Automobile Injury Attorney Glendale, MO
Glendale, MO Personal Injury Lawyers
Call 866-382-4167 for a Free Consultation | Glendale, MO Automobile Injury Attorney
Automobile injury attorney in Glendale, MO. Injuries in auto crashes happen suddenly, and the emotional, physical and economic hardships they create happen suddenly as well. If a careless driver in Glendale, MO injured you, you require an automobile injury attorney who will fight to get you justice. At Halvorsen Klote, we have dedicated our practice to fighting for 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 an experienced attorney, they will not be able to keep you from the best possible compensation you are rightfully entitled to. We provide outstanding legal representation to the vulnerable in Glendale, MO, the Greater St. Louis area and Southern Illinois. You don't pay unless we win. Call a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Glendale, MO now 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 Glendale, MO clients in a variety of auto accident claims, including:
Glendale, 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 doubts and uncertainties as to how to proceed going about getting compensation for their injuries. Some of the most commonly asked questions we get are:
How Do I Know if I Have a Case?
For a claim to be valid, you have to have suffered an injury that led to some form of financial loss, for instance emergency room bills 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 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 can't make a successful claim without speaking to an attorney first. Halvorsen Klote's Glendale, MO automobile injury attorneys are more than happy to discuss the validity of your claim for free.
Do I Need to Get a Lawyer for an Automobile Injury?
There are some injuries where a lawyer won't be able to add much value to your claim. If the other party accepts responsibility and your medical expenses aren't very high — for instance, one emergency room visit — include detailed records in your letter to the insurance adjuster, and see if you can get a little more on top for inconvenience. 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.
But, with more significant injuries that result in several physical therapy or chiropractic appointments 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 compensate you fairly, or is saying 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 have just as much experience holding them accountable.
Other complications, such as if the negligent driver refuses to admit fault, 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 Glendale, MO?
The damages you recover after a car accident are intended to provide you with an equitable financial recovery for all the ways an injury affected your life. With a skilled Glendale, MO automobile injury attorney, you'll get a financial recovery for:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages from time spent recovering
- Lost earning potential if you can no longer work
- 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 money you get in your car accident settlement is mostly based on how your injuries have impacted your life.
How Are Noneconomic Damages Calculated?
The dollar amount a plaintiff receives for pain and suffering 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.
- The Per Diem Method — "Per Diem" translates from Latin to "per day." With this approach, your Glendale, 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, using the same whiplash injury example, say your lawyer assigned $200 a day to your injuries:
For example, you suffered a moderate neck 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 few days. Your noneconomic damages might be assigned a multiplier of three. So:
$15,000 in medical bills and lost wages × 3 for a pain and suffering multiplier = $45,000 in total compensation
$200 × 121 days (four months) = $24,200 in noneconomic damages (in addition to your economic damages)
Your attorney will use the method that applies best to your individual case.
Will I Still Get Reimbursement if My Medical Insurance Pays For 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, your medical insurance company will place a medical lien on your compensation. 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 knowledgeable Glendale, MO automobile injury attorney will know best how to reduce those liens and put as much money as possible in your pocket.
What If My Damages Exceed the Policy Limits?
Missouri and Illinois have nearly 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 a chance with more significant injuries that your damages will exceed the policy limits. If that happens, we have a couple options. First, your Glendale, MO automobile injury attorney can make an underinsured motorist claim with your own insurance company, that can provide compensation for the rest of your damages. 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 Glendale, MO?
In most cases, the other driver is the only personal we can hold accountable for your injuries. However, depending on the specifics of your case, other parties may be liable:
- An car manufacturer may may have produced a defective vehicle component, and you can make a product liability claim
- In a truck crash, 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 negligently worked on the car, causing a defect that had a hand in the wreck
- A bar or restaurant if they served alcohol to a drunk driver that caused your crash
- A local, state or federal entity 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?
An insurance adjuster may try to blame you for your accident in order to avoid paying you. Providing strong evidence, as well as an automobile injury attorney experienced in fighting back against insurance companies, will demonstrate that you aren't liable.
In some car accidents, both drivers really are each partially at fault. Both Missouri Law and 735 ILCS 5/2-1116 followed the legal doctrine of "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, you cannot make any recovery if you were more than 50 percent 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 was the person driving your car. 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?
It's very unlikely that you'll have to go to court for your automobile injuries. 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 prep you for those and handle most of the work.
How Long Will I Have to Wait Until I'm Compensated?
Each claim is different, and the more complicated a case, usually the longer it takes. A personal injury claim can last anywhere from six to eight weeks to three or four years before it results in fair compensation. Many insurance adjusters start cooperating immediately once they've learned that there's an attorney on the case. 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 expert testimony.
Most cases reach a conclusion 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 hold out for the maximum financial recovery 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 Glendale, MO automobile injury attorney are paid through a contingency fee. That means we we get a portion of your final payout, and there are no upfront costs. 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.
To learn more about car accident claims, check out our other FAQs, have a look at our legal resources page or request a free consultation.
Other injury claims we take on in Glendale, 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
Speak to an Automobile Injury Attorney in Glendale, MO Today
We do what we do because we believe that an injury victim 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 you don't have to go through the claims process alone. We fight back against insurance companies every day and know how to get our Glendale, 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 Glendale, MO family can spend your energy on healing. Speak to a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Glendale, MO today at 866-382-4167 or contact us online for a free 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.
