Automobile Injury Attorney Troy, IL
Troy, IL Personal Injury Lawyers
Call 866-382-4167 for a Free Consultation | Troy, IL Automobile Injury Attorney
Automobile injury attorney in Troy, IL. Injuries in auto wrecks happen without warning, and the emotional, physical and economic burdens they create are quick to materialize as well. If you were injured in a Troy, IL auto accident, you require an automobile injury attorney who will fight to get you justice. At Halvorsen Klote, we have dedicated our practice to fighting for those injured by the negligence of another when they need help the most. Insurance adjusters can seem heartless, but with the help of a skilled attorney, they will not be able to keep you from the best possible financial recovery you deserve. We serve the vulnerable in Troy, IL, the Greater St. Louis area and Southern Illinois. You owe us no fees until you get the compensation you deserve. Speak to a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Troy, IL now at 866-382-4167 or reach out to us online for a free case review.
We have experience with a number of automobile injury claims, including:
Troy, IL 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 how to proceed going about getting compensation for their injuries. Below is a list of FAQs to help you better understand the process:
How Do I Know if I Have a Case?
In order to have a realistic chance of being compensated, your injury needs to create some amount of financial loss, such as an appointment with your doctor or time spent off work recovering, and accident had to be caused or contributed to by somebody else. If you your back hurt for a few days after the accident, but you never sought medical treatment, you're unlikely to have a successful claim. If you were responsible for your injuries, you may not have a case either.
The good news is you don't have to make that decision alone. Halvorsen Klote's Troy, IL automobile injury attorneys offer free case reviews 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?
Usually, yes, but not all the time. If there's no dispute about who the at-fault driver was and your medical bills are minimal — for example, one appointment with your doctor — include copies of your records and bills in your settlement letter, and ask for a little more on top for the hassle. In those types of situations, an automobile injury attorney probably isn't necessary.
However, if your injuries are more severe, require ongoing medical treatment and cause you to lose time off work, the insurance company is not going to willingly pay for all the ways the injury has affected your life. If the insurance company is not willing to pay the full extent of your damages, or is saying 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 Troy, IL Automobile Injuries?
The damages you are eligible for after an automobile injury are intended to reimburse you for the financial, physical and emotional consequences of your injuries. With a skilled Troy, IL automobile injury attorney, you'll be compensated for:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages from time spent off work
- Lost earning capacity if your injuries prevent you from making a living as you're used to
- Miscellaneous 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 compensation you receive for your automobile injuries is mostly based on the severity of your injuries.
How Are Pain and Suffering Calculated?
The dollar amount a plaintiff receives for pain and suffering damages is determined through one of two methods:
- The Multiplier Method — With this approach, your economic damages will be multiplied by a number, typically between 1.5 and 5, using higher numbers for more debilitating injuries.
- The Per Diem Method — "Per Diem" means "per day" in Latin. Using this approach, your Troy, IL automobile injury attorney assigns a dollar amount to a single day of suffering, and multiplies that by the number of days you suffered. So, using the same whiplash injury example, say $200 a day is a fair approximation of your pain and suffering:
For example, you suffered a whiplash injury, leading to $15,000 in economic damages, 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 economic damages × 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 know the best way to calculate your pain and suffering damages for your unique case.
Will I Still Get Reimbursement if My Medical Insurance Pays For My Medical Expenses?
Yes. The settlement or judgment is based on all of your medical expenses, regardless of whether it was paid for by insurance or out of pocket. However, insurance companies and medical providers have a right place a medical lien on your settlement. That allows them to be repaid by the liable party's insurance, just as you are being compensated.
The law allows a variety of avenues to reduce medical liens. An experience Troy, IL automobile injury attorney will know best how to reduce those liens and put as much money as possible in your pocket.
What If the Insurance Coverage is Limited?
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
While the negligent driver may have a policy with higher limits, there is still no guarantee that there's enough to compensate you for all of your damages. That doesn't mean we can't get more compensation than the limits. First, your Troy, IL automobile injury attorney can make an underinsured motorist claim under your own policy, asking them to make up the difference. Secondly, in their investigation your attorney might might determine that there are other liable parties who you can also make a claim against.
What Other Parties Could Be Held Accountable for My Auto Accident Injuries in Troy, IL?
In most cases, the other driver is the only personal liable for your injuries. However, there are other people and entities that may have contributed to your accident:
- An auto manufacturer may have negligently designed, manufactured, or tested a car component, leading to a product liability claim
- In a truck accident, the trucking company may have failed to maintain a truck, or may have forced their driver to drive more hours than regulations allow
- A mechanic may have negligently worked on the car, which contributed to the wreck
- A licensed alcohol vendor if they served alcohol to a drunk driver that caused your crash
- A local, state or federal entity responsible for designing and maintaining the safety of roads
- A construction company if a construction site was not properly cordoned off
What if The Insurance Company is Saying the Accident is My Fault?
An insurance adjuster may try to convince you that you were the at-fault driver in order to avoid paying you. Providing strong evidence, in addition to having an automobile injury attorney used to fighting back against that tactic, will help prove you're not to blame.
In some car accidents, both drivers really are each partially at fault. Both Missouri Revised Statute §537.765 and 735 ILCS 5/2-1116 followed the legal doctrine of "comparative negligence." Meaning, each party pays for the percentage of fault they bear for the accident. In Illinois, you cannot make any recovery if it is determined that you were more than 50 percent liable.
What if I Was Injured as a Passenger?
If you were injured as a passenger, you would still file a claim against the at-fault driver, even if it was the person driving your car. While they may have to pay a moderate amount more for insurance, that doesn't compare to the medical bills and lost wages you've sustained as a result. An automobile injury attorney can help make the process less personal.
Will I Have to Go to Court?
It's very unlikely that you'll be required 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.
You'll likely have to take a deposition and may have to attend a mediation, but your automobile injury attorney will prep you for those and handle most of the work.
How Long Will My Claim Take?
Each injury is different, and the more complicated a case, usually the longer it takes. A personal injury claim can last anywhere from a month to three or four years before it's resolved. Many insurance adjusters immediately agree to a settlement demand letter once they know that there's an attorney on the case. In other cases, they'll wait until the eve of trial to finally agree to what is fair, or the liability and insurance coverage elements are so complex that they require considerable investigation and expert testimony.
Most cases are settled within three to nine months. While we'd obviously like to resolve your claim as quickly as possible, it's always in your best interest to wait to agree to a settlement until it's the full, fair financial recovery you deserve. You only have chance to receive compensation.
What if I Can't Afford an Automobile Injury Attorney?
Halvorsen Klote's Troy, IL automobile injury attorney receive our fees through a contingency fee. That means we take a percentage of your final compensation as our attorneys' fees, and you don't owe us anything upfront. If we don't secure any compensation for you, you don't pay, so there's no financial risk involved in hiring our services.
We see no reason that money should be a barrier for people who just want to be fairly compensated for their injuries.
If you have any other questions about car accident claims, have a look at the frequently asked questions area of our website, have a look at our legal resources page or call us at 866-382-4167.
Other injury claims we handle in Troy, IL 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
Consult With an Automobile Injury Attorney in Troy, IL Today
We do what we do because we believe that an injury victim should have access to the same standard of legal advocacy that large insurance companies have. An injury is shocking and can leave you with a profound sense of uncertainty. But you don't have to go through the claims process alone. We fight back against insurance companies every day and know how to get our Troy, IL clients the best possible results. We always have open lines of communication with our clients, and do everything we can to make the claims process easy and seamless for you and your Troy, IL family. Speak to a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Troy, IL today at 866-382-4167 or contact us through our website for a free case evaluation.
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.
