Automobile Injury Attorney Ashland, MO
Ashland, MO Personal Injury Lawyers
Call 866-382-4167 for a Free Consultation | Ashland, 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, 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 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'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.
How Much Will I Get for Noneconomic Damages?
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.
- 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:
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
$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 Pays For 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, 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 knowledgeable Ashland, MO automobile injury attorney will be able to work with your insurance company and healthcare providers to reduce those liens and put as much money as possible in your pocket.
What If My Damages Exceed the Policy Limits?
Missouri and Illinois have nearly 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 at-fault driver may have more coverage, there is still no guarantee that there's enough to cover all of your damages. If that happens, we have a couple options. First, your Ashland, MO automobile injury attorney can make an underinsured motorist claim with your own insurance company, that can provide compensation for the rest of your damages. Secondly, your attorney can find out if there are other liable parties.
Who Else Could Be Liable for My Auto Accident Injuries in Ashland, 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 car company may may have produced a faulty car component, and you can make a product liability claim
- If you were injured in a truck crash, there are a variety of regulations the trucking company may have violated
- A mechanic may have improperly repaired an automobile, which had a hand in the crash
- A bar or restaurant if they served alcohol to a drunk driver that caused your crash
- A local, state or federal body responsible for keeping roads safe
- 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 avoid paying you. Having strong evidence, as well as an experienced automobile injury attorney fighting back against insurance companies, will help prove you're not at-fault.
If it's true that you were partially at fault for your injuries, you are not completely barred from compensation. Both Missouri Law and Illinois Law followed the legal doctrine 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 50 percent at fault.
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's someone you know. While they may have to pay a moderate amount more for insurance, 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 I Have to Go to Court?
You probably will not be required to go attend hearings or a trial for your automobile injuries. The Bureau of Justice Statistics issued a study in 2005 that found 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 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 take anywhere from six to eight weeks to three or four years before it results in fair compensation. Many insurance adjusters start cooperating immediately once they've learned that the plaintiff hired a lawyer. Other times, a fair settlement is only offered right before trial begins, or the liability and insurance coverage elements are so complex that they require substantial investigation and expert testimony.
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 earlier than not, it's always the best idea to wait to agree to a settlement until it's the best possible financial recovery you deserve. Once you agree to a settlement, you can never go back and ask for more money later.
Is It Expensive to Hire an Automobile Injury Attorney?
Halvorsen Klote's Ashland, MO automobile injury attorney receive our fees 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 win, you don't owe us anything, so there's no reason to see money as an obstacle in hiring one of our lawyers.
We don't believe 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 automobile injury claims, have a look at the frequently asked questions area of our website, go to our legal resources page or request a free consultation.
Other cases we handle in Ashland, 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
Hire an Automobile Injury Attorney in Ashland, MO Today
We do what we do because we believe that everyone deserves the same standard of legal advocacy as the insurance companies that are trying to keep them from the compensation they are owed. An injury is shocking and create fear and confusion. But you don't have to go through the claims process alone. We negotiate with insurance companies every day and know how to get our Ashland, MO clients the best possible results. We pride ourselves on our client communication, and handle the entire legal process so you and your Ashland, MO family can spend your energy on healing. Call a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Ashland, MO today at 866-382-4167 or contact us through our website for a complimentary 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.
