Automobile Injury Attorney Affton, MO
Affton, MO Personal Injury Lawyers
Call 866-382-4167 for a Free Consultation | Affton, MO Automobile Injury Attorney
Automobile injury attorney in Affton, MO. The effects of an auto accident injury are immediate and severe. If you were injured in a Affton, MO auto accident, you require an automobile injury attorney who will get you the financial recovery you need to truly recover. At Halvorsen Klote, we fight for those injured by the negligence of another when the whole world seems stacked against them. Insurance adjusters can seem heartless, but with an experienced attorney by your side, they will not be able to prevent you from collecting the full compensation you are owed. We serve the injured in Affton, MO, the Greater St. Louis area and Southern Illinois. You don't pay until we win your case. Call a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Affton, MO now at 866-382-4167 or reach out to us online for a free case evaluation.
We have experience with a number of automobile injury claims, including:
Affton, MO Automobile Injury Attorney: Frequently Asked Questions
For most of our clients, this is the first time they've had to be a part of the injury claims process. They understandably have doubts and uncertainties as to what to expect. Below is a list of FAQs to give you a little bit clearer picture of what to expect:
How Do I Know if I Have a Valid Claim?
In order to have a case, you have to have suffered an injury that led to some form of financial loss, for instance an appointment with your GP 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 were never medically evaluated, it would be difficult for you to make a personal injury claim. If the accident was largely your fault, you cannot file a claim against someone else's insurance.
The good news is you don't have to make that decision alone. Halvorsen Klote's Affton, MO automobile injury attorneys offer free case reviews for people who were injured and aren't sure of the validity of their claim.
Do I Need to Hire a Lawyer for an Automobile Injury?
Usually, yes, but not all the time. If the other party accepts responsibility and you didn't need much medical treatment — for example, one emergency room visit — send copies of your records and bills to the insurance company, and see if you can get some extra money for the hassle. In those types of situations, an automobile injury attorney probably isn't necessary.
However, with more significant injuries that result in several physical therapy or chiropractic appointments and result in lost wages, the insurance company is not going to willingly pay for all the ways the injury has affected your life. If the insurance company refuses to give you a fair offer, or is saying your injuries weren't caused by the accident, then a lawyer is likely the only way you'll get what you are owed. Insurance adjusters have a lot of experience minimizing payouts; personal injury lawyers know how to get maximum compensation.
Other complications, such as if the other side denies liability, or if you were in a multi-vehicle accident, also make an automobile injury attorney necessary.
How Much Are My Automobile Injury Worth in Affton, MO?
The damages you recover after a car accident are meant to provide you with an equitable financial recovery for all the ways an injury affected your life. With an experienced Affton, MO automobile injury attorney, you'll be compensated for:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages from time spent off work
- Lost earning capacity if your injuries prevent you from making a living as you're used to
- 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 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 noneconomic 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, 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. Using this approach, your Affton, 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 $200 a day is a fair approximation of your pain and suffering:
For example, the negligent driver caused a whiplash injury, leading to $15,000 in economic damages, and which led to neck pain for four months, and further disrupted you because it forced you to wear a neck brace for a short period. Your noneconomic damages might be assigned a multiplier of three. So:
$15,000 in medical bills and lost wages × 3 for the noneconomic damages multiplier = a $45,000 financial recovery
$200 × 121 days (four months) = $24,200 in noneconomic damages (on top of your medical bills and lost wages)
Your attorney will use the method that applies best to your specific case.
Will I Still Get Reimbursement if My Medical Insurance Pays For My Medical Expenses?
Yes. All of your medical expenses will be included in your settlement or judgment, even if your insurance paid for it. However, your medical insurance company will place a medical lien on your claim. 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. A talented Affton, MO automobile injury attorney will be able to work with your insurance company and healthcare providers to reduce those liens and make sure as little is taken out of your compensation as possible.
What If My Damages Exceed the Policy Limits?
Missouri and Illinois have nearly the same 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 significant injuries that your damages will exceed the policy limits. If that happens, we have a couple options. First, your Affton, MO automobile injury attorney can make an underinsured motorist claim with your own insurance company, asking them to make up the difference. Secondly, in their investigation your attorney might uncover other liable parties who you can also make a claim against.
What Other Parties Could Be Held Accountable for My Auto Accident Injuries in Affton, MO?
In most cases, the other driver is the only personal we can hold accountable for your injuries. However, depending on the specifics of your case, other parties may be liable:
- An auto manufacturer may have negligently designed, manufactured, or tested a car component, and you can make 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 required their driver to drive more hours than allowed
- A mechanic may have negligently worked on the car, which contributed to the accident
- A licensed alcohol vendor if someone got drunk at their venue, drove afterwards and caused a crash
- A government body responsible for designing and maintaining the safety of roads
- A construction company if a construction site was not properly secured
What if The Insurance Company is Saying the Accident is My Fault?
An insurance adjuster may try to blame you for your accident in order to devalue your claim. Providing detailed evidence, in addition to having an experienced automobile injury attorney fighting back against insurance companies, will help prove you're not at-fault.
If, as in some cases, you really were partially to blame for your injuries, you can still make a recovery. Both Missouri Law and 735 ILCS 5/2-1116 followed the legal doctrine of "comparative fault." 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, you cannot make any recovery if it is determined that you were more than half at fault.
What if I Was Injured as a Passenger?
If you were injured as a passenger, you still seek compensation from the liable driver's insurance company, even if that person is a friend or family member in Affton, MO. While your friend's or family member's insurance premiums might go up a little, that doesn't compare to the economic and noneconomic damages you've sustained because of their negligence. An automobile injury attorney will communicate with other side so you don't have to feel awkward.
Will I Have to Go to Court?
You probably will not have to go attend hearings or a trial for your automobile injuries. The Bureau of Justice Statistics reports that less than five 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 make sure you're adequately prepared and will handle most of the work.
How Long Will My Claim Take?
That depends on your case and, usually, how complex it is. A personal injury claim can take anywhere from a month to three or four years before it reaches its conclusion. Many insurance adjusters immediately agree to a settlement demand letter once they know that there's an attorney on the case. Other times, 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 substantial investigation and time put in.
Most cases are settled within three to nine months. While we'd obviously like to resolve your claim without waiting a long period, it's always in your best interest to hold out for the best possible compensation you deserve. This is your only chance to receive compensation.
Is It Expensive to Hire an Automobile Injury Attorney?
Halvorsen Klote's Affton, MO automobile injury attorney work on a contingency fee basis. 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 owe us anything, so there's no reason to see money as a barrier to hiring one of our lawyers.
We don't believe that money should be an obstacle for people who need quality legal representation to make a full financial recovery.
To learn more about the claims process, have a look at our other FAQs, have a look at our legal resources page or call us at 866-382-4167.
Other injury claims we handle in Affton, 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
Consult With an Automobile Injury Attorney in Affton, MO Today
We do what we do because we believe that everyone should have access to the same high quality legal representation as the insurance companies that are trying to keep them from the financial recovery they are owed. Injuries are always unexpected 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 Affton, 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 Affton, MO family can focus on healing. Call a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Affton, MO today 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.