Automobile Injury Attorney Hazelwood, MO
Hazelwood, MO Personal Injury Lawyers
Call 866-382-4167 for a Free Consultation | Hazelwood, MO Automobile Injury Attorney
Automobile injury attorney in Hazelwood, MO. The effects of an auto accident injury are immediate and severe. If a negligent driver in Hazelwood, MO injured you, you need an automobile injury attorney who will fight to bring you justice and a fair financial recovery. At Halvorsen Klote, we stand by injury victims when the whole world seems to have turned against them. Insurance adjusters can seem heartless, but with a skilled attorney in your corner, you will get the justice and financial recovery you are owed. We serve the vulnerable in Hazelwood, MO, the Greater St. Louis area and Southern Illinois. You owe us no fees unless we win. Call a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Hazelwood, MO now at 866-382-4167 or reach out to us online for a free case review.
We have experience with many different automobile injury claims, including:
Hazelwood, 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 damages. Some of the most commonly asked questions we get are:
Do I Even Have Autombile Injury Case?
In order to have a case, you have to have sustained an injury that led to some amount of financial loss, for instance an appointment with your general practitioner or lost wages, and accident had to be caused or contributed to by another party. If you suffered some bumps and bruises, but your injuries didn't lead to financial loss, it would be difficult for you to make a personal injury claim. If the accident was largely your fault, your own insurance company can pay for your damages, but your premiums will go up.
The good news is you don't have to make that decision alone. Halvorsen Klote's Hazelwood, MO automobile injury attorneys are more than happy to discuss the validity of your claim for free.
Is it Worth it to Hire 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 instance, one urgent care appointment — send copies of your records and bills to the insurance adjuster, and ask for a little more on top for the hassle. With milder injuries where fault is not in dispute, an automobile injury attorney won't be able to add much value to your claim.
But, with more significant injuries that result in several physical therapy or chiropractic appointments 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 pay the full extent of your damages, 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 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 necessary.
How Much Are My Automobile Injury Worth in Hazelwood, MO?
The damages you recover after a car accident are meant to provide you with an equitable financial recovery for all the ways an injury affected your life. With a skilled Hazelwood, MO automobile injury attorney, you'll be compensated for:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages from time spent off work
- Lost earning potential if you can no longer work
- Out-of-pocket expenses, such as hiring household services for chores you can't do while you're injured
- 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 in your car accident settlement is mostly based on how your injuries have affected your life.
How Are Noneconomic Damages Calculated?
There are two commonly accepted ways to calculate noneconomic 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, depending on how severe your injuries were. The more disruptive the injury, the higher the number.
- The Per Diem Method — "Per Diem" means "per day" in Latin. Implementing this approach, your Hazelwood, 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:
For example, you suffered a moderate neck injury, leading to $15,000 in economic damages, and which led to physical discomfort for four months, and inconvenienced you because you had 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 total compensation
$200 × 121 days (four months) = $24,200 in noneconomic damages (on top of your medical bills and lost wages)
Your attorney will use the method that applies best to your specific case.
Will I Still Get Reimbursement if My Medical Insurance Covers My Medical Expenses?
Yes. All of your medical expenses will be included in your settlement or judgment, even if your insurance paid for it. However, insurance companies and medical providers have a right place a medical lien on your compensation. That allows them to be repaid by the liable party's insurance, just as you are being compensated.
There are various legal remedies to reduce medical liens. An experience Hazelwood, 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 negligent driver may have a policy with higher limits, there is still no guarantee that there's enough to cover all of your damages. If that happens, we have a couple options. First, your Hazelwood, 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, 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 Hazelwood, 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 auto manufacturer may may have produced a faulty car component, and you can make a product liability claim
- In a truck crash, the trucking company may have failed to repair 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 caused the accident
- A bar or restaurant if they served alcohol to a drunk driver that caused your crash
- A local, state or federal body 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 adjusters use to devalue your claim. Providing strong evidence, as well as an automobile injury attorney used to fighting back against insurance companies, 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 allow for what's called "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, you cannot make any recovery if you were more than 50 percent liable.
What if I Was Injured as a Passenger?
If you were injured in a car that somebody else was driving, you would still file a claim against the at-fault driver, even if that person is a friend or family member in Hazelwood, MO. While they may have to pay a moderate amount more for insurance, which is likely substantially less than your economic damages. An automobile injury attorney can help make the process less personal.
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 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 make sure you're adequately prepared and will do most of the work themselves.
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 a month to three or four years before it's resolved. Many insurance adjusters start cooperating immediately once they know that you hired a lawyer. Other times, a fair settlement is only offered right before trial begins, or there are complexities to the case that 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 earlier than not, it's always the best idea to hold out for the best possible compensation you're owed. Once you agree to a settlement, you can never go back and ask for more money later.
What if I Can't Afford an Automobile Injury Attorney?
Halvorsen Klote's Hazelwood, 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 we only get paid at the conclusion of your claim. 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 see no reason that money should be an obstacle for people who need quality legal representation to make a full financial recovery.
If you have any other questions about the claims process, have a look at our other FAQs, go to our legal resources page or contact us online.
Other cases we take on in Hazelwood, 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 Hazelwood, MO Today
We founded our practice on the idea that an injury victim deserves the same standard of legal advocacy as the insurance companies that are trying to keep them from the compensation they are owed. Injuries are always unexpected and can leave you with a profound sense of uncertainty. But you don't have to go through the claims process alone. We stand up to insurance companies every day and know how to get our Hazelwood, MO clients the best possible results. We pride ourselves on our client communication, and handle the entire legal process so you and your Hazelwood, MO family can focus on healing. Speak to a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Hazelwood, MO today at 866-382-4167 or contact us online for a complimentary 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.