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Madison Personal Injury Lawyer

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Suffering injuries in an accident can cause excruciating pain, emotional trauma, and financial stress. However, the word “accident” can be misleading, as most incidents that cause injuries are actually due to human negligence or error. If another party’s action or inaction led to your injuries, you have a right to hold them accountable for their wrongdoing and recover compensation for your accident-related losses. Filing a personal injury claim can allow you to achieve these goals and move on with dignity.

While receiving compensation for your injuries should be a straightforward process, every personal injury case has the potential to become frustrating, stressful, and subject to delays. Working with an experienced Madison personal injury lawyer from LawtonCates can help increase your claim’s chances of success while reducing your stress.

The skilled and knowledgeable personal injury attorneys at LawtonCates have helped injured individuals in South Central Wisconsin for nearly 70 years, and we are ready to fight for your right to compensation. Call us today or contact us online for a free case review to learn more about how we can help you.

What Will a Madison Personal Injury Lawyer Do for My Case?

When some individuals realize they can seek personal injury compensation, they might be tempted to believe they can handle the process alone. However, filing a successful claim requires a thorough investigation, up-to-date knowledge of Wisconsin personal injury law, and aggressive negotiating skills. If you attempt to recover compensation without the help of a legal professional, you could face unnecessary delays, reductions in your compensation, and even outright denial of compensation by the insurance company.

When you have an experienced Madison personal injury attorney on your side, you have the support and insight of a dedicated advocate who can:

  • Conduct a thorough investigation into the incident, collecting the critical evidence that will demonstrate how and why your injuries occurred
  • Identify all liable parties to hold them accountable for their wrongdoing
  • Calculate the full value of your losses
  • Negotiate aggressively with the at-fault party’s insurance company for fair compensation
  • If necessary, file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party

Your LawtonCates attorney will handle all aspects of your case from start to finish so that you can focus on healing and moving forward.

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How Do I Know If I Have a Personal Injury Claim?

If you have been injured due to another party’s negligence or wrongful actions, you likely have grounds for a personal injury claim. An experienced personal injury attorney from LawtonCates can review the details of your incident and advise you whether you have a viable claim to pursue.

What Damages Could I Be Entitled to in a Personal Injury Case?

All personal injury cases are different. The compensation you could receive will depend on various factors. These include the type of accident, the nature and extent of your injuries, and the degree to which any resulting disability affects your ability to work.

Many personal injury claims can allow you to recover compensation for the following losses:

  • Medical expenses, including emergency services, doctor’s appointments, diagnostic scans, surgeries, and medications
  • Lost income due to missed time at work
  • Reduced earning capacity if your injuries force you to take a lower-paying job
  • Physical and psychological pain and suffering
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Property damage if you lost anything valuable in the incident, such as a laptop, tablet, or cell phone

A knowledgeable Madison personal injury lawyer from LawtonCates can give you an informed assessment of how much your claim might be worth.

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Can I Still Get Compensation If I Was Partly to Blame for My Injuries?

Wisconsin’s comparative negligence law allows individuals to recover compensation in a personal injury claim as long as they were not more than 50 percent at fault for the accident that harmed them. Furthermore, an individual is barred from seeking compensation from another party to the accident unless they bear a smaller percentage of responsibility than the other party.

It is worth noting that if you are deemed partly to blame for your injuries, your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, suppose an insurance company or court assigns you 15 percent of the blame for the accident. In that case, you will only be entitled to 85 percent of the compensation you would have received otherwise.

Comparative negligence can complicate personal injury claims, but working with a skilled personal injury lawyer from LawtonCates can help you understand your situation and maximize your compensation.

How Soon Should I Start a Personal Injury Claim?

You should contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible after suffering injuries in an accident. Initiating a claim early can allow your lawyer to collect evidence before it disappears and interview any eyewitnesses before their memories fade.

How Long Do I Have in Wisconsin to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit?

Wisconsin’s statute of limitations generally allows three years from the accident date to file a lawsuit against the at-fault party. You should contact an attorney at LawtonCates for the filing date that applies to your specific case. If you fail to file on time, it may result in losing the right to recover the compensation you deserve. By consulting our Madison personal injury law firm as soon as possible after sustaining injuries, we will help ensure you do not miss any crucial deadlines.

How Long Does a Typical Personal Injury Case Last?

The length of personal injury cases can vary significantly. If injuries are minor and the identities of the at-fault parties are clear, the case could settle within a few weeks. However, what initially seems to be a minor accident can eventually turn out to be far more significant, and insurance disputes can make simple cases far more complex. For this reason, many personal injury cases can take several months or a year or longer to conclude.

In cases involving severe injuries, waiting until the injured individual reaches maximum medical improvement (the point at which further treatment won’t improve their condition) is often advisable to understand the extent of their medical expenses and other losses. Such cases can last a year or more, especially if litigation becomes necessary.

Regardless of how long a case is expected to last, retaining the services of an experienced personal injury attorney in Madison can help make your case more efficient. It can also optimize your chances of getting the compensation you deserve.

Wisconsin Personal Injury Case Timelines

What Must Be Proven in a Personal Injury Claim?

For your claim to be successful, you must demonstrate that another party acted unreasonably or failed to act reasonably and that their action/inaction led to an accident that directly caused your injuries. You must be able to prove that the accident and your injuries resulted in demonstrable losses.

Proving these elements requires evidence. A seasoned attorney from LawtonCates will investigate the incident, compile documentation, interview witnesses, and work with experts to build a solid case on your behalf.

What Are Common Personal Injury Cases?

Some of the most common types of personal injury cases include:

  • Car Accidents – Negligent driving behaviors like speeding, distracted driving, and drunk driving cause thousands of accidents and injuries each year. Because they happen so frequently, auto accident claims almost always come at the top when attorneys list the types of personal injury cases they take on.
  • Premises Liability – Property owners are responsible for ensuring that their property is reasonably safe for visitors. Slips and falls, swimming pool injuries, assaults due to poor security, and unsecured railings can lead to premises liability claims.
  • Medical Malpractice – From surgical mistakes to misdiagnoses of serious illnesses to medication errors, medical negligence can cause severe harm. Medical malpractice claims hold healthcare providers accountable.
  • Workplace Injuries – Employers must maintain safe working conditions free from hazards. Claims may involve injuries from defective machinery, falls, or repetitive strain.
  • Defective Products – When a dangerously defective product injures someone, the manufacturer may be held liable. Some common defective product claims involve auto parts, medical devices, or products made for children.
  • Dog Attacks – Dog owners may be held liable for injury-related losses when their animal attacks someone.

What Types of Injuries Happen Due to Personal Injury Accidents?

Accident victims suffer a wide range of physical and psychological injuries. Some examples include:

  • Broken Bones – Fractures requiring surgery and extended recovery periods are common after falls, car accidents, and other trauma.
  • Back and Neck Injuries – Herniated discs, pinched nerves, whiplash, and spinal cord damage often stem from auto collisions and falls. They can result in chronic pain and disability.
  • Traumatic Brain Injuries – Head trauma after collisions, workplace accidents, or falls can damage the brain, impairing cognition, personality, speech, and emotion regulation.
  • Burn Injuries – Victims of fires, chemical exposures, scalding liquids, or electrical shocks may suffer severe skin damage and scarring.
  • Amputations – The traumatic loss of limbs can happen in accidents involving heavy machinery, manufacturing equipment, and power tools.
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder – Car crashes, assaults, abuse, and other trauma can cause anxiety, depression, insomnia, and behavioral changes.
  • Wrongful Death – The worst cases result in fatalities from incidents like medical errors, dangerous premises, defective products, and auto or workplace accidents. Surviving family members can file claims for compensation.

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Contact a Madison Personal Injury Attorney Today

If you have suffered injuries due to another party’s negligence, LawtonCates can help you get the compensation you deserve. Call us today or fill out our online form for a free case review with a personal injury lawyer in Madison.