Do I Need a Car Accident Attorney in River North, IL?
There are countless factors involved in car accidents that make each case different. For many, a car accident is a shocking event that leaves your head spinning. Any time you are injured in a car accident caused by someone else, you deserve financial compensation from the responsible person and their insurance company. To get the full compensation for your damages, 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, there are certain situations that call for legal representation. It is important that you have a car accident attorney to fight on your behalf in the following situations:
- Your injuries are severe
- 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 saying you are at fault
- 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 River North, 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 offer free education and resources to people injured in car accidents to to help them through their injury claims. Our team has written books on car accident and personal injury cases, is active on our Youtube channel and we are always willing to answer questions.
Other Resources
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Why Choose Burger Law For Your River North, IL Car Accident Claim
When you are facing a legal issue, it is imperative to pick the best 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 case.
Acclaimed Attorneys That Get Results
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 River North, 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 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 made up 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 attorneys are certified by an American Bar Association accredited certification board.
Understanding 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. With more than three decades of experience, our attorneys are willing to take on the tough cases other law firms are not. We are committed to helping our clients recovery both physically and financially, and we work relentlessly to ensure that their rights are protected. You need to spend your time on healing; trust in us to fight the insurance company.
Customized Approach
At Burger Law, we know that no two clients or cases are the same. That is why we treat each claim individually. 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 dedicated to providing the highest standard of legal advocacy. We have high ethical standards for the way we pursue compensation and the way we treat our clients. 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 will fight for you, but proving they are qualified is another matter entirely. We are among the highest-reviewed law firms, with a 4.9 rating from over 480 reviews. You can also look at our client testimonials and case victories.
Get a free consultation with an car accident attorney in River North, IL today 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 River North, IL?
Determining liability in a car wreck is the first step toward getting compensation. To do that, you and your car accident attorney must prove the five elements of negligence:
- Duty of care — That the other driver had an obligation to keep you from unreasonable harm. Under Illinois Law, all motorists need to "exercise due care to avoid colliding" with pedestrians, bicyclist and other vehicles.
- Breach of duty — That they failed in their obligation. Did they run a red light or drive drunk?
- Cause in fact — That the crash caused 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 manufacturer was negligent and the other driver has faulty brakes.
- Damages — That you sustained losses because of the 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 negligent driver will admit that they are to blame, but too often irresponsible actors deny they did anything wrong. After an accident, police officers will write a report explaining who they link is liable. Then, insurance adjusters will analyze the police report and other evidence to determine blame. While adjusters are trained to do this, their real job is to save their insurance company money. That means they may say they do not owe you a recovery, 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 investigate the case further, take depositions of all parties involved, and hire crash experts to determine 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 remains firm, your claim might require a mediation, where an unbiased attorney or judge helps analyze the evidence and determine fault. If that fails, 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 will be compensated for the portion of the blame you do not bare.
Meaning, if a jury awards you $100,000 in damages, but finds that you share 30 percent of the blame 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 cannot make a recovery in River North, IL.
Serious Injuries in River North, IL Car Accidents
Catastrophic injuries in car accidents have devastating consequences for your life, causing long-term physical, mental 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 bleeding and disrupting the brain's function. Symptoms can range from mild, such as a headache or loss of balance, to severe, such as loss of consciousness or lifelong disability.
- Spinal cord injuries — These can occur when the spinal cord is damaged, resulting in loss of mobility or sensation in the arms, legs or other parts of the body. In severe cases, they can cause permanent paralysis.
- Broken bones — Fractures 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 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 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 be made whole again. Call us today to discuss your case at (314) 500-HURT.