Edwardsville Personal Injury Lawyer
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Edwardsville Personal Injury Lawyer
Edwardsville, Illinois, is modest compared to its urban neighbor, St. Louis. Nonetheless, Edwardsville residents are as susceptible to unexpected injuries as anyone else. An impaired person may feel frustrated when their injury results from another person’s negligence.
Many may not realize they can bring a personal injury claim against the party who caused their injury. Perhaps they don’t know where to turn for their claims. Fortunately, an Edwardsville personal injury lawyer at Flint Cooper can help.
The Edwardsville Personal Injury Practice at Flint Cooper
Often, victims of injustice feel like they face an uphill battle against large corporations or insurance companies. Plus, they may have astronomical medical bills and lost wages. They need attorneys ready to immediately and aggressively take on the responsible parties to get the compensation they need.
Flint Cooper’s mission is to fight for victims of injustice and empower those who’ve felt helpless in the wake of devastating events, like a significant injury. The attorneys can take the burden of a claim off a client’s shoulder so they can focus on their recovery.
Plus, the partners at Flint Cooper have specifically recruited attorneys who aren’t afraid to go to court to fight for clients’ rights. Insurance companies, corporations, and government entities do not intimate our highly trained and nationally respected team of litigators. Injured parties can trust that an Edwardsville personal injury attorney from Flint Cooper will not back down from a fight.
Types of Personal Injury Cases
Any injury caused by someone else’s negligent or wrongful act can give rise to a personal injury lawsuit. Some common types of personal injuries include:
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Boating accidents
- Dog bites
- Truck accidents
- Product liability claims
A personal injury claim allows a victim to recuperate their losses from the at-fault party by holding that party accountable for their conduct. This can help the victim and their family recover financially from the costs of the accident.
How to Prove Negligence
Generally, to be successful on a personal injury claim, a person must prove the legal standard of negligence. Negligence consists of four elements:
- Duty
- Breach of duty
- Causation
- Damages
A person must prove all four elements for their case. An experienced personal injury attorney can help an injured party prove the responsible party’s negligence.
Duty
The first element of negligence is the duty of care. An injured person must prove that the at-fault party owed a legal duty of care to others. This duty generally means they must act as a reasonable person would under the same or similar circumstances. For example, property owners and occupiers owe visitors a duty of care to keep the property in a reasonably safe condition and warn them of any known hazards. Also, a driver owes others on the road the duty to follow the law and drive reasonably safely.
Breach of Duty
The second element of negligence is a breach of the duty of care. This element requires proving that the opposing party failed to act in a reasonably safe manner. For example, a driver breaches their duty of care by driving over the speed limit or driving under the influence. If they hit a bicyclist while engaging in this behavior, the driver may be liable for their injuries.
Causation
The third element of a negligence claim is causation. To prove causation, you must demonstrate a connection between the at-fault party’s breach, the personal injury accident, and your losses. In other words, you need to prove the responsible party directly caused the accident and that there wasn’t another unrelated cause.
Damages
Lastly, the victim must prove that they incurred damages from the accident. To prove this element, the victim must show they suffered harm and financial losses due to the at-fault party’s negligence. If the victim did not incur any damages in the personal injury accident, they could not recover compensation in a personal injury claim.
How Much to Ask for in a Personal Injury Settlement
Many ask about the average personal injury settlement. Each personal injury claim is unique, making each claim’s value and potential settlement dependent on the particular factors of the case. One factor includes the damages available to the person based on their accident or injury. Damages from a personal injury accident generally consist of economic, non-economic, and punitive damages.
Economic Damages
Economic damages include quantifiable monetary losses. Economic damages include:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Property repair costs
- Loss of future earning capacity
An experienced attorney can collect and gather proof of these losses through receipts, invoices, or billing statements.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages include non-monetary losses that are highly specific to the individual. These damages include:
- Loss of consortium
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Non-economic damages are often more challenging to prove in personal injury cases.
Punitive Damages
Additionally, a victim may be able to request punitive damages in a personal injury case where the at-fault party acted maliciously or with reckless disregard. Punitive damages are intended to punish the responsible party rather than to compensate the injured person for their losses. Punitive damages act as a deterrent, so others don’t engage in similar behavior.
Attorneys Can Help with Damages Calculations
An Edwardsville personal injury lawyer from Flint Cooper can calculate the value of a personal injury claim after a thorough investigation. The attorneys can also negotiate with the opposing party and their insurance company to help clients quickly get compensation for their losses. However, Flint Cooper will not hesitate to file a lawsuit if the settlement offer falls short.
How to Find the Best Personal Injury Lawyer in Edwardsville
Many attorneys advertise their legal services in Edwardsville, Illinois. A simple online search will show numerous attorneys claiming they can help. However, an injured person needs an attorney specializing in personal injury matters. An attorney with experience representing victims of personal injury accidents, negotiating favorable settlements, and winning cases at trial gives a personal injury claim a vital advantage.
Another way to evaluate potential personal injury lawyers is by scheduling a free consultation. Many personal injury lawyers offer free consultations. This is the client’s opportunity to meet the attorney and discuss options for representation. The client can treat this first meeting as an interview to determine if they feel comfortable with the attorney. There is no obligation to hire an attorney after a consultation.
Practice Areas
Asbestos
Mass Torts
Personal Injury
Government Takings
Success Stories
Flint Cooper applies its knowledge and experience to win trials, not just collect settlements, further strengthening its reputation of providing clients around the world with exceptional counsel and unparalleled advocacy.
