Automobile Injury Attorney Barnhart, MO
Barnhart, MO Personal Injury Lawyers
Call 866-382-4167 for a Free Consultation | Barnhart, MO Automobile Injury Attorney
Automobile injury attorney in Barnhart, MO. The consequences of an auto accident injury are immediate and severe. If a thoughtless driver in Barnhart, MO injured you, you need an automobile injury attorney who will get you the full compensation you need to truly recover. At Halvorsen Klote, we fight for those injured by the negligence of another when the whole world seems to have turned against them. Insurance adjusters can seem heartless, but with the help of a knowledgeable attorney, they will not be able to prevent you from collecting the full financial recovery you are rightfully entitled to. We serve the vulnerable in Barnhart, MO, the Greater St. Louis area and Southern Illinois. You don't pay unless we win. Call a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Barnhart, MO now at 866-382-4167 or reach out to us through our website for a free case review.
We have experience with many different automobile injury claims, including:
Barnhart, 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 a financial recovery for their damages. Below are some of the questions we get most frequently:
How Do I Know if I Have a Case?
In order to have a realistic chance of winning, your injury needs to lead to some amount of financial loss, such as urgent care bills or time spent off work recovering, and accident had to be caused or contributed to by somebody else. If you suffered some bumps and bruises, but you never sought medical treatment, it would be difficult for you to make a personal injury claim. If the accident was largely your fault, you may not have a case either.
Fortunately, you don't have to rely on guesswork to understand if you have a case. Halvorsen Klote's Barnhart, MO 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 Get a Lawyer for an Automobile Injury?
Usually, yes, but not all the time. If the other party accepts responsibility and your medical expenses aren't very high — say, one urgent care appointment — 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, it's unlikely an automobile injury attorney will be able to get you significantly more money.
But, with more significant injuries that result in several physical therapy or chiropractic appointments 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 refuses to pay the full extent of your damages, or is saying your injuries were pre-existing, then you absolutely need a lawyer. 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 your injuries occurred in a multi-vehicle accident, also make an automobile injury attorney necessary.
What Compensation Can I Recover For My Barnhart, MO Automobile Injuries?
The damages you recover after an automobile injury are meant to provide you with an equitable financial recovery for all the ways an injury affected your life. With a skilled Barnhart, MO automobile injury attorney, you'll be compensated for:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages from time spent recovering
- Lost earning potential if your injuries result in permanent disability
- 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 money you get for your automobile injuries depends largely on how your injuries have affected your life.
How Much Will I Get for Pain and Suffering?
The dollar amount a plaintiff receives for noneconomic damages is determined through one of two methods:
- The Multiplier Method — With this method, we multiply the total of your medical bills, lost wages and out-of-pocket expenses by a number between 1.5 and 5, using higher numbers for more debilitating injuries.
- The Per Diem Method — "Per Diem" translates from Latin to "per day." Implementing this approach, your Barnhart, MO automobile injury attorney determines how much money a day of suffering is worth, and multiplies that by the number of days you suffered. So, if we stick with the same example, say $200 a day is a fair approximation of how your injuries affected you:
For example, you suffered a moderate neck injury, leading to $15,000 in economic damages, and which led to neck pain for four months, and inconvenienced you because you had to wear a neck brace for a few days. The pain and suffering might be given a multiplier of three. So:
$15,000 in medical bills and lost wages × 3 for the noneconomic damages multiplier = $45,000 in final compensation
$200 × 121 days (four months) = $24,200 in pain and suffering damages (in addition to your economic damages)
Your attorney will use the method that applies best to your individual case.
Will I Still Get Reimbursement if My Medical Insurance Covers 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, insurance companies and medical providers have a right place a medical lien on your compensation. That allows them to collect the money that paid for your injuries from your compensation.
There are various legal remedies to reduce medical liens. A knowledgeable Barnhart, MO automobile injury attorney will know best how 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 almost 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 severe injuries that your damages will exceed the policy limits. That doesn't mean we can't get more compensation than the limits. First, your Barnhart, MO automobile injury attorney can make an underinsured motorist claim with your own insurance company, asking them to make up the difference. Secondly, your attorney can find out if there are other liable parties.
What Other Parties Could Be Held Accountable for My Auto Accident Injuries in Barnhart, 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 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 repair a truck, or may have forced their driver to drive more hours than allowed
- A mechanic may have improperly repaired an automobile, which had a hand in the accident
- A bar or restaurant if someone got drunk at their venue, drove afterwards and caused your injuries
- A government body responsible for keeping roads safe
- A construction company if a construction site was not properly cordoned off
What if I'm Being Blamed For My Accident?
An insurance adjuster may try to convince you that you were the at-fault driver in order to avoid paying you. Having strong evidence, as well as an automobile injury attorney experienced in fighting back against that tactic, 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 Illinois Law allow for what's called "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 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 their insurance premiums might go up a little, which is likely far less than your medical bills and lost wages. An automobile injury attorney can help make the process less personal.
Will I Have to Go to Court?
You probably will not be required to go attend hearings or a trial for a car accident claim. The Bureau of Justice Statistics reports that 96 percent of tort claims are settled before trial.
Depositions and mediations are common formal procedures in personal injury claims, but your automobile injury attorney will make sure you're adequately prepared and will handle most of the work.
How Long Will I Have to Wait Until I'm Compensated?
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 results in fair compensation. Many insurance adjusters start cooperating immediately 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 time put in.
Most cases are settled from anywhere between a few months to a year. While while we understand that you'd like to receive your money as quickly as possible, it's always in your best interest to wait to agree to a settlement until it's the best possible compensation you deserve. You only have chance to receive compensation.
What if I Can't Afford an Automobile Injury Attorney?
Halvorsen Klote's Barnhart, 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 win, you don't pay, 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.
If you have any other questions about the claims process, have a look at our other FAQs, go to our legal resources page or call us at 866-382-4167.
Other injury claims we take on in Barnhart, 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 Barnhart, MO Today
We founded our practice on the idea that everyone should have access to 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 Barnhart, MO clients the best possible results. We pride ourselves on our client communication, and handle the entire legal process so you and your Barnhart, MO family can focus on healing. Speak to a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Barnhart, MO today at 866-382-4167 or reach out to us online 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.
