Automobile Injury Attorney Granite City, IL
Granite City, IL Personal Injury Lawyers
Call 866-382-4167 for a Free Consultation | Granite City, IL Automobile Injury Attorney
Automobile injury attorney in Granite City, IL. Injuries in auto accidents happen without warning, and the emotional, physical and financial burdens they carry are quick to materialize as well. If a negligent driver in Granite City, IL injured you, you require an automobile injury attorney who will defend your rights. At Halvorsen Klote, we stand by injury victims when they need it the most. Insurance adjusters may try to deceive you, but with the help of a knowledgeable attorney, they will not be able to prevent you from collecting the full compensation you are owed. We provide outstanding legal advocacy to the injured in Granite City, IL, the Greater St. Louis area and Southern Illinois. You don't pay unless we win. Speak to a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Granite City, IL now at 866-382-4167 or reach out to us through our website for a complimentary consultation.
We've gotten great results for our Granite City, IL clients in numerous types of auto accident claims, including:
Granite City, IL Automobile Injury Attorney: Frequently Asked Questions
Most injury victims have never had to make an injury claim before, and understandably have a lot of questions as to the process and what the experience will be like. Some of the most commonly asked questions we get are:
Do I Even Have a Personal Injury Claim?
In order to have a realistic chance of being compensated, your injury needs to lead to some amount of economic damages, such as urgent care bills or lost wages, and accident had to be caused or contributed to by somebody else. If you suffered some bumps and bruises, but you were never medically evaluated, you're unlikely to have a successful claim. If you were the negligence party, you cannot file a claim against someone else's insurance.
Never assume that you can't make a successful claim without speaking to an attorney first. Halvorsen Klote's Granite City, IL automobile injury attorneys are more than happy to discuss your case for free.
Is it Worth it to Hire 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 you didn't need much medical treatment — say, one urgent care appointment — 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.
But, if your injuries are more severe, 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 saying your injuries weren't caused by the accident, then you absolutely need a lawyer. Insurance adjusters have a lot of experience minimizing payouts; personal injury lawyers know how to get maximum compensation.
Other complications, such as if there is a dispute over liability, or if your injuries occurred in a multi-vehicle accident, almost always require the assistance of an automobile injury attorney.
How Much Are My Automobile Injury Worth in Granite City, IL?
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 an experienced Granite City, IL automobile injury attorney, you'll get a financial recovery for:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages from time spent recovering
- Lost earning potential 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 injuries prevent you from helping and giving affection to your spouse
How much money you get in your car accident settlement depends largely on the severity of your injuries.
How Are Pain and Suffering Calculated?
There are two commonly accepted ways to calculate pain and suffering damages:
- 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, using higher numbers for more significant injuries.
- The Per Diem Method — "Per Diem" translates from Latin to "per day." With this method, your Granite City, IL automobile injury attorney determines how much money a day of suffering is worth, and multiplies that by the number of days you suffered. So, with the above example, say $200 a day is a fair approximation of your pain and suffering:
For example, the negligent driver caused a whiplash injury, leading to $15,000 in economic damages, 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 the noneconomic damages multiplier = $45,000 in final compensation
$200 × 121 days (four months) = $24,200 in noneconomic damages (in addition to your medical bills and lost wages)
Your attorney will use the method that applies best to your individual case.
Will I Still Get Compensation 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.
The law allows a variety of avenues to reduce medical liens. A knowledgeable Granite City, IL 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 nearly 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
While the negligent driver may have more coverage, there is still a chance with more severe injuries that your damages will exceed the policy limits. 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.
What Other Parties Could Be Held Accountable for My Auto Accident Injuries in Granite City, IL?
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 company may have negligently designed, manufactured, or tested a car component, and you can make a product liability claim
- In a truck crash, 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 contributed to the wreck
- 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 secured
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 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 Revised Statute §537.765 and 735 ILCS 5/2-1116 followed the legal principle of "comparative negligence." 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 50 percent at fault.
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 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 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 issued a study in 2005 that found that only four percent of tort claims go to trial.
Depositions and mediations are common formal procedures in automobile injury claims, but your automobile injury attorney will make sure you're adequately prepared and will 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 take anywhere from six to eight weeks to several years before it reaches its conclusion. Many insurance adjusters immediately agree to a settlement demand letter once they've learned that the plaintiff hired a lawyer. Other times, a fair settlement is only offered right before trial begins, or there are complexities to the case that require considerable 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 without waiting a long period, it's always the best idea to hold out for the best possible financial recovery you're owed. You only have chance to receive compensation.
Is It Expensive to Hire an Automobile Injury Attorney?
Halvorsen Klote's Granite City, IL automobile injury attorney are paid through a contingency fee. That means we we get a portion of your final payout, and you don't owe us anything upfront. If we don't win, you don't pay, so there's no reason to see money as a barrier to hiring one of our lawyers.
We don't believe that money should be an obstacle for people who just want to be fairly compensated for their injuries.
To learn more about personal injury claims, check out our other FAQs, have a look at our legal resources page or call us at 866-382-4167.
Other injury claims we take on in Granite City, IL 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 Granite City, IL Today
We founded our practice on the idea that an injury victim should have access to the same high quality legal representation that large insurance companies have. 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 fight back against insurance companies every day and know how to get our Granite City, IL clients the best possible results. We pride ourselves on our client communication, and handle the entire legal process so you and your Granite City, IL family can focus on healing. Call a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Granite City, IL now at 866-382-4167 or contact us online for a complimentary case review.
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.
