Is It Worth It to Hire Car Accident Attorney in Peoria County, IL?
Each car accident is different. For many, a car accident is a jarring event that causes no small amount of residual stress. The fact remains that any time 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 need 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 require legal help. It is important that you have a car accident attorney to fight on your behalf if the following applies to your case:
- Your injuries are severe
- 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 or their insurance company is saying you are at fault
- You are dealing with complex legal issues, such as those involving multiple parties, hit and run accident or were hit by a commercial vehicle
Resources for Your Peoria County, IL Car Accident Claim
Our philosophy at Burger Law is that, as your personal injury law firm, our responsibility extends beyond presenting your case and communicating with the insurance company; we have also taken it upon ourselves to provide 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 is always available to answer questions.
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Why Choose Burger Law For Your Peoria County, IL Car Accident Claim
When you are facing a legal issue, it is crucial to choose the best law firm to represent you. Burger Law is a well-respected and experienced law firm that has been protecting the rights of the injured for more than 30 years. Below are some of the reasons why you should choose Burger Law for your case.
Acclaimed Attorneys That Deliver
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 Peoria County, IL legal community and knows how to get results. In order to gauge the abilities of an injury law firm, you need to look at their previous victories, and their reputation among their clients and peers. The numerous awards, honors and accolades Burger Law has received from our peers include:
- Martindale-Hubbell Award — AV Preeminent® Rated by Martindale-Hubbell® from NexisLexis® – a noteworthy 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 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 lawyers are certified by an American Bar Association accredited certification board.
Understanding and Experienced Attorneys
At Burger Law, we know the terrible financial, physical and mental burdens an injury can create. That is why we strive to build personal relationships with our clients. After having fought for more than 30 years, 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 fight the insurance company.
Personalized 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 the status of your claim.
Dedication to Excellence
At Burger Law, we are devoted to excellence in everything we do. We have high moral standards for the way we handle cases and the way we communicate with our clients. We leave no stone unturned when we investigate cases and search for insurance coverage.
Our Ratings and Victories
A car accident attorney can say just about anything, but proving they are qualified is another matter entirely. We are among the highest-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 Peoria County, IL now at (314) 500-HURT, or keep reading to discover more about car accident claims and how Burger Law can help.
How Do You Determine Liability in Car Accident in Peoria County, IL?
Determining liability in a car wreck is the first step toward getting compensation. Liability comes down to proving the five elements of negligence:
- Duty of care — That the other driver had an obligation to keep you safe. Under 625 ILCS 5/11-1003.1, all motorists owe all others on the road "due care."
- Breach of duty — That they neglected their obligation. Did they run a red light or drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs?
- Cause in fact — That the accident directly led to your injury. For example, you were t-boned and broke your arm.
- Proximate cause — That the breach of duty caused the crash. Were you rear ended because a driver was speeding, or because a mechanic was negligent and their brakes were not working.
- Damages — That you sustained harm because of the injuries. Do you have medical expenses, lost wages and emotional anguish you can make a claim for?
Liability is determined by a police officer, insurance adjuster, attorney, mediator or jury. Sometimes, 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 evaluate 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 patently untrue.
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 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 send this information to the insurance adjuster to get them to change their position.
If the insurance company remains firm, your attorney may seek 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 take your claim to trial 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 portion of the blame you do not share.
Meaning, if a jury awards you $100,000 in damages, but finds that you share 30 percent of the fault for your injury, you will receive $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.
Meaning, if you share more of the blame than the other party, you will not be able to recover any compensation in Peoria County, IL.
Serious Injuries in Peoria County, IL Car Accidents
Devastating injuries in car accidents have devastating consequences for your daily life and future, causing 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 the brain twists inside of the skull, causing bleeding and disrupting the brain's function. Symptoms can range from mild, such as a headache or confusion, to severe, such as loss of consciousness or permanent 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 cause permanent paralysis.
- Fractures — 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 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 disfigurement.
At Burger Law, we know how serious injuries can completely turn your life upside down. But, with the help of Burger Law, you can find justice, recognition and a financial recovery. Call us now to discuss your case at (314) 500-HURT.