Automobile Injury Attorney Centralia, MO

Centralia, MO Personal Injury Lawyers

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Call 866-382-4167 for a Free Consultation | Centralia, MO Automobile Injury Attorney

Automobile injury attorney in Centralia, MO. Injuries in auto wrecks happen in a flash, and the emotional, physical and economic hardships they carry are quick to materialize as well. If a negligent driver in Centralia, MO injured you, you require an automobile injury attorney who will get you the full compensation you need to be made whole again. At Halvorsen Klote, we have dedicated our practice to fighting 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, you will get the justice and financial recovery you deserve. We serve the injured in Centralia, MO, the Greater St. Louis area and Southern Illinois. You don't pay until you get the compensation you deserve. Speak to a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Centralia, MO today at 866-382-4167 or contact us through our website for a complimentary case review.

We have experience with a number of automobile injury claims, including:

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Centralia, MO Automobile Injury Attorney: Frequently Asked Questions

For most of our clients, this is their first foray into the injury claims process. They understandably have doubts and uncertainties as to what to expect. Below is a list of FAQs to help you better understand the process:

Do I Even Have Autombile Injury Case?

For a claim to be valid, you have to have sustained an injury that led to some amount of economic damages, such as an appointment with your doctor 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 were never medically evaluated, 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.

Fortunately, you don't have to rely on guesswork to understand if you have a case. Halvorsen Klote's Centralia, MO automobile injury attorneys offer free consultations for people who were injured and aren't sure if they're eligible for compensation.

Is it Worth it to Hire a Lawyer for an Automobile Injury?

Usually, yes, but not all the time. If the other party accepts liability and your medical bills are minimal — for example, one appointment with your doctor — include detailed records in your letter to the insurance adjuster, and see if you can get a little more on top for inconvenience. 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 cause you to lose time off work, the insurance company is not going to willingly pay for all those damages. If the insurance company is not willing to compensate you fairly, or is saying your injuries weren't caused by the accident, 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, also make an automobile injury attorney required.

How Much Will I Receive For My Centralia, MO Automobile Injuries?

The damages you recover after an automobile injury are intended to reimburse you for the economic, physical and emotional toll your injuries cause. With an experienced Centralia, MO automobile injury attorney, you can be reimbursed for:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages from time spent off work
• Lost earning potential if you can no longer work
• Other related expenses, such as hiring household services for chores you can't do while you're injured
• Noneconomic damages like pain and suffering, or loss of consortium if your injuries prevent you from helping and giving affection to your spouse

How much money you get in your car accident settlement depends largely on the severity of your injuries.

How Are Pain and Suffering Calculated?

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 debilitating injuries.

For example, you suffered 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 short period. Your noneconomic damages might be assigned a multiplier of three. So:

$15,000 in medical bills and lost wages × 3 for the noneconomic damages multiplier = a $45,000 financial recovery

• The Per Diem Method — "Per Diem" translates from Latin to "per day." Using this approach, your Centralia, 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 $200 a day is a fair approximation of your pain and suffering:

$200 × 121 days (four months) = $24,200 in pain and suffering damages (on top of your economic damages)

Your attorney will know the best way to determine your pain and suffering damages for your unique case.

Will I Still Get Compensation if My Medical Insurance Pays For My Medical Bills?

Yes. All of your medical expenses will be included in your settlement or judgment, even if your insurance paid for it. However, your medical insurance company will place a medical lien on your compensation. 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 Centralia, MO automobile injury attorney will know best how to reduce those liens and put as much money as possible in your pocket.

What If the Insurance Coverage is Limited?

Missouri and Illinois have almost 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 negligent driver may have more coverage, 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 Centralia, MO automobile injury attorney can file an underinsured motorist claim under your own policy, asking them to make up the difference. Secondly, your attorney can find out if there are other liable parties.

Who Else Could Be Liable for My Auto Accident Injuries in Centralia, MO?

In most cases, liability is squarely on the driver that caused the crash. However, depending on the specifics of your case, other parties may be liable:

• An auto company may have negligently designed, manufactured, or tested a vehicle component, leading to a product liability claim
• In a truck crash, the trucking company may have failed to maintain 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 accident
• A licensed alcohol vendor if someone got drunk at their venue, drove afterwards and caused your injuries
• A government authority responsible for keeping roads safe
• A construction company if a construction site was not properly secured

What if The Insurance Company is Saying the Accident is My Fault?

Shifting blame is a common tactic insurance companies use to devalue your claim. Having sound evidence, in addition to having an automobile injury attorney experienced in fighting back against that tactic, will help prove you're not to blame.

If, as in some cases, you really were partially at fault for the accident, you are not completely barred from compensation. Both Missouri Revised Statute §537.765 and Illinois Law allow for what's called "comparative fault." 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 to blame.

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 negligent driver's insurance company, even if it's someone you know. While they may have to pay a moderate amount more for insurance, which is likely far 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?

It's very unlikely that you'll 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 more than nine out of 10 tort claims are settled before trial.

You'll likely have to take a deposition and may have to attend a mediation, but your automobile injury attorney will prep you for those and handle most of the work.

How Long Will I Have to Wait Until I'm Compensated?

Each case is different, and the more complicated a case, usually the longer it takes. A personal injury claim can take anywhere from a month to three or four years before it reaches its conclusion. Many insurance adjusters immediately agree to a settlement demand letter once they know that there's an attorney on the case. In other cases, a fair settlement is only offered right before trial begins, or the liability and insurance coverage elements are so complex that they require considerable investigation and time put in.

Most cases reach a conclusion within three to nine months. While while we understand that you'd like to receive your compensation as quickly as possible, it's always in your best interest to wait to agree to a settlement until it's the maximum compensation you're entitled to. You only have chance to receive compensation.

What if I Can't Afford an Automobile Injury Attorney?

Halvorsen Klote's Centralia, MO automobile injury attorney work on a contingency fee basis. That means we we get a portion of your final payout, and you don't owe us anything upfront. 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 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 personal injury claims, check out the frequently asked questions area of our website, go to our legal resources page or call us at 866-382-4167.

Other cases we handle in Centralia, 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

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Consult With an Automobile Injury Attorney in Centralia, MO Today

We do what we do because we believe that everyone should have access to the same high quality legal representation as the insurance companies that are trying to keep them from the financial recovery they are owed. An injury is shocking and can leave you with a profound sense of uncertainty. 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 Centralia, 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 Centralia, MO family can focus on healing. Call a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Centralia, MO today at 866-382-4167 or reach out to us through our website for a complimentary consultation.

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