When you or a loved one is injured, it’s hard to know where to turn.
You need a trustworthy and experienced East St. Louis personal injury lawyer to get you the compensation you deserve. VanDerGinst Law can help.
Serious injuries can be devastating. You may be experiencing pain and incurring costly medical bills. Your injuries might prevent you from working and earning income. You don’t need the stress of dealing with medical providers and insurance representatives.
Let VanDerGinst Law deal with them so you can focus on getting better!
We make opening a personal injury case as quick and convenient as possible.
We can open most files over on the phone or online, and we even offer video conferencing to suit your needs.
We are available 24/7 every day of the year! Simply click here or call 800-797-5391
Once we open your file, we make every effort to speedily and thoroughly investigate your case to get the maximum compensation you deserve.
At VanDerGinst Law, our personal injury lawyers do everything necessary to work your file. We obtain all the records from medical providers. We coordinate health insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, medical payment insurance, and any other benefits that may apply to your case. We handle the negotiations with the opposing party.
Even more, we position your case for the best possible settlement. If the opponent doesn’t offer a sensible settlement, our experienced East St. Louis personal injury lawyers prepare to do battle in court – where we will fight hard to get you the best result.
At VanDerGinst Law, we operate on a contingent fee basis for personal injury cases.
If we don’t get you money for your injuries, there is NO ATTORNEY FEE. We do not get paid unless and until you do.
Other personal injury attorneys may say they work on contingency. But they may also charge you a retainer fee for costs such as filing fees or postage. That can add up to hundreds – even thousands – of dollars. At VanDerGinst Law, there is NO RETAINER FEE on injury cases. We forward all necessary costs to pursue your claim.
At VanDerGinst Law, we know injury law. Our East St. Louis attorneys have represented more than 50,000 injury victims over the years. But we also know the judges, lawyers, medical providers, and insurance adjusters who are involved in East St. Louis-area injury claims and lawsuits. We will fight to get you the money you deserve!
We have made record recoveries in numerous counties across Illinois for all injury case types. We have been recognized by peers, clients, and other professionals as among the best in the country in personal injury law.
(CLICK HERE TO SEE SOME OF OUR AWARDS AND ACCOLADES)
We do not represent insurance companies, so we never have a conflict of interest in representing our injury clients. But we DO employ former insurance adjusters and insurance defense attorneys who know the tricks of the trade. We put that knowledge to work for you!
If you have suffered serious injuries, you need a personal injury law firm that focuses on injury law, rather than a lawyer who occasionally “dabbles.” The practice of law is much like the practice of medicine. There are practitioners who have “general” practices and others who specialize.
At VanDerGinst Law we focus on injury law.
We are not saying that general practice attorneys aren’t able to handle an occasional injury claim. But, if you needed brain surgery you would see a brain surgeon, not your family doctor. By the same token, you can feel completely confident that you will be in great hands with the personal injury lawyers of VanDerGinst Law.
We can skillfully handle ANY injury case that comes our way.
Anyone can make that kind of statement. But can they prove it? We can. VanDerGinst Law is one of the only law firms in the country to have been awarded the Better Business Bureau’s Torch Award for Ethics.
We have also been awarded the Client’s Choice Award from Avvo Lawyer Rating Service and the Client Champion Award from Martindale-Hubbell Attorney Rating Service.
But don’t take our word for it. Click here to see testimonials from some of our clients.
East St. Louis is a city in Illinois that is directly across the Mississippi River from downtown St. Louis. It was once a bustling industrial center, especially after the Civil War. But in the second half of the 20th century, East St. Louis was severely affected by the loss of jobs due to industrial restructuring.
East St. Louis is home to about 27,000 residents. Unfortunately, like many of the other towns in the state of Illinois, East St. Louis also has its fair share of accidents and injuries.
According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, there were 312,988 crashes involving motor vehicles in the state in 2019, with 20% of those crashes leading to injuries.
Residents of East St. Louis are also injured from construction accidents, slip and fall accidents, medical malpractice incidents, and faulty products.
If you live in East St. Louis and were injured on the job or due to someone’s negligence, you deserve compensation for your injuries.
VanDerGinst Law can help!
If you are safely able to do so, you should gather witness information and photos and/or video of the accident site. Contact the police or other emergency personnel; it’s important to get the appropriate medical attention necessary to address your injuries as soon as possible.
Above all, DO NOT sign anything for the other party’s insurance representatives. DO NOT give the other party’s insurance representatives a recorded statement.
Of course a personal injury law firm would say “Yes!” to that question. But in truth, there are many reasons why it makes sense to get legal representation when you have a claim.
The right lawyer can make a difference in the amount of compensation you will recover from your claim. Insurance carriers and other big business defendants have teams of lawyers looking out for their interests. In fact, insurance adjusters will try to get you to settle for as little as possible. An experienced personal injury attorney can exert the leverage necessary to get you the compensation to which you are entitled. VanDerGinst Law has that experience.
Second, why would you want to fill out loads of forms and deal with insurance people and medical providers? You need rest and recuperation from your injuries, not additional stress. VanDerGinst Law will take care of the details. Opening a file with us is easy and convenient. We collect the necessary evidence to pursue your case. We conduct the investigation. We negotiate to get you the best possible outcome.
Third, there is no financial risk to having VanDerGinst Law represent you in your injury case. If we do not win your case and get you compensation, you will not owe us anything!
If you were injured in an accident and required any type of treatment or attention to those injuries, your accident probably warrants the attention of a personal injury lawyer as well. We suggest that you contact VanDerGinst Law as soon as possible after getting the initial medical care necessary to address your injuries.
Adjusters set tentative values on injury claims at a very early stage. An experienced injury attorney can ensure that those values are much greater than they would be without an attorney working on your behalf. Witness statements and evidence often needs to be secured immediately following the event. A good lawyer will also advise you against signing medical authorization or giving recorded statements.
There are just too many things that can go wrong if you do not get a personal injury lawyer on your side as soon as possible after your injury.
Contrary to common misconceptions, most personal injury claims can be resolved without having to file a lawsuit. That only happens if your personal injury lawyer has shown that he or she is willing to file lawsuits and fight for justice whenever it is necessary to get the best results for clients.
At VanDerGinst Law, we have proven our devotion to our clients – and insurance companies know that. They know we will file lawsuits if necessary, to get the best results.
Even if your personal injury case must have a lawsuit filed, that does not mean it will proceed all the way to a trial. About 95% of all injury cases are settled before going to trial. During trial preparations, each side becomes more familiar with the case’s strengths and weaknesses – and this often results in a settlement. At VanDerGinst Law, we prepare all cases as if they will go to trial. That way we can be in the best position possible to get the best settlements for our clients.
There are many elements that impact a personal injury case value. Such elements include your age, the type of accident, where you live, the nature, extent and duration of your injuries and treatment needs, the impact of your injuries on your ability to work and earn income, scarring and disfigurement, the impact on family, the nature of the defendant and their insurance and/or assets, and other considerations too numerous to mention.
Any of the following may apply for damages if you successfully show liability in your personal injury case:
Pain and suffering refers to the harm caused by physical injury and mental distress related to the accident and injuries. It encompasses not just pain and discomfort, but also the detrimental effects the injured person is likely to suffer in the future.
At VanDerGinst Law, we handle personal injury cases on a contingent fee basis. If we don’t get you money for your injuries, there is NO ATTORNEY FEE. You will never be out of pocket a dime. We do not get paid unless and until you do. Our fee is a percentage of the amount recovered. The percentage depends on the type of case we handle and whether the case must be litigated.
Even though other personal injury attorneys say they charge a contingent fee, they may also require a retainer fee for costs like filing fees, expert fees, court reporter fees, etc. That can often be hundreds, even thousands of dollars.
At VanDerGinst Law, we charge NO RETAINER FEE on injury cases. We forward all costs necessary to pursue your claim.
The amount of time in which a person must file a lawsuit is known as the statute of limitations. In Illinois, that time is generally two years from the date of the injury.
Some limited exceptions may extend that time, and there are also some situations which require notices be sent or lawsuits filed earlier than that two-year period.
If you neglect to file a lawsuit within the applicable time, you are forever excluded from doing so. Therefore, it’s a good idea to get VanDerGinst Law in your corner as soon as possible.
Illinois recognizes something known as “Modified Comparative Fault”. Under the Modified Comparative Fault System, each party is responsible for damages in proportion to their own percentage of fault pro-rata, unless the plaintiff’s negligence reaches 51%. If you are partly at fault, your compensation will be reduced by the proportionate percentage of fault. However, if you are 51% or more to blame, then you are not entitled to compensation.
For example, if a reasonable award were determined to be $100,000 but you were 40% at fault, your award would be reduced by 40% so that you would receive $60,000.
The responsible party is required to pay the costs for all bills for reasonable and necessary treatment. That includes medical bills, chiropractic bills, dental bills, physical therapy bills and any other similar costs.
If the party responsible for causing an injury accident does not have insurance or does not have enough insurance, there might be other sources of compensation. The attorneys at VanDerGinst Law exhaust every possible avenue to identify those sources. Sometimes we can find employers, people, or entities who may be vicariously liable. Sometimes we can turn to our client’s own uninsured or underinsured insurance coverage. And sometimes we determine that the responsible party has ample assets available outside of insurance.
We do everything we can to make sure you are compensated for your injuries.
East St. Louis Car Accidents: Our personal injury lawyers can help you get the best compensation for your car accident-related injuries. Learn more about VanDerGinst Law’s track record with securing compensation for car accident victims.
East St. Louis Truck Accidents: Accidents with commercial trucks (also known as semis, tractor-trailers, or big rigs) can cause devastating injuries. To get the best recovery, you need attorneys who have the experience to handle these cases. VanDerGinst Law’s East St. Louis personal injury lawyers have those credentials. Click to see more.
East St. Louis Traumatic Brain Injury: Even a seemingly minor accident can result in severe brain injuries. Proper investigation and treatment are vital to getting reasonable compensation for these types of injuries. Learn how VanDerGinst Law can help.
East St. Louis Motorcycle Accidents: Motorcycle accidents often result in serious injuries or even death. Read more about how our East St. Louis injury lawyers help bikers and their families when serious motorcycle accidents occur.
East St. Louis Wrongful Death Claims: Wrongful death can occur due to someone’s negligence, intentional actions, or other types of wrongdoing. We can help your family get through a difficult and confusing time and get the financial recovery necessary to assist in easing some of the burden that comes when a loved one is lost.
East St. Louis Bus Accidents: Bus accidents may involve municipalities who can rely on governmental immunities to avoid liability. They say you cannot fight city hall. Well, we do – every day. And we win!
East St. Louis Pedestrian accidents: Injuries in pedestrian accidents can be severe. See what our East St. Louis injury lawyers can do to help get you compensation.
East St. Louis Premises Liability: Premises liability includes any number of accident or injury-causing incidents that occur on commercial or residential property. Read more about these types of accidents – and see how VanDerGinst Law can help.
East St. Louis Dog Bites: We have a lot of dog lovers at VanDerGinst Law. But we also know that when the worst happens and a dog attacks, serious injuries can occur. Often, compensation is necessary to address medical bills and even plastic surgery to repair the damage. See how our East St. Louis injury attorneys can help.
East St. Louis Class Action Lawsuits: Class actions arise when many people are harmed by a single defendant (or a few defendants). VanDerGinst Law is involved in several class action lawsuits. Click here to find out which ones.
East St. Louis Spinal Cord Injury: Serious spinal cord injuries can result in paraplegia or quadriplegia. If you or a loved one has suffered this type of injury, contact VanDerGinst Law right away. Our East St. Louis injury lawyers will fight hard to get the compensation necessary to help you return to some semblance of a normal life.
East St. Louis Swimming Pool Injuries: Swimming pools are fun, but they can also result in slip and fall accidents and diving accidents that lead to serious injuries or drowning. Read more on how our East St. Louis injury lawyers can help.
East St. Louis Slip and Fall Accidents: Slip and fall accidents can occur indoors or outdoors, at commercial properties and residential properties. They can happen on sidewalks, in parking lots and other public areas. They happen in the winter OR in the summer. And they sometimes result in serious injuries. VanDerGinst Law can help get you the compensation you deserve after a slip and fall accident.
East St. Louis Worker’s Compensation Claims: Even if you were at fault in causing the accident which led to injuries at work, you can still be entitled to worker’s compensation benefits. Our attorneys can help you get proper compensation and explore other possible sources of compensation.
East St. Louis Construction Accidents: Unfortunately, construction accidents are a frequent occurrence. They can lead to serious injuries. If you were in a construction accident, an experienced East St. Louis personal injury lawyer can help you get compensation for your injuries.
East St. Louis Insurance Claims: Insurance claims can be made in relation to injuries from accidents. But they can also be related to rights you may have under other insurance policies, such as Commercial, Homeowner’s, Health, Liability, and more. See how we can help.
East St. Louis Business Interruption Insurance Claims: Small businesses are sometimes forced to close or restrict their operations when catastrophes occur. Many Illinois businesses were restricted due to the pandemic. Business interruption coverage may apply even when the insurance carrier says it does not. Contact VanDerGinst Law to see if we can help.
East St. Louis Medical Malpractice: Medical providers are held to a high standard when rendering treatment to patients. When they breach that standard of care, the consequences can be disastrous. Click here to learn how VanDerGinst Law can help.
East St. Louis Nursing Home Negligence: When a loved one has been neglected in a nursing home, an East St. Louis personal injury lawyer can assist in securing compensation.
East St. Louis Nursing Home Abuse: If your loved one has been abused in a nursing home, an East St. Louis personal injury lawyer can assist in getting justice.
We know that the personal injury claims process can be frustrating and overwhelming.
Let the injury attorneys at VanDerGinst Law help fight your battles while you focus on recovery.
Reach out to our firm by calling (800) 797-5391, or contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
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Personal Injury
Wrongful Death Claims
Animal Attacks/Dog Bites
Car Accidents
Commercial Truck Accidents
Motorcycle Accidents
Pedestrian Accidents
Slip/Trip and Fall Accidents
Premises Liability Accidents
Construction Accidents
Worker's Compensation Claims
Product Liability/Dangerous Products
Nursing Home Negligence/Abuse
Medical Malpractice
Class Actions/Mass Tort Claims
Other Injury Claims
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Spinal Cord Injuries
Swimming Pool Injuries
Fractures
Soft Tissue Injuries/Whiplash
Chest Injuries
Shoulder Injuries
Knee Injuries
Hip and Pelvis Injuries
Burn Injuries
Amputation
Crush Injuries
Degloving Injuries
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