Personal Injury Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Crashes involving 18-wheelers, semi-trucks, or tractor-trailers are cases where it is essential to consult an attorney immediately. The injuries can be severe. The trucking companies often have investigators and lawyers on the crash scene to begin building their defense.

Hire an attorney immediately to preserve evidence, interview witnesses, and improve your chances of recovery. At Nelson & Nelson, we have experience working cases involving injuries and death as a result of trucking or tractor-trailer crashes.

Several of our personal injury attorneys in Belleville, IL, are Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys members. This national organization fights for those injured in crashes with tractor-trailers.

If you were involved in a crash with a semi-truck, tractor-trailer, or 18-wheeler, please call our office immediately.

Your own health insurance. Generally, if you have health insurance, your health insurance should pay the bills. People often expect the negligent party to cover medical bills. However, determining liability and recovery can take months or even years. Do not leave the medical bills outstanding or send them to collections.

When your health insurance covers bills due to another's negligence, they may assert a lien on the claim to recover expenses. Sometimes, your medical insurance will refuse to pay the medical bills if they think someone else is at fault.

If this happens to you, please call our office for a free consultation. Med Pay through your auto insurance. Your auto insurance can pay medical bills through an optional benefit called Med Pay. Med Pay is an amount someone can access to help them pay for medical expenses while a case is pending.

This is different from liability insurance. Your auto insurance provider will often place a lien on the file to be reimbursed for their Med Pay payments. Should your Med Pay cover post-accident medical bills?

Call our office for a free consultation regarding car, motorcycle, or pedestrian accidents. The negligent party’s insurance. If your injury results from another party's negligence and they have liability insurance, their insurance company should cover the treatment cost.

However, resolving with the negligent party's insurance carrier can take months or even years. Health insurance, Med Pay, or Medical insurance may cover medical costs and assert a lien on the negligent party's liability insurance recovery.

If someone else's negligence causes your injury, like a car crash, motorcycle crash, or bicycle crash, and you can't work, you may recover lost wages. Please contact our personal injury attorneys in Belleville, IL, for a free consultation.

If you have had significant injuries following a crash, you will very likely need an attorney. Sometimes, multiple potential insurance policies may provide recovery. Consulting with an experienced attorney to help determine all liable parties is very important.

An attorney can also help ensure they pay the medical bills and reasonably satisfy any liens on the claim.

Unfortunately, this is not an uncommon situation. Ensure sufficient policy limits for Uninsured Motorist and Underinsured Motorist coverage to protect yourself. Both policy provisions can aid recovery when the at-fault party has minimal or no coverage. If you believe this applies to you, please call our office for a free consultation.

The type and amount of compensation in a personal injury case can vary depending on the case. You may generally recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and, in some cases, punitive damages.

Our personal injury attorneys in Belleville, IL, will work diligently to ensure you receive the maximum compensation possible.

The statute of limitations for personal injury cases varies by state. In Illinois, you generally have two years from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit. However, there may be exceptions or nuances that could shorten or extend this timeline.

Consulting with an experienced attorney is critical to ensure you do not forfeit your right to compensation.

While accepting a quick settlement offer from an insurance company is tempting, consult with an attorney first. Insurance companies often try to settle claims for less than they are worth. Our personal injury attorneys in Belleville, IL, can provide a complete evaluation of your case. We will help you understand what your claim is worth.

The process for a personal injury lawsuit typically begins with investigating the claim. Then, we send a demand letter to the at-fault party's insurance company. We will file a lawsuit if we cannot reach a fair settlement. We then proceed with the discovery phase, exchanging evidence and deposing witnesses.

A trial may become necessary if negotiation or mediation cannot resolve the case. Throughout this process, our attorneys will be there every step of the way. We will fight for the compensation you deserve.

At Nelson & Nelson, we work on a contingency fee basis for personal injury cases. You pay nothing upfront; we only receive payment if we win your case. Our fee is a percentage of the recovery, meaning we are motivated to get you the highest compensation possible. Consultations are free, and we encourage anyone injured to contact our office.