Automobile Injury Attorney Creve Coeur, MO
Creve Coeur, MO Personal Injury Lawyers
Call 866-382-4167 for a Free Consultation | Creve Coeur, MO Automobile Injury Attorney
Automobile injury attorney in Creve Coeur, MO. The effects of an auto accident injury are immediate and severe. If a careless driver in Creve Coeur, MO injured you, you require an automobile injury attorney who will get you the financial recovery you need to truly recover. At Halvorsen Klote, we have dedicated our practice to fighting for injury victims when the whole world seems to have turned against them. Insurance adjusters may try to cheat, but with the help of an experienced attorney, you will get the justice and financial recovery you are owed. We serve the vulnerable in Creve Coeur, 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 Creve Coeur, MO today at 866-382-4167 or contact us online for a complimentary case review.
We have experience with many different automobile injury claims, including:
Creve Coeur, 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 doubts and uncertainties as to how to proceed going about getting compensation for their damages. Below is a list of FAQs to help you better understand the process:
Do I Even Have Auto Accident Case?
In order to have a realistic chance of being compensated, your injury needs to lead to some form of economic damages, such as an appointment with your GP 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 suffered some bumps and bruises, but your injuries didn't lead to financial loss, it's unrealistic to expect an insurance company to compensate you. If the accident was largely your fault, you may not have a case either.
The good news is you don't have to make that decision alone. Halvorsen Klote's Creve Coeur, MO automobile injury attorneys are more than happy to discuss the validity of your claim for free.
Is it Worth it to Get a Lawyer for an Automobile Injury?
There are some cases where you probably don't need a lawyer. If there's no dispute about who the at-fault driver was and your medical bills are minimal — for example, one urgent care appointment — include copies of your records and bills in your letter to the insurance adjuster, and ask for a little more on top for the hassle. In those types of situations, an automobile injury attorney probably isn't necessary.
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 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 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 are entitled to. Insurance adjusters have a lot of experience minimizing payouts; personal injury lawyers know how to have just as much experience holding them accountable.
There are things besides significant injuries that require an attorney, such as if there is a dispute over liability, or if you were in a multi-vehicle accident, almost always require the assistance of an automobile injury attorney.
What Compensation Can I Recover For My Creve Coeur, MO Automobile Injuries?
The damages you are eligible for after a car accident are meant to reimburse you for the financial, physical and emotional toll your injuries cause. With a knowledgeable Creve Coeur, MO automobile injury attorney, you can be reimbursed for:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages from time spent off work
- Lost earning capacity if your injuries result in permanent disability
- 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 spousal relationship is affected by your injuries
How much compensation you receive in your car accident settlement depends largely on the severity of your injuries.
How Much Will I Get for Pain and Suffering?
The dollar amount a plaintiff receives for noneconomic damages is determined through one of two methods:
- The Multiplier Method — With this approach, 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. With this approach, your Creve Coeur, 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 your lawyer assigned $200 a day to your injuries:
For example, the negligent driver caused a moderate neck injury, leading to $15,000 in economic damages, and which led to neck pain for four months, and inconvenienced you because you had 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 = $45,000 in final compensation
$200 × 121 days (four months) = $24,200 in pain and suffering damages (in addition to your medical bills and lost wages)
Your attorney will know the best way to calculate your pain and suffering damages for your unique case.
Will I Still Get Compensation if My Medical Insurance Covers 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, insurance companies and medical 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 skilled Creve Coeur, 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 the same 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
The other driver could have those, or other policy limits, but there is still no guarantee that there's enough to cover all of your damages. If that happens, we have a couple options. First, you can use your own policy's underinsured motorist coverage. Secondly, in their investigation your attorney might uncover other liable parties who you can also make a claim against.
Who Else Could Be Liable for My Auto Accident Injuries in Creve Coeur, MO?
In most cases, the other driver is the only personal liable for your injuries. However, there are other people and entities that may have contributed to your accident:
- An auto manufacturer may may have produced a defective 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, 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 body responsible for designing and maintaining the safety of roads
- A construction company if a construction site was not properly secured
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 sound evidence, in addition to having an automobile injury attorney used to fighting back against that tactic, will help prove you're not at-fault.
If, as in some cases, you really were partially to blame for your injuries, you can still make a recovery. Both Missouri Revised Statute §537.765 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, you cannot make any recovery if you were more than half liable.
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 Creve Coeur, MO. While your friend's or family member's insurance premiums might go up a little, 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 My Claim Go to Trial?
You probably will not be required to go attend hearings or a trial for a car accident claim. The Bureau of Justice Statistics reports that 96 percent of 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 My Claim Take?
That depends on your case and, usually, how complex it is. A personal injury claim can take anywhere from a month to three or four years before it's resolved. Many insurance adjusters start cooperating immediately once they know 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 expert testimony.
Most cases reach a conclusion from anywhere between a few months to a year. While we'd obviously like to resolve your claim soon, it's always in your best interest to hold out for the full, fair financial recovery you're owed. Once you agree to a settlement, your right to get additional compensation is barred.
What if I Can't Afford an Automobile Injury Attorney?
Halvorsen Klote's Creve Coeur, 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 we only get paid at the conclusion of your claim. 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 an obstacle for people who just want to be fairly compensated for their injuries.
To learn more about the claims process, check out our other FAQs, go to our legal resources page or call us at 866-382-4167.
Other cases we take on in Creve Coeur, 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 Creve Coeur, MO Today
We founded our practice on the idea that everyone should have access to the same high quality legal representation that large insurance companies have. 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 Creve Coeur, MO clients the full financial recovery they deserve. We always have open lines of communication with our clients, and handle the entire legal process so you and your Creve Coeur, MO family can focus on healing. Speak to a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Creve Coeur, MO today at 866-382-4167 or reach out to us online for a complimentary 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.
