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

Fulton, MO

Automobile Injury Attorney Fulton, MO

Fulton, MO Personal Injury Lawyers


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

Automobile injury attorney in Fulton, MO. Injuries in auto crashes happen in an instant, and the emotional, physical and financial burdens they carry happen suddenly as well. If a negligent driver in Fulton, MO injured you, you need an automobile injury attorney who will get you the full compensation you need to truly recover. At Halvorsen Klote, we have dedicated our practice to fighting for those injured by the negligence of another when they need help the most. Insurance adjusters may try to deceive you, but with a knowledgeable attorney in your corner, you will get the justice and financial recovery you are rightfully entitled to. We serve the vulnerable in Fulton, MO, the Greater St. Louis area and Southern Illinois. You don't pay until you get the compensation you deserve. Call a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Fulton, MO today at 866-382-4167 or reach out to us through our website for a complimentary case review.

We've gotten full compensation for our Fulton, MO clients in a variety of auto accident claims, including:


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Fulton, MO Automobile Injury Attorney: Frequently Asked Questions

For most of our clients, this is their first foray into the injury claims process. They understandably have a lot of questions as to the process and how to proceed going about getting a financial recovery for their injuries. Below are some of the questions we get most frequently:

Do I Even Have a Personal Injury Case?

In order to have a case, your injury needs to lead to some form of financial loss, such as an appointment with your doctor 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 your back hurt for a few days after the accident, but you were never medically evaluated, you're unlikely to have a successful claim. If you were responsible for your injuries, you cannot file a claim against someone else's insurance.

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

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 to blame for the accident and your medical expenses aren't very high — for example, one emergency room visit — send detailed records to the insurance adjuster, and see if you can get a little more on top for the nuisance. With milder injuries where fault is not in dispute, it's unlikely an automobile injury attorney will be able to get you significantly more money.

However, with more significant injuries that result in several physical therapy or chiropractic appointments 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 trying to convince you that your injuries were pre-existing, 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 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.

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

The damages you recover after an automobile injury are meant to provide you with an equitable financial recovery for all the ways an injury affected your life. With a talented Fulton, MO automobile injury attorney, you'll be compensated for:

  • Medical expenses
  • Lost wages from time spent recovering
  • 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 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 method, 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.
  • For example, you suffered a whiplash injury, leading to $15,000 in medical expenses and lost wages, and which caused you to have neck pain for four months, and further disrupted you because it forced you to wear a neck brace for a short period. The pain and suffering might be given a multiplier of three. So:

    $15,000 in medical bills and lost wages × 3 for a pain and suffering multiplier = a $45,000 financial recovery
  • The Per Diem Method — "Per Diem" translates from Latin to "per day." Implementing this method, your Fulton, 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:
  • $200 × 121 days (four months) = $24,200 in pain and suffering damages (in addition to your medical bills and lost wages)

Your attorney will use the method that applies best to your individual case.

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Will I Still Get Compensation if My Medical Insurance Covers 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, insurance companies and medical providers have a right 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 knowledgeable Fulton, MO automobile injury attorney will be able to work with your insurance company and healthcare providers 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 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 negligent 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, 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 Fulton, MO?

In most cases, the other driver is the only personal responsible for your injuries. However, depending on the specifics of your case, other parties may be liable:

  • An car company may have negligently designed, manufactured, or tested a vehicle component, leading to a product liability claim
  • If you were injured in a truck crash, there are a variety of regulations the trucking company may have violated
  • A mechanic may have improperly repaired an automobile, causing a defect that caused the crash
  • A bar or restaurant if they served alcohol to a drunk driver that caused your crash
  • 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 I'm Being Blamed For My Accident?

Shifting blame is a common trick insurance companies use to avoid paying you. Having sound evidence, as well as an experienced automobile injury attorney fighting back against that tactic, will help prove you're not to blame.

In some car accidents, both drivers really are each partially at fault. Both Missouri Law and Illinois Law followed the legal principle of "comparative fault." 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 to blame.

What if I Was Injured as a Passenger?

If you were injured as a passenger, you would still file a claim against the at-fault driver, even if it's someone you know. While they may have to pay a moderate amount more for insurance, which is likely much less than your economic damages. An automobile injury attorney will communicate with other side so you don't have to feel awkward.

Will My Claim Go to Trial?

It's very unlikely that you'll 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.

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 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 six to eight weeks to several years before it results in fair compensation. Many insurance adjusters immediately agree to a settlement demand letter once they've received notice that you hired a lawyer. Other times, a fair settlement is only offered right before trial begins, or the liability and insurance coverage elements are so complex that they require considerable investigation and expert testimony.

Most cases are settled from anywhere between a few months to a year. While while we understand that you'd like to receive your compensation soon, it's always the best idea to hold out for the maximum financial recovery you're owed. This is your only chance to receive compensation.

Is It Expensive to Hire an Automobile Injury Attorney?

Halvorsen Klote's Fulton, 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 secure any compensation for you, you don't owe us anything, so there's no reason to see money as a barrier to 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.

If you have any other questions about automobile injury claims, check out the frequently asked questions area of our website, go to our legal resources page or contact us online.

Other injury claims we handle in Fulton, MO include:

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Consult With an Automobile Injury Attorney in Fulton, 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 compensation they are owed. An injury is shocking 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 Fulton, 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 Fulton, MO family can focus on healing. Speak to a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Fulton, MO today at 866-382-4167 or reach out to us through our website for a complimentary case evaluation.


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.