Is It Worth It to Hire Car Accident Attorney in Edgewater, IL?
Each car accident is different. For many, a car accident is a shocking event that introduces sudden stress. Regardless of the specifics, when you are hurt in a car accident caused by someone else, you deserve financial compensation from the responsible person and their insurance company. However, to receive the compensation you are rightfully owed, you will often need a good car accident attorney to fight for you.
While some minor car accidents can be resolved successfully without the use of an auto accident attorney, there are certain factors that call for legal representation. It is important that you have a car accident attorney to fight on your behalf in the following situations:
- You sustained serious injuries in a car accident
- The insurance company's offer does not come close to covering your damages
- The other driver does not have insurance or enough insurance to cover your damages
- You are unsure of the legal procedures and rights following a car accident
- The negligent driver or their insurance company is blaming you for your injuries
- There are other complications to your case, such as being in a multi-vehicle accident, hit and run accident or were hit by a government vehicle
Resources to Help With Your Edgewater, IL Car Accident Claim
At Burger Law, we believe that our role as your personal injury law firm is more than simply presenting your case and communicating with the insurance company; we believe it is also important to offer free materials and resources to people injured in car accidents to to help them through their injury claims. Burger Law has published books on all types of personal injury cases including car accidents, created a Youtube channel and we are always willing to answer questions.
Other Resources
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Why Choose Burger Law For Your Edgewater, IL Car Accident Claim
When you are facing a legal issue, it is important to pick the best law firm to fight for you. Burger Law is a well-respected and experienced law firm that has been defending the rights of the injured for more than 30 years. Below are some of the reasons why you should choose Burger Law for your case.
Award-Winning Attorneys That Get Results
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 you know will not back down from a fight. 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 their reputation among their clients and peers. The many awards, honors and accolades Burger Law has received from the Edgewater, 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 attorneys 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 attorneys are certified by an ABA accredited certification board.
Empathetic and Knowledgeable Attorneys
At Burger Law, we know the terrible financial, physical and emotional burdens an injury can cause. That is why our attorneys are compassionate and dedicated to helping our clients be made whole again. After having fought for more than three decades, our attorneys have the knowledge and expertise to handle even the most complex legal cases. We are dedicated to helping our clients achieve the best possible outcome, and we work faithfully to ensure that their rights are protected. You need to focus on healing; trust in us to fight the insurance company.
Personalized 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 always keep you up-to-date on how your case is going.
Dedication to Excellence
At Burger Law, we are dedicated to offering the highest standard of legal advocacy. We have high ethical expectations for ourselves and the insurance adjusters we stand up to. We leave no stone unturned when we investigate cases and search for insurance coverage.
Our Ratings and Results
A car accident attorney can say just about anything, but having a demonstrated track record of success is another matter entirely. We are among the highest-reviewed law firms, with a 4.9 rating from over 480 reviews. You can also check out our client testimonials and case results.
Get a free consultation with an car accident attorney in Edgewater, IL immediately at (314) 500-HURT, or read on below to find out more about car accident claims and how Burger Law can help.
How Do You Determine Liability in Car Accident in Edgewater, IL?
Determining fault in a car wreck is the first step toward collecting damages. Fault comes down to proving the five elements of negligence:
- Duty of care — That the other driver had an obligation to keep you safe. Under 625 ILCS 5/11-1003.1, all drivers need to "exercise due care to avoid colliding" with others on the road.
- Breach of duty — That they neglected their obligation. Did they drive reckless or drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs?
- Cause in fact — That the accident directly led to your injury. For example, you were t-boned and broke your arm.
- Proximate cause — That the breach of duty caused the crash. Were you rear ended because a driver was looking at their phone, or because a manufacturer was negligent and their brakes were not working.
- Damages — That you sustained harm because of your injuries. Do you have medical bills, lost wages and emotional distress you can make a claim for?
Liability is determined by a police officer, insurance adjuster, attorney, mediator or jury. In some cases, the negligent driver will admit fault, but too often reckless actors try to avoid taking responsibility for what they did. After an accident, police officers will evaluate the accident scene and speak to both parties to help make their report. Then, insurance adjusters will evaluate the police report and other evidence to determine blame. While adjusters are trained to do this, their real job is to pay out as little money as possible. That means they may deny that it was the other driver's fault, even if that is demonstrably false.
When that happens, you need to hire a car accident attorney to ensure you get the compensation you are owed. The attorney will launch a complete investigation into the accident, take depositions of both drivers and eyewitnesses, and hire crash experts to evaluate how the accident likely occurred. Then they will send this information to the insurance adjuster to get them to change their position.
If the insurance company remains firm, your claim might require a mediation, where an unbiased attorney or judge helps analyze the evidence and determine fault. If that fails, your car accident attorney can take your claim to trial, present the evidence to a jury and convince them the other driver was at fault.
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 can recover for the percentage of the accident that is not your fault.
Meaning, if a jury awards you $100,000 in damages, but finds that you share 30 percent of the blame for your accident, you will receive $70,000. It is important to note 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 share more of the blame than the other party, you cannot make a recovery in Edgewater, IL.
Serious Injuries in Edgewater, IL Car Accidents
Devastating injuries in car accidents have a significant impact on your daily life and future, causing long-term physical, mental and financial consequences. Some injuries we have helped people get compensation for are:
- 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 grave, 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 movement or sensation in the arms, legs or other parts of the body. In severe cases, they can lead paraplegia or quadriplegia.
- Broken bones — Broken bones can often heal well, but cause months or years of pain and discomfort.
- 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 upend your life. But, with the help of Burger Law, you can find justice, recognition and a financial recovery. Call us now for a free consultation at (314) 500-HURT.