Personal Injury

Herrick & Hart, S.C. has represented injured adults and children throughout the States of Wisconsin and Minnesota for over 70 years. We have an attorney who is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. We also have a lawyer who has been named one of the top 100 Trial Lawyers in the State of Wisconsin.

Personal Injury - An Overview

Personal injury law provides a framework for individuals who have been injured to the negligence or intentional acts of others.

A personal injury attorney provides legal services to those who have been injured due to the negligence of another person, government entity or company. Personal injury lawsuits are filed by people (or their representatives in the case of wrongful death) injured due to the negligence of someone else. The injury may be either physical or emotional, and it can arise from a variety of sources or types of conduct. Some of the most common types of personal injury cases include slip and fall, automobile collisions, assaults and battery, medical malpractice, dog bites and product liability. If you or someone you know has been injured by the careless actions of another, contact a personal injury attorney at our firm to find out how we can help you preserve your rights.


Reasons to Hire Herrick & Hart, S.C. as your Personal Injury Attorney

When in the process of hiring a personal injury attorney, it is important to educate yourself about your type of case and find the right attorney that fits your needs. When people get injured, it is common for people to pick the first attorney they find without first doing the research required to make an informed choice. The right personal injury lawyer often requires more research than seeing a billboard or television ad.

If you have suffered an injury through the fault of another, you may be out of work, overwhelmed with piles of medical bills, or in constant pain and agony. Under any of these circumstances, researching, locating, and retaining a lawyer to handle your personal injury claim can seem like yet another insurmountable obstacle. There are, however, some guidelines that can help you to select a personal injury lawyer to handle your case. With a personal injury lawyer from our firm on your side, you can breathe a sigh of relief and focus on your recovery while we carry at least part of your burden.

The following summaries of various types of personal injury claims can help guide you to find an attorney that is the right fit for you and your case.

Personal Injuries from Dangerous or Defective Products

If a person is injured by a dangerous and defective product, they may have a claim against the responsible party in a products liability lawsuit. When someone is injured by a dangerous and defective product, products liability law in states that it is the responsibility of the manufacturer or even the distributor to compensate that person for their injuries because that product was placed into the stream of commerce under their watch. Companies manufacturing or distributing products are in the best position to prevent dangerous products from entering the marketplace.

Personal Injuries from Dog Bites

When a person is bitten by a dog or other domesticated animals like cats, birds, and even ferrets, that bite can leave both physical and emotional scars that can haunt someone for the rest of their life. Wisconsin is a strict liability state for dog bite injuries.

Common injuries from dog bites include puncture wounds, broken bones, facial injuries and nerve damage. Lawyers from Herrick & Hart, S.C. are experienced in handling personal injury claims that involve animal attacks and are an excellent source advice and information regarding these types of claims.

Slips, Falls, and Other Premises Liability Claims

Premises liability law involves the legal responsibilities of property owners and occupiers to prevent injuries to persons on their property. One of the most common causes of such injuries is a slip and fall, such as on an icy sidewalk, a loose or uneven stair tread, or a piece of debris or spilled liquid on the floor. Property owner liability varies depending on the rules where the injury occurred. An experienced personal injury lawyer at our firm can evaluate the strength of your premises liability claim and help you recover damages for lost wages, medical bills, and pain and suffering.

Medical Malpractice

Personal injury lawyers research to determine the standard of care and see if the healthcare provider followed that standard of care. If the healthcare provider did not follow that standard of care, there may be a claim for medical malpractice. An injured patient can expect long and protracted litigation when bringing a medical malpractice claim.

Common types of medical malpractice cases include misdiagnosis, surgical errors, medication errors and birth injuries.

Wrongful Death Cases

In general, a wrongful death claim is one in which it is alleged that a person died because of another's negligence. The deceased person's surviving relatives, dependents, or beneficiaries may sue the responsible party or parties, seeking monetary damages for their losses. Wisconsin has rules regarding wrongful death claims. A personal injury attorney at our firm can advise you on whether you have a valid wrongful death claim and can help you pursue that claim against the responsible party or parties.

A wrongful death cased is a separate civil case, which is different than a criminal proceeding.

A Second Opinion for your Personal Injury Case

At Herrick & Hart, S.C. we often receive calls from injured persons who have already talked to an attorney and many times the lawyer has rejected taking on their case. In other instances, we receive phone calls from injured persons who have hired an attorney, but the attorney after beginning representation changes their mind and concludes they no longer want to continue with the case. This is often called "dropping" the case. At Herrick & Hart, we would be glad to offer a second opinion if you are first declined for representation or the lawyer you have hired decides not to continue with the case. Some of our biggest settlements and jury verdicts have come from such situations. The circumstances involving the initial decline of the case or the later rejection many times means that the original attorney was not experienced in the type of case that you have. People often seek second opinions from doctors. You should know that you have the same right to do so with your personal injury case. In some instances, we may agree with the original decision not to take on the case. In that situation, you can sleep easier knowing that you sought a second opinion.

In recent times, we have experienced calls from injured persons who have an attorney attempting to force an unfair settlement. In that case, feel free to contact us.

Referring a Client to Herrick & Hart, S.C.

Many solo attorneys and small firms are overwhelmed with their current workloads. We receive many referrals from attorneys who do not practice in personal injury law. There is no greater compliment that we can receive than being recommended by other attorneys for personal injury representation. When you work with Herrick & Hart, you can be certain:

  • The client will receive comprehensive representation.
  • Any referral agreement reached will comply with the Wisconsin Supreme Court rules for ethical conduct.
  • You will be partnering with seasoned lawyers with years of courtroom experience.
  • You will be dealing with a firm that has been in the personal injury field for over 70 years.
  • We will work hard to get your client the compensation they deserve.

You will be referring your case to peronal injury lawyers who can handle the specific circumstnaces and complexity of personal injury cases.

Lawyer Profiles: Personal Injury

Meet our specialists in the areas of personal injury, including injury as a result of defective products, animal bites or attacks, slips/ falls, wrongful death, and more.