobility or sensation in the arms, legs or other parts of the body. In the worst case scenario, they can lead paraplegia or quadriplegia.
- Broken bones — Broken bones can occur in any part of the body in a car accident, leading to severe pain and long-term disability.
- Internal injuries — These can include bleeding or other injuries to the internal organs, such as the heart, lungs, liver and others, and can be life-threatening if not promptly treated.
- Burns — Burns can occur from the ignition of fuel or from contact with hot surfaces, such as a vehicle's engine or exhaust system. They can cause significant pain and disfigurement.
At Burger Law, we know how serious injuries can completely change your life in an instant. But, with the help of Burger Law, you can be made whole again. Call us now to discuss your case at (314) 500-HURT.