Unfortunately, no amount of caution on our part can protect us from the carelessness and bad behavior of others. But when that bad behavior causes injury victims, we can hold those people accountable for the harm they’ve caused and demand fair compensation for our medical bills, property damage, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
If you or a loved one has been injured in St. Clair County, Illinois, the team with Bartholomew, Shevlin & Flack, LLP, located in Belleville, IL, can help you seek accountability and the financial resources you’ll need to put your life back together. We are committed to helping ordinary people when they need it most, and we’re prepared to do everything we can to assert your rights. What’s more, we’ll do this without any upfront cost to you with a free consultation, only charging a fee if and when we win your case.
Review your case with a personal injury attorney in St. Clair County, Illinois, for more information. We look forward to hearing your story and advising you on your options.
Personal injury is a broad category of law that covers many different situations where someone has been injured and another party is to blame.
Here are some specific types of cases we handle at our injury law firm:
If you’re unsure whether you have a valid case, meet with our personal injury attorney in St. Clair County, Illinois, for more information.
The personal injury claim process can vary on a case-by-case basis. The cause of injuries, the parties involved, the clarity of fault, and other factors can affect the specific course it takes.
That said, seeking compensation usually involves the following steps:
Insurance companies will strive to find ways to avoid paying claimants what they deserve. As with any business, their goal is to protect their profits. As such, the insurance adjuster may refuse to offer a fair settlement, in which case you may file a personal injury lawsuit to pursue fair compensation.
Per Illinois law, you have two years from the time you sustained injuries to file most types of personal injury claims. Don’t delay in taking legal action. You may waive your right to compensation if you miss the deadline.
The compensation you may be eligible to receive in a personal injury case may include compensation for two types of losses: economic and non-economic.
A loss qualifies as economic when you can assign an objective and clear dollar value to it. Here are some examples:
Some economic losses are losses you’ll technically incur in the future. Consider the example of loss of earning potential. A severe injury could prevent you from ever working again. Thus, your final settlement should account for future lost income. Our personal injury attorneys can work with experts to help us calculate the potential value of such future losses.
A non-economic loss doesn’t have an exact dollar value, yet they are every bit as real as other losses. Here are some examples:
As you can see, non-economic losses are much harder to place a dollar value on, as they are inherently subjective. That’s why it’s so important to secure an experienced St Clair County, Illinois, personal injury attorney for your case. A skilled lawyer knows how to build a compelling case accounting for all that you have suffered, getting you maximum compensation in the process.
The claims process after a motor vehicle crash is often complex. It may involve tasks and responsibilities you’re unfamiliar with, including negotiating with an insurance adjuster who’s trying to lowball you.
An attorney can help with your St. Clair County, Illinois, personal injury claim in several ways, including:
Adjusting to life after an accident is hard enough without a complicated and contentious insurance claims process to handle. A personal injury attorney can ease your burdens by simplifying the process of pursuing compensation.
You may be searching for a St. Clair County, IL personal injury lawyer because you’re facing medical bills, lost wages, and other financial losses. With all those expenses, you might be wondering if it’s financially wise to hire a lawyer now.
At Bartholomew, Shevlin & Flack, LLP, we don’t want you to take a financial risk you can’t afford. That’s why we use the contingency fee model.
A contingency fee agreement sets an attorney’s fee as a percentage of a client’s compensation. In other words, our contract takes on the risk of your case and incentivizes us to fight for a high payout. If you don’t get paid, you don’t have to pay for our services.
Here are some of the most common questions the team at Bartholomew, Shevlin & Flack, LLP, is asked regarding personal injury claims:
One of the first questions most clients ask after an accident is whether their situation qualifies as a valid personal injury case. The three key factors in determining whether you have a valid claim include:
Legally speaking, you don’t need to hire legal counsel to pursue your claim. However, working with an experienced personal injury lawyer can make a tremendous difference in the outcome of your case. A skilled attorney knows how to investigate the accident, gather evidence, handle insurance company communications, negotiate, and prepare a case for trial.
Insurance companies employ various tactics to weaken your claim and minimize your payout. When you pursue a claim independently, their experience and resources give them the upper hand. By hiring an experienced attorney to protect your rights, you level the playing field.
After an accident, insurance companies may reach out to you seeking a recorded statement about what happened. They may make it seem like you’re required to provide this statement. The truth is, you have no legal obligation to provide a statement, and doing so may ultimately weaken your claim.
Insurance companies are trained to ask leading questions that can cause you to admit fault when you didn’t contribute to the accident or downplay injuries when you don’t know their true extent. They want to protect their profits by minimizing your payout. Don’t speak to them without consulting an experienced attorney first.
Not necessarily. In fact, most personal injury cases settle out of court. However, if the insurance company refuses to offer a fair settlement, your attorney will file a lawsuit and take your claim to court. At Bartholomew, Shevlin & Flack, LLP, we prepare every case as if it’s going directly to trial, so we’re always ready to fight for your rights regardless of how your case resolves.
Every case is unique, so there’s no way to determine how long yours might take to reach a conclusion without considering its specific circumstances. Simple cases can resolve in a matter of months, but more complex ones can take years. Factors that affect a case’s timeline include the number of responsible parties, the severity of injuries, the length of recovery, the willingness of the insurance company to negotiate, and whether the case goes to trial.
Bartholomew, Shevlin & Flack, LLP, will conduct a thorough investigation into the accident that injured you. Our goal is always to pursue the full compensation you deserve. In some cases, this process takes time – rest assured we’ll keep you informed and up to date throughout your case.
Are you looking for St. Clair County, Illinois, personal injury lawyers? At Bartholomew, Shevlin & Flack Law Group, we can’t change the past. What we can do is provide a foundation upon which to build a more certain future for yourself and your loved ones. Based out of Belleville, IL, we are experienced in Illinois law.
Review your case with a St. Clair County experienced personal injury attorney. We’ll help you better understand your legal options and what we can do on your behalf. Learn more by contacting us online today or calling us for a free case review.