Automobile Injury Attorney Crestwood, MO
Crestwood, MO Personal Injury Lawyers
Call 866-382-4167 for a Free Consultation | Crestwood, MO Automobile Injury Attorney
Automobile injury attorney in Crestwood, MO. The effects of an auto accident injury are immediate and severe. If you were injured in a Crestwood, MO auto accident, you require an automobile injury attorney who will defend your rights. At Halvorsen Klote, we stand by those injured by the negligence of another when the whole world seems to have turned against them. Insurance adjusters can seem heartless, but with the help of an experienced attorney, you will get the justice and financial recovery you are owed. We provide outstanding legal advocacy to the vulnerable in Crestwood, MO, the Greater St. Louis area and Southern Illinois. You owe us no fees unless we win. Call a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Crestwood, MO now at 866-382-4167 or contact us through our website for a complimentary case evaluation.
We've gotten great financial recoveries for our Crestwood, MO clients in a variety of auto accident claims, including:
Crestwood, MO Automobile Injury Attorney: Frequently Asked Questions
Most injury victims have never had to make an injury claim before, and understandably have doubts and uncertainties as to what the experience will be like. Below is a list of FAQs to help you better understand the process:
How Do I Know if I Have a Case?
For a claim to be valid, you have to have sustained an injury that led to some form of economic damages, such as urgent care bills or lost wages, and there has to be another party who is at least partially at fault for the accident. If you you were sore for a few days after the accident, but you never sought medical treatment, it would be difficult for you to make a personal injury claim. If you were the negligence party, your own insurance company can pay for your damages, but your premiums will go up.
Never assume that you can't make a successful claim without speaking to an attorney first. Halvorsen Klote's Crestwood, MO automobile injury attorneys offer free consultations for people who were injured and aren't sure if they have a case.
Is it Worth it to Hire a Lawyer for an Automobile Injury?
There are some injuries where a lawyer won't be able to add much value to your claim. If there's no dispute about who the at-fault driver was and your medical bills are minimal — say, one emergency room visit — send copies of your records and bills to the insurance company, and ask for a little more on top for the nuisance. In those types of situations, an automobile injury attorney won't be able to add much value to your claim.
However, if your injuries are more severe, result in months of physical therapy or chiropractic appointments and result in lost wages, the insurance company is going to do whatever they can to pay you as little as possible. If the insurance company refuses to pay the full extent of your damages, or is trying to convince you that your injuries weren't caused by the accident, then you absolutely need a lawyer. Insurance adjusters have a lot of experience minimizing payouts; personal injury lawyers know how to have just as much experience holding them accountable.
There are things besides significant injuries that require an attorney, such as if the negligent driver refuses to be held accountable, or if you were in a multi-vehicle accident, also make an automobile injury attorney necessary.
How Much Will I Receive For My Crestwood, MO Automobile Injuries?
The damages you are eligible for after an automobile injury are meant to reimburse you for the financial, physical and emotional consequences of your injuries. With an experienced Crestwood, MO automobile injury attorney, you can be reimbursed for:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages from time spent off work
- Lost earning capacity if you can no longer work
- Other related expenses, such as hiring household services for chores you can't do while you're injured
- Noneconomic damages like pain and suffering, or loss of consortium if your injuries prevent you from helping and giving affection to your spouse
How much money you get in your car accident settlement is mostly based on how your injuries have impacted your life.
How Much Will I Get for Pain and Suffering?
The dollar amount a plaintiff receives for pain and suffering damages is determined through one of two methods:
- The Multiplier Method — With this approach, we multiply the total of your medical bills, lost wages and out-of-pocket expenses by a number between 1.5 and 5, depending on how severe your injuries were. The more disruptive the injury, the higher the number.
- The Per Diem Method — "Per Diem" means "per day" in Latin. Implementing this approach, your Crestwood, MO automobile injury attorney determines how much money a day of suffering is worth, and multiplies that by the number of days your injuries affected you. So, with the above example, say your lawyer assigned $200 a day to your injuries:
For example, you suffered a whiplash injury, leading to $15,000 in medical expenses and lost wages, and which caused you to have physical discomfort for four months, and further disrupted you because it forced you to wear a neck brace for a few days. The pain and suffering might be given a multiplier of three. So:
$15,000 in medical bills and lost wages × 3 for a pain and suffering multiplier = $45,000 in total compensation
$200 × 121 days (four months) = $24,200 in noneconomic damages (in addition to your medical bills and lost wages)
Your attorney will use the method that applies best to your individual case.
Will I Still Get Compensation if My Medical Insurance Covers My Medical Expenses?
Yes. All of your medical expenses will be included in your settlement or judgment, even if they were partially or fully covered by insurance. However, insurance companies and medical providers have a right place a medical lien on your settlement. That allows them to collect the money that paid for your injuries from your compensation.
The law allows a variety of avenues to reduce medical liens. An experience Crestwood, MO automobile injury attorney will know best how to reduce those liens and make sure as little is taken out of your financial recovery as possible.
What If My Damages Exceed the Policy Limits?
Missouri and Illinois have almost identical minimum auto insurance requirements:
- $25,000 minimum coverage for bodily injury per person
- $50,000 minimum coverage for bodily injury per accident
- $25,000 (Missouri)/$20,000 (Illinois) minimum coverage for property damage
The other driver could have those, or other policy limits, but there is still a chance with more severe injuries that your damages will exceed the policy limits. That doesn't mean we can't get more compensation than the limits. First, you can use your own policy's underinsured motorist coverage. Secondly, in their investigation your attorney might uncover other liable parties who you can also make a claim against.
Who Else Could Be Liable for My Auto Accident Injuries in Crestwood, MO?
In most cases, the other driver is the only personal responsible for your injuries. However, there are other people and entities that may have contributed to your accident:
- An auto company may have negligently designed, manufactured, or tested a vehicle component, leading to a product liability claim
- If you were injured in a truck crash, the trucking company may have failed to repair a truck, or may have forced their driver to drive more hours than allowed
- A mechanic may have improperly repaired an automobile, causing a defect that had a hand in the accident
- A bar or restaurant if someone got drunk at their venue, drove afterwards and caused your injuries
- A local, state or federal entity responsible for designing and maintaining the safety of roads
- A construction company if the accident was caused by an unsafe construction site
What if I'm Being Blamed For My Accident?
An insurance adjuster may try to blame you for your accident in order to avoid paying you. Providing detailed evidence, in addition to having an automobile injury attorney experienced in fighting back against insurance companies, will demonstrate that you aren't liable.
In some car accidents, both drivers really are each partially to blame. Both Missouri Revised Statute §537.765 and 735 ILCS 5/2-1116 followed the legal doctrine of "comparative negligence." Meaning, if you were 30 percent at fault for the accident, you can recover 70 percent of your damages from the other party. In Illinois, your right to compensation is barred if it is determined that you were more than half liable.
What if I Was Injured as a Passenger?
If you were injured in a car that somebody else was driving, you still seek compensation from the negligent driver's insurance company, even if that person is a friend or family member in Crestwood, MO. While they may have to pay a moderate amount more for insurance, that doesn't compare to the economic and noneconomic damages you've incurred as a result. An automobile injury attorney can help make the process less personal.
Will My Claim Go to Trial?
It's very unlikely that you'll have to go attend hearings or a trial for your automobile injuries. The Bureau of Justice Statistics reports that only four percent of tort claims go to trial.
Depositions and mediations are common formal procedures in automobile injury claims, but your automobile injury attorney will make sure you're adequately prepared and will handle most of the work.
How Long Will I Have to Wait Until I'm Compensated?
Each injury is different, and the more complicated a case, usually the longer it takes. A personal injury claim can take anywhere from a month to several years before it reaches its conclusion. Many insurance adjusters start cooperating immediately once they've received notice that you hired a lawyer. Other times, a fair settlement is only offered right before trial begins, or there are complexities to the case that require considerable investigation and time put in.
Most cases are settled from anywhere between a few months to a year. While while we understand that you'd like to receive your compensation without waiting a long period, it's always in your best interest to hold out for the best possible compensation you're owed. This is your only chance to receive compensation.
Is It Expensive to Hire an Automobile Injury Attorney?
Halvorsen Klote's Crestwood, MO automobile injury attorney are paid through a contingency fee. That means we take a percentage of your final compensation as our attorneys' fees, and we only get paid at the conclusion of your claim. If we don't secure any compensation for you, you don't owe us anything, so there's no reason to see money as a barrier to hiring one of our lawyers.
We see no reason that money should be a barrier for people who need quality legal representation to make a full financial recovery.
If you have any other questions about the claims process, check out the frequently asked questions area of our website, have a look at our legal resources page or contact us online.
Other cases we handle in Crestwood, MO include:
- Fatal Car Accident Lawyer
- Auto Accident Attorney
- Bike Wreck Lawyer
- What to Do After a Car Accident
- Premises Liability Attorneys
- Motorcycle Accidents Attorney
- Lawyer for Bicycle Accident
- Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
- Injury Claim Lawyer
Speak to an Automobile Injury Attorney in Crestwood, MO Today
We do what we do because we believe that everyone deserves the same standard of legal advocacy that large insurance companies have. Injuries are always unexpected and create fear and confusion. But we will be by your side every step of the way. We negotiate with insurance companies every day and know how to get our Crestwood, MO clients the full financial recovery they deserve. We always have open lines of communication with our clients, and handle the entire legal process so you and your Crestwood, MO family can spend your energy on healing. Call a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Crestwood, MO now at 866-382-4167 or contact us online for a free case review.
Joel Halvorsen
Attorney at Law
Joel Halvorsen and his partner Greg Klote founded the Halvorsen Klote law firm on the principle that injured people and their families should have access to the same quality legal representation as large insurance companies.
Greg Klote
Attorney at Law
Greg Klote is a partner and founder of Halvorsen Klote.
Greg has successfully fought for people who were injured through no fault of their own. He became a lawyer to help make a difference in the lives of those who have been wronged and treated unfairly.
