Is It Worth It to Hire Car Accident Attorney in Stephenson County, IL?
Each car accident is different. For many, a car accident is a jarring event that causes no small amount of residual stress. Any time you are injured in a car accident caused by someone else, you deserve compensation from the responsible person and their insurance company. To get the full compensation for your damages, you may need a good car accident attorney to pursue your claim.
Sometimes you can resolve a minor car accident in a way that is favorable for all parties without involving car accident attorneys. However some factors necessitate legal help. It is essential that you have a car accident attorney to fight for your in the following situations:
- Your injuries are severe
- The insurance company is not offering a fair settlement
- The other driver does not have insurance or enough insurance to cover your damages
- You are unsure of the legal procedures and rights following a car accident
- The other driver disputes liability or fault in the accident
- You are dealing with complex legal issues, such as being in a multi-car accident, hit and run accident or were hit by a commercial vehicle
Resources to Help With Your Stephenson County, IL Car Accident Claim
At Burger Law, we believe that our role as your personal injury law firm extends beyond 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 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 is always available to answer questions.
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Why Choose Burger Law For Your Stephenson County, IL Car Accident Claim
When you are injured in a car accident, it is crucial to pick the best law firm to fight for you. Burger Law is a reputed and experienced law firm that has been protecting the rights of the injured for over three decades. Below are some of the reasons why you should choose Burger Law for your claim.
Acclaimed Attorneys That Deliver
It can be hard to know how to choose the best personal injury lawyer for you. You want someone with a history of winning similar cases and who you know will not back down from a fight. In order to have a good understanding of the abilities of a law firm, you need to take into account their previous victories, and their reputation among their clients and peers. The many awards, honors and accolades Burger Law has received from the Stephenson County, IL legal community include:
- Martindale-Hubbell Award — AV Preeminent® Rated by Martindale-Hubbell® from NexisLexis® – a notable 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 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.
Empathetic and Knowledgeable Attorneys
At Burger Law, we know that being injured through another's negligence is stressful and overwhelming. That is why our attorneys are compassionate and dedicated to helping our clients be made whole again. After having fought for more than three decades, our attorneys have the knowledge and expertise to handle even the most complex legal cases. We are devoted to helping our clients recovery both physically and financially, and we work tirelessly to ensure that their rights are protected. You need to focus on healing; allow us to take on the insurance company.
Personalized Approach
At Burger Law, we know that every client and every case is unique. That is why we personalize our legal strategies to meet the specific needs of each client. 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 offering the highest standard of legal advocacy. We have high ethical expectations for ourselves and the insurance adjusters we stand up to. We pursue every legal avenue to get you the compensation you deserve.
Our Reviews and Victories
A car accident attorney can say just about anything, but proving they are qualified is another matter entirely. We are among the most- and best-reviewed law firms, with a 4.9 rating from almost 500 reviews. You can also look at our client testimonials and case victories.
Discuss your case for free with an car accident attorney in Stephenson County, IL now at (314) 500-HURT, or keep reading to discover more about car accident claims and what Burger Law can do for you.
How Do You Determine Fault in Car Accident in Stephenson County, IL?
Assigning liability in a car crash is the first step toward collecting damages. 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 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 responsibility. Did they text while driving or drive drunk?
- Cause in fact — That the wreck 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 harm because of your injuries. Do you have medical bills, lost wages and emotional distress you can make a claim for?
Liability can be determined through a number of factors. Sometimes, the other driver will admit fault, 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 review the police report and other evidence to determine 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 patently false.
In those cases, 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 both drivers and eyewitnesses, and hire crash experts to evaluate how the accident likely occurred. Then they will compile a settlement demand package to the insurance company.
If the insurance company remains firm, your attorney may seek mediation, where a neutral third party tries to help both parties find common ground. If that fails, your car accident attorney can file a lawsuit in civil court 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 will be compensated for the percentage of the accident that is not your fault.
Meaning, if your damages total $100,000 but you share 30 percent of the blame for your accident, you will receive $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.
Meaning, if you are more than half to blame for the accident, you will not be able to recover any compensation in Stephenson County, IL.
Serious Injuries in Stephenson County, IL Car Accidents
Devastating injuries in car accidents have a significant impact on your daily life and future, causing long-term physical, emotional 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 dizziness, to grave, such as loss of consciousness or permanent disability.
- 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 lead paraplegia or quadriplegia.
- Fractures — 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 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 be made whole again. Call us today for a free consultation at (314) 500-HURT.