Why Hire a Car Accident Attorney in Granite City, IL?
Each car accident is different. For many, a car accident is a shocking event that leaves your head spinning. Regardless of the specifics, when you are hurt in a car accident caused by someone else, you are entitled to 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 pursue your claim.
Sometimes you can resolve a minor car accident in a way that is favorable for all parties without involving car accident attorneys. However there are certain factors that call for legal representation. It is crucial 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 is not offering a fair settlement
- The other driver is uninsured or underinsured
- You need help with the insurance and legal process
- The negligent driver or their insurance company is saying you are at fault
- You are dealing with complex legal issues, such as being in a multi-vehicle accident, hit and run accident or were injured by a government vehicle
Resources to Help With Your Granite City, IL Car Accident Claim
At Burger Law, we believe that our role as your personal injury law firm extends beyond arguing your case and negotiating with the insurance company; we believe it is also important to offer free education and resources to people injured in car accidents to to help them make the most of 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 Granite City, IL Car Accident Claim
When you are facing a legal issue, it is crucial to choose the best 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 30 years. Here are some of the reasons why you should choose Burger Law for your claim.
Recognized Leaders in Car Accident Claims
It can be hard to know how to choose the best personal injury lawyer for you. You want someone with a history of winning similar cases 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 take into account their previous victories, 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 notable achievement awarded to not more than 5 percent of all lawyers in the United States
- 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 American Bar Association accredited certification board.
Compassionate 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. With over 30 years of experience, 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 tirelessly to ensure that their rights are protected. 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 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 how your case is going.
Dedication to Excellence
At Burger Law, we are committed to providing the highest standard of legal advocacy. We have high moral 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 Results
A car accident attorney can say just about anything, but proving they are qualified is another matter entirely. We are among the highest-reviewed law firms, with a 4.9 rating from over 480 reviews. You can also look at our client testimonials and case victories.
Discuss your case for free with an car accident attorney in Granite City, 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 is Fault Determined in Car Accident in Granite City, IL?
Assigning fault in a car crash 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 a responsibility to keep you from unreasonable harm. Under 625 ILCS 5/11-1003.1, all motorists owe all others on the road "due care."
- Breach of duty — That they neglected their responsibility. Did they drive reckless or drive drunk?
- 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 tailgating, 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 pain and suffering you can make a claim for?
Liability can be determined through numerous factors. In some cases, the other driver will admit that they are to blame, but too often reckless people try to avoid being held accountable for their actions. After an accident, police officers will write a report explaining what they believe happened. Then, insurance adjusters will analyze the police report and other evidence to assign liability. While this is part of an adjuster's job, their real job is to make sure their company's profits stay high by denying and minimizing claims. That means they may say they do not have to compensate you, even if that is demonstrably untrue.
When that happens, you need to hire a car accident attorney to ensure that you are treated fairly. The attorney will investigate the case further, take depositions of both drivers and eyewitnesses, and hire crash experts to interpret photographs and the damage to both vehicles to show how the accident occurred. Then they will compile a settlement demand package to the insurance adjuster.
If the insurance company refuses to be fair, your claim might require a mediation, where an unbiased attorney or judge 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 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 can recover $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 more than 50 percent to blame for the accident, you cannot make a recovery in Granite City, IL.
Devastating Injuries in Granite City, IL Car Accidents
Catastrophic injuries in car accidents have devastating consequences for your daily life and future, leading to long-term physical, emotional and financial consequences. Some injuries we have helped people get compensation for are:
- 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 confusion, to severe, such as loss of consciousness or lifelong dysfunction.
- 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 severe cases, they can cause paraplegia or quadriplegia.
- Fractures — Fractures 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 prompt medical attention in order not to be deadly.
- 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 change your life in an instant. But, with the help of Burger Law, you can be made whole again. Call us immediately for a free consultation at (314) 500-HURT.