River Falls Personal
Injury Attorney
We fight for victims of accidents and personal injury
Top River Falls Personal Injury Lawyer
At Fitzpatrick, Skemp & Butler, LLC, our goal is simple: to be the trusted legal ally you need in River Falls, WI. When you pick our team for your injury case, know this: your needs come first, every time. In your toughest moments, we’re there, drawing on years of legal experience to guide you towards the best possible result. We fight for your financial recovery, handle insurance hassles, and manage medical bills with your family’s well-being in focus.
Don’t delay, call now to safeguard your legal rights. Under Wisconsin law, accident victims have just three years to file a personal injury lawsuit; wrongful death cases face an even tighter deadline. Moreover, actions taken in the aftermath of the accident can impact your settlement, even if it won’t be resolved for months. If you or someone you care about suffered serious injuries in River Falls, reach out to us before your opportunity to pursue your injury claim slips away.
Call 608-784-4370 now to schedule a free consultation with our River Falls personal injury lawyer
How Fitzpatrick, Skemp & Butler Can Help
Going through the complexities of a legal claim can be daunting. That’s why at Fitzpatrick, Skemp & Butler, LLC, our River Falls personal injury attorneys are committed to providing dedicated and thorough legal support to injured individuals and their families. When you reach out to our firm, you’ll have access to a Wisconsin lawyer who will listen to your concerns during a free case review, diligently investigate your case, handle all paperwork, and negotiate settlements on your behalf. Our team specializes in personal injury, workers’ compensation, and Social Security disability law, striving to maximize your compensation while keeping your best interests at the forefront. With no upfront or out-of-pocket costs and payment only upon successful resolution of your case, you can trust our River Falls attorneys to fight for the justice and compensation you deserve.
Our law firm brings extensive experience in the legal field to every case we handle. We understand that personal injury matters represent real people facing real challenges. Our legal representation goes beyond just filing paperwork. We become your advocate, fighting for your rights every step of the way.
Communication is a priority at our firm. You can reach us easily when you have questions or concerns, and we return calls promptly. Our attorneys explain legal concepts in plain language so you always understand what’s happening with your case. We treat every client with respect and compassion, recognizing the impact accidents have on your quality of life.
Why Choose Our River Falls Personal Injury Lawyers
Selecting the right injury lawyer can determine whether you recover full compensation for your losses. Our personal injury lawyers have successfully represented hundreds of clients throughout Wisconsin. We know how to build strong cases that prove negligence and demonstrate the full extent of your injuries.
Our team offers free case evaluation appointments to discuss your case without any obligation. During this meeting, we’ll review what happened, answer your questions, and explain the legal action available to you. When accidents occur because of someone else’s negligence, you shouldn’t have to pay for their mistakes.
We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t pay unless we win your case. Our law firm fights to hold negligent parties accountable and secure maximum compensation for injury victims. We have the resources and experience to take on large insurance companies and corporate defendants. When your injuries result from someone else’s fault, we’re here to help you recover damages.
Understanding Personal Injury Law in Wisconsin
Personal injury law protects people who suffer harm because of another person’s careless actions. These legal rules give injury victims the right to seek compensation for their losses. Different types of accidents fall under personal injury law, including car accident cases, truck crashes, slip and fall incidents, medical malpractice, defective product cases, and workplace injuries.
Wisconsin follows specific rules that affect personal injury cases. The state uses a comparative fault system, meaning you can still recover damages even if you share some blame for the accident. However, your compensation gets reduced based on your percentage of fault. Our personal injury attorneys know how to minimize any fault attributed to you and maximize your recovery.
Each case type has unique legal requirements and challenges. Our attorney team has handled all these situations across our practice areas and knows how to build strong cases for our clients. We follow a proven process that includes investigating the accident scene, gathering evidence, working with healthcare providers to obtain complete medical records, and consulting with experts who can explain complex issues.
Damages Available in River Falls Personal Injury Claims
Our River Falls personal injury attorneys tirelessly pursue full compensation for our clients, addressing both financial losses and intangible harm. Economic damages, covering medical bills, future care, lost wages, property damage, and diminished earning capacity, are important components. Equally important are non-economic damages, encompassing physical pain, emotional suffering, and loss of life’s pleasures. Skillful negotiation is key to securing adequate compensation for these subjective losses. Additionally, punitive damages may be sought in cases of egregious misconduct, though River Falls imposes strict limits on such awards. Our firm carefully assesses each case to determine the feasibility of pursuing punitive damages while advocating vigorously for our clients’ rights.
Economic damages, also known as special damages, represent the measurable financial losses you suffer after an accident. Medical expenses often make up the largest portion of these damages. This includes emergency room visits, ambulance transportation, hospital stays, surgery costs, prescription medications, physical therapy, and ongoing healthcare needs. We also pursue compensation for future medical expenses if your injuries require long-term treatment.
Lost wages cover the income you miss while recovering from your injuries. If your injuries prevent you from returning to your previous job, we seek compensation for reduced earning capacity. Non-economic damages, or general damages, address pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. These subjective losses require skilled presentation to prove their value. Our goal is always to secure maximum compensation that covers all your losses.
Personal Injury Case Types We Handle in River Falls
Personal Injury Claims
Our legal team is fervently committed to protecting the rights of individuals who have suffered injuries due to the negligence of others. Based in River Falls, we strive to secure appropriate redress for your suffering, medical costs, lost wages, and additional damages. Whether you’ve been injured in a single accident or experienced harm over time, we’re here to help injured clients recover.
Car Accident Cases and Motor Vehicle Accidents
If you’ve encountered a vehicle accident in River Falls, our attorneys are here to offer their expertise. Specializing in cases involving cars, trucks, motorcycles, and other vehicle incidents, we ensure that insurance companies adhere to their obligations to you. Car accident cases can result in devastating injuries that change your life in an instant.
Our personal injury lawyers investigate every car accident thoroughly to determine fault and identify all liable parties. We gather evidence from the scene, review police reports, and interview witnesses. Vehicle accidents can cause spinal injuries, internal injuries, traumatic brain damage, and other serious harm. When multiple vehicles are involved, we work to prove who bears responsibility for your injuries.
Truck Accident Cases
Large truck accidents often result in catastrophic injuries due to the size of the vehicles involved. These cases can be complex because multiple parties may share liability. Our experienced personal injury attorneys understand federal trucking regulations. We know how to hold all negligent parties accountable, including employers, equipment manufacturers, and maintenance providers.
Bicycle Accidents
Our attorneys, who specialize in bicycle accidents, are prepared to guide you through the complexities of claims and ensure you receive the compensation you deserve. Suffered a bicycle incident? Contact our law firm for a free consultation. Bicycle accidents often result in serious injuries because riders have little protection from impact.
Pedestrian Injuries
Vehicle-related pedestrian incidents can be catastrophic. Our River Falls legal team is dedicated to holding responsible parties accountable, seeking compensation for your medical bills, loss of income, and other related expenses. Drivers who fail to yield to pedestrians or drive distracted put walkers at serious risk. We fight to protect pedestrian rights and recover damages for those injured in these accidents.
Slip and Fall Accidents
Wisconsin law requires that property owners keep their premises hazard-free. If you’re injured due to a slip and fall on unsafe premises in River Falls, the property owner might be held liable for your injuries. Property owners must maintain safe premises and warn visitors of known hazards. When they fail in this duty, our personal injury attorney team holds them accountable.
Slip and fall cases can occur at business locations, rental properties, or public spaces. Common hazards include wet floors, uneven surfaces, poor lighting, broken stairs, and icy walkways. Our lawyers know how to prove property owner negligence in fall cases and secure compensation for injury victims.
Animal Bites & Attacks
Victim of an animal attack in River Falls? Our firm is adept at handling cases of dog bites and other animal-related injuries. We ensure that pet owners and responsible parties are held accountable. Contact us for a complimentary, confidential consultation. Animal attacks can cause serious physical injuries and emotional trauma that require immediate medical attention.
Medical Malpractice Cases
Healthcare providers have a duty to meet accepted standards of care when treating patients. When doctors, nurses, hospitals, or other medical professionals fail to meet these standards, patients suffer harm. Medical malpractice cases are complex and require extensive knowledge of both law and medicine. Our personal injury lawyers work with medical experts to prove that substandard care caused your injuries.
Defective Product Cases
Manufacturers have a responsibility to ensure their products are safe for consumers. When defective products cause injuries, victims can pursue claims. These cases involve faulty automotive parts, dangerous medications, defective medical devices, unsafe children’s toys, and other hazardous consumer goods. Our personal injury lawyers have the resources to take on large corporations and fight for injury victims. Defective product liability cases help hold manufacturers accountable and prevent future harm.
Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect
Our mission is to protect those who are vulnerable, especially individuals suffering abuse or neglect in nursing homes. We take action to hold accountable those responsible and secure justice for your loved ones. Our attorneys understand the emotional pain families experience when loved ones suffer mistreatment in care facilities. We fight for maximum compensation to address the harm caused by negligence.
Wrongful Death Cases
The sudden death of a loved one due to negligence can leave families in despair. Our River Falls wrongful death lawyers are here to offer expert legal support, helping you seek justice and accountability. We offer confidential consultations to discuss your case sensitively.
Wrongful death cases arise when someone dies due to another party’s negligence or intentional actions. These tragic situations leave families devastated emotionally and often struggling financially. Wisconsin law allows certain family members to pursue wrongful death claims to seek justice and compensation.
A wrongful death claim can arise from car accidents, truck crashes, medical malpractice, workplace accidents, premises liability incidents, and defective products. Damages in wrongful death cases may include funeral and burial expenses, medical expenses from final illness or injury, lost financial support, lost companionship and guidance, and pain the deceased experienced before death.
Dealing With Insurance Companies
Insurance companies often make the claims process difficult for accident victims. These corporations prioritize profits over people’s well-being. Adjusters use various tactics to reduce payouts or deny valid claims entirely. Understanding these strategies helps you avoid common mistakes that could hurt your personal injury case.
Never give a recorded statement to any insurance adjuster before speaking with a personal injury attorney. Insurance representatives may use your words against you later. They might ask leading questions designed to get you to admit fault or minimize your injuries. Our legal team handles all communication with insurance companies to protect your interests.
Insurance companies also employ tactics like delaying claim processing, requesting excessive documentation, or disputing medical treatment. Our River Falls personal injury lawyer team recognizes these strategies and responds effectively. We push back against unfair denials and fight for the full compensation you deserve. We know how to counter bad-faith insurance practices and protect injured clients.
FAQs by River Falls Clients
Q. What qualifies as a personal injury claim?
A. A personal injury claim arises when an individual suffers harm or injury due to the negligence or wrongful actions of another person or entity. Common examples include car accidents, slip and fall incidents, medical malpractice, and workplace injuries. If someone else’s negligence caused your harm, you may have grounds for a claim.
Q. What evidence is needed to support a personal injury claim?
A. Evidence to support a personal injury claim may include medical records, accident reports, witness statements, photographs or videos of the scene, expert opinions, and documentation of lost wages or other financial losses. The more evidence you can gather, the stronger your case becomes. Our team helps collect and preserve all necessary evidence to build a compelling claim.
Q. Are there any limits on the amount of compensation I can receive in a personal injury case?
A. In Wisconsin, there are limits, or “caps,” on punitive damages, which are damages awarded to punish the defendant for particularly egregious conduct. However, there are generally no caps on compensatory damages, which are intended to compensate you for your actual losses. This means you can recover full compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Q. How long do I have to file a personal injury claim in Wisconsin?
A. Wisconsin law sets a three-year statute of limitations for most personal injury claims. This means you have three years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. However, certain exceptions may apply depending on your specific situation. Don’t wait to take action. Evidence becomes harder to find as time passes, and witnesses’ memories fade. Contact our attorneys as soon as possible after your accident.
Q. What should I do immediately after a personal injury accident?
A. Your health and safety come first after any accident. Seek medical attention right away, even if you think your injuries are minor. Some serious injuries, like spinal injuries or internal injuries, don’t show symptoms immediately. Getting prompt medical care also creates documentation of your condition. Call the police to report the accident and get an official report. Take photos of the scene, your injuries, and any property damage if you’re able. Collect contact information from witnesses. Then contact our injury lawyer team for a free consultation to discuss your rights.
Q. Can I still get compensation if I was partly at fault?
A. Yes, Wisconsin follows a modified comparative fault system. You can still recover compensation as long as you were less than 51% at fault for the accident. However, your compensation gets reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you’re found 20% responsible and your damages total $100,000, you would receive $80,000. Our personal injury attorney team works to minimize any fault attributed to you and maximize your recovery.
Q. Will my personal injury case go to trial?
A. Most personal injury cases settle before reaching trial. Settlement negotiations often produce good results without the time and expense of going to court. However, some cases do require trial when insurance companies refuse to offer fair compensation. Our attorneys prepare every case for trial while working toward the best possible settlement. If we need to go to trial to achieve justice for you, we’re ready and willing to do so.
Q. How much is my personal injury case worth?
A. Every case has unique factors that affect its value. The severity of your injuries, the amount of medical expenses, lost income, and impact on your life all play a role. Cases involving permanent disability or disfigurement typically have higher values. The strength of evidence and clarity of liability also matter. During your free case evaluation, our experienced personal injury attorney can give you a better idea of what your case might be worth.
Serving Clients Throughout River Falls and Wisconsin
While our main focus is River Falls, we serve clients across Wisconsin. Our attorneys handle injury cases throughout the region. Distance doesn’t prevent us from providing excellent legal representation. We use technology to communicate with clients and can travel to meet you if needed. Our ability to serve clients statewide means you can access our experience and resources no matter where your accident occurred.
Wisconsin residents trust our firm for complex personal injury litigation across all our practice areas. We understand local roads, traffic patterns, and accident hotspots. This knowledge helps us investigate accidents and build stronger cases. Our legal team has relationships with local medical providers, expert witnesses, and other professionals who strengthen our claims.
Contact a River Falls Personal Injury Lawyer Today
At Fitzpatrick, Skemp & Butler, LLC, our team of River Falls attorneys is dedicated to serving our clients with care, compassion, and expertise. If you have questions about your rights or legal options, reach out to us today for a complimentary case review—no cost, no commitment required. Whether you’re in River Falls or anywhere else in Wisconsin, we’re here to help.
Practice Areas
Client Reviews
Attorney William Skemp
Melissa, Source: Avvo"Mr. Skemp was so thorough in handling my case.
He was literally the junk yard dog I was hoping to hire and fought for me the whole way. Even when I felt like giving in. His staff is so helpful and kind as well. "
Attorney David Fitzpatrick
George, Source: Google"If you been denied SSI, call them they will fight for you and pay nothing unless they win."
view all testimonialsAttorney SCOTT BUTLER
Abby, Source: Google"We hired Attorney Scott Butler after a motor vehicle accident. Immediately a weight was lifted off our shoulders, as he handled everything with the insurance companies, medical paperwork, etc so that we could focus on healing and getting on with life. He is highly attentive, kind and genuine. His communication is fabulous-frequently reaching out just to check on us, prompt in returning calls/emails. Couldn't have had a better experience with our case. My family would highly recommend Scott Butler to anyone."