When someone causes you to suffer serious injuries by behaving negligently on the roads or on their property, you shouldn’t drown in debt as a result. Instead, you should search for a ‘personal injury lawyer near me’ to get the legal support you need to get the settlement you deserve.
A local injury lawyer will have a full grasp of jurisdictional and state laws and the courts, making them better poised to help. Hipskind & McAninch, LLC provides dedicated legal representation for all accident types in Belleville, IL and St. Louis, MO. Our comprehensive guide helps accident victims understand what to look for in a personal injury lawyer beyond searching for an ‘accident attorney near me,’ and how hiring one means you’ll have someone aggressively pursuing maximum compensation for your injuries.
Introduction to Personal Injury Law
Personal injury law allows for the filing of a civil action by an injured party, known as the plaintiff, who seeks compensation from a person or entity—the defendant—whose negligent, reckless, or even intentional actions led to their harm. Victims can receive money for their economic damages, which are tangible losses such as medical bills and lost wages.
They can also receive compensation for non-economic damages related to their pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and other intangible impacts. Common practice areas of personal injury law firms include car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, and slip and fall incidents.
When you search for a personal injury law firm in my area, make sure that they represent the type of case or injury that you have experienced.
What Makes a Quality Personal Injury Lawyer
Several key factors distinguish the best personal injury attorney near me in your online search:
Experience Handling Cases Similar to Yours
If you have a heart problem, you wouldn’t go to a foot doctor, would you? The same logic applies when seeking an injury lawyer close to me. Car accident victims should look for a personal injury lawyer who handles these types of cases. If the attorney you find only handles medical malpractice claims, it doesn’t matter how esteemed they are – they will be the wrong choice.
Track Record of Successful Settlements and Verdicts
Even the best lawyers will lose from time to time. Look at the bigger picture to see how many successful settlements and verdicts they have under their belt.
Resources to Investigate and Build Strong Cases
When you search for a personal injury firm near me, bigger doesn’t always mean better. What you want is a firm that has the resources to capably get expert testimony and obtain evidence that helps make your case strong.
Willingness to Go to Trial if Necessary
Personal injury lawyers who know what they’re doing get ready for trial from the start of the case even though it is more likely it will settle before it gets that far. The right one won’t shy away from holding the at-fault party accountable.
Hipskind & McAninch, LLC’s Approach to Personal Injury Cases
At Hipskind & McAninch, LLC, we take an aggressive stance against defendants, while supporting victims throughout the legal process to get them full and fair compensation. It starts with a free initial consultation that allows us to gain insight on your case, answer your questions, and help you with your legal options.
If you move forward, you can do so without worry as we offer a contingency fee structure, meaning there is no fee unless your case is won. We get started by providing a thorough investigation to gather evidence. Our attorneys also work closely with medical experts and accident reconstructionists to prove liability and show the full extent of your damages.
Benefits of Choosing a Local Personal Injury Firm
There are big nationwide firms that advertise on TV and billboards; however, you gain greater benefits when you choose a local personal injury firm. Only a local personal injury attorney will:
- Be knowledgeable of the local court systems and judges
- Have familiarity with regional insurance companies and their tactics to reduce or deny injury claims
- Be accessible for in-person meetings and updates
- Have a community reputation and accountability in the local area
At Hipskind & McAninch, LLC, we put our local knowledge and experience in Illinois and Missouri into everything we do for the injured victims we represent to help them recover compensation and get back on track.
Types of Compensation Available
Whether you’ve been hurt in a motor vehicle accident or in a premises liability situation, we can help you recover various types of damages for your compensation.
Medical Expenses
Your medical expenses will be extensive if you have severe injuries. Compensation for medical expenses may include your hospital stay, surgeries, physical therapy, and medications. Our attorneys will help calculate your current medical expenses and any expenses for your future medical needs.
Lost Wages
Many injured victims either can’t work for a short while or may be permanently disabled and unable to work again. Our personal injury lawyers help you recover the income you’ve lost and also calculate your diminished earning capacity to keep you from struggling financially after a negligent party has caused you harm.
Pain and Suffering
The physical pain and level of suffering you experience can also be sought as non-economic damages. Our lawyers encourage you to keep a daily journal about the impacts of your injuries to help assess what’s fair.
Property Damage
For motor vehicle accidents, your vehicle repairs or replacement should be covered. Any items of value in your vehicle, such as your laptop or smartphone, can also be compensated for.
Punitive Damages
While punitive damages are meant to punish a defendant in egregious cases, such as drunk driving accidents where a victim suffers life-altering injuries, these may be a possibility depending on the severity of your case.
The Personal Injury Claims Process
Filing Deadlines and Documentation Requirements
When you first meet with our attorneys, we will make sure you’re on track with your medical treatments. It is imperative that you follow through with the doctors’ orders to have your medical records updated with your injuries. Other documents are also needed, such as the police report or incident report, medical bills, witness statements, photos and videos, and insurance policy information.
After suffering injuries due to someone else’s negligent actions, you shouldn’t wait to start your claim. The statute of limitations sets a time limit for filing a lawsuit, and if your injury claim is denied or you’re offered too low of a settlement, you should fight for your full compensation.
Negotiation with Insurance Companies
If you have legal representation, our attorneys can help negotiate from the start of your claim. We will take over all correspondence on your behalf and calculate the full extent of your damages. This prevents you from accepting a low offer and allows you to seek the full value of your claim.
Litigation Timeline
If a settlement isn’t reached and our attorneys can’t get the insurer to agree to our terms, we then proceed by filing a complaint, officially launching your lawsuit. The next phase is discovery, where both sides exchange information and documents and take depositions, which could take anywhere from 6 to 12 months.
Mediation is usually required prior to trial as another attempt to reach a settlement, which takes 2 to 3 months. This is usually the point where personal injury cases are resolved; however, in complex cases, it will proceed to trial, which could take 1 to 2 years from your initial injury date.
What to Expect During Depositions and Trial
There is no need to fear depositions, as our attorneys will help you know exactly what to expect. You will need to answer questions from the other attorney regarding your accident and injuries. Generally, once mediation arrives, it is usually possible to resolve the case and receive a settlement.
If you have suffered catastrophic injuries, particularly the kind that have made it impossible for you to live life in the same way you did before the accident, or there are multiple liable parties, it is more likely to go to trial. A judge or jury will hear the case, which could take one day to several weeks.
Regardless of what happens, the personal injury lawyers at Hipskind & McAninch, LLC are here to help you through every phase of your case and fight for the maximum compensation for your injuries.
Why Choose Hipskind & McAninch, LLC
When you need a personal injury lawyer near you, choose Hipskind & McAninch, LLC. Our attorneys have a history of getting results for our clients. With a philosophy of putting our clients first and ensuring communication throughout every step, you will never be left guessing what’s next. Let us provide the comprehensive case management you need from start to finish, allowing you to focus on healing from your injuries. Contact us today to set up your free initial consultation and learn the next steps.