O’Fallon Car Accident Lawyer
Statistically, most people will be in several car accidents throughout their life, which means that the likelihood you will suffer some level of personal injury in a car crash is significant. As auto accident attorneys serving communities like O’Fallon and the suburbs of St. Louis, MO, Hipskind & McAninch, LLC represents accident injury victims on a contingency basis. That means if you’ve been hurt in an accident, you don’t have to pay out of pocket to seek appropriate compensation from the negligent party.
Call today for a free case evaluation, where you can talk to your own OFallon car accident lawyer about your car accident case and the personal injury claims process.
Damages in an Auto Accident Claim
Illinois civil law defines three types of car accident damages: economic, non-economic, and punitive.
Economic Damages
If you’ve been involved in a car accident, you are entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, property damage to your vehicle and its contents, and more. Most insurance company adjusters will cover some of these expenses in their initial offers. However, the problem is that auto accident victims can rarely predict the full extent of their injuries or how long they’ll be out of work.
An experienced accident lawyer will calculate the anticipated economic damages and the damages already incurred.
Non-Economic Damages
Damages for auto accidents don’t end with reimbursement of medical costs, lost earnings, etc. Non-economic damages are meant to reimburse car accident victims for the pain and suffering associated with the crash. Illinois does not cap damages for pain and suffering. As a rule, the more severe the car accident injuries are, the greater the amount the car crash victim is entitled to.
Naturally, an insurance company will try to minimize this portion of the car accident claims it receives, which is why you should have a personal injury lawyer representing your case.
Punitive Damages
These types of damages are awarded in cases where the driver’s negligence was egregious, or the car crash was an intentional act. Unlike economic and non-economic damages, punitive damages are capped at three times the economic damages.
If you believe that you are entitled to these types of damages due to the extreme circumstances of your car accident, speak to an O’Fallon car accident lawyer from Hipskind & McAninch, LLC, today.
What other types of accidents do accident lawyers represent?
Car vs. car accidents are the most common type of traffic accidents occurring in Illinois, making up a significant portion of all personal injury cases. However, there are different varieties of motor vehicle accidents that also bear mentioning.
Truck Accidents
Because of their substantial mass and the types of cargo they carry, semi-truck accidents often lead to severe injuries for the drivers of smaller vehicles. This is why there are both federal and state rules for the maximum weight of a semi-truck, the hours that a driver can operate their rig, and stricter standards for drinking and driving.
Whether you’ve been involved in a car or truck accident, you need a car accident lawyer with experience filing truck insurance claims.
Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycles offer limited physical protection and are less visible on the roadway, which is why other drivers sometimes strike motorcyclists. This can lead to severe injuries for the motorcyclist.
Mass Transit Accidents
Passengers on buses, trains, and other mass transit vehicles are subject to the decisions of the driver or operator. If you were injured as a passenger in a vehicle, you might be entitled to compensation.
Bicycle and Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrians and bicyclists have little protection from cars and trucks operating on the roadway. They are often the victims of distracted driving and other driver mistakes. If you’ve been struck by a car while walking or riding a bike, talk to an O’Fallon car accident attorney about seeking compensation.
Car Accident Lawyer FAQ
Car accidents happen every day in cities like O’Fallon. Hipskind & McAninch represents many O’Fallon car accident victims in their quest for justice. These are some of the most common questions our car accident lawyers hear from clients. If you’ve been injured in an accident, speak to an O’Fallon car accident lawyer for free.
As a car accident victim, you’re entitled to compensation for all past, present, and future medical expenses and lost income, damage to your vehicle or its contents, physical pain, emotional trauma, loss of your physical or mental capacity, diminished lifestyle, etc.
If you are the plaintiff in a wrongful death insurance claim due to an accident, you may also be entitled to damages for your medical expenses, future lost earnings, loss of companionship, and more.
The statute of limitations varies from state to state. In Illinois, the statute of limitations is two years from the date of the accident. If the accident resulted in a death, the statute of limitations is two years from the date of death.
There are, of course, situations where an individual has grounds for both an accident claim and a medical malpractice claim. If this happens to you, our car accident lawyers can represent you on both aspects of your claim.
It’s important that you don’t accept a settlement from the insurance company before you speak to an auto accident lawyer. If you accept a settlement, you will have to sign a waiver of prosecution, which means you will not be able to pursue further damages for your car accident case.
Car Accident Lawyers in O’Fallon, Illinois
At Hipskind and McAninch, we represent the victims of car accidents on a contingency basis. That means you do not have to pay out of pocket for our professional legal advice. We collect our fees once your case is settled or we win in court. Call today for diligent representation.