The #1 Smithton Personal Injury Lawyer

What Are the Benefits of Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer in Smithton?

A serious injury can have a forceful and devastating impact on a victim and his or her family.

Personal injuries are both stressful and overwhelming.

Because we recognize how devastating the aftermath of an accident can be for those involved, we fight for the rights of the victim of an accident and work to restore all financial losses incurred as a result of the accident.

Victims have a right to financial compensation, as well as compensation for the pain and suffering endured.

At TorHoerman Law, we will deal with the legal process while you concentrate on healing from your injuries!

What Do Smithton Personal Injury Attorneys Do for You?

In addition, there are many benefits of hiring a personal injury lawyer when you have been injured in an accident.

Personal injury lawyers will handle all the legal procedures associated with your case.

If your case ends in a settlement, it is typical that 25-30% of this amount goes to paying the attorneys’ fees.

An experienced personal injury lawyer may also be able to increase your chances of receiving settlement amounts that can cover not only your current and future medical bills, but also any other damages associated with your case.

Moreover, working with a personal injury attorney often results in less stress and hassle for the victim.

Instead of having to go through negotiations and court proceedings, your attorney will handle the entire legal process for you!

What Are the Steps for Filing a Smithton Personal Injury Lawsuit?

If you are considering filing a personal injury lawsuit, there are a few steps that you should take to ensure that you have a strong case.

The two (2) most important steps when filing a personal injury lawsuit are:

1. Mitigation
2. Hiring an experienced Smithton personal injury lawyer

1. Mitigation

Mitigation is the process of minimizing the damages that you incur as a result of the accident or injury.

In the case that you suffered an injury, you should mitigate further injury.

If you suffered property damage or other financial losses, you should mitigate further loss.

In order to mitigate further injury, seek medical treatment as soon as possible after your injury or accident.

Follow your doctor’s orders and do everything possible, within reason, to make sure your injury does not get worse.

If you suffered property damage or other financial loss, be sure to have all damage assessed.

Avoid using any properties that were damaged, unless they are essential.

If they are essential properties, such as a car you need to get to work – be sure to have them fixed before using them again after the accident.

2. Hiring An Experienced Smithton Injury Lawyer

Next, you will need to hire an attorney to represent you and your interests.

Be sure to find an attorney who is:

• Experienced
• Dedicated to your case
• Resourced to litigate your case
• Familiar with the Smithton legal system

Ask your potential attorney any questions you deem necessary before making a final decision.

You should ask them about:

• Payment structure
• Legal fees
• Experience
• Firm resources
• Litigation record

The choice of an attorney is an important decision and not one that should be taken lightly.

Contact TorHoerman Law today to speak with a Smithton personal injury lawyer and find out if our firm is right for you!

What Is a Smithton Personal Injury Lawyer’s Role?

Your personal injury lawyer will act as your legal representative, navigating the complex civil litigation process on your behalf.

A lawyer helps facilitate the recovery process, handling negotiations with insurance companies and fulfilling the stringent requirements for personal injury lawsuits in Smithton.

Your attorney will build a strong case to gain your financial compensation for the losses that you incurred.

A personal injury attorney’s process of building a strong case includes three (3) steps:

1. Gathering evidence
2. Assessing damages
3. Proving liability

1. Gathering evidence

The majority of a personal injury case hinges on the evidence that’s collected and presented.

Before going to trial, your attorney must gather enough information to prove fault in the accident, while also showing that your injuries have affected your life in a negative way.

This can be done with witness statements, police reports, medical records and photos.

Witness statements are crucial.

They are the best way to prove fault in an accident, especially in cases in which they contradict any evidence presented by insurance companies.

Witness statements can support your version of events, proving that another individual caused the accident.

2. Assessing damages

After gathering all the necessary evidence, your attorney will assess the damages presented by your injuries.

Monetary compensation is given for economic and non-economic losses.

Economic damages include medical bills, lost wages and property damage.

Non-economic damages are described as pain and suffering.

The components that go into assessing damages will vary depending on the type of injury and severity.

3. Proving liability

The final step in building a strong case is proving liability through evidence.

Your attorney will need to prove that another party was at fault for the accident, by showing negligence or intent.

Your lawyer will have to prove that the defendant is liable for your injuries.

This can be done through evidence, such as eyewitnesses or police reports.

One example of evidence is eyewitness statements, which can help prove fault in the accident.

Building a strong case doesn’t always have to go to trial, though.

Depending on the circumstances of your case, it may be possible to secure a settlement before it’s taken this far.

The negotiating power of a lawyer can get you the settlement that you deserve.

If your Smithton injury attorney can succeed in accomplishing all of these steps, they will be able to build a strong personal injury case for you and increase the likelihood of financial compensation!

What Types of Personal Injury Cases Do You Accept?

Personal injury is a broad legal field covering numerous types of personal injuries and accidents.

Some common personal injury cases that our Smithton personal injury attorneys litigate include:

• Car accidents
• Truck accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Bicycle accidents
• Uber & Lyft accident
• Wrongful death cases
• Premise liability cases
• Nursing home abuses cases
• Daycare Injury & Abuse cases

Car Accidents

The majority of personal injury claims filed in Illinois are automobile accident cases.

Nearly 1,300 people died in car accidents in Illinois in 2022, and thousands more were seriously injured.

Car accidents often cause serious injuries such as traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries and amputations.

These types of injuries can dramatically change your life, so you need the experienced legal representation of an experienced Smithton car accident lawyer on your side!

Truck Accidents

The number of commercial truck drivers on the road is increasing every year, and with that, accidents involving tractor-trailers are increasing as well.

These large trucks are capable of causing major damage in an accident, especially on crowded interstate highways and busy arterial roads.

If you’ve been involved in an accident with a commercial truck at no fault of your own, consider contacting TorHoerman Law to see it that you are rightfully compensated for any damages and injuries.

Bicycle Accidents

Bicycle accidents are another common personal injury case.

There are many variables that can increase your risk of being involved in a bicycle accident.

Risk may be increased when riding at night without proper lighting, on busy streets, or against the flow of traffic.

Many bike accidents occur as a result of car accidents and liability may be hard to determine, so it’s crucial to speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer if you’ve been injured by a car while on your bike.

Uber & Lyft Accidents

Most people view Uber and Lyft drivers as safe alternatives to traditional taxi services.

Unfortunately, Uber and Lyft accidents are becoming more common, especially in large cities.

If you’ve been injured in an Uber or Lyft accident, consider contacting an experienced Smithton personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.

Wrongful Death Cases

One of the most tragic types of personal injury is wrongful death.

Wrongful death is a term used when someone kills another person – accidentally or intentionally.

If a loved one has died due to someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for your loss.

When deciding whether or not to file a wrongful death claim, it’s crucial to consult with an experienced Smithton wrongful death attorney as soon as possible after the accident.

Premise Liability Cases

Premise liability cases involve injuries that occur as a result of hazardous conditions on another person’s property.

Premises liability law covers instances like slip and fall accidents, dog bites and defective store merchandise.

If you’ve been injured in an accident due to someone else’s negligence, it’s crucial to contact a personal injury lawyer at TorHoerman Law.

Our legal team has years of experience representing premises liability accident victims in personal injury claims.

We know how to get you the compensation you deserve for your injuries so you can focus on your recovery.

TorHoerman Law: The #1 Smithton Personal Injury Law Firm

Headquartered in Edwardsville, Illinois, our law office is dedicated to helping local Smithton citizens who have been injured through no fault of their own.

If you or a family member suffered serious injuries due to the negligence or carelessness of another, you should not be held responsible for the cost of recovery.

While every case is different, you can always expect the lawyers and staff at TorHoerman Law to fight to the fullest extent for you and your best interests.

Our goal is to alleviate the stress of a personal injury lawsuit to allow you the time and energy needed to recover.

Contact TorHoerman Law today to learn why we are the #1 Smithton personal injury law firm!

Car accidents & Other Vehicle-Related Injuries

According to the the Bureau of Justice, over half of all personal injury cases involve some sort of motor vehicle.

If you have been injured in a car accident, our Smithton personal injury lawyers can help you file a claim for damages and get the compensation you deserve.

What Compensation is Available For a Smithton Personal Injury Claim?

When you are injured because of someone else’s negligence, you can file a personal injury claim to seek compensation.

You may be entitled to damages for medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, pain and suffering, mental distress or loss of companionship.

The three (3) most common types of personal injury compensation include:

1. Economic Damages

The most common types of economic damages in a personal injury case are lost earnings, medical expenses and repair or replacement costs for property damage.

Lost Earnings

If you miss work because of your injuries, you can claim the wages that you would have earned during this time.

Medical Expenses

You can claim the costs of medical treatment that were necessary because of your injuries.

You can also recover punitive damages, if they are awarded in your case, for medical expenses.

Repair or Replacement Costs

You may be able to recover the costs of repairing damaged property if you can prove that your injuries were the result of someone else’s negligence.

2. Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages in a personal injury case include compensation for pain and suffering, emotional distress and loss of companionship.

Pain and Suffering

If your injuries cause you pain and suffering, you can claim non-economic damages to compensate you for the discomfort that you have experienced.

Emotional Distress

You can claim compensation for emotional injuries that result from someone else’s negligence.

This may include emotional distress that you experienced, such as when you witnessed or heard about an accident that caused a close friend to be injured.

Loss of Companionship

The law recognizes that when a loved one dies or is injured because of someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for the loss of companionship that you have experienced.

This type of damages is recognized in a wrongful death claim.

3. Punitive Damages

Punitive damages are designed to punish the defendant for his or her wrongful conduct.

They are not awarded in every personal injury case, and they are awarded in addition to economic and non-economic damages.

What Do I Have to Prove to Win a Personal Injury Case?

If you’re considering filing a personal injury suit, it’s important to know what the plaintiff in a personal injury case is required to prove.

This will help you determine if you have a case and what type of evidence will be needed to win your personal injury claim.

If you cannot prove all of the elements of a personal injury case, it’s less likely that you will win your case.

If you’re thinking about filing a personal injury lawsuit, make sure you can prove the following four (4) elements:

1. Duty

The first element in any personal injury case is that the defendant owed the plaintiff a legal duty.

A duty is an obligation that requires individuals to act in a certain way.

For example, drivers owe pedestrians the duty of driving safely and not driving while intoxicated, and doctors owe their patients the duty of performing surgery utilizing accepted medical practices.

2. Breach

Breach is the second element in a personal injury case.

In order to prove breach, a plaintiff must show that a defendant failed to perform their legal duty towards them.

To illustrate, a plaintiff who is hit by a drunk driver must prove that the driver was intoxicated at the time of the accident.

A defendant breaches their duty by failing to act in the way that a reasonable person would act under similar circumstances.

For example, if a doctor fails to give their patient proper medical attention, this is a breach of the doctor’s duty to act in good faith.

3. Causation

The third element of proof in a personal injury case is that the defendant’s breach caused the plaintiff’s injuries.

Generally, it is not enough for a plaintiff to prove that defendant owed them a duty and breached it.

The plaintiff must also show that their injuries were caused by the defendant’s breach.

To illustrate, a plaintiff who slips and falls in a supermarket due to a puddle of water on the floor must prove that the defendant was negligent in allowing the puddle of water to form.

4. Damages

Finally, a plaintiff must prove that they were damaged by their injuries.

Because each case is unique, it’s difficult to determine what types of damages a plaintiff may recover in a personal injury suit.

Generally, though, elements of proof in a personal injury case include medical expenses, loss of wages and pain and suffering.

To learn more about what proof is necessary to win a personal injury case, contact us for a free consultation!

Our Smithton Personal Injury Lawyers Will Help Protect Your Rights

If you have been injured in an accident, contact our team today.

We will review your case for free and fight to protect your best interests.

Our Smithton injury lawyers are experienced in personal injury law and will help you understand the legal options available to you.

We will work tirelessly to protect your rights in the best way possible.

We are dedicated to providing high value, personal service for every client of ours.

At TorHoerman Law, we are committed to helping people recover from life’s most difficult challenges.

We will work hard to ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve.

We know the lasting effects injuries can have, and we care about putting your life back in order.