Automobile Injury Attorney Chamois, MO
Chamois, MO Personal Injury Lawyers
Call 866-382-4167 for a Free Consultation | Chamois, MO Automobile Injury Attorney
Automobile injury attorney in Chamois, MO. The consequences of an auto accident injury are immediate and severe. If you were injured in a Chamois, MO auto accident, 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 injury victims when they need it the most. Insurance adjusters may try to deceive you, but with a skilled attorney in your corner, you will get the justice and financial recovery you are lawfully entitled to. We provide the highest quality of legal advocacy to the injured in Chamois, MO, the Greater St. Louis area and Southern Illinois. You don't pay until we win your case. Call a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Chamois, MO now at 866-382-4167 or reach out to us online for a free consultation.
We have experience with many different automobile injury claims, including:
Chamois, 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 the experience will be like. Below is a list of FAQs to help you better understand the process:
How Do I Know if I Have a Case?
In order to have a case, your injury needs to create some form of financial loss, for instance an appointment with your doctor or lost wages, 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 would be difficult for you to make a personal injury claim. If the accident was largely your fault, you cannot file a claim against someone else's insurance.
The good news is you don't have to rely on guesswork to understand if you have a case. Halvorsen Klote's Chamois, MO automobile injury attorneys offer free case reviews for people who were injured and aren't sure of the validity of their claim.
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 to blame for the accident and you didn't need much medical treatment — for example, one appointment with your doctor — include copies of your records and bills in your settlement letter, and see if you can get a little more on top for the nuisance. With milder injuries where fault is clearly established, an automobile injury attorney won't be able to add much value to your claim.
But, if your injuries are more severe, require ongoing medical treatment and don't allow you to work for a period, the insurance company is going to do whatever they can to pay you as little as possible. If the insurance company isn't coming close to giving you a fair offer, or is trying to convince you that your injuries weren't caused by the accident, then you absolutely need a lawyer. Insurance adjusters know how to devalue claims; personal injury lawyers know how to fight back against them.
Other complications, such as if the other side denies liability, or if you were in a multi-vehicle accident, also make an automobile injury attorney required.
How Much Will I Receive For My Chamois, MO Automobile Injuries?
The damages you recover after a car accident are intended to reimburse you for the economic, physical and emotional toll your injuries cause. With a talented Chamois, MO automobile injury attorney, you'll be compensated for:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages from time spent recovering
- Lost earning capacity if you can no longer work
- Miscellaneous 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 for your automobile injuries depends largely on how your injuries have affected your life.
How Are Noneconomic Damages Calculated?
There are two commonly accepted ways to calculate noneconomic damages:
- 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" means "per day" in Latin. Using this method, your Chamois, MO automobile injury attorney assigns a dollar amount to a single day of suffering, and multiplies that by the number of days your injuries affected you. So, if we stick with the same example, say $200 a day is a fair approximation of your pain and suffering:
For example, the negligent driver caused a whiplash 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 short period. Your noneconomic damages might be assigned a multiplier of three. So:
$15,000 in economic damages × 3 for the noneconomic damages multiplier = $45,000 in total compensation
$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 specific case.
Will I Still Get Compensation if My Medical Insurance Pays For My Medical Expenses?
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 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. An experience Chamois, MO automobile injury attorney will know best how to reduce those liens and make sure as little is taken out of your financial recovery 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
While the at-fault 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, 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 Chamois, MO?
In most cases, liability is solely on the driver that caused the crash. However, depending on the specifics of your case, other parties may be liable:
- An car company may have negligently designed, manufactured, or tested a vehicle component, and you can make 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 crash
- A licensed alcohol vendor if they served alcohol to a drunk driver that caused your crash
- A local, state or federal entity 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 trick insurance adjusters use to avoid paying you. Having detailed evidence, in addition to having an experienced automobile injury attorney fighting back against that tactic, will help prove you're not to blame.
If, as in some cases, you really were partially responsible for your injuries, you are not completely barred from compensation. Both Missouri Law and Illinois Law 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 you were more than half at fault.
What if I Was Injured as a Passenger?
If you were injured in a car that somebody else was driving, you would still file a claim against the at-fault driver, even if that person is a friend or family member in Chamois, MO. While they may have to pay a moderate amount more for insurance, that doesn't compare to the medical bills and lost wages you've incurred as a result. 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 make sure you're adequately prepared and will do most of the work themselves.
How Long Will I Have to Wait Until I'm Compensated?
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 results in fair compensation. Many insurance adjusters immediately agree to a settlement demand letter once they know that the plaintiff hired a lawyer. 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 are settled from anywhere between a few months to a year. While we'd obviously like to resolve your claim earlier than not, it's always in your best interest to wait to agree to a settlement until it's the best possible financial recovery you're entitled to. Once you agree to a settlement, your right to get additional compensation is barred.
Is It Expensive to Hire an Automobile Injury Attorney?
Halvorsen Klote's Chamois, MO automobile injury attorney are paid through a contingency fee. That means we take a percentage of your final compensation as our attorneys' fees, 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 a barrier for people who need quality legal representation to make a full financial recovery.
To learn more about personal injury claims, check out the frequently asked questions area of our website, go to our legal resources page or request a free consultation.
Other injury claims we handle in Chamois, 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 Chamois, 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 financial recovery they are owed. Injuries are always unexpected 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 Chamois, MO clients the best possible results. We pride ourselves on our client communication, and handle the entire legal process so you and your Chamois, MO family can focus on healing. Speak to a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Chamois, MO now at 866-382-4167 or contact us through our website for a free consultation.
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.
