Automobile Injury Attorney Bowling Green, MO
Bowling Green, MO Personal Injury Lawyers
Call 866-382-4167 for a Free Consultation | Bowling Green, MO Automobile Injury Attorney
Automobile injury attorney in Bowling Green, MO. Injuries in auto crashes happen suddenly, and the emotional, physical and economic hardships they create happen suddenly as well. If a thoughtless driver in Bowling Green, MO injured you, you require an automobile injury attorney who will fight to get you justice. At Halvorsen Klote, we have dedicated our practice to fighting for those injured by the negligence of another when they need it the most. Insurance adjusters may try to deceive you, but with the help of an experienced attorney, you will get the justice and financial recovery you deserve. We serve the injured in Bowling Green, MO, the Greater St. Louis area and Southern Illinois. You owe us no fees until we win your case. Call a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Bowling Green, MO now at 866-382-4167 or reach out to us through our website for a free consultation.
We have experience with a number of automobile injury claims, including:
Bowling Green, MO Automobile Injury Attorney: Frequently Asked Questions
Most people who call our office have never had to make an injury claim before, and 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 sustained an injury that led to some amount of financial loss, such as 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 suffered some bumps and bruises, but you never sought medical treatment, it's unrealistic to expect an insurance company to compensate you. If you were the negligence party, 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 Bowling Green, MO automobile injury attorneys are more than happy to discuss your case for free.
Is it Worth it to Hire 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 your medical bills are minimal — say, one urgent care appointment — include detailed records in your settlement letter, and see if you can get 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 require ongoing medical treatment 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 trying to convince you that your injuries were pre-existing, then a lawyer is likely the only way you'll get what you are entitled to. Insurance adjusters know how to devalue claims; 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, also make an automobile injury attorney necessary.
What Compensation Can I Recover For My Bowling Green, MO Automobile Injuries?
The damages you recover after an automobile injury are intended to compensate you for the financial, physical and emotional consequences of your injuries. With a talented Bowling Green, MO automobile injury attorney, you'll get a financial recovery for:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages from time spent off work
- Lost earning capacity if you can no longer work
- Miscellaneous expenses, such as hiring transportation to and from medical appointments
- Noneconomic damages like pain and suffering, or loss of consortium if your spousal relationship is affected by your injuries
How much compensation you receive in your car accident settlement is mostly based on the severity of your injuries.
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." Using this method, your Bowling Green, 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, using the same whiplash injury example, say your lawyer assigned $200 a day to your injuries:
Say you suffered a moderate neck injury, leading to $15,000 in economic damages, and which caused you to have neck pain for four months, and further disrupted you because it forced you to wear a neck brace for a week. The pain and suffering might be given a multiplier of three. So:
$15,000 in economic damages × 3 for a pain and suffering multiplier = a $45,000 financial recovery
$200 × 121 days (four months) = $24,200 in pain and suffering damages (on top of your economic damages)
Your attorney will use the method that applies best to your specific case.
Will I Still Get Compensation 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 healthcare providers have a right place a medical lien on your settlement. That allows them to collect the money that paid for your injuries from your compensation.
There are various legal remedies to reduce medical liens. An experience Bowling Green, MO automobile injury attorney will know best how 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 Bowling Green, 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, 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 Bowling Green, MO?
In most cases, liability is squarely on the driver responsible for the accident. However, there are other people and entities that may have contributed to your accident:
- An auto manufacturer may have negligently designed, manufactured, or tested a car component, leading to a product liability claim
- 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 contributed to the wreck
- A licensed alcohol vendor if someone got drunk at their venue, drove afterwards and caused your injuries
- A local, state or federal body responsible for designing and maintaining the safety of roads
- A construction company if a construction site was not properly secured
What if I'm Being Blamed For My Accident?
Shifting blame is a common trick insurance companies use to avoid paying you. Having sound evidence, in addition to having an automobile injury attorney used to fighting back against insurance companies, will help prove you're not to blame.
In some car accidents, both drivers really are each partially liable. Both Missouri Revised Statute §537.765 and Illinois Law followed the legal doctrine of "comparative negligence." 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 negligent driver's insurance company, even if it was the person driving your car. While your friend's or family member's insurance premiums might go up a little, that doesn't compare to the medical bills and lost wages you've sustained because of their negligence. An automobile injury attorney can help make the process less personal.
Will My Claim Go to Trial?
You probably will not be required to go attend hearings or a trial for a car accident claim. The Bureau of Justice Statistics issued a study in 2005 that found 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 make sure you're adequately prepared and will do most of the work themselves.
How Long Will My Claim Take?
Each injury is different, and the more complicated a case, usually the longer it takes. A personal injury claim can last anywhere from a month to several years before it's resolved. Many insurance adjusters immediately agree to a settlement demand letter once they've learned that you hired a lawyer. In other cases, they'll wait until the eve of trial to finally agree to what is fair, or there are complexities to the case that require substantial investigation and expert testimony.
Most cases reach a conclusion from anywhere between a few months to a year. While we'd obviously like to resolve your claim as quickly as possible, it's always the best idea to wait to agree to a settlement until it's the best possible compensation you're owed. 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 Bowling Green, MO automobile injury attorney work on a contingency fee basis. 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 financial risk involved in hiring our services.
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 the frequently asked questions area of our website, have a look at our legal resources page or request a free consultation.
Other cases we handle in Bowling Green, 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
Speak to an Automobile Injury Attorney in Bowling Green, MO Today
We founded our practice on the idea that an injury victim deserves the same standard of legal advocacy as the insurance companies that are trying to keep them from the financial recovery they are owed. Injuries are always unexpected and create fear and confusion. 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 Bowling Green, MO clients the best possible results. We pride ourselves on our client communication, and handle the entire legal process so you and your Bowling Green, MO family can spend your energy on healing. Speak to a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Bowling Green, MO now at 866-382-4167 or contact us through our website for a complimentary 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.