Automobile Injury Attorney Hannibal, MO
Hannibal, MO Personal Injury Lawyers
Call 866-382-4167 for a Free Consultation | Hannibal, MO Automobile Injury Attorney
Automobile injury attorney in Hannibal, MO. The effects of an auto accident injury are immediate and severe. If a negligent driver in Hannibal, MO injured you, you require an automobile injury attorney who will defend your rights. At Halvorsen Klote, we have dedicated our practice to fighting for those injured by the negligence of another when they need it the most. Insurance adjusters can seem heartless, but with the help of a knowledgeable attorney, they will not be able to keep you from the maximum compensation you are owed. We provide outstanding legal advocacy to the vulnerable in Hannibal, MO, the Greater St. Louis area and Southern Illinois. You owe us no fees unless we win. Speak to a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Hannibal, MO today at 866-382-4167 or reach out to us online for a complimentary case review.
We have experience with many different automobile injury claims, including:
Hannibal, 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 the experience will be like. Below are some of the questions we get most frequently:
Do I Even Have Autombile Injury Case?
In order to have a realistic chance of winning, you have to have sustained an injury that led to some form of economic damages, for instance emergency room 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, it would be difficult for you to make a personal injury claim. If you were the negligence party, your own insurance company can pay for your damages, but your premiums will go up.
Never assume that you don't have a case without speaking to an attorney first. Halvorsen Klote's Hannibal, MO automobile injury attorneys offer free case reviews 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 the other party accepts responsibility and your medical bills are minimal — for instance, one emergency room visit — include copies of your records and bills in your letter to the insurance adjuster, and see if you can get some extra money for inconvenience. In those types of situations, an automobile injury attorney probably isn't necessary.
However, with more significant injuries that require ongoing medical treatment and cause you to lose time off work, the insurance company is not going to willingly pay for all the ways the injury has affected your life. If the insurance company is not willing to compensate you fairly, 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 are entitled to. Insurance adjusters have a lot of experience minimizing payouts; personal injury lawyers know how to fight back against them.
Other complications, such as if the other side denies liability, or if you were in a multi-vehicle accident, also make an automobile injury attorney required.
How Much Are My Automobile Injury Worth in Hannibal, 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 an experienced Hannibal, MO automobile injury attorney, you'll get a financial recovery for:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages from time spent off work
- Lost earning capacity if you can no longer work
- Miscellaneous 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 compensation you receive for your automobile injuries depends largely on the severity of your injuries.
How Much Will I Get for Noneconomic Damages?
The dollar amount a plaintiff receives for pain and suffering damages is determined through one of two methods:
- The Multiplier Method — With this method, your economic damages will be multiplied by a number, typically 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 Hannibal, MO automobile injury attorney assigns a dollar amount to a single day of suffering, 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:
Say the negligent driver caused a whiplash 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 short period. Your noneconomic damages might be assigned a multiplier of three. So:
$15,000 in economic damages × 3 for the noneconomic damages 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 know the best way to determine your noneconomic damages for your specific case.
Will I Still Get Compensation if My Medical Insurance Covers 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, insurance companies and healthcare providers have a right place a medical lien on your settlement. 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 Hannibal, 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 My Damages Exceed the Policy Limits?
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, your attorney can find out if there are other liable parties.
Who Else Could Be Liable for My Auto Accident Injuries in Hannibal, MO?
In most cases, liability is squarely on the driver that caused the accident. However, there are other people and entities that may have contributed to your accident:
- An auto company may have negligently designed, manufactured, or tested a vehicle component, leading to a product liability claim
- If you were injured in a truck accident, 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 body responsible for keeping roads safe
- 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 devalue your claim. Providing strong evidence, in addition to having an automobile injury attorney experienced in fighting back against that tactic, will demonstrate that you aren't liable.
In some car accidents, both drivers really are each partially to blame. Both Missouri Law and 735 ILCS 5/2-1116 allow for what's called "comparative negligence." Meaning, each party pays for the percentage of fault they bear for the accident. In Illinois, you cannot make any recovery if you were more than half to blame.
What if I Was Injured as a Passenger?
If you were injured in a car that somebody else was driving, you still seek compensation from the negligent driver's insurance company, even if that person is a friend or family member in Hannibal, MO. While their insurance premiums might go up a little, which is likely much less than your economic damages. An automobile injury attorney can help make the process less personal.
Will My Claim Go to Trial?
You probably will not be required to go attend hearings or a trial for a car accident claim. The Bureau of Justice Statistics issued a study in 2005 that found that only four 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 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 a month to several years before it results in fair compensation. Many insurance adjusters immediately agree to a settlement demand letter once they know that there's an attorney on the case. Other times, 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 considerable 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 without waiting a long period, it's always in your best interest to wait to agree to a settlement until it's the best possible financial recovery you deserve. Once you agree to a settlement, you can never go back and ask for more money later.
Is It Expensive to Hire an Automobile Injury Attorney?
Halvorsen Klote's Hannibal, MO automobile injury attorney work on a contingency fee basis. That means we take a percentage of your final compensation as our attorneys' fees, and you don't owe us anything upfront. If we don't win, 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 a barrier for people who need quality legal representation to make a full financial recovery.
If you have any other questions about the claims process, check out the frequently asked questions area of our website, go to our legal resources page or contact us online.
Other injury claims we take on in Hannibal, 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 Hannibal, MO Today
We founded our practice on the idea that everyone deserves the same standard of legal advocacy that large insurance companies have. An injury is shocking and can leave you with a profound sense of uncertainty. But we will be by your side every step of the way. We stand up to insurance companies every day and know how to get our Hannibal, MO clients the full financial recovery they deserve. We always have open lines of communication with our clients, and do everything we can to make the claims process easy and seamless for you and your Hannibal, MO family. Speak to a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Hannibal, MO today at 866-382-4167 or reach out to us online for a complimentary consultation.
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.
