Is It Worth It to Hire Car Accident Attorney in Highland, IL?
Everyone who has been injured in a car accident has a unique experience. For many, a car accident is a jarring event that introduces sudden stress. Any time you are injured in a car accident caused by someone else, you are entitled to financial compensation from the responsible person and their insurance company. To get the full compensation for your damages, you may require the help of 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 situations that call for legal representation. It is vital that you have a car accident attorney to fight for your if the following applies to your case:
- Your injuries are severe
- The insurance company is lowballing you
- 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 saying you are at fault
- You are dealing with complex legal issues, such as being in a multi-car accident, hit and run accident or were hit by a government vehicle
Resources for Your Highland, IL Car Accident Claim
At Burger Law, we believe that our role as your personal injury law firm extends beyond arguing your case and communicating 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 published books on car accident and personal injury cases, created a Youtube channel and we are always willing to answer questions.
Other Resources
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Why Choose Burger Law For Your Highland, IL Car Accident Claim
When you are injured in a car accident, it is imperative to choose the right law firm to represent you. Burger Law is a well-respected and experienced law firm that has been protecting the rights of the injured for over 30 years. Here are some of the reasons why you should choose Burger Law for your case.
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 Highland, 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 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 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 honor 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 ABA accredited certification board.
Compassionate and Knowledgeable Attorneys
At Burger Law, we know the terrible financial, physical and mental hardships an injury can create. That is why our attorneys are compassionate and dedicated to helping our clients be made whole again. After having fought for more than 30 years, our attorneys are willing to take on the tough cases other law firms are not. We are committed to helping our clients achieve the best possible outcome, and we work tirelessly to ensure that their rights are protected. You need to spend your time 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 keep in constant contact so you know the status of your claim.
Commitment to Excellence
At Burger Law, we are committed to excellence in everything we do. We have high moral expectations for ourselves and the insurance adjusters we stand up to. We pursue every legal avenue to get you the compensation you deserve.
Our Ratings and Results
Any car accident attorney can say they know how to handle your case, but having a demonstrated track record of success is another matter entirely. We are one of the highest-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 Highland, IL immediately at (314) 500-HURT, or keep reading to find out more about pursuing compensation in a car accident and how Burger Law can help.
How is Fault Determined in Car Accident in Highland, IL?
Assigning 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 pedestrians, bicyclist and other vehicles.
- Breach of duty — That they failed in their responsibility. Did they run a red light or drive drunk?
- 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 their negligence caused the crash. Were you rear ended because a driver was tailgating, or because a manufacturer was negligent and their brakes were not working.
- Damages — That you sustained harm because of the injuries. Do you have medical bills, 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 fault, but too often negligent people 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 analyze the police report and other evidence to determine liability. 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.
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 all parties involved, 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 remains firm, 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 take your claim to trial 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 bare.
Meaning, if a jury awards you $100,000 in damages, but finds that you share 30 percent of the blame for your accident, 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 share more of the blame than the other party, you will not be able to recover any compensation in Highland, IL.
Serious Injuries in Highland, IL Car Accidents
Devastating injuries in car accidents have devastating consequences for your life, causing 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 moves inside of the skull, causing bleeding and disrupting the brain's function. Symptoms can range from mild, such as a headache or fatigue, to severe, such as loss of consciousness or lifelong 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 the worst case scenario, 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 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 turn your life upside down. But, with the help of Burger Law, you can be made whole again. Call us now for a free consultation at (314) 500-HURT.