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No Fee Unless You Win
A serious accident can affect your health, income and ability to take care of the people who depend on you. While you focus on medical treatment and recovery, an insurance company may already be investigating the incident and looking for ways to reduce its responsibility.
Walton Telken Bragee represents injured individuals and families throughout Monroe County, including Waterloo, Columbia, Valmeyer, Hecker, Maeystown, Fults and surrounding rural communities.
Our attorneys handle car and truck accidents, workplace injuries, medical malpractice, premises liability, defective products, catastrophic injuries and wrongful death claims.
Monroe County is located in Southwestern Illinois along the Mississippi River. The county includes the larger communities of Waterloo and Columbia, along with smaller villages and rural areas. The official Monroe County website describes a county of just under 34,000 residents located southeast of St. Louis.
According to the Illinois Department of Transportation’s 2024 crash statistics, Monroe County recorded:
Although Monroe County has fewer total collisions than neighboring Madison and St. Clair counties, crashes on rural and high-speed roads can still cause devastating injuries.
Major routes through Monroe County include:
Interstate 255 and Illinois Route 3 connect Monroe County with St. Clair County, the St. Louis region and communities farther south. Other roads carry local traffic through Waterloo, Columbia and surrounding agricultural areas.
Drivers may encounter hills, curves, narrow shoulders, limited lighting, farm equipment, wildlife and changing weather conditions. These factors can make a crash more difficult to avoid and increase the severity of the impact.
The Illinois Department of Transportation maintains official county highway and traffic maps for motorists seeking information about Illinois roadways.
Rural accidents can present different challenges from crashes in urban areas. There may be few witnesses, no nearby businesses with surveillance cameras and longer emergency-response times.
Common rural-road hazards include:
A detailed investigation may require photographs of the roadway, vehicle data, tire marks, damage patterns, weather information and testimony from witnesses or reconstruction professionals.
Even a brief distraction can prevent a driver from recognizing a curve, stopped vehicle, intersection or approaching farm equipment.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration warns that activities such as texting, eating, adjusting navigation systems and interacting with passengers can divert attention from driving.
Driving too fast for the roadway or weather conditions can cause a motorist to lose control. Speeding is particularly dangerous on rural roads with curves, hills, narrow shoulders or limited visibility.
Head-on and sideswipe crashes can occur when a driver crosses the center line while distracted, impaired, fatigued or traveling too quickly around a curve.
Alcohol, drugs and fatigue can interfere with reaction time and decision-making. These effects may be especially dangerous at night or on roads without substantial lighting.
Tractor-trailers, delivery vehicles, construction trucks and agricultural vehicles travel through Monroe County. A crash may be caused by inadequate maintenance, driver error, overloaded cargo or unsafe company practices.
Commercial vehicle accidents require prompt investigation because trucking companies maintain evidence that may be important to the claim.
Relevant evidence can include:
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, large trucks have large blind spots, longer stopping distances and wider turning movements than passenger vehicles.
Serious collisions may cause:
Medical treatment may continue long after the initial emergency-room visit. An injured person may require surgery, physical therapy, occupational therapy, medication, home modifications or assistance with daily activities.
Depending on the facts, compensation may be available for:
Families who lose a loved one may also have the right to pursue compensation for losses resulting from a wrongful death.
After an accident:
Photographs can be particularly important following a rural crash because roadway, weather and lighting conditions may change quickly.
Illinois law generally requires personal injury actions to be filed within two years after the claim accrues under 735 ILCS 5/13-202. However, different deadlines may apply to certain defendants and types of claims.
Contacting an attorney promptly allows time to evaluate the deadline and preserve evidence.
When a lawsuit is filed in Monroe County, it may proceed through the Monroe County Courthouse in Waterloo. Monroe County is part of Illinois’ Twenty-Fourth Judicial Circuit.
Many claims are settled before trial. However, preparing the evidence from the beginning places the injured person in a stronger position during negotiations.
Walton Telken Bragee can handle communication with insurance companies while investigating your claim and documenting the full extent of your losses.
Our attorneys can:
WTB’s practice includes motor vehicle accidents, commercial truck crashes, workers’ compensation, medical malpractice, product liability and wrongful death. The firm provides free consultations and does not collect an attorney fee unless compensation is recovered.
You should not have to manage a serious injury claim alone. Walton Telken Bragee can review your accident, answer your questions and explain the options available to you.
Call 618-272-2284 or contact Walton Telken Bragee online for a free consultation.
No fee unless we win.
Best service, advice, and outcome our family could have asked for. Would highly recommend to anyone in need of representation in personal injury claims.
Easy location right in Edwardsville. Attorneys are all really good at what they do in getting what their clients deserve! They are patient and make sure you understand exactly what is happening through your entire process.
So far so good. I can say this Micah one of the lawyers there is really competent so far. The verdict still out but I like his knowledge of law and he is strategic. I will follow up with my review once this is over with.
Had a positive experice. I recommend them to all my friends and family.
They are very professional, experienced and made everything easy for us to understand through every step. The staff is always friendly and helpful as well. Would give more stars if I could.
I can’t praise Mr. Walton enough; he was caring and compassionate, along with being completely upfront with all information. If you or a loved one has been injured due to negligence, this firm is the one to go to; you won’t be sorry.
In his two decades of practice, Troy has successfully resolved several plaintiff’s personal injury cases resulting in significant recoveries to his clients. Troy’s compassionate client advocacy has also resulted in major successes against powerful entities such as the U.S. Army and the Illinois State Troopers.
Years of experience: Over 25 years
Bar Admissions: Illinois, 2001 and Missouri, 2000
Location: St. Louis, MO
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Attorney Troy E. Walton, who has more than 20 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney.
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured, please fill out the form below for your free consultation or call us at 618-272-2284
618-272-2284