Automobile Injury Attorney Farmington, MO
Farmington, MO Personal Injury Lawyers
Call 866-382-4167 for a Free Consultation | Farmington, MO Automobile Injury Attorney
Automobile injury attorney in Farmington, MO. Injuries in auto wrecks happen suddenly, and the mental, physical and financial burdens they carry happen suddenly as well. If a negligent driver in Farmington, MO injured you, you require an automobile injury attorney who will fight to bring you justice and a fair financial recovery. At Halvorsen Klote, we stand by 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, they will not be able to keep you from the best possible compensation you are owed. We serve the vulnerable in Farmington, 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 Farmington, MO now at 866-382-4167 or contact us online for a complimentary case review.
We've gotten great financial recoveries for our Farmington, MO clients in a variety of auto accident claims, including:
Farmington, MO Automobile Injury Attorney: Frequently Asked Questions
Most injury victims have never had to make an injury claim before, and understandably have doubts and uncertainties as to what to expect. Some of the most commonly asked questions we get are:
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 form of economic damages, such as urgent care bills or lost wages, and there has to be another party who is at least partially at fault for the accident. If you you were sore for a few days after the accident, but you were never medically evaluated, 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 make that decision alone. Halvorsen Klote's Farmington, MO automobile injury attorneys offer free consultations for people who were injured and aren't sure of the validity of their claim.
Do I Need to Get a Lawyer for an Automobile Injury?
There are some cases where a lawyer won't be able to add much value to your claim. If there's no dispute about who the at-fault driver was and your medical bills are minimal — for instance, one emergency room visit — send copies of your records and bills to the insurance company, and see if you can get some extra money 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 require ongoing medical treatment and result in lost wages, 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 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 deserve. Insurance adjusters have a lot of experience minimizing payouts; personal injury lawyers know how to have just as much experience holding them accountable.
Other complications, such as if the negligent driver refuses to admit fault, or if your injuries occurred in a multi-vehicle accident, also make an automobile injury attorney necessary.
How Much Are My Automobile Injury Worth in Farmington, MO?
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 Farmington, MO automobile injury attorney, you can be reimbursed for:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages from time spent off work
- Lost earning capacity if you can no longer work
- Other related expenses, such as hiring a nanny or take care to look after your kids
- Noneconomic damages like pain and suffering, or loss of consortium if your spousal relationship is negatively impacted by your injuries
How much money you get for your automobile injuries 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 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. Using this method, your Farmington, 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 your lawyer assigned $200 a day to your injuries:
Say you suffered a moderate neck injury, leading to $15,000 in medical expenses and lost wages, and which led to neck pain for four months, and further disrupted you because it forced you to wear a neck brace for a few days. The pain and suffering might be given a multiplier of three. So:
$15,000 in medical bills and lost wages × 3 for the noneconomic damages multiplier = $45,000 in total compensation
$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 noneconomic damages for your unique case.
Will I Still Get Reimbursement 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, insurance companies and medical providers have a right 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 skilled Farmington, 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 severe injuries that your damages will exceed the policy limits. 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 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 Farmington, MO?
In most cases, liability is squarely on the driver responsible for the crash. However, there are other people and entities that may have contributed to your accident:
- An auto manufacturer may may have produced a faulty vehicle component, and you can make a product liability claim
- If you were injured in a truck accident, the trucking company may have failed to maintain a truck, or may have required their driver to drive more hours than allowed
- A mechanic may have improperly repaired an automobile, which caused the wreck
- A licensed alcohol vendor if someone got drunk at their venue, drove afterwards and caused a crash
- A government entity responsible for keeping roads safe
- A construction company if the accident was caused by an unsafe construction site
What if I'm Being Blamed For My Accident?
An insurance adjuster may try to blame you for your accident in order to devalue your claim. Having detailed evidence, in addition to having an experienced automobile injury attorney fighting back against insurance companies, will demonstrate that you aren't liable.
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 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, your right to compensation is barred if it is determined that 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 Farmington, MO. While they may have to pay a moderate amount more for insurance, which is likely much 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?
You probably will not 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 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 last anywhere from six to eight weeks to several years before it results in fair compensation. Many insurance adjusters start cooperating immediately once they've received notice that the plaintiff hired a lawyer. 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 reach a conclusion within three to nine months. While we'd obviously like to resolve your claim without waiting a long period, it's always in your best interest to hold out for the best possible compensation you're entitled to. This is your only chance to receive compensation.
What if I Can't Afford an Automobile Injury Attorney?
Halvorsen Klote's Farmington, MO automobile injury attorney receive our fees through a contingency fee. That means we we get a portion of your final payout, and we only get paid at the conclusion of your claim. If we don't win, you don't pay, so there's no financial risk involved in hiring our services.
We see no reason that money should be an obstacle for people who need quality legal representation to make a full financial recovery.
If you have any other questions about personal injury claims, have a look at the frequently asked questions area of our website, have a look at our legal resources page or call us at 866-382-4167.
Other cases we handle in Farmington, 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
Consult With an Automobile Injury Attorney in Farmington, 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 can leave you with a profound sense of uncertainty. But you don't have to go through the claims process alone. We negotiate with insurance companies every day and know how to get our Farmington, 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 Farmington, MO family can spend your energy on healing. Call a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Farmington, MO today at 866-382-4167 or reach out to us through our website 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.
