Is It Worth It to Hire Car Accident Attorney in Rossville, IL?
Each car accident is different. For many, a car accident is an upsetting event that leaves your head spinning. Any time you are hurt in a car accident that was not your fault, you are entitled to 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 fight for you.
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 vital that you have a car accident attorney on your side in the following situations:
- You sustained serious injuries in a car accident
- The insurance company's offer does not come close to covering your damages
- The other driver is uninsured or underinsured
- You are unsure of the legal procedures and rights following a car accident
- 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 injured by a government vehicle
Resources to Help With Your Rossville, IL Car Accident Claim
At Burger Law, we believe that our role as your personal injury law firm is more than simply arguing your case and negotiating with the insurance company; we believe it is also important to offer free materials and resources to people injured in car accidents to to help them through their injury claims. Burger Law has published books on all types of personal injury cases including car accidents, created a Youtube channel and is always available to answer questions.
Other Resources
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Why Choose Burger Law For Your Rossville, IL Car Accident Claim
When you are injured through no fault of your own, it is essential to choose the best law firm to fight for 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 legal needs.
Premier 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 Rossville, 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 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 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 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. Less than 4 percent of all practicing attorneys are certified by an ABA accredited certification board.
Understanding and Experienced Attorneys
At Burger Law, we know the terrible financial, physical and emotional hardships an injury can cause. That is why our attorneys are compassionate and dedicated to helping our clients be made whole again. With more than three decades of experience, our attorneys are willing to take on the tough cases other law firms are not. We are devoted 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 energy on healing; let us fight the insurance company.
Personalized Approach
At Burger Law, we know that every client and every case is unique. That is why we tailor our legal strategies to meet the specific needs of 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 committed to providing the highest standard of legal advocacy. We have high ethical expectations for ourselves and the insurance adjusters we stand up to. We pursue every possible avenue to get you the compensation you deserve.
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 most- and best-reviewed law firms, with a 4.9 rating from over 480 reviews. You can also look at our client testimonials and case results.
Discuss your case for free with an car accident attorney in Rossville, IL immediately 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 Rossville, IL?
Determining liability in a car accident 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 a responsibility to keep you safe. 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 failed in their responsibility. Did they run a red light or drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs?
- Cause in fact — That the crash directly led to your injury. For example, you were rear ended and that gave you a whiplash injury.
- Proximate cause — That their failure 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 harm because of the injuries. Do you have medical bills, lost wages and emotional anguish you can make a claim for?
Fault is determined by a police officer, insurance adjuster, attorney, mediator or jury. In some cases, the negligent driver will admit fault, but too often irresponsible drivers deny they did anything wrong. After an accident, police officers will write a report explaining what they believe happened. Then, insurance adjusters will review the police report and other evidence to assign liability. While this is part of an adjuster's job, their primary goal 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 you get the compensation you are owed. The attorney will launch a full 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 compile a settlement demand letter to the insurance adjuster.
If the insurance company refuses to be fair, your attorney may seek 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 percentage of the accident that is not your fault.
Meaning, if a jury awards you $100,000 in damages, but finds that you share 30 percent of the blame 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.
Meaning, if you share more of the blame than the other party, you will not be able to recover any compensation in Rossville, IL.
Serious Injuries in Rossville, IL Car Accidents
Catastrophic injuries in car accidents have a significant impact on your daily life and future, leading to long-term physical, emotional and financial consequences. Some injuries we have helped people get compensation for are:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) — This can occur when the the brain moves inside of the skull, causing damage to the brain. Symptoms can range from mild, such as a headache or fatigue, to significant, such as loss of consciousness or lifelong dysfunction.
- 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.
- Fractures — Broken bones 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 turn your life upside down. 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.