• Serious Vehicle Accidents
  • automobile accidents
  • bicycle accidents
  • bus accidents
  • motorcycle accidents
  • pedestrian accidents
  • SUV rollover accidents
  • truck accidents
• Wrongful Death
• Construction and Workplace Accidents
  • Toxic Exposure
• Slip and Fall/Premises Liability
• Spinal Cord Injury
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Medical Malpractice
  • Birth Injury
  • Cerebral Palsy
• Catastrophic Injuries

With extensive experience handling the full range of personal injury matters, Attorney Goldenhersh is dedicated to one-on-one contact with his clients, giving each case his personal, individual attention. He is proud of his ability to relate to his clients and foster a sense of mutual trust and respect.

As a sole practitioner, Jerold Goldenhersh provides the highest levels of legal expertise and customer service. He is available to meet with his clients and their families seven days a week. 

"I take great pride in consistently getting maximum recoveries for my clients.  When you hire my firm, you will get me, not an associate, preparing and trying your case."

                        - Jerold Goldenhersh

The following is a mere roster of the exceptional litigation results Attorney Goldenhersh has obtained for his clients:

• Wrongful death claim for tree trimmer, auto accident/dram shop, $660,000 (1980).
• Jury verdict for injury to 72-year-old automobile passenger, $380,000 (1984).
• Aggravation of congenital back problem in truck/auto accident, $870,000 (1994).
• Settlement of non-disabling injury, truck/auto accident, $1,100,000 (1995).
• Settlement of neck fracture, non-paralysis, $240,000 (2002).
  

If you or someone you know in Belleville, or the surrounding areas of St. Clair County, Illinois needs the assistance and skilled legal counsel of an experienced serious injury lawyer, contact the Law Offices of Jerold Goldenhersh today at 866-435-5811, or complete the contact form provided on this site to schedule your free consultation.

Practice Areas and Legal Definitions

Illinois Vehicle Accidents:
Legal claims that arise from vehicle accidents are typically governed by the law of negligence. Any individual who negligently operates a motor vehicle may be required to pay damages to an injured victim. A personal injury case involving a vehicle accident may become formalized through civil court proceedings, or may be resolved through an informal settlement before a lawsuit is filed. Vehicle accidents can include:

• admiralty and maritime law
• ATV accidents
• automobile accidents
• aviation accidents
• bicycle accidents
• boating accidents
• commercial bus accidents
• cruise ship accidents
• intersection accidents
• motorcycle accidents
• pedestrian accidents
• rear end collisions
• semi-tractor trailer accidents
• school bus accidents
• SUV rollover accidents
• train accidents
• truck accidents
• yacht accidents

The surviving family members of a fatally injured accident victim may be able to bring wrongful death charges against the defendant.

Illinois Automobile Accidents:
Attorney Jerold Goldenhersh has years of experience and a successful track record representing clients who have suffered significant injuries in automobile accidents.  Working closely with doctors and other health care providers to discuss the short and long-term medical consequences of an injury, Attorney Goldenhersh possesses a detailed comprehension of Illinois's automobile insurance and liability laws, and understands the different sources of recovery available to car accident victims and their families.

Illinois Motorcycle Accidents:
Motorcycle riders are often exposed to dangers not met by automobile drivers and other motorists on the road. The lack of any substantial protective barriers, as well as the difficulty that other motorists may have in seeing or stopping for a motorcycle, leaves riders vulnerable to serious personal injury in the event of an accident.  Attorney Jerold Goldenhersh can advise injured riders of their legal rights and discuss the litigation options that are available.

Illinois SUV Rollovers:
Although SUV rollovers do not occur as often as other automobile accidents, when they do occur they have a higher chance of resulting in serious injury or death, and are considered to be the most fatal type of vehicle accident on national roadways. According to the Federal Highway Administration, SUV rollover accidents account for more deaths than side and rear vehicle crashes combined, and are three times more likely to be fatal than the average passenger car rollover.

Although SUV's were designed primarily for the purpose of off-roading, manufacturers have since discovered their immense popularity as family vehicles, and have begun removing roll bars in current models. SUV seat structures are not designed to keep occupants in place during a rollover (regardless if seatbelts are worn), and vehicle roofs, windshields and side windows easily collapse, increasing the risk of occupant head, brain, spinal cord and back injuries. While the body of an SUV remains the same as it would if used for off-roading, the removal of the roll bars, combined with the high center of gravity due to multiple passengers, make rollover accidents, and occupant ejection, much more likely to be fatal.

Illinois Wrongful Death:
A wrongful death occurs when a person is killed due to the negligence or misconduct of another individual, company, or organization. A legal action for wrongful death belongs to the decedent's immediate family members, usually a surviving spouse and children, and sometimes parents. Under certain circumstances, unrelated minor children living with and supported by the decedent may also bring a claim for wrongful death. In order to bring a successful wrongful death cause of action in Illinois, the following elements must be present:

• The death of a human being caused by another's negligent or intentional conduct.
• The survival of family members who are suffering the loss of financial support, love, care, comfort, supervision, guidance, household assistance and general society previously provided by the deceased.

The general rule in wrongful death cases is that one is entitled to recover both economic and non-economic damages suffered as a result of the loss of a loved one. Economic damages in a wrongful death case include an award for the financial contributions which the decedent would have made to his or her spouse, children and/or parents had he or she survived. It also includes the recovery for funeral services in memory of the decedent, and for burial costs. Non-economic damages include loss of love, society, companionship, comfort, affection, society, solace or moral support.

Illinois Construction/ On-the-Job Accidents:
Construction labor makes up one of the three most dangerous occupations in the United States today; each year the industry produces thousands of debilitating injuries and wrongful deaths. Factors that contribute to construction accidents include; workers lifting loads with worn and weathered cables; working on elevated platforms without fall protection, or wearing defective safety harnesses and lanyards; working in trenches with improper benching; and using outdated tools and equipment. Farming and manufacturing accidents, as well as accidents in the oil and gas industry, can also cause serious injury and toxic exposure.

Construction site personal injury law is neither practiced nor understood by many personal injury attorneys. As a result, many personal injury construction claims are often subject to mediocre representation and minimal financial compensation due to improper legal counsel. Injured construction workers are urged to seek a personal injury attorney who is knowledgeable in a variety of construction techniques and has successfully litigated numerous construction site personal injury cases.

Toxic Exposure:
Due to the tremendous growth of corporate industry in the United States over the past fifty years, the number of dangerous, toxic substances in the environment has grown significantly. Some toxic substances are shown to cause substantial injury to people, such as: lead-based paint (linked to brain damage, especially in children); asbestos (lung cancer, restrictive lung disease); dry cleaning and other solvents (brain damage, major organ damage); pesticides such as dioxin and DDT (birth injuries); and toxic landfill waste (leukemia).


Illinois Slip and Fall/Premises Liability:
Slip and fall accidents can happen anywhere and can cause serious personal injury. Most slip and falls happen in commercial settings, such as grocery stores, drug stores, office buildings, construction sites, and gas stations and malls, but they also happen on private property. Premises Liability accidents can include toxic exposure, animal attacks, swimming pool accidents and amusement park ride accidents. In any event, there exist duties on the part of the property owners to maintain the property responsibly and avoid the existence of hazardous conditions.

Dangerous or defective conditions may be a large or small, temporary or permanent. Therefore, investigation of the claim is essential to a successful case. Temporary conditions such as water on the floor of a grocery store, or snow and ice on the stairs of a restaurant need to be investigated quickly.

Illinois Medical Malpractice:
Medical malpractice is the failure of a health care provider to follow the accepted standards of practice of his or her profession, in the community where the service is rendered. If a physician was careless, lacked proper skills, or disregarded standardized rules resulting in injury to a patient, a jury may find the health care provider liable for negligence. Hospitals can also be held liable for the negligence of their employees, including staff nurses and technicians.

Examples of Medical Malpractice include:

• Failing to diagnose a tumor while reading an x-ray
• Puncturing a nearby organ or tissue during surgery
• Failing to order necessary and appropriate medical tests
• Failing to diagnose a condition in time to treat it properly
• Failing to refer a case to a medical specialist
• Prescribing incorrect medication
• Brain Injury
• Birth Injury
• Cerebral Palsy
• Incorrect diagnosis that results in a failure to treat a medical condition
• Failing to properly administer anesthesia
• Emergency room negligence
• Dental Malpractice
• Cosmetic Surgery Malpractice

If you or someone you know in Belleville, Illinois, or within the surrounding areas of St. Clair County needs the assistance and skilled legal counsel of an experienced serious injury lawyer, contact the Law Offices of Jerold Goldenhersh today at 866-435-5811, or complete the contact form provided on this site to schedule your free consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions 

The following information includes frequently asked personal injury questions. The answers stated are general in nature and are not intended to apply to every situation. Each case is different and carries its own set of circumstances which must be taken into consideration by competent legal counsel. By contacting the Law Offices of Jerold Goldenhersh at 866-435-5811, you can receive a personal consultation regarding your specific legal claim.

What is Personal Injury?
Personal injury is any physical or mental injury to a person that results from another person's negligence or harmful act. Personal injury involves civil law cases, as opposed to criminal law cases, which involve a defendant and the State of Illinois. Personal injury can occur in a wide variety of ways. The following are some of the most common accidents resulting in personal injury:

• Auto Accidents
• Other Vehicle Accidents (Aviation, Bicycle, Boat, Motorcycle, Railroad, Truck)
• Burn Accidents
• Construction/On the Job Accidents
• Dangerous or Defective Products
• Dog/Animal Bites
• Medical Malpractice (Birth Injuries, Misdiagnosis, Surgical Negligence)
• Nursing home abuse and Neglect
• Slip and Fall Accidents/Premises Liability
• Spinal Cord Injury
• Toxic Exposure
• Traumatic Brain Injury

What financial compensation can I recover in a personal injury claim?
Personal injury accident victims are entitled to recover monetary damages for all losses and expenses sustained as the result of an accident. Depending upon the particular circumstances of your case, damages may include recovery for any of the following:

• Medical bills
• Lost income, including overtime wages
• Pain & suffering
• Physical disability
• Disfigurement
• Emotional trauma
• Mental disability
• Property damage

How Do I Prove Negligence?
The burden of proof in a tort case, as in most civil law cases, is lower than the proof required in criminal law cases. In a criminal case, the state must prove a person's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. But to win a personal injury lawsuit based on tort law, the plaintiff need only prove that a majority of the evidence shows that an injury was caused by the defendant's negligent actions. This standard of proof is called "the preponderance of the evidence." The different burdens of proof mean that a company might be acquitted of criminal charges stemming from its actions, but still be found liable in a civil lawsuit stemming from the same actions.

What is Premises Liability?
Premises liability generally refers to accidents that occur due to the negligent maintenance or unsafe conditions upon property owned by someone other than the injured victim. The State of Illinois requires landowners to maintain their property in a manner that does not cause injury to those that, for various reasons, visit the property. This law pertains to both business owners and homeowners. Crucial to a premises liability settlement is being able to show how long the defect or injury inflicting element was there, how visible it was, and how much notice the owner had of the dangerous condition before the accident.

What should I do if I've been injured in a slip & fall accident?
Most businesses and homeowners carry liability insurance to protect them in the event that someone is injured while on their property. The owner or possessor of a residence, land, or place of business has the duty to exercise reasonable care for the protection of those individuals who are invited to come upon the premises, whether for business or pleasure. In such cases, the owner, company, or person must inspect the premises to discover any dangerous conditions and warn the invitee of dangers upon said premises. Those injured by a negligent owner or possessor of a premise may recover damages for their injuries, including loss of income, medical expenses, pain and suffering, etc.

What is the Statute of Limitations?
Every state has certain time limits, called "statutes of limitations," that govern the period during which you must file a personal injury lawsuit. In some states, for example, you may have as little as one year to file a lawsuit from an automobile accident. When the statute of limitations expires on your case, you simply don't have a case anymore.

Statutes of limitations differ not only from state to state, but also in regard to the kinds of lawsuits involved. In some states the statute of limitations for medical malpractice, suits against governmental agencies, and wrongful death actions is shorter than that for other types of personal injury cases. In general, however, the statute of limitations for personal injury cases is from one to three years, and the time begins from the time of the accident.

How long will it take to settle my claim?
The time it takes to settle a personal injury case depends on the circumstances surrounding the case. The more complex, the case the longer it may take to settle. Many cases can take anywhere from three to 18 months to settle, depending on their complexity.

Professional Biography 

Attorney Jerold Goldenhersh provides aggressive representation through a practice dedicated to serving St. Clair County residents who have been injured as a result of someone else's negligence. Mr. Goldenhersh has extensive trial experience and personally handles each client's case.

Please call the Law Offices of Jerold Goldenhersh today at 866-435-5811,  or complete the contact form provided on this site to schedule your free initial consultation.

Firm Address:

Law Offices of Jerold Goldenhersh
9700 W Main St.
Belleville, IL 62223
Telephone: 866-435-5811

Inquiries accepted 24 hours a day
Evening and Weekend Appointments Available

Jerold Goldenhersh, Attorney

Practice Areas:

• Personal Injury
• Auto and Truck Accidents
• Wrongful Death
• Construction Injuries
• Workers' Compensation
• Premises Liability

Courts Admitted:

• Illinois, 1974
• Missouri, 1975

Law School:

• Washington University School of Law, J.D., 1974

College:

• Washington University, B.A., 1971
• Tulane University 1966-67
  • Graduation delayed by U.S. Army active duty for Illinois National Guard

Professional Affiliations:

• Illinois State Bar Association
• St. Clair Bar Association

Foreign Languages:

• Spanish
• French