Practice Areas
At Schierer & Ritchie, LLC, we provide top-notch legal representation for clients in Peoria and the surrounding areas facing criminal charges or personal injuries due to another party’s negligence. Our seasoned attorneys, with decades of combined experience, adeptly handle various criminal and personal injury cases, from straightforward matters to intricate litigation.
We prioritize working collaboratively with our clients to understand their objectives and strive to achieve the best possible outcomes based on the case’s facts. Our commitment to openness and accessibility includes offering free initial consultations, allowing you to understand your legal rights and options.
Personal Injury
Personal injury cases revolve around negligence, where one party’s failure to exercise reasonable care results in injury or loss to another person. To establish negligence, a Peoria personal injury attorney must prove four key elements: duty, breach, causation, and damages.
- Damages: Finally, the plaintiff must demonstrate the damages incurred due to the defendant’s negligence, including medical expenses, property damage, lost wages, pain and suffering, and loss of consortium.
- Duty of Care: This involves determining if the defendant owed the plaintiff a duty of care, such as a driver’s responsibility to operate a vehicle safely.
- Breach of Duty: The next step is to ascertain if the defendant breached this duty by acting (or failing to act) in a way that a “reasonably prudent person” would under similar circumstances.
- Causation: The plaintiff must prove that the defendant’s negligence caused their injury. For instance, if a defendant was texting while driving, but the injury was due to a tire blowout, the injury might be attributed to the defective tire instead.
At Schierer & Ritchie, LLC, our experienced Peoria personal injury attorneys handle a range of personal injury claims, including:
Nursing Home Negligence or Abuse
Read More
Medical Malpractice
Read More
Dangerous or Defective Products
Read More
Trucking Crashes
Read More
Auto Accidents
Read More
After gathering the necessary case facts, we formulate a legal claim to present to the insurance company. If a settlement cannot be reached through negotiation, we pursue compensation through alternative dispute resolution and litigation. Our partners’ experience with the Illinois Supreme Court equips them with the litigation skills to secure favorable results.
Criminal Defense
Facing criminal charges in Illinois can be a daunting experience. The criminal justice system is complex, with rules often designed to entrap you. The Peoria criminal defense attorneys at Schierer & Ritchie, LLC, are here to help. We offer free initial consultations to explain your legal rights and aggressively defend you, aiming for charge reductions, dismissals, favorable plea deals, or not-guilty verdicts at trial.
Our team, with decades of combined experience, is adept at handling various criminal cases, including military criminal defense. Attorney Charles Schierer, a former Navy JAG prosecutor, brings firsthand knowledge of the military criminal process to benefit clients charged with crimes while serving in the armed forces.
We serve clients in Peoria and the surrounding areas facing Illinois criminal charges, including:
Aggravated Assault
Read More
Drug Crimes
Read More
DUI
Read More
Federal Crimes
Read More
Misdemeanors
Read More
Murder
Read More
Sex Crimes
Read More
Theft Crimes
Read More
Weapon Crimes
Read More
Whenever possible, we seek sentencing alternatives to help clients rebuild their lives post-encounter with the criminal justice system. Throughout the process, we remain dedicated to protecting your rights and freedom.