Why Hire a Car Accident Attorney in Ottawa, IL?
Each car accident is different. For many, a car accident is a jarring event that leaves your head spinning. The fact remains that any time you are injured in a car accident that was not your fault, you are entitled to financial compensation from the responsible person 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 pursue your claim.
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 on your side if the following applies to your case:
- Your injuries are significant
- The insurance company is not offering a fair settlement
- 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
- There are other complications to your case, such as those involving multiple parties, hit and run accident or were hit by a government vehicle
Resources for Your Ottawa, 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 believe it is also important to provide free education and resources to people injured in car accidents to to help them make the most of their injury claims. Burger Law has written books on car accident and personal injury cases, is active on our Youtube channel and is always available to answer questions.
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Why Choose Burger Law For Your Ottawa, IL Car Accident Claim
When you are facing a legal issue, it is imperative to choose the best law firm to fight for you. Burger Law is a reputed 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 case.
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 Ottawa, 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 Ottawa, IL legal community include:
- Martindale-Hubbell Award — AV Preeminent® Rated by Martindale-Hubbell® from NexisLexis® – a noteworthy achievement awarded to less 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 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. Fewer than 4 percent of all practicing lawyers are certified by an ABA accredited certification board.
Empathetic and Experienced 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 relentlessly to ensure they do. You need to focus on healing; trust in us to take on the insurance company.
Customized Approach
At Burger Law, we know that no two clients or cases are the same. 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 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 Reviews and Results
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 highest-reviewed law firms, with a 4.9 rating from over 480 reviews. You can also check out our client testimonials and case results.
Get a free consultation with an car accident attorney in Ottawa, IL now at (314) 500-HURT, or read on below to learn more about car accident claims and how Burger Law can help.
How Do You Determine Liability in Car Accident in Ottawa, IL?
Assigning fault in a car crash is the first step toward getting compensation. 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 625 ILCS 5/11-1003.1, all motorists need to "exercise due care to avoid colliding" with pedestrians, bicyclist and other vehicles.
- Breach of duty — That they failed in their responsibility. Did they run a red light or drive drunk?
- Cause in fact — That the accident directly led to your injury. For example, you were rear ended and that gave you a whiplash injury.
- 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 harm because of your injuries. Do you have medical expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering you can make a claim for?
Fault can be determined through numerous factors. In some cases, the other driver will admit that they are to blame, but too often irresponsible drivers deny they did anything wrong. After an accident, police officers will write a report explaining who they link is liable. Then, insurance adjusters will evaluate the police report and other evidence to assign liability. While adjusters are trained to do this, their primary goal is to make sure their company's profits stay high by denying and minimizing claims. That means they may deny that it was the other driver's fault, even if that is demonstrably untrue.
When that happens, you need to hire a car accident attorney to ensure you get the compensation you are owed. The attorney will investigate the case further, 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 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, 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 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 share more of the blame than the other party, you cannot make a recovery in Ottawa, IL.
Devastating Injuries in Ottawa, IL Car Accidents
Devastating injuries in car accidents have devastating consequences for your daily life and future, 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 damage to the brain. Symptoms can range from mild, such as a headache or confusion, to grave, 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 the worst case scenario, they can cause paraplegia or quadriplegia.
- Broken bones — Fractures 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 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 now for a free consultation at (314) 500-HURT.