When a car crash or a careless property owner turns your life upside down, the lawyer you call next matters a lot. For people across the Belleville metro area, that call often goes to Hipskind & McAninch attorney John Hipskind, a personal injury and car accident lawyer who has spent more than a decade helping injured people get back on their feet.
Here’s a closer look at who he is, how he works, and why so many clients trust him with their cases.
A Belleville Native Who Knows His Community
John was born and raised in Belleville, Illinois. He graduated from Althoff Catholic High School in 1998, earned his degree from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in 2004, and finished law school at Oklahoma City University School of Law in 2008. Today he lives in Highland with his wife, Wendy, and their two daughters, Hayley and Hadley.
That local connection shows up in his work. His clients aren’t strangers from across the country. They’re neighbors, coworkers, and families from the same towns he grew up around.
Courtroom Experience From Day One
John started his legal career at the St. Clair County Public Defender’s office. There, he handled a wide range of misdemeanor, felony, and homicide cases. It was demanding work, and it gave him something many attorneys take years to earn: real time in front of juries.
Learning how to try a case at that level shaped the way he handles personal injury claims today. Insurance companies tend to take an attorney more seriously when they know that attorney is ready and willing to go all the way to trial.
Results That Speak for Themselves
Over the course of his career, John has recovered more than $10 million for his clients. A few cases really stand out.
In one head-on collision, it first looked like only $100,000 in insurance coverage was available. John kept digging and learned that the at-fault driver was making a delivery for a local newspaper at the time of the crash. That discovery opened up another $2 million in coverage, and the client walked away with a $2.1 million settlement.
In another case, a woman suffered neck and shoulder injuries when her chair collapsed at a local restaurant. John moved fast to preserve video footage of the incident, and that evidence played a major role in securing a $900,000 recovery.
He has also held negligent landlords accountable. One client fell through her front porch, and John uncovered testimony showing that maintenance crews had pulled materials from occupied trailers to make repairs. That case settled for $450,000. In another, a ceiling collapse left a tenant needing neck surgery. The landlord and the maintenance company both denied responsibility at first, but John’s work led to a $400,000 settlement with both parties accepting liability.
If you’d like to see more of his background and reviews, take a look at John Hipskind’s attorney profile on Avvo.
What Clients Have to Say
Numbers only tell part of the story. Clients often talk about how John treated them along the way, with personal attention and honest communication from start to finish.
“John took care of everything when we filed our personal injury claim. He kept us informed throughout the whole process, he was always available for questions and it was very clear from the start, that he was extremely knowledgeable… I would highly recommend him.” (Wendy M.)
“Mr. Hipskind is a very trusting attorney. He handled my case extremely well quickly and efficiently. He’s very educated on his cases and will handle them as such I would recommend him to any of whom it may concern in search of a great attorney.” (Adam L.)
Recognized by His Peers
John’s work has earned him a long list of honors. He has been named to The National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40 and Top 100 lists, selected to Illinois Rising Stars from 2015 to 2019, and selected to the Illinois Super Lawyers list from 2020 to 2022.
Expertise.com named him one of the Best Car Accident Lawyers in St. Louis in 2020 and one of the Top St. Louis Personal Injury Attorneys. He was also named a Top Ten Attorney in Personal Injury by the National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys, listed among the National Premier Top Ten Personal Injury Attorneys, and given a 2015 10 Best Client Satisfaction Award by the American Institute of Family Law Attorneys.
For a quick snapshot of his career details, you can learn more about John Hipskind here.
Active in the Legal Community
Outside the courtroom, John stays closely connected to his profession and his hometown. He is a member of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, the St. Clair County Bar Association, the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, and the Greater Belleville Chamber of Commerce. He also shares what he has learned about personal injury law and litigation strategy through published articles and speaking engagements.
A Trusted Advocate in Illinois and Missouri
John is licensed to practice law in both Illinois and Missouri. He puts a strong focus on ethical practice, client confidentiality, and fair representation, and he makes a point of being easy to reach when clients have questions.
If you or someone you love has been hurt in a car accident or another incident caused by someone else’s carelessness, John and his team are ready to talk.