Automobile Injury Attorney Ballwin, MO
Ballwin, MO Personal Injury Lawyers
Call 866-382-4167 for a Free Consultation | Ballwin, MO Automobile Injury Attorney
Automobile injury attorney in Ballwin, MO. Injuries in auto accidents happen suddenly, and the mental, physical and economic burdens they create are quick to materialize as well. If a thoughtless driver in Ballwin, MO injured you, you need 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 stacked against them. Insurance adjusters may try to deceive you, but with the help of a knowledgeable attorney, they will not be able to keep you from the best possible financial recovery you deserve. We provide exceptional legal representation to the injured in Ballwin, MO, 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 Ballwin, MO today at 866-382-4167 or contact us online for a complimentary case review.
We've gotten great results for our Ballwin, MO clients in a variety of auto accident claims, including:
Ballwin, 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 how to proceed going about getting compensation for their injuries. Below is a list of FAQs to help you better understand the process:
Do I Even Have Auto Accident Claim?
For a claim to be valid, you have to have suffered an injury that led to some amount of financial loss, for instance emergency room bills or time spent off work recovering, and there has to be another party who is at least partially at fault for the accident. If you your back hurt for a few days after the accident, but you were never medically evaluated, you're unlikely to have a successful claim. If the accident was largely your fault, you cannot file a claim against someone else's insurance.
Never assume that you can't make a successful claim without speaking to an attorney first. Halvorsen Klote's Ballwin, MO automobile injury attorneys offer free consultations for people who were injured and aren't sure if they have a case.
Do I Need to Get 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 you didn't need much medical treatment — for instance, one urgent care appointment — send copies of your records and bills to the insurance adjuster, and ask for some extra money for the nuisance. With milder injuries where fault is not in dispute, an automobile injury attorney won't be able to add much value to your claim.
However, if your injuries are more severe, require ongoing medical treatment 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 is not willing to pay the full extent of your damages, or is trying to convince you that your injuries were pre-existing, then a lawyer is likely the only way you'll get what you deserve. Insurance adjusters have a lot of experience minimizing payouts; personal injury lawyers know how to get maximum compensation.
There are things besides significant injuries that require an attorney, such as if the negligent driver refuses to admit fault, or if you were in a multi-vehicle accident, almost always require the assistance of an automobile injury attorney.
How Much Are My Automobile Injury Worth in Ballwin, MO?
The damages you are eligible for after an automobile injury are meant to reimburse you for the economic, physical and emotional toll your injuries cause. With a talented Ballwin, MO automobile injury attorney, you'll be compensated for:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages from time spent recovering
- Lost earning potential if your injuries prevent you from making a living as you're used to
- Out-of-pocket 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?
There are two commonly accepted ways to calculate noneconomic damages:
- 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. With this method, your Ballwin, 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:
Say the negligent driver caused a moderate neck injury, leading to $15,000 in economic damages, and which led to 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 final compensation
$200 × 121 days (four months) = $24,200 in pain and suffering 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 Reimbursement if My Medical Insurance Pays For 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, 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 Ballwin, 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 settlement as possible.
What If My Damages Exceed the Policy Limits?
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, your Ballwin, MO automobile injury attorney can file an underinsured motorist claim under your own policy, that can provide compensation for the rest of your damages. Secondly, in their investigation your attorney might might determine that there are other liable parties who you can also make a claim against.
Who Else Could Be Liable for My Auto Accident Injuries in Ballwin, MO?
In most cases, the other driver is the only personal we can hold accountable for your injuries. However, there are other people and entities that may have contributed to your accident:
- An auto company may may have produced a defective vehicle component, and you can make a product liability claim
- If you were injured in a truck accident, there are a variety of regulations the trucking company may have violated
- A mechanic may have negligently worked on the car, which caused the wreck
- A licensed alcohol vendor if they served alcohol to a drunk driver that caused your crash
- A government body 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?
Shifting blame is a common trick insurance companies use to avoid paying you. Providing detailed evidence, as well as an automobile injury attorney experienced in fighting back against that tactic, will help prove you're not at-fault.
In some car accidents, both drivers really are each partially responsible for the accident. Both Missouri Revised Statute §537.765 and Illinois Law 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 in a car that somebody else was driving, you still seek compensation from the liable driver's insurance company, even if it was the person driving your car. While their insurance premiums might go up a little, that doesn't compare to the medical bills and lost wages 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 to court for a car accident claim. The Bureau of Justice Statistics issued a study in 2005 that found that more than nine out of 10 tort claims are settled before trial.
Depositions and mediations are common formal procedures in personal injury claims, but your automobile injury attorney will prep you for those and 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 last anywhere from six to eight weeks to three or four years before it reaches its conclusion. Many insurance adjusters start cooperating immediately once they've received notice that there's an attorney on the case. Other times, a fair settlement is only offered right before trial begins, or there are complexities to the case that require substantial investigation and time put in.
Most cases reach a conclusion within three to nine months. While we'd obviously like to resolve your claim soon, it's always in your best interest to hold out for the maximum financial recovery you're owed. This is your only chance to receive compensation.
What if I Can't Afford an Automobile Injury Attorney?
Halvorsen Klote's Ballwin, MO automobile injury attorney are paid through a contingency fee. That means we we get a portion of your final payout, 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 financial risk involved in hiring our services.
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 car accident claims, 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 Ballwin, 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 Ballwin, MO Today
We do what we do because we believe that everyone deserves the same high quality legal representation 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 stand up to insurance companies every day and know how to get our Ballwin, MO clients the best possible results. We pride ourselves on our client communication, and handle the entire legal process so you and your Ballwin, MO family can focus on healing. Speak to a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Ballwin, MO today at 866-382-4167 or reach out to 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.
