Automobile Injury Attorney Ashland, MO

Ashland, MO Personal Injury Lawyers

Call (314) 451-1314 for a Free Consultation | Arnold, MO Automobile Injury Attorney

Automobile injury attorney in Ashland, MO. The effects of an auto accident injury are immediate and severe. If you were injured in a Ashland, MO auto accident, you need an automobile injury attorney who will defend your rights. At Halvorsen Klote Davis, we stand by injury victims when they need help the most. Insurance adjusters may try to cheat, but with a knowledgeable attorney by your side, they will not be able to prevent you from collecting the full compensation you are owed. We provide the highest quality of legal representation to the vulnerable in Ashland, MO, the Greater St. Louis area and Southern Illinois. You owe us no fees until you get the compensation you deserve. Call a Halvorsen Klote Davis automobile injury attorney in Ashland, MO today at 866-382-4167 or contact us through our website for a complimentary case review.
We’ve gotten full compensation for our Ashland, MO clients in a variety of auto accident claims, including:

Ashland, MO Automobile Injury Attorney: Frequently Asked Questions

Most of our clients have never had to make an injury claim before, and understandably have doubts and uncertainties as to what the experience will be like. Some of the most commonly asked questions we get are:

Do I Even Have Auto Accident Claim?

In order to have a realistic chance of being compensated, you have to have sustained an injury that led to some form of economic damages, for instance an appointment with your general practitioner or time spent off work recovering, and accident had to be caused or contributed to by another party. 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 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 Davis’s Ashland, MO automobile injury attorneys offer free case evaluations for people who were injured and aren’t sure if they have a case.

Is it Worth it to Get a Lawyer for an Automobile Injury?

There are some injuries where you probably don’t need a lawyer. If there’s no dispute about who to blame for the accident and you didn’t need much medical treatment — for instance, one urgent care appointment — include copies of your records and bills in your settlement letter, and see if you can get some extra money for the nuisance. With milder injuries where fault is clearly established, it’s unlikely an automobile injury attorney will be able to get you significantly more money.

But, 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 those damages. If the insurance company isn’t coming close to giving you a fair offer, or is saying your injuries were pre-existing, then a lawyer is likely the only way you’ll get what you are entitled to. Insurance adjusters have a lot of experience minimizing payouts; personal injury lawyers know how to fight back against them.

There are things besides significant injuries that require an attorney, such as if there is a dispute over liability, or if you were in a multi-vehicle accident, also make an automobile injury attorney necessary.

How Much Will I Receive For My Ashland, MO Automobile Injuries?

The damages you are eligible for after a car accident are intended to provide you with an equitable financial recovery for all the ways an injury affected your life. With an experienced Ashland, 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 a nanny or take care to look after your kids
Noneconomic damages like pain and suffering, or loss of consortium if your spousal relationship is affected by your injuries

How much compensation you receive for your automobile injuries depends largely on the severity of your injuries.

Injured in Ashland, MO? Call Us.

The dollar amount a plaintiff receives for pain and suffering damages is determined through one of two methods:

The Multiplier Method — With this method, your economic damages will be multiplied by a number, typically between 1.5 and 5, using higher numbers for more significant injuries.

For example, you suffered a whiplash injury, leading to $15,000 in medical expenses and lost wages, and which led to neck pain for four months, and inconvenienced you because you had to wear a neck brace for a short period. 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 = a $45,000 financial recovery

The Per Diem Method — “Per Diem” means “per day” in Latin. Using this method, your Ashland, MO automobile injury attorney assigns a dollar amount to a single day of suffering, and multiplies that by the number of days you suffered. So, with the above example, say your lawyer assigned $200 a day to your injuries:

$200 × 121 days (four months) = $24,200 in noneconomic damages (on top of your economic damages)

Your attorney will know the best way to calculate your noneconomic damages for your unique case.

Will I Still Get Compensation if My Medical Insurance Covers My Medical Bills?

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 healthcare providers have a right place a medical lien on your compensation. That allows them to be compensated by the liable party’s insurance, just as you are being compensated.

There are various legal remedies to reduce medical liens. A knowledgeable Arnold, MO automobile injury attorney will know best how to reduce those liens and make sure as little is taken out of your compensation as possible.

What If the Insurance Coverage is Limited?

Missouri and Illinois have very similar laws regarding minimum auto coverage:

$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. If that happens, we have a couple options. 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.

What Other Parties Could Be Held Accountable for My Auto Accident Injuries in Arnold, 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 company may may have produced a defective car component, and you can make a product liability claim
In a truck accident, the trucking company may have failed to repair a truck, or may have required their driver to drive more hours than regulations allow
A mechanic may have negligently worked on the car, which caused the wreck
A bar or restaurant if someone got drunk at their venue, drove afterwards and caused your injuries
A government 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 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. Having detailed evidence, in addition to having an experienced automobile injury attorney fighting back against insurance companies, will demonstrate that you aren’t liable.

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 principle of “comparative fault.” Meaning, each party pays for the percentage of fault they bear for the accident. In Illinois, you cannot make any recovery if you were more than half to blame.

What if I Was Injured as a Passenger?

If you were injured in a car that somebody else was driving, you would still file a claim against the at-fault driver, even if it was the person driving your car. While your friend’s or family member’s insurance premiums might go up a little, which is likely much less than your medical bills and lost wages. An automobile injury attorney will communicate with other side so you don’t have to feel awkward.

Will My Claim Go to Trial?

It’s very unlikely that you’ll have to go to court for a car accident claim. 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 do most of the work themselves.

How Long Will My Claim Take?

That depends on your case and, usually, how complex it is. A personal injury claim can last 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’ve received notice that you hired a lawyer. In other cases, a fair settlement is only offered right before trial begins, or there are complexities to the case that require substantial investigation and expert testimony.

Most cases reach a conclusion within three to nine months. While while we understand that you’d like to receive your money soon, it’s always in your best interest to hold out for the best possible financial recovery you’re entitled to. Once you agree to a settlement, you can never go back and ask for more money later.

What if I Can’t Afford an Automobile Injury Attorney?

Halvorsen Klote Davis’s Arnold, MO automobile injury attorney are paid through a contingency fee. That means we we get a portion of your final payout, and there are no upfront costs. 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 just want to be fairly compensated for their injuries.

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 call us at (314) 451-1314 .

Other cases we take on in Arnold, MO include:

Speak to an Automobile Injury Attorney in Arnold, MO Today

We founded our practice on the idea that everyone should have access to 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 Arnold, MO clients the full financial recovery they deserve. We pride ourselves on our client communication, and handle the entire legal process so you and your Arnold, MO family can focus on healing. Call a Halvorsen Klote Davis automobile injury attorney in Arnold, MO today at (314) 451-1314 or contact us online for a complimentary case review.