Personal Injury Attorney Belleville, IL
If you are in the Belleville, IL area and have been injured in an accident caused by the negligence of another person, you may be entitled to a personal injury claim and to seek compensation for your medical care and other losses. These can be extremely difficult cases to resolve, and it is important that you seek the advice of a qualified Belleville personal injury attorney who will fight to protect your interests.
At the Law Office of Van-Lear P. Eckert, PC, our personal injury attorneys represent southern Illinois and eastern Missouri clients and clients in our hometown of Belleville, IL, in a wide variety of motor vehicle accident and complex personal injury claims.
Belleville Illinois Personal Injury FAQ
The Law Office of Van-Lear P. Eckert, PC, aims to make the claims process as simple and stress-free as possible for our clients. Our personal injury lawyers understand that you may have many questions and concerns about your claim. Below is a list of frequently asked questions.
If you have a question that does not appear below, you are welcome to contact our office by calling us at 618-233-8800.
What is a personal injury claim?
When an individual is injured through the fault of another party, he or she can file a claim to seek compensation for their injuries. This claim allows the injured party to seek all appropriate damages from the at-fault party or, more typically, his or her insurance company.
Why do I need a personal injury attorney in Illinois?
After you or a loved one becomes injured as a result of someone’s carelessness or neglect, there are many things that happen at once. While you and your family are healing, you may receive medical bills, doctor’s notices, and insurance letters.
Several parties, ranging from third-party insurance companies to the other party’s attorney, may attempt to contact you in an attempt to give you a lowball offer of “compensation” for your serious injury.
All of this can be extremely distressing when you are trying to heal and focus on recovering your life and livelihood. For that reason, a personal injury lawyer can be indispensable when it comes to securing peace of mind and the maximum compensation you deserve.
How is negligence for personal injury determined?
When determining negligence, the courts and juries in Illinois will typically look at whether a normal person would have acted in the same manner given the same circumstances to prove negligence.
The definition of negligence in Illinois typically includes an individual’s failure to act or failure to uphold their legal duty of care. For example, a driver’s failure to follow the rules of the road in a car accident case would likely lead to a finding of negligence against them.
How much does a personal injury lawyer cost?
We accept cases on a contingency fee basis, which means that your fees come out as a percentage of the final settlement.
This percentage is determined before personal injury cases begin. If we do not win a case for you, there would not be any fee. That’s right—you don’t pay unless we win.
What types of damages are available?
Injury victims in Illinois are typically able to recover compensation for economic costs (future medical expenses, lost wages/earning capacity, etc.) and non-economic costs (pain and suffering, mental anguish, etc.).
In some cases, punitive damages may be available depending on whether the Defendant acted willfully or recklessly.
What kind of personal injury cases do you take?
We accept all types of injury claims, including those involving boat accidents, airplane accidents, brain injuries, spine injuries, construction accidents, offshore injuries, car accidents, and more.
We also handle wrongful death claims if you have lost a loved one in an accident.
Additional information specific to Illinois:
- The statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit in Illinois is generally two years from the date of the injury.
- Illinois follows a modified comparative negligence rule, which means that you can still recover damages even if you were partially at fault for your accident. However, your damages will be reduced by your percentage of fault.
- Illinois law requires all drivers to have a minimum amount of liability insurance coverage. This coverage is designed to pay for the damages of other people who are injured in an accident caused by the insured driver.
Why do I need to hire a personal injury attorney?
Our Belleville personal injury lawyers work tirelessly to see that the negligent parties are held fully accountable for the harm you have suffered. Our experience in these matters allows us to take a much more proactive approach to securing fair compensation on your behalf than other personal injury law firms.
If you have been involved in a car accident through no fault of your own, the last thing you need to worry about is handling a claim, dealing with insurance companies, and settling your medical bills. We walk hand in hand with our clients so they can focus on recovering from their serious injuries and healing from their accident.
We have represented clients in a wide variety of personal injury cases, including the following:
- Auto accidents
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Construction accidents
- Slip-and-fall injuries
- Dog bites
- Medical malpractice
- Wrongful death
Discuss Your Injury Claim With Our Attorney
We offer a free initial consultation to all new clients. Every personal injury case we accept is handled on a contingency fee basis. You do not pay any fees for our Belleville personal injury attorneys unless we obtain compensation in your case.
An attorney can help you investigate your case, determine who is liable for your injuries, and file a lawsuit on your behalf. An attorney can also negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf and fight for your rights. You can reach us by phone at 618-233-8800 or via email to get started.
We are available during regular business hours and by appointment during evenings and weekends. Contact our office today to discuss your claim with a lawyer.