Automobile Injury Attorney Camdenton, MO
Camdenton, MO Personal Injury Lawyers
Call 866-382-4167 for a Free Consultation | Camdenton, MO Automobile Injury Attorney
Automobile injury attorney in Camdenton, MO. Injuries in auto crashes happen in a flash, and the mental, physical and economic burdens they create are quick to materialize as well. If a thoughtless driver in Camdenton, MO injured you, you require an automobile injury attorney who will fight to get you justice. At Halvorsen Klote, we fight for injury victims when the whole world seems stacked against them. Insurance adjusters may try to deceive you, but with a skilled attorney by your side, they will not be able to keep you from the best possible compensation you are owed. We serve the injured in Camdenton, MO, the Greater St. Louis area and Southern Illinois. You owe us no fees unless we win. Call a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Camdenton, MO today at 866-382-4167 or reach out to us online for a free case evaluation.
We've gotten great results for our Camdenton, MO clients in a variety of auto accident claims, including:
Camdenton, MO Automobile Injury Attorney: Frequently Asked Questions
For most of our clients, this is their first experience with the injury claims process. They understandably have doubts and uncertainties as to what to expect. Below are some of the questions we get most frequently:
How Do I Know if I Have a Case?
In order to have a case, you have to have sustained an injury that led to some form of economic damages, 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, it's unrealistic to expect an insurance company to compensate you. If you were responsible for your injuries, you may not have a case either.
The good news is you don't have to rely on guesswork to understand if you have a case. Halvorsen Klote's Camdenton, MO automobile injury attorneys are more than happy to discuss your case for free.
Is it Worth it to Get a Lawyer for an Automobile Injury?
Usually, yes, but not all the time. If the other party accepts liability and you didn't need much medical treatment — say, one emergency room visit — include detailed records in your letter to the insurance adjuster, and ask for some extra money for inconvenience. In those types of situations, 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 going to do whatever they can to pay you as little as possible. If the insurance company refuses to compensate you fairly, or is trying to convince you that your injuries weren't caused by the accident, then a lawyer is likely the only way you'll get what you deserve. Insurance adjusters know how to devalue claims; personal injury lawyers know how to get maximum compensation.
Other complications, 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 required.
What Compensation Can I Recover For My Camdenton, 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 a skilled Camdenton, MO automobile injury attorney, you can be reimbursed for:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages from time spent off work
- Lost earning potential if you can no longer work
- Other related 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 negatively impacted by your injuries
How much money you get for your automobile injuries is mostly based on how your injuries have affected your life.
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, depending on how severe your injuries were. The more disruptive the injury, the higher the number.
- The Per Diem Method — "Per Diem" translates from Latin to "per day." Using this method, your Camdenton, 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 $200 a day is a fair approximation of how your injuries affected you:
For example, the negligent driver caused a moderate neck injury, leading to $15,000 in medical expenses and lost wages, 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 few days. Your noneconomic damages might be assigned a multiplier of three. So:
$15,000 in economic damages × 3 for the noneconomic damages multiplier = a $45,000 financial recovery
$200 × 121 days (four months) = $24,200 in noneconomic damages (in addition to your economic damages)
Your attorney will use the method that applies best to your unique case.
Will I Still Get Compensation 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 settlement. That allows them to be repaid by the liable party's insurance, just as you are being compensated.
The law allows a variety of avenues to reduce medical liens. A knowledgeable Camdenton, 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 financial recovery 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
While the negligent driver may have more coverage, there is still a chance with more significant injuries that your damages will exceed the policy limits. That doesn't mean we can't get more compensation than the limits. First, you can use your own policy's underinsured motorist coverage. 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 Camdenton, 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 faulty vehicle component, and you can make a product liability claim
- If you were injured 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 regulations allow
- A mechanic may have negligently worked on the car, causing a defect that had a hand in the wreck
- A licensed alcohol vendor if they served alcohol to a drunk driver that caused your crash
- A local, state or federal authority 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?
Shifting blame is a common tactic insurance adjusters use to devalue your claim. Providing detailed evidence, in addition to having an automobile injury attorney used to fighting back against that tactic, will demonstrate that you aren't liable.
If, as in some cases, you really were partially at fault for your injuries, you can still make a recovery. Both Missouri Revised Statute §537.765 and 735 ILCS 5/2-1116 allow for what's called "comparative negligence." Meaning, each party pays for the percentage of fault they bear for the accident. In Illinois, your right to compensation is barred 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's someone you know. 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 be required to go attend hearings or a trial for a car accident claim. The Bureau of Justice Statistics reports that only four percent of tort claims go to 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 take anywhere from six to eight weeks to several years before it results in fair compensation. Many insurance adjusters immediately agree to a settlement demand letter once they've received notice that the plaintiff hired a lawyer. Other times, 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 within three to nine months. While while we understand that you'd like to receive your financial recovery soon, it's always the best idea to hold out for the maximum compensation you're owed. You only have chance to receive compensation.
Is It Expensive to Hire an Automobile Injury Attorney?
Halvorsen Klote's Camdenton, MO automobile injury attorney work on a contingency fee basis. That means we take a percentage of your final compensation as our attorneys' fees, and you don't owe us anything upfront. If we don't win, you don't owe us anything, so there's no reason to see money as a barrier to hiring one of our lawyers.
We see no reason 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 automobile injury claims, check out 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 Camdenton, 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 Camdenton, MO Today
We do what we do because we believe that an injury victim should have access to 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 we will be by your side every step of the way. We fight back against insurance companies every day and know how to get our Camdenton, MO clients the best possible results. We always have open lines of communication with our clients, and handle the entire legal process so you and your Camdenton, MO family can spend your energy on healing. Speak to a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Camdenton, MO now 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.
