Is It Worth It to Hire Car Accident Attorney in Lake County, IL?
Everyone who has been injured in a car accident has a unique experience. For many, a car accident is a jarring event that causes no small amount of residual stress. Any time you are hurt in a car accident that was not your fault, you deserve financial 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 factors that call for legal representation. It is essential 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's offer does not come close to covering your damages
- The other driver does not have insurance or enough insurance to cover your damages
- You need help with the insurance and legal process
- The other driver disputes liability or fault in the accident
- 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 to Help With Your Lake County, IL Car Accident Claim
At Burger Law, we believe that our role as your personal injury law firm is more than simply arguing your case and negotiating with the insurance company; we have also taken it upon ourselves to offer free education and resources to people injured in car accidents to to help them through their injury claims. Our team has published 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 Lake County, IL Car Accident Claim
When you are injured by someone else's negligence, it is important to choose the best law firm to represent you. Burger Law is highly respected and experienced law firm that has been fiercely fighting for the injured for more than 30 years. Below are some of the reasons why you should choose Burger Law for your legal needs.
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 Lake County, IL legal community and knows how to get results. In order to gauge the abilities of an injury law firm, you need to take into account 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 Lake County, 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 lawyers 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 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. Less than 4 percent of all practicing lawyers are certified by an American Bar Association accredited certification board.
Understanding and Experienced 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. With over 30 years of experience, 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 faithfully to ensure they do. You need to spend your energy on healing; allow us to 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 treat each claim individually. 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 excellence in everything we do. 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 Victories
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 among the most- and best-reviewed law firms, with a 4.9 rating from over 480 reviews. You can also look at our client testimonials and case results.
Discuss your case for free with an car accident attorney in Lake County, IL now at (314) 500-HURT, or read on below to learn more about car accident claims and what Burger Law can do for you.
How is Fault Determined in Car Accident in Lake County, IL?
Determining 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 safe. Under Illinois Law, all drivers owe all others on the road "due care."
- Breach of duty — That they failed in their responsibility. Did they text while driving or drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs?
- Cause in fact — That the wreck directly led to your injury. For example, you were rear ended and that gave you a whiplash injury.
- Proximate cause — That their failure caused the crash. Were you rear ended because a driver was speeding, or because a manufacturer was negligent and their brakes were not working.
- 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. Sometimes, the negligent driver will admit that they are to blame, but too often negligent actors deny they did anything wrong. 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 determine liability. While adjusters are trained to do this, 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 false.
In those cases, you need to hire a car accident attorney to ensure that you are treated fairly. The attorney will launch a complete investigation into the accident, take depositions of all parties involved, and hire crash experts to evaluate how the accident likely occurred. Then they will send this information to the insurance adjuster to get them to be fair.
If the insurance company remains firm, your attorney may recommend mediation, where a neutral third party tries to help both parties find common ground. If that fails, your car accident attorney can take your claim to trial 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 can recover 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 accident, you can recover $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.
That means that if you are over half to blame for the accident, you will not be able to recover any compensation in Lake County, IL.
Serious Injuries in Lake County, IL Car Accidents
Catastrophic injuries in car accidents have devastating consequences for your life, leading to long-term physical, mental and financial consequences. Some common examples of serious injuries in car accidents include:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) — This can occur when the head is violently shaken or struck, causing bleeding and disrupting the brain's function. Symptoms can range from mild, such as a headache or loss of balance, to significant, such as loss of consciousness or permanent cognitive impairment.
- Spinal cord injuries — These can occur when the spinal cord is damaged, resulting in loss of movement or feeling in the arms, legs or other parts of the body. In severe cases, they can cause paraplegia or quadriplegia.
- Fractures — 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 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 scarring.
At Burger Law, we know how serious injuries can completely upend your life. But, with the help of Burger Law, you can find justice, recognition and a financial recovery. Call us today for a free consultation at (314) 500-HURT.