Is It Worth It to Hire Car Accident Attorney in Highland Park, IL?
There are countless factors involved in car accidents that make each case different. For many, a car accident is a shocking event that leaves your head spinning. Regardless of the specifics, when you are injured 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 may 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 factors that call for legal representation. It is vital that you have a car accident attorney to fight for your in the following situations:
- 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 negligent driver or their insurance company is blaming you for your injuries
- You are dealing with complex legal issues, such as those involving multiple parties, hit and run accident or were injured by a government vehicle
Resources to Help With Your Highland Park, IL Car Accident Claim
Our philosophy at Burger Law is that, as your personal injury law firm, our responsibility is more than simply presenting your case and negotiating 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 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.
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Why Choose Burger Law For Your Highland Park, IL Car Accident Claim
When you are facing a legal issue, it is crucial to choose the best law firm to fight for you. Burger Law is highly respected and experienced law firm that has been fiercely fighting for the injured for over three decades. Here are some of the reasons why you should choose Burger Law for your case.
Recognized Leaders in Car Accident Claims
Choosing the right personal injury lawyer for your claim is crucial. You want someone with a history of winning similar cases and who you know is not afraid to take the case to trial if they have to. In order to gauge the abilities of an injury law firm, you need to look at their previous victories, and their reputation among their clients and peers. The many awards, honors and accolades Burger Law has received from the Highland Park, IL legal community include:
- Martindale-Hubbell Award — AV Preeminent® Rated by Martindale-Hubbell® from NexisLexis® – a significant achievement awarded to less than 5 percent of all attorneys in the U.S.
- 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 attorneys 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.
Understanding and Knowledgeable Attorneys
At Burger Law, we know that being injured through another's negligence is stressful and overwhelming. That is why we have a client-centered approach. 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 dedicated to helping our clients recovery both physically and financially, and we work faithfully to ensure that their rights are protected. You need to spend your time on healing; let us stand up to the insurance company.
Personalized Approach
At Burger Law, we know that every client and every case is unique. 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 dedicated to excellence in everything we do. We have high ethical 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
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 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 Highland Park, IL today at (314) 500-HURT, or keep reading to find out more about seeking compensation in a car accident and what Burger Law can do for you.
How Do You Determine Fault in Car Accident in Highland Park, IL?
Assigning fault in a car accident 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 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 responsibility. Did they drive with excessive speed or drive drunk?
- Cause in fact — That the crash 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 speeding, or because a mechanic was negligent and the other driver has faulty brakes.
- Damages — That you sustained losses 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 negligent driver will admit that they are to blame, but too often negligent drivers 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 fault. 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 owe you a recovery, even if that is patently false.
In those cases, 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 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 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 recommend 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 fault you do not bare.
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 share more of the blame than the other party, you will not be able to recover any compensation in Highland Park, IL.
Devastating Injuries in Highland Park, IL Car Accidents
Serious 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 the brain twists inside of the skull, 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 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 severe cases, they can lead paraplegia or quadriplegia.
- Broken bones — 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 can be life-threatening if not promptly treated.
- 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 disfigurement.
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 find justice, recognition and a financial recovery. Call us today to discuss your case at (314) 500-HURT.