Automobile Injury Attorney Imperial, MO
Imperial, MO Personal Injury Lawyers
Call 866-382-4167 for a Free Consultation | Imperial, MO Automobile Injury Attorney
Automobile injury attorney in Imperial, MO. The effects of an auto accident injury are immediate and severe. If you were injured in a Imperial, MO auto accident, you require an automobile injury attorney who will fight to get you justice. At Halvorsen Klote, we fight for injury victims when the whole world seems stacked against them. Insurance adjusters may try to devalue your claim, but with the help of an experienced attorney, they will not be able to prevent you from collecting the full compensation you are owed. We provide exceptional legal advocacy to the injured in Imperial, MO, the Greater St. Louis area and Southern Illinois. You don't pay until we win your case. Speak to a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Imperial, MO today at 866-382-4167 or contact us through our website for a free case review.
We have experience with many different automobile injury claims, including:
Imperial, 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 compensation for their damages. Some of the most commonly asked questions we get are:
Do I Even Have Auto Accident Case?
For a claim to be valid, you have to have sustained an injury that led to some form of financial loss, such as urgent care bills or lost wages, and accident had to be caused or contributed to by another party. If you you were sore for a few days after the accident, but your injuries didn't lead to financial loss, it's unrealistic to expect an insurance company to compensate you. If the accident was largely your fault, 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 Imperial, MO automobile injury attorneys offer free consultations for people who were injured and aren't sure if they're eligible for compensation.
Do I Need to Hire a Lawyer for an Automobile Injury?
Usually, yes, but not all the time. If the other party accepts liability and your medical bills are minimal — say, one appointment with your doctor — send copies of your records and bills to the insurance company, and see if you can get a little more on top for the nuisance. With milder injuries where fault is not in dispute, an automobile injury attorney probably isn't necessary.
However, 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 refuses 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 deserve. Insurance adjusters know how to devalue claims; personal injury lawyers know how to get maximum compensation.
There are things besides significant injuries that require an attorney, such as if the negligent driver refuses to admit fault, or if your injuries occurred in a multi-vehicle accident, almost always require the assistance of an automobile injury attorney.
What Compensation Can I Recover For My Imperial, MO Automobile Injuries?
The damages you are eligible for 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 knowledgeable Imperial, MO automobile injury attorney, you'll get a financial recovery for:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages from time spent recovering
- Lost earning capacity if your injuries prevent you from making a living as you're used to
- 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 Much Will I Get for Pain and Suffering?
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, 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 Imperial, MO automobile injury attorney assigns a dollar amount to a single day of suffering, and multiplies that by the number of days your injuries affected you. So, with the above example, say your lawyer assigned $200 a day to your injuries:
Say the negligent driver caused 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 inconvenienced you because you had to wear a neck brace for a few days. The pain and suffering might be given a multiplier of three. So:
$15,000 in economic damages × 3 for the noneconomic damages multiplier = a $45,000 financial recovery
$200 × 121 days (four months) = $24,200 in noneconomic damages (on top of your economic damages)
Your attorney will know the best way to calculate your pain and suffering damages for your individual case.
Will I Still Get Reimbursement if My Medical Insurance Pays For My Medical Expenses?
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 healthcare providers have a right place a medical lien on your settlement. That allows them to be compensated by the liable party's insurance, just as you are being compensated.
There are various legal remedies to reduce medical liens. A skilled Imperial, MO automobile injury attorney will know best how 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 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 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, your Imperial, MO automobile injury attorney can file an underinsured motorist claim with your own insurance company, asking them to make up the difference. 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 Imperial, MO?
In most cases, the other driver is the only personal liable for your injuries. However, depending on the specifics of your case, other parties may be liable:
- An auto company may may have produced a defective vehicle component, leading to 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 had a hand in the accident
- A licensed alcohol vendor 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. Having strong evidence, in addition to having an experienced automobile injury attorney fighting back against that tactic, will help prove you're not at-fault.
If it's true that you were partially to blame for your injuries, you can still make a recovery. Both Missouri Law and Illinois Law followed the legal doctrine 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 in a car that somebody else was driving, 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, that doesn't compare to the economic and noneconomic damages you've suffered as a result. An automobile injury attorney can help make the process less personal.
Will I Have to Go to Court?
It's very unlikely that you'll be required 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.
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?
Each injury is different, and the more complicated a case, usually the longer it takes. A personal injury claim can last anywhere from a month to several years before it's resolved. Many insurance adjusters immediately agree to a settlement demand letter once they've received notice that the plaintiff hired a lawyer. Other times, they'll wait until the eve of trial to finally agree to what is fair, or there are complexities to the case that require substantial investigation and expert testimony.
Most cases reach a conclusion within three to nine months. 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 full, fair compensation you deserve. This is your only chance to receive compensation.
Is It Expensive to Hire an Automobile Injury Attorney?
Halvorsen Klote's Imperial, 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 you don't owe us anything upfront. 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 just want to be fairly compensated for their injuries.
To learn more about the claims process, check out the frequently asked questions area of our website, go to our legal resources page or request a free consultation.
Other cases we take on in Imperial, 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
Consult With an Automobile Injury Attorney in Imperial, MO Today
We do what we do because we believe that everyone deserves the same high quality legal representation that large insurance companies have. Injuries are always unexpected and create fear and confusion. 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 Imperial, MO clients the best possible results. We pride ourselves on our client communication, and handle the entire legal process so you and your Imperial, MO family can focus on healing. Speak to a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Imperial, MO now 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.