Is It Worth It to Hire Car Accident Attorney in Forest Park, IL?
Everyone who has been injured in a car accident has a unique experience. For many, a car accident is an upsetting event that introduces sudden pressure. Any time you are hurt in a car accident caused by someone else, you deserve compensation from the person who caused you harm and their insurance company. However, to receive the compensation you are rightfully owed, you will often require the help of 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 important that you have a car accident attorney to fight for your in the following situations:
- You sustained serious injuries in a car accident
- The insurance company is lowballing you
- The other driver is uninsured or underinsured
- You are unsure of the legal procedures and rights following a car accident
- The other driver disputes liability or fault in the accident
- There are other complications to your case, such as those involving multiple parties, hit and run accident or were hit by a commercial vehicle
Resources for Your Forest Park, IL Car Accident Claim
Our philosophy at Burger Law is that, as your personal injury law firm, our responsibility extends beyond arguing your case and communicating with the insurance company; we have also taken it upon ourselves to provide free materials and resources to people injured in car accidents to to help them make the most of their injury claims. Burger Law has published books on car accident and personal injury cases, created a Youtube channel and is always available to answer questions.
Other Resources
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Why Choose Burger Law For Your Forest Park, IL Car Accident Claim
When you are facing a legal issue, it is crucial to choose the right law firm to fight for you. Burger Law is a reputed and experienced law firm that has been fiercely fighting for the injured for more than three decades. Below are some of the reasons why you should choose Burger Law for your claim.
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 Forest Park, 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 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 Forest Park, IL legal community 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 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 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. Less than 4 percent of all practicing lawyers are certified by an American Bar Association accredited certification board.
Empathetic and Experienced Attorneys
At Burger Law, we know the terrible financial, physical and emotional hardships 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 over 30 years, our attorneys are willing to take on the tough cases other law firms are not. We are dedicated to helping our clients achieve the best possible outcome, and we work relentlessly to ensure that their rights are protected. You need to focus on healing; let us stand up to the insurance company.
Customized Approach
At Burger Law, we know that no two clients or cases are alike. 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.
Commitment to Excellence
At Burger Law, we are dedicated to providing 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 Reviews and Victories
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 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.
Discuss your case for free with an car accident attorney in Forest Park, IL today at (314) 500-HURT, or read on below to discover more about seeking compensation in a car accident and what Burger Law can do for you.
How is Fault Determined in Car Accident in Forest Park, IL?
Assigning liability in a car crash is the first step toward getting compensation. To do that, you and your car accident attorney must prove the five elements of negligence:
- Duty of care — That the other driver had a responsibility to keep you from unreasonable harm. Under Illinois Law, all motorists owe all others on the road "due care."
- Breach of duty — That they neglected their obligation. Did they run a red light or drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs?
- Cause in fact — That the accident caused your injury. For example, you were t-boned and broke your arm.
- Proximate cause — That their negligence caused the crash. Were you rear ended because a driver was following you too close, or because a mechanic was negligent and the other driver has faulty brakes.
- Damages — That you sustained harm because of your injuries. Do you have medical bills, lost wages and emotional anguish you can make a claim for?
Liability can be determined through numerous factors. In some cases, the other driver will admit fault, but too often reckless actors try to avoid being held accountable for what they did. After an accident, police officers will write a report explaining what they believe happened. Then, insurance adjusters will evaluate the police report and other evidence to determine blame. While this is part of an adjuster's job, their real job is to save their insurance company money. That means they may say they do not have to compensate you, even if that is patently untrue.
In those cases, 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 all parties involved, and hire crash experts to determine 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 refuses to be fair, your attorney may seek mediation, where an unbiased attorney or judge tries to help both parties find common ground. If they will not be fair in negotiations, 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 portion of the blame you do not share.
Meaning, if your damages total $100,000 but you share 30 percent of the fault for your injury, 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.
Meaning, if you share more of the blame than the other party, you will not be able to recover any compensation in Forest Park, IL.
Devastating Injuries in Forest Park, IL Car Accidents
Catastrophic injuries in car accidents have devastating consequences for 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 the brain shakes inside of the skull, causing damage to the brain. 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 cause permanent paralysis.
- Fractures — 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 require immediate 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 upend your life. But, with the help of Burger Law, you can be made whole again. Call us today to discuss your case at (314) 500-HURT.