Automobile Injury Attorney Clayton, MO

Clayton, MO Personal Injury Lawyers

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

Automobile injury attorney in Clayton, MO. Injuries in auto accidents happen in an instant, and the emotional, physical and financial burdens they carry happen suddenly as well. If a careless driver in Clayton, 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 they need it the most. Insurance adjusters may try to cheat, but with a skilled attorney in your corner, they will not be able to prevent you from collecting the full compensation you are owed. We serve the vulnerable in Clayton, MO, the Greater St. Louis area and Southern Illinois. You owe us no fees until you get the compensation you deserve. Speak to a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Clayton, MO now at 866-382-4167 or contact us through our website for a complimentary consultation.

We've gotten great financial recoveries for our Clayton, MO clients in a variety of auto accident claims, including:

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Clayton, MO Automobile Injury Attorney: Frequently Asked Questions

For most of our clients, this is the first time they've had to be a part of the injury claims process. They understandably have a lot of questions as to the process and how to proceed going about getting compensation for their injuries. Below is a list of FAQs to help you better understand the process:

How Do I Know if I Have a Valid Claim?

For a claim to be valid, you have to have sustained an injury that led to some form of financial loss, for instance an appointment with your doctor or lost wages, and accident had to be caused or contributed to by somebody else. 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 may not have a case either.

Never assume that you can't make a successful claim without speaking to an attorney first. Halvorsen Klote's Clayton, MO automobile injury attorneys offer free consultations for people who were injured and aren't sure if they're eligible for compensation.

Do I Need 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 — for instance, one emergency room visit — include detailed records in your settlement letter, and ask for a little more on top for the nuisance. In those types of situations, it's unlikely an automobile injury attorney will be able to get you significantly more money.

However, with more significant injuries that result in months of physical therapy or chiropractic appointments and don't allow you to work for a period, 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 saying your injuries were pre-existing, then you absolutely need a lawyer. 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 be held accountable, or if you were in a multi-vehicle accident, also make an automobile injury attorney necessary.

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

The damages you are eligible for after a car accident are intended to reimburse you for the economic, physical and emotional consequences of your injuries. With a talented Clayton, MO automobile injury attorney, you'll be compensated for:

• Medical bills
• Lost wages from time spent off work
• Lost earning potential if your injuries result in permanent disability
• Miscellaneous expenses, such as hiring transportation to and from medical appointments
• 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 is mostly based on the severity of your injuries.

How Much Will I Get for Noneconomic Damages?

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.

For example, you suffered a moderate neck injury, leading to $15,000 in medical expenses and lost wages, and which led to physical discomfort for four months, and further disrupted you because it forced you to wear a neck brace for a week. 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

• The Per Diem Method — "Per Diem" translates from Latin to "per day." With this method, your Clayton, 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, with the above example, say $200 a day is a fair approximation of how your injuries affected you:

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

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 your insurance paid for it. 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. A talented Clayton, 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 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 no guarantee that there's enough to compensate you for all of your damages. That doesn't mean we can't get more compensation than the limits. First, your Clayton, MO automobile injury attorney can file an underinsured motorist claim under your own policy, 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.

What Other Parties Could Be Held Accountable for My Auto Accident Injuries in Clayton, MO?

In most cases, liability is squarely on the driver that caused the crash. However, there are other people and entities that may have contributed to your accident:

• An car manufacturer may may have produced a defective vehicle component, and you can make a product liability claim
• If you were injured 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 accident
• A bar or restaurant if they served alcohol to a drunk driver that caused your crash
• A local, state or federal entity responsible for designing and maintaining the safety of roads
• 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 devalue your claim. Having strong evidence, in addition to having an experienced automobile injury attorney fighting back against insurance companies, will help prove you're not at-fault.

If it's true that you were partially to blame for your injuries, you can still make a recovery. Both Missouri Law and 735 ILCS 5/2-1116 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 in a car that somebody else was driving, you still seek compensation from the negligent driver's insurance company, even if it was the person driving your car. While their insurance premiums might go up a little, 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?

You probably will not be required to go to court 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 automobile injury claims, but your automobile injury attorney will prep you for those and do most of the work themselves.

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 take anywhere from a month to several years before it's resolved. Many insurance adjusters start cooperating immediately once they've learned that there's an attorney on the case. 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 reach a conclusion within three to nine months. While while we understand that you'd like to receive your compensation earlier than not, it's always in your best interest to wait to agree to a settlement until it's the maximum financial recovery you deserve. You only have chance to receive compensation.

Is It Expensive to Hire an Automobile Injury Attorney?

Halvorsen Klote's Clayton, 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 win, you don't owe us anything, so there's no reason to see money as an obstacle in hiring one of our lawyers.

We see no reason that money should be a barrier for people who just want to be fairly compensated for their injuries.

To learn more about automobile injury claims, check out the frequently asked questions area of our website, have a look at our legal resources page or contact us online.

Other cases we handle in Clayton, 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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Hire an Automobile Injury Attorney in Clayton, MO Today

We founded our practice on the idea 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 financial recovery they are owed. Injuries are always unexpected and create fear and confusion. But we will be by your side every step of the way. We stand up to insurance companies every day and know how to get our Clayton, MO clients the full financial recovery they deserve. We pride ourselves on our client communication, and handle the entire legal process so you and your Clayton, MO family can focus on healing. Speak to a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Clayton, MO now at 866-382-4167 or reach out to us through our website for a complimentary case evaluation.

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