Why Hire a Car Accident Attorney in Marseilles, 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 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, some factors necessitate legal help. It is vital that you have a car accident attorney to fight for your in the following situations:
- You sustained serious injuries in a car accident
- The insurance company is lowballing you
- The other driver is uninsured or underinsured
- You are unsure of the legal procedures and rights following a car accident
- The other driver disputes liability or fault in the accident
- You are dealing with complex legal issues, such as being in a multi-vehicle accident, hit and run accident or were hit by a government vehicle
Resources to Help With Your Marseilles, IL Car Accident Claim
Our philosophy at Burger Law is that, as your personal injury law firm, our responsibility is more than simply arguing your case and communicating with the insurance company; we believe it is also important to offer free materials and resources to people injured in car accidents to to help them through their injury claims. Burger Law has written books on all types of personal injury cases including car accidents, is active on our Youtube channel and we are always willing to answer questions.
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Why Choose Burger Law For Your Marseilles, IL Car Accident Claim
When you are injured in a car accident, it is important to choose the right law firm to represent you. Burger Law is a reputed and experienced law firm that has been defending the rights of the injured for more than three decades. Here are some of the reasons why you should choose Burger Law for your legal needs.
Award-Winning Attorneys Know How to Win
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 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 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 Marseilles, 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 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 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 we strive to build personal relationships with our clients. After having fought for over three decades, our attorneys have the knowledge and expertise to handle even the most complex legal cases. 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 energy on healing; allow us to take on 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 the status of your claim.
Dedication to Excellence
At Burger Law, we are devoted 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 Victories
Any car accident attorney can say they know how to handle your case, but proving they are qualified is another matter entirely. We are among the most- and best-reviewed law firms, with a 4.9 rating from almost 500 reviews. You can also look at our client testimonials and case victories.
Discuss your case for free with an car accident attorney in Marseilles, IL now at (314) 500-HURT, or keep reading to learn more about car accident claims and how Burger Law can help.
How is Fault Determined in Car Accident in Marseilles, IL?
Assigning fault in a car wreck 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 obligation. Did they text while driving or drive drunk?
- Cause in fact — That the accident caused your injury. For example, you were rear ended and that gave you a whiplash injury.
- Proximate cause — That the breach of duty 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 bills, lost wages and emotional anguish you can make a claim for?
Liability can be determined through a number of factors. In some cases, the other driver will admit that they are to blame, but too often reckless people try to avoid taking responsibility for what they did. After an accident, police officers will write a report explaining who they link is liable. Then, insurance adjusters will review the police report and other evidence to assign fault. While this is part of an adjuster's job, their primary goal 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.
When that happens, you need to hire a car accident attorney to ensure you get the compensation you are owed. The attorney will obtain more evidence, 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 letter to the insurance company.
If the insurance company remains firm, your claim might require a mediation, where an unbiased attorney or judge tries to help both parties come to a fair settlement. If they will not be fair in negotiations, your car accident attorney can take your claim to trial, present the evidence to a jury and convince them the other driver was at fault.
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 fault you do not share.
Meaning, if your damages total $100,000 but you share 30 percent of the blame for your injury, you will receive $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.
Meaning, if you are more than half to blame for the accident, you will not be able to recover any compensation in Marseilles, IL.
Serious Injuries in Marseilles, IL Car Accidents
Catastrophic injuries in car accidents have a significant impact on your daily life and future, causing long-term physical, mental 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 bleeding and disrupting the brain's function. Symptoms can range from mild, such as a headache or temporarily blurry vision, 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 sensation in the arms, legs or other parts of the body. In the worst case scenario, they can cause permanent paralysis.
- 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 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 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.