Is It Worth It to Hire Car Accident Attorney in Vernon Hills, IL?
There are countless factors involved in car accidents that make each case different. For many, a car accident is a jarring event that introduces sudden pressure. The fact remains that any time 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. To get the full compensation for your damages, you will often need a good car accident attorney to fight for you.
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 require legal help. 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 negligent driver or their insurance company is blaming you for your injuries
- There are other complications to your case, such as being in a multi-vehicle accident, hit and run accident or were injured by a government vehicle
Resources for Your Vernon Hills, 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 have also taken it upon ourselves to offer free materials and resources to people injured in car accidents to to help them through their injury claims. Our team 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 Vernon Hills, IL Car Accident Claim
When you are injured in a car accident, it is important to choose the right law firm to fight for you. Burger Law is a reputed and experienced law firm that has been defending the rights of the injured for more than 30 years. Below are some of the reasons why you should choose Burger Law for your claim.
Award-Winning Attorneys That Get Results
Choosing the right personal injury lawyer for your claim is crucial. You want someone who has won your type of case before 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 the cases they have won, and their reputation among their clients and peers. The many awards, honors and accolades Burger Law has received from the Vernon Hills, IL legal community include:
- Martindale-Hubbell Award — AV Preeminent® Rated by Martindale-Hubbell® from NexisLexis® – a noteworthy 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 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 attorneys are certified by an ABA accredited certification board.
Compassionate and Experienced Attorneys
At Burger Law, we know that being injured through another's negligence is stressful and overwhelming. That is why we have a client-centered approach. 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 devoted 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 stand up to 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 the status of your claim.
Commitment to Excellence
At Burger Law, we are dedicated to excellence in everything we do. We have high moral standards for the way we pursue compensation and the way we communicate with our clients. We pursue every legal avenue to get you the compensation you deserve.
Our Ratings and Victories
A car accident attorney can say just about anything, 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 almost 500 reviews. You can also look at our client testimonials and case results.
Get a free consultation with an car accident attorney in Vernon Hills, IL today at (314) 500-HURT, or read on below to discover more about car accident claims and what Burger Law can do for you.
How Do You Determine Liability in Car Accident in Vernon Hills, IL?
Assigning fault in a car accident is the first step toward collecting damages. Liability comes down to proving 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 drivers owe all others on the road "due care."
- Breach of duty — That they failed in their responsibility. Did they drive reckless or drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs?
- Cause in fact — That the wreck caused your injury. For example, you were rear ended and that gave you a whiplash injury.
- Proximate cause — That their negligence caused the crash. Were you rear ended because a driver was distracted, or because a manufacturer was negligent and their brakes were not working.
- Damages — That you sustained losses because of your injuries. Do you have medical expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering 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 fault, but too often negligent actors try to avoid being held accountable for their actions. After an accident, police officers will write a report explaining what they believe happened. Then, insurance adjusters will evaluate the police report and other evidence to determine fault. While adjusters are trained to do this, their primary goal is to make sure their company's profits stay high by denying and minimizing claims. That means they may deny that it was the other driver's fault, even if that is demonstrably untrue.
In those cases, you need to hire a car accident attorney to ensure you get the compensation you are owed. The attorney will launch a complete investigation into the accident, 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 compile a settlement demand package to the insurance adjuster.
If the insurance company remains firm, your attorney may recommend mediation, where a neutral third party helps analyze the evidence and determine fault. If that fails, your car accident attorney can file a lawsuit in civil court and take your claim in front of a judge and jury.
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 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.
That means that if you share more of the blame than the other party, you will not be able to recover any compensation in Vernon Hills, IL.
Devastating Injuries in Vernon Hills, IL Car Accidents
Serious injuries in car accidents have devastating consequences for your life, leading to 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 head is violently shaken or struck, 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 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 the worst case scenario, they can cause paraplegia or quadriplegia.
- 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 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 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 immediately for a free consultation at (314) 500-HURT.