Why Hire a Car Accident Attorney in Grayslake, IL?
Everyone who has been injured in a car accident has a unique experience. For many, a car accident is an upsetting event that leaves your head spinning. Regardless of the specifics, when you are hurt in a car accident that was not your fault, you are entitled to financial compensation from the responsible person and their insurance company. To get the full compensation for your damages, you will often require the help of a good car accident attorney to pursue your claim.
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 crucial that you have a car accident attorney to fight on your behalf if the following applies to your case:
- Your injuries are severe
- 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 other 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 injured by a government vehicle
Resources to Help With Your Grayslake, 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 negotiating 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 is always available to answer questions.
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Why Choose Burger Law For Your Grayslake, IL Car Accident Claim
When you are facing a legal issue, it is crucial to pick the best law firm to represent 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.
Premier 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 Grayslake, 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 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 remarkable 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 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 attorneys are certified by an ABA accredited certification board.
Understanding and Knowledgeable Attorneys
At Burger Law, we know that being injured through another's negligence is stressful and overwhelming. That is why our attorneys are compassionate and dedicated to helping our clients be made whole again. After having fought for over three decades, our attorneys are willing to take on the tough cases other law firms are not. We are dedicated to helping our clients recovery both physically and financially, and we work relentlessly to ensure that their rights are protected. You need to focus on healing; trust in us to stand up to the insurance company.
Customized Approach
At Burger Law, we know that every client and every case is unique. That is why we treat each claim individually. 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 dedicated to providing the highest standard of legal advocacy. We have high ethical standards for the way we handle cases and the way we treat our clients. We leave no stone unturned when we investigate cases and search for insurance coverage.
Our Reviews and Victories
Any car accident attorney can say they will fight for you, but proving they are qualified is another matter entirely. We are one of the most- and best-reviewed law firms, with a 4.9 rating from almost 500 reviews. You can also check out our client testimonials and case victories.
Discuss your case for free with an car accident attorney in Grayslake, IL immediately at (314) 500-HURT, or keep reading to find out more about car accident claims and what Burger Law can do for you.
How Do You Determine Liability in Car Accident in Grayslake, IL?
Assigning liability 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 an obligation to keep you safe. Under Illinois Law, all drivers owe all others on the road "due care."
- Breach of duty — That they neglected their responsibility. Did they text while driving 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 tailgating, or because a mechanic was negligent and the other driver has faulty brakes.
- Damages — That you sustained losses because of the 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 other driver will admit fault, but too often irresponsible people 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 analyze 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 demonstrably untrue.
In those cases, you need to hire a car accident attorney to ensure that you are treated fairly. The attorney will launch a full investigation into the accident, take depositions of both drivers and eyewitnesses, and hire crash experts to determine how the accident likely occurred. Then they will compile a settlement demand letter to the insurance adjuster.
If the insurance company remains firm, your attorney may seek 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 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 fault you do not share.
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. 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 Grayslake, IL.
Catastrophic Injuries in Grayslake, IL Car Accidents
Devastating injuries in car accidents have devastating consequences for your life, causing long-term physical, emotional and economic 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 damage to the brain. Symptoms can range from mild, such as a headache or confusion, 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 severe cases, they can cause permanent paralysis.
- Broken bones — 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 damage 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 turn your life upside down. But, with the help of Burger Law, you can be made whole again. Call us today to discuss your case at (314) 500-HURT.