Is It Worth It to Hire Car Accident Attorney in Shabbona, IL?
Each car accident is different. For many, a car accident is a shocking event that leaves your head spinning. Regardless of the specifics, when you are injured 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 may 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 factors that call for legal representation. It is vital that you have a car accident attorney to fight for your in the following situations:
- You sustained serious injuries in a car accident
- The insurance company is lowballing you
- The other driver is uninsured or underinsured
- You need help with the insurance and legal process
- The other driver disputes liability or fault in the accident
- You are dealing with complex legal issues, such as being in a multi-vehicle accident, hit and run accident or were injured by a government vehicle
Resources to Help With Your Shabbona, IL Car Accident Claim
At Burger Law, we believe that our role as your personal injury law firm is more than simply presenting your case and communicating 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 make the most of their injury claims. Burger Law has published books on all types of personal injury cases including car accidents, created a Youtube channel and we are always willing to answer questions.
Other Resources
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Why Choose Burger Law For Your Shabbona, IL Car Accident Claim
When you are injured in a car accident, it is imperative to choose the right law firm to fight for you. Burger Law is a reputed and experienced law firm that has been fiercely fighting for the injured for more than three decades. Below are some of the reasons why you should choose Burger Law for your claim.
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 Shabbona, 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 numerous awards, honors and accolades Burger Law has received from the Shabbona, IL legal community include:
- Martindale-Hubbell Award — AV Preeminent® Rated by Martindale-Hubbell® from NexisLexis® – a remarkable achievement awarded to not more than 5 percent of all attorneys in the United States
- 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 attorneys are certified by an ABA accredited certification board.
Empathetic and Knowledgeable Attorneys
At Burger Law, we know the terrible financial, physical and emotional burdens an injury can cause. That is why our attorneys are compassionate and dedicated to helping our clients be made whole again. With over 30 years of experience, our attorneys have the knowledge and expertise to handle even the most complex legal cases. We are committed to helping our clients achieve the best possible outcome, and we work tirelessly to ensure that their rights are protected. You need to spend your energy on healing; let us take on the insurance company.
Customized Approach
At Burger Law, we know that every client and every case is unique. That is why we customize 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 excellence in everything we do. 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
A car accident attorney can say just about anything, but having a demonstrated track record of success is another matter entirely. We are one of the most- and best-reviewed law firms, with a 4.9 rating from over 480 reviews. You can also check out our client testimonials and case results.
Discuss your case for free with an car accident attorney in Shabbona, 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 Do You Determine Fault in Car Accident in Shabbona, IL?
Assigning liability in a car crash 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 from unreasonable harm. Under 625 ILCS 5/11-1003.1, all motorists owe all others on the road "due care."
- Breach of duty — That they failed in their responsibility. Did they drive with excessive speed or drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs?
- Cause in fact — That the wreck directly led to your injury. For example, you were t-boned and broke your arm.
- Proximate cause — That their negligence caused the crash. Were you rear ended because a driver was tailgating, or because a mechanic was negligent and their brakes were not working.
- 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 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 reckless 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 analyze the police report and other evidence to determine fault. 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 all parties involved, 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 be fair.
If the insurance company remains firm, your claim might require a mediation, where an unbiased attorney or judge tries to help both parties find common ground. If that fails, your car accident attorney can take your claim to trial, 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 share.
Meaning, if your damages total $100,000 but you share 30 percent of the blame for your accident, 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 Shabbona, IL.
Serious Injuries in Shabbona, IL Car Accidents
Devastating injuries in car accidents have devastating consequences for your life, causing long-term physical, mental and economic 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 bleeding and disrupting the brain's function. Symptoms can range from mild, such as a headache or confusion, 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 movement or sensation 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 damage 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 disfigurement.
At Burger Law, we know how serious injuries can completely upend your life. But, with the help of Burger Law, you can be made whole again. Call us now for a free consultation at (314) 500-HURT.