Personal Injury Lawyer Alton
Anyone who’s been injured in an accident due to the negligence of another deserves representation. However, if you’ve been injured in an accident, you might believe that with your mounting medical bills and lost wages, there’s no way you can afford a personal injury lawyer. Alton, Illinois’ Hipskind & McAninch, LLC, will represent you on a contingency basis. That means you don’t pay out of pocket for the advice and representation of our personal injury attorneys.
Call today for a free consultation. There’s no obligation.
The Four Elements of a Personal Injury Case
Illinois personal injury lawyers must prove the following four factors of the case to make a viable personal injury claim.
1. Duty of Care
Personal injury cases hinge on the plaintiff’s attorneys demonstrating that the defendant had a duty of care to the plaintiff. For example, in a car accident case, the at-fault driver of the vehicle has a duty of care to the other drivers on the road. Likewise, a doctor has a duty of care to their patients.
2. Breach of Duty
The next element that injury lawyers must prove is that the defendant failed in their duty. An example of this would be a store proprietor who failed to clean up a slippery substance in an aisle.
3. Causation
The plaintiff’s personal injury attorney must then demonstrate that the breach of duty somehow caused an accident. For example, if a driver running a red light t-bones the plaintiff’s car. Had the at-fault driver been diligent in their duty of care, there would have been no accident.
4. Damages
Damages include all expenses resulting from the accident, including medical expenses related to injuries, lost wages from missing work, property damage, etc. However, damages also include intangible costs. These are referred to as pain and suffering. This includes emotional distress from the accident and its pursuant injuries, physical pain, and more.
A personal injury lawyer from Hipskind & McAninch, LLC will review these elements in your initial consultation to determine the legal merit of your claim.
Areas of Practice
At Hipskind & McAninch, LLC, our personal injury attorneys handle a wide variety of claims. Here are some of the most common types of personal injury cases we handle.
Car Accidents
This includes commercial truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, etc. Motor vehicle accidents affect all ages, races, and ethnicities, but younger age groups are particularly susceptible.
Slips and Falls
Falls are the number one cause for emergency room visits in the United States, and about one-eighth of those are caused by slip-and-fall accidents. The CDC has recognized the increasing rate of fall deaths among the elderly as a critical issue, and personal injury law firms have seen an increase in fall-related wrongful death claims in recent years.
Medical Malpractice
Doctors and medical facilities have a duty of care to offer appropriate medical treatment to patients. Any injuries stemming from medical malpractice may be grounds for a personal injury lawsuit.
Product Liability
Manufacturing defects, design defects, and improper instruction lead to thousands of product-related injuries in Illinois every year. If you’ve been hurt while using a product, you may be entitled to compensation.
Worker’s Compensation Claims
Worker’s compensation works differently than most types of personal injury cases in that your lawyer does not typically have to prove negligence on the part of your employer. Their insurance policy should cover all work-related accidents, even if you were at fault.
What to Do If You’re Involved in an Accident
The following information should not be construed as legal advice. Contact a personal injury lawyer near you for answers to your personal injury questions. The following tips can assist you with your claim.
- Get to a place of safety.
- Call 911 to summon emergency responders.
- Get witness information.
- Take pictures of the accident scene from a position of safety. Preserve them for your lawyer.
- Allow EMTs to examine and treat you. Go to the ER if necessary.
- Don’t accept a settlement from the insurance company before you talk to a personal injury attorney.
Contingency Representation in Alton, Illinois
If you’ve been injured in an accident or experienced the wrongful death of a loved one, contact Hipskind & McAninch, LLC. Our personal injury law firm represents injury victims in Alton, Illinois and the rest of Madison County and Greater St. Louis. Because we work on a contingency basis, you can speak to a lawyer who is licensed to practice in Illinois and Missouri for free. Call today for immediate representation.
Related