Do I Need a Car Accident Attorney in Orland Park, IL?
Everyone who has been injured in a car accident has a unique experience. For many, a car accident is a shocking event that leaves your head spinning. Any time you are hurt in a car accident that was not your fault, you deserve compensation from the responsible person and their insurance company. To get the full compensation for your damages, you will often need 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 important that you have a car accident attorney to fight for your if the following applies to your case:
- You sustained serious injuries in a car accident
- The insurance company is not offering a fair settlement
- The other driver is uninsured or underinsured
- You are unsure of the legal procedures and rights following a car accident
- The negligent driver or their insurance company is blaming you for your injuries
- 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 for Your Orland 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 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 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 Orland Park, IL Car Accident Claim
When you are injured through no fault of your own, it is imperative to pick the right law firm to represent you. Burger Law is highly respected and experienced law firm that has been fiercely fighting for the injured for over 30 years. Here are some of the reasons why you should choose Burger Law for your claim.
Award-Winning Attorneys Know How to Win
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 Orland Park, 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 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 other attorneys include:
- Martindale-Hubbell Award — AV Preeminent® Rated by Martindale-Hubbell® from NexisLexis® – a significant 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 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.
Compassionate and Knowledgeable Attorneys
At Burger Law, we know the terrible financial, physical and mental burdens 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 three decades, 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; trust in us to fight 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 keep in constant contact so you know the status of your claim.
Commitment to Excellence
At Burger Law, we are devoted to excellence in everything we do. We have high ethical 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 Ratings and Results
Any car accident attorney can say they know how to handle your case, but proving they are qualified is another matter entirely. We are one of the most- and best-reviewed law firms, with a 4.9 rating from almost 500 reviews. You can also check out our client testimonials and case victories.
Get a free consultation with an car accident attorney in Orland Park, IL now at (314) 500-HURT, or read on below 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 Orland Park, IL?
Assigning 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 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 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 the breach of duty caused the crash. Were you rear ended because a driver was distracted, or because a mechanic was negligent and their brakes were not working.
- Damages — That you sustained losses because of your injuries. Do you have medical expenses, lost wages and emotional anguish you can make a claim for?
Fault can be determined through a number of factors. In some cases, the other driver will admit that they are to blame, but too often negligent drivers 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 review the police report and other evidence to assign liability. While adjusters are trained to do this, their real job is to save their insurance company money. That means they may deny that it was the other driver's fault, even if that is demonstrably false.
When that happens, you need to hire a car accident attorney to ensure that you are treated fairly. The attorney will acquire more evidence, take depositions of both drivers and eyewitnesses, 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 change their position.
If the insurance company refuses to be fair, your claim might require a mediation, where a neutral third party tries to help both parties find common ground. If they will not be fair in negotiations, 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 percentage of the accident that is not your fault.
Meaning, if your damages total $100,000 but you share 30 percent of the fault 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 are over half to blame for the accident, you will not be able to recover any compensation in Orland Park, IL.
Devastating Injuries in Orland Park, IL Car Accidents
Serious injuries in car accidents have a significant impact on your daily life and future, leading to long-term physical, mental and financial 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 dizziness, 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 mobility or feeling in the arms, legs or other parts of the body. In severe cases, they can cause paraplegia or quadriplegia.
- Fractures — Broken bones can often heal well, but cause months or years of pain and discomfort.
- Internal injuries — These can include damage to the internal organs, such as the heart, lungs, liver and others, and require prompt 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 change your life in an instant. But, with the help of Burger Law, you can be made whole again. Call us today to discuss your case at (314) 500-HURT.