Automobile Injury Attorney Cottleville, MO
Cottleville, MO Personal Injury Lawyers
Call 866-382-4167 for a Free Consultation | Cottleville, MO Automobile Injury Attorney
Automobile injury attorney in Cottleville, MO. Injuries in auto wrecks happen without warning, and the emotional, physical and financial burdens they carry are quick to materialize as well. If you were injured in a Cottleville, MO auto accident, you need an automobile injury attorney who will fight to get you justice. At Halvorsen Klote, we fight for those injured by the negligence of another when the whole world seems stacked against them. Insurance adjusters may try to cheat, but with a knowledgeable attorney in your corner, they will not be able to keep you from the maximum financial recovery you deserve. We provide outstanding legal representation to the vulnerable in Cottleville, MO, the Greater St. Louis area and Southern Illinois. You don't pay unless we win. Speak to a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Cottleville, MO today at 866-382-4167 or contact us online for a complimentary consultation.
We've gotten full compensation for our Cottleville, MO clients in a variety of auto accident claims, including:
Cottleville, 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 a lot of questions as to the process and 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 realistic chance of winning, you have to have suffered an injury that led to some amount of financial loss, such as emergency room bills or lost wages, and accident had to be caused or contributed to by somebody else. 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 the accident was largely your fault, your own insurance company can pay for your damages, but your premiums will go up.
The good news is you don't have to rely on guesswork to understand if you have a case. Halvorsen Klote's Cottleville, MO automobile injury attorneys offer free case reviews for people who were injured and aren't sure if they have a case.
Is it Worth it to Get 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 you didn't need much medical treatment — for instance, one urgent care appointment — send copies of your records and bills to the insurance company, and see if you can get some extra money for inconvenience. With milder injuries where fault is not in dispute, an automobile injury attorney probably isn't necessary.
However, with more significant injuries that result in months of physical therapy or chiropractic appointments 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 give you a fair offer, or is saying your injuries weren't caused by the accident, 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 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 necessary.
What Compensation Can I Recover For My Cottleville, MO Automobile Injuries?
The damages you recover after an automobile injury are intended to compensate you for the economic, physical and emotional consequences of your injuries. With a knowledgeable Cottleville, MO automobile injury attorney, you can be reimbursed for:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages from time spent recovering
- Lost earning potential if your injuries prevent you from making a living as you're used to
- Out-of-pocket 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 compensation you receive in your car accident settlement 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 approach, we multiply the total of your medical bills, lost wages and out-of-pocket expenses by a number 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. With this method, your Cottleville, MO automobile injury attorney determines how much money a day of suffering is worth, 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 your pain and suffering:
Say the negligent driver caused a whiplash 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 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
$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 Reimbursement 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 they were partially or fully covered by insurance. 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. A talented Cottleville, 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 compensation 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
The other driver could have those, or other policy limits, but 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 Cottleville, MO?
In most cases, the other driver is the only personal responsible for your injuries. However, there are other people and entities that may have contributed to your accident:
- An car company may may have produced a faulty car component, leading to a product liability claim
- If you were injured in a truck crash, the trucking company may have failed to repair a truck, or may have required their driver to drive more hours than regulations allow
- A mechanic may have negligently worked on the car, which caused the wreck
- A licensed alcohol vendor if they served alcohol to a drunk driver that caused your crash
- A local, state or federal body responsible for designing and maintaining the safety of roads
- A construction company if the accident was caused by an unsafe construction site
What if The Insurance Company is Saying the Accident is My Fault?
Shifting blame is a common trick insurance companies use to avoid paying you. Having strong evidence, as well as an experienced automobile injury attorney fighting back against that tactic, will demonstrate that you aren't liable.
If, as in some cases, you really were partially responsible for the accident, you are not completely barred from compensation. Both Missouri Revised Statute §537.765 and 735 ILCS 5/2-1116 followed the legal principle of "comparative fault." Meaning, each party pays for the percentage of fault they bear for the accident. In Illinois, you cannot make any recovery if you were more than 50 percent 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 Cottleville, MO. While their insurance premiums might go up a little, that doesn't compare to the economic and noneconomic damages you've incurred as a result. An automobile injury attorney can help make the process less personal.
Will I Have to Go to Court?
You probably will not have to go attend hearings or a trial for your automobile injuries. The Bureau of Justice Statistics reports that less than five percent of tort claims go to trial.
Depositions and mediations are common formal procedures in personal injury claims, but your automobile injury attorney will make sure you're adequately prepared and will handle most of the work.
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 last anywhere from a month to several years before it reaches its conclusion. Many insurance adjusters immediately agree to a settlement demand letter once they've received notice that there's an attorney on the case. In other cases, a fair settlement is only offered right before trial begins, or there are complexities to the case that require considerable investigation and time put in.
Most cases are settled within three to nine months. While while we understand that you'd like to receive your money as quickly as possible, 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, you can never go back and ask for more money later.
What if I Can't Afford an Automobile Injury Attorney?
Halvorsen Klote's Cottleville, MO automobile injury attorney are paid through a contingency fee. 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 see no reason that money should be a barrier for people who need quality legal representation to make a full financial recovery.
To learn more about the claims process, check out the frequently asked questions area of our website, have a look at our legal resources page or request a free consultation.
Other injury claims we take on in Cottleville, 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 Cottleville, MO Today
We do what we do because we believe that everyone should have access to the same standard of legal advocacy that large insurance companies have. An injury is shocking 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 Cottleville, MO clients the best possible results. We pride ourselves on our client communication, and do everything we can to make the claims process easy and seamless for you and your Cottleville, MO family. Call a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Cottleville, MO today at 866-382-4167 or reach out to us online for a free 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.
