Why Hire a Car Accident Attorney in El Paso, IL?
There are countless factors involved in car accidents that make each case different. For many, a car accident is a jarring event that introduces sudden stress. Regardless of the specifics, when you are hurt in a car accident that was not your fault, you deserve financial compensation from the person who caused you harm and their insurance company. To get the full compensation for your damages, 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 situations that call for legal representation. It is vital that you have a car accident attorney on your side if the following applies to your case:
- You sustained serious injuries in a car accident
- The insurance company's offer does not come close to covering your damages
- 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 blaming you for your injuries
- There are other complications to your case, such as those involving multiple parties, hit and run accident or were injured by a government vehicle
Resources to Help With Your El Paso, IL Car Accident Claim
Our philosophy at Burger Law is that, as your personal injury law firm, our responsibility extends beyond presenting your case and negotiating with the insurance company; we have also taken it upon ourselves to offer 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 is always available to answer questions.
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Why Choose Burger Law For Your El Paso, IL Car Accident Claim
When you are facing a legal issue, it is crucial to choose the right law firm to represent you. Burger Law is a well-respected and experienced law firm that has been fiercely fighting for the injured for over three decades. Below are some of the reasons why you should choose Burger Law for your case.
Award-Winning Attorneys That Get Results
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 El Paso, IL legal community and knows how to get results. In order to gauge the abilities of an injury law firm, you need to take into account the cases they have won, and their reputation among their clients and peers. The numerous awards, honors and accolades Burger Law has received from our peers include:
- Martindale-Hubbell Award — AV Preeminent® Rated by Martindale-Hubbell® from NexisLexis® – a noteworthy achievement awarded to not more 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 honor that is made up 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.
Empathetic and Experienced Attorneys
At Burger Law, we know that being injured through another's negligence is stressful and overwhelming. That is why we strive to build personal relationships with our clients. 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 committed to helping our clients achieve the best possible outcome, and we work relentlessly to ensure they do. You need to focus on healing; trust in us to fight the insurance company.
Customized Approach
At Burger Law, we know that no two clients or cases are the same. That is why we take a personalized approach to each case. Our attorneys explain the legal process to you and always keep you up-to-date on the status of your claim.
Dedication to Excellence
At Burger Law, we are committed to offering the highest standard of legal advocacy. We have high ethical expectations for ourselves and the insurance adjusters we stand up to. We pursue every possible avenue to get you the compensation you deserve.
Our Reviews 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 one of the most- and best-reviewed law firms, with a 4.9 rating from over 480 reviews. You can also check out our client testimonials and case victories.
Get a free consultation with an car accident attorney in El Paso, IL immediately at (314) 500-HURT, or read on below to learn more about car accident claims and how Burger Law can help.
How is Fault Determined in Car Accident in El Paso, IL?
Determining liability in a car crash is the first step toward getting compensation. Fault comes down to proving the five elements of negligence:
- Duty of care — That the other driver had an obligation to keep you from unreasonable harm. 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 failed in their obligation. Did they drive reckless or drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs?
- Cause in fact — That the wreck caused 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 manufacturer was negligent and the other driver has faulty brakes.
- Damages — That you sustained harm because of your injuries. Do you have medical expenses, lost wages and emotional distress you can make a claim for?
Fault is determined by a police officer, insurance adjuster, attorney, mediator or jury. Sometimes, the other driver will admit fault, but too often irresponsible drivers try to avoid taking responsibility for their actions. After an accident, police officers will write a report explaining what they believe happened. Then, insurance adjusters will review the police report and other evidence to assign blame. While adjusters are trained to do this, their primary goal is to save their insurance company money. That means they may deny that it was the other driver's fault, even if that is patently false.
When that happens, you need to hire a car accident attorney to ensure you get the compensation you are owed. The attorney will investigate the case further, 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 attorney may recommend mediation, where a neutral third party helps analyze the evidence and determine fault. If they will not be fair in negotiations, your car accident attorney can file a lawsuit in civil court and take your claim to trial.
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 portion of the blame you do not share.
Meaning, if a jury awards you $100,000 in damages, but finds that you share 30 percent of the fault for your accident, 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.
Meaning, if you share more of the blame than the other party, you will not be able to recover any compensation in El Paso, IL.
Catastrophic Injuries in El Paso, IL Car Accidents
Catastrophic injuries in car accidents have devastating consequences for your daily life and future, causing long-term physical, emotional and economic consequences. Some common examples of serious injuries in car accidents include:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) — This can occur when the the brain twists inside of the skull, causing bleeding and disrupting the brain's function. Symptoms can range from mild, such as a headache or fatigue, to grave, such as loss of consciousness or lifelong disability.
- 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.
- Fractures — Fractures 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 require prompt medical attention in order not to be fatal.
- 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 scarring.
At Burger Law, we know how serious injuries can completely turn your life upside down. But, with the help of Burger Law, you can be made whole again. Call us today for a free consultation at (314) 500-HURT.