Automobile Injury Attorney Fayette, MO | Personal Injury Lawyers | Car Accident Lawyers | Halvorsen Klote

Fayette, MO

Automobile Injury Attorney Fayette, MO

Fayette, MO Personal Injury Lawyers


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

Automobile injury attorney in Fayette, MO. The effects of an auto accident injury are immediate and severe. If you were injured in a Fayette, MO auto accident, you need an automobile injury attorney who will get you the financial recovery you need to truly recover. At Halvorsen Klote, we stand by injury victims when the whole world seems stacked against them. Insurance adjusters may try to cheat, but with a skilled attorney by your side, they will not be able to keep you from the full financial recovery you deserve. We provide outstanding legal representation to the injured in Fayette, MO, the Greater St. Louis area and Southern Illinois. You don't pay until we win your case. Speak to a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Fayette, MO today at 866-382-4167 or reach out to us through our website for a complimentary case evaluation.

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


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Fayette, 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 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?

For a claim to be valid, your injury needs to create some form of financial loss, 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 suffered some bumps and bruises, but you never sought medical treatment, you're unlikely to have a successful claim. If the accident was largely your fault, you may not have a case either.

Never assume that you don't have a case without speaking to an attorney first. Halvorsen Klote's Fayette, MO automobile injury attorneys are more than happy to discuss the validity of your claim for free.

Do I Need to Hire a Lawyer for an Automobile Injury?

There are some injuries where you probably don't need a lawyer. If the other party accepts responsibility and your medical bills are minimal — for example, one emergency room visit — include copies of your records and bills in your settlement letter, and see if you can get a little more on top for inconvenience. In those types of situations, it's unlikely an automobile injury attorney will be able to get you significantly more money.

But, if your injuries are more severe, require ongoing medical treatment and result in lost wages, 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 weren't caused by the accident, then a lawyer is likely the only way you'll get what you are owed. Insurance adjusters know how to devalue claims; personal injury lawyers know how to have just as much experience holding them accountable.

Other complications, such as if the negligent driver refuses to be held accountable, or if your injuries occurred in a multi-vehicle accident, also make an automobile injury attorney required.

How Much Are My Automobile Injury Worth in Fayette, MO?

The damages you recover after an automobile injury are intended to reimburse you for the financial, physical and emotional consequences of your injuries. With a skilled Fayette, MO automobile injury attorney, you'll get a financial recovery 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
  • 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 compensation you receive for your automobile injuries is mostly based on how your injuries have affected your life.

How Are Pain and Suffering Calculated?

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 significant injuries.
  • Say the negligent driver caused a whiplash injury, leading to $15,000 in economic damages, and which led to 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 medical bills and lost wages × 3 for the noneconomic damages multiplier = a $45,000 financial recovery
  • The Per Diem Method — "Per Diem" translates from Latin to "per day." Implementing this approach, your Fayette, MO automobile injury attorney determines how much money a day of suffering is worth, 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:
  • $200 × 121 days (four months) = $24,200 in noneconomic damages (in addition to your medical bills and lost wages)

Your attorney will know the best way to determine your pain and suffering damages for your specific case.

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Will I Still Get Reimbursement if My Medical Insurance Pays For My Medical Expenses?

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, your medical insurance company will place a medical lien on your settlement. That allows them to be repaid by the liable party's insurance, just as you are being compensated.

The law allows a variety of avenues to reduce medical liens. A talented Fayette, MO automobile injury attorney will know best how to reduce those liens and make sure as little is taken out of your settlement as possible.

What If My Damages Exceed the Policy Limits?

Missouri and Illinois have almost identical 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

While the at-fault driver may have a policy with higher limits, there is still no guarantee that there's enough to compensate you for 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 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 Fayette, MO?

In most cases, the other driver is the only personal we can hold accountable 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 defective 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 regulations allow
  • A mechanic may have improperly repaired an automobile, which caused the wreck
  • A bar or restaurant if someone got drunk at their venue, drove afterwards and caused your injuries
  • A government authority responsible for designing and maintaining the safety of roads
  • A construction company if a construction site was not properly cordoned off

What if The Insurance Company is Saying the Accident is My Fault?

Shifting blame is a common tactic insurance companies use to avoid paying you. Providing strong evidence, in addition to having an automobile injury attorney experienced in fighting back against insurance companies, will help prove you're not at-fault.

If, as in some cases, you really were partially at fault for the accident, you can still make a recovery. Both Missouri Revised Statute §537.765 and Illinois Law followed the legal doctrine 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 it is determined that you were more than half to blame.

What if I Was Injured as a Passenger?

If you were injured as a passenger, you still seek compensation from the liable driver's insurance company, even if it's someone you know. While your friend's or family member's insurance premiums might go up a little, which is likely much less than your medical bills and lost wages. An automobile injury attorney can help make the process less personal.

Will I Have to Go to Court?

It's very unlikely that you'll 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.

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 handle most of the work.

How Long Will I Have to Wait Until I'm Compensated?

That depends on a lot of things, such as the severity of your injuries, how clear negligence is and even the insurance company or adjuster we're negotiating with. A personal injury claim can take anywhere from six to eight weeks to three or four years before it reaches its conclusion. Many insurance adjusters start cooperating immediately once they've learned that the plaintiff hired a lawyer. In other cases, they'll wait until the eve of trial to finally agree to what is fair, or the liability and insurance coverage elements are so complex that they require substantial investigation and time put in.

Most cases are settled within three to nine months. While we'd obviously like to resolve your claim without waiting a long period, it's always the best idea to wait to agree to a settlement until it's the best possible compensation you deserve. 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 Fayette, 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 secure any compensation for you, you don't pay, so there's no financial risk involved in hiring our services.

We don't believe that money should be an obstacle for people who just want to be fairly compensated for their injuries.

If you have any other questions about the claims process, have a look at the frequently asked questions area of our website, go to our legal resources page or contact us online.

Other cases we handle in Fayette, MO include:

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Speak to an Automobile Injury Attorney in Fayette, MO Today

We do what we do because we believe that everyone deserves the same standard of legal advocacy 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 fight back against insurance companies every day and know how to get our Fayette, MO clients the best possible results. We pride ourselves on our client communication, and handle the entire legal process so you and your Fayette, MO family can focus on healing. Speak to a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Fayette, MO today at 866-382-4167 or contact us through our website for a complimentary consultation.


Joel Halvorsen

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

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.