Do I Need a Car Accident Attorney in Northlake, IL?
Each car accident is different. For many, a car accident is a shocking event that causes no small amount of residual stress. Any time you are injured in a car accident that was not your fault, you deserve compensation from the person who caused you harm and their insurance company. To get the full compensation for your damages, you will often need 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 some factors require legal help. 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 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 disputes liability or fault in the accident
- There are other complications to your case, such as those involving multiple parties, hit and run accident or were hit by a commercial vehicle
Resources to Help With Your Northlake, 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 have also taken it upon ourselves to offer free education and resources to people injured in car accidents to to help them make the most of their injury claims. Burger Law 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 Northlake, IL Car Accident Claim
When you are facing a legal issue, it is important to choose the right law firm to represent you. Burger Law is highly respected and experienced law firm that has been protecting the rights of the injured for over 30 years. Below are some of the reasons why you should choose Burger Law for your claim.
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 Northlake, 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 many awards, honors and accolades Burger Law has received from other attorneys include:
- Martindale-Hubbell Award — AV Preeminent® Rated by Martindale-Hubbell® from NexisLexis® – a remarkable achievement awarded to less than 5 percent of all lawyers 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 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 attorneys are certified by an American Bar Association accredited certification board.
Compassionate 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. With over three decades of experience, our attorneys have the knowledge and expertise to handle even the most complex legal cases. We are devoted to helping our clients achieve the best possible outcome, and we work relentlessly to ensure that their rights are protected. You need to focus on healing; allow 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 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.
Commitment to Excellence
At Burger Law, we are devoted to offering the highest standard of legal advocacy. We have high moral standards for the way we handle cases and the way we communicate with our clients. We pursue every legal avenue to get you the compensation you deserve.
Our Reviews 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 most- and best-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 Northlake, IL immediately at (314) 500-HURT, or read on below to find out more about pursuing compensation in a car accident and what Burger Law can do for you.
How is Fault Determined in Car Accident in Northlake, IL?
Assigning fault in a car accident 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 from unreasonable harm. 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 neglected 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 got a concussion from hitting your head on the dashboard.
- Proximate cause — That their failure 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 losses because of your injuries. Do you have medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering you can make a claim for?
Fault can be determined through a number of 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 evaluate the accident scene and speak to both parties to help make their report. Then, insurance adjusters will evaluate the police report and other evidence to assign 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 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 both drivers and eyewitnesses, 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 file a lawsuit in civil court 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 percentage of the accident that is not your fault.
Meaning, if your damages total $100,000 but you share 30 percent of the blame 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.
Meaning, if you are more than half to blame for the accident, you will not be able to recover any compensation in Northlake, IL.
Devastating Injuries in Northlake, IL Car Accidents
Serious injuries in car accidents have a significant impact on your daily life and future, leading to long-term physical, emotional and economic 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 damage to the brain. Symptoms can range from mild, such as a headache or fatigue, to severe, such as loss of consciousness or lifelong dysfunction.
- 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 lead paraplegia or quadriplegia.
- Fractures — Broken bones 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 change your life in an instant. But, with the help of Burger Law, you can find justice, recognition and a financial recovery. Call us immediately to discuss your case at (314) 500-HURT.