Automobile Injury Attorney Lebanon, IL
Lebanon, IL Personal Injury Lawyers
Call 866-382-4167 for a Free Consultation | Lebanon, IL Automobile Injury Attorney
Automobile injury attorney in Lebanon, IL. Injuries in auto wrecks happen in a flash, and the emotional, physical and financial hardships they carry are quick to materialize as well. If a careless driver in Lebanon, IL injured you, you require an automobile injury attorney who will get you the full compensation you need to be made whole again. 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 may try to cheat, but with the help of a skilled attorney, they will not be able to keep you from the maximum financial recovery you are owed. We provide outstanding legal representation to the vulnerable in Lebanon, IL, 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 Lebanon, IL today at 866-382-4167 or reach out to us through our website for a free case review.
We have experience with a number of automobile injury claims, including:
Lebanon, IL Automobile Injury Attorney: Frequently Asked Questions
Most of our clients have never had to make an injury claim before, and understandably have a lot of questions as to the process and how to proceed going about getting a financial recovery for their damages. Below is a list of FAQs to give you a little bit clearer picture of what to expect:
How Do I Know if I Have a Case?
In order to have a case, your injury needs to lead to some form of financial loss, such as emergency room bills or lost wages, and accident had to be caused or contributed to by another party. If you your back hurt for a few days after the accident, but you never sought medical treatment, it's unrealistic to expect an insurance company to compensate you. If you were responsible for your injuries, your own insurance company can pay for your damages, but your premiums will go up.
Fortunately, you don't have to rely on guesswork to understand if you have a case. Halvorsen Klote's Lebanon, IL automobile injury attorneys offer free consultations for people who were injured and aren't sure if they have a case.
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 there's no dispute about who to blame for the accident and your medical expenses aren't very high — say, one appointment with your doctor — include detailed records in your letter to the insurance adjuster, and see if you can get some extra money for the hassle. With milder injuries where fault is clearly established, an automobile injury attorney won't be able to add much value to your claim.
However, with more significant injuries that result in months of 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 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.
There are things besides significant injuries that require an attorney, such as if the other side denies liability, 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 Lebanon, IL Automobile Injuries?
The damages you recover after an automobile injury are intended to provide you with an equitable financial recovery for all the ways an injury affected your life. With a knowledgeable Lebanon, IL automobile injury attorney, you can be reimbursed for:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages from time spent recovering
- Lost earning capacity if you can no longer work
- Out-of-pocket expenses, such as hiring transportation to and from medical appointments
- Noneconomic damages like pain and suffering, or loss of consortium if your spousal relationship is negatively impacted by your injuries
How much compensation you receive for your automobile injuries depends largely on the severity of your injuries.
How Are Pain and Suffering Calculated?
There are two commonly accepted ways to calculate noneconomic damages:
- 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." Using this method, your Lebanon, IL 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, if we stick with the same example, say your lawyer assigned $200 a day to your injuries:
Say you suffered a whiplash injury, leading to $15,000 in medical expenses and lost wages, and which caused you to have physical discomfort 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 a pain and suffering multiplier = $45,000 in final compensation
$200 × 121 days (four months) = $24,200 in pain and suffering damages (in addition to your medical bills and lost wages)
Your attorney will use the method that applies best to your unique case.
Will I Still Get Reimbursement 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, 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 talented Lebanon, IL 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 financial recovery as possible.
What If the Insurance Coverage is Limited?
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
The other driver could have those, or other policy limits, but 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, 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 Lebanon, IL?
In most cases, the other driver is the only personal we can hold accountable for your injuries. However, there are other people and entities that may have contributed to your accident:
- An car company may have negligently designed, manufactured, or tested a vehicle component, leading to a product liability claim
- If you were injured in a truck crash, the trucking company may have failed to maintain a truck, or may have forced their driver to drive more hours than regulations allow
- A mechanic may have negligently worked on the car, causing a defect that contributed to 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 the accident was caused by an unsafe construction site
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. Having detailed evidence, in addition to having an automobile injury attorney used to fighting back against insurance companies, will demonstrate that you aren't liable.
In some car accidents, both drivers really are each partially liable. Both Missouri Revised Statute §537.765 and 735 ILCS 5/2-1116 allow for what's called "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 it is determined that you were more than 50 percent 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 it's someone you know. While they may have to pay a moderate amount more for insurance, which is likely substantially less than your medical bills and lost wages. 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 to court for your automobile injuries. The Bureau of Justice Statistics issued a study in 2005 that found 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 do most of the work themselves.
How Long Will My Claim Take?
That depends on a lot of things, such as the severity of your injuries, how clear negligence is and even the insurance company or adjuster we're negotiating with. A personal injury claim can take 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 the plaintiff hired a lawyer. 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 time put in.
Most cases are settled within three to nine months. While while we understand that you'd like to receive your financial recovery as quickly as possible, it's always the best idea to wait to agree to a settlement until it's the maximum financial recovery you're owed. This is your only chance to receive compensation.
What if I Can't Afford an Automobile Injury Attorney?
Halvorsen Klote's Lebanon, IL automobile injury attorney receive our fees through a contingency fee. That means we we get a portion of your final payout, and we only get paid at the conclusion of your claim. If we don't win, you don't owe us anything, so there's no reason to see money as an obstacle in hiring one of our lawyers.
We see no reason that money should be a barrier for people who just want to be fairly compensated for their injuries.
If you have any other questions about the claims process, have a look at the frequently asked questions area of our website, have a look at our legal resources page or contact us online.
Other cases we take on in Lebanon, 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
Consult With an Automobile Injury Attorney in Lebanon, IL Today
We do what we do because we believe that everyone deserves the same high quality legal representation that large insurance companies have. An injury is shocking and create fear and confusion. But we will be by your side every step of the way. We fight back against insurance companies every day and know how to get our Lebanon, IL clients the best possible results. We always have open lines of communication with our clients, and handle the entire legal process so you and your Lebanon, IL family can spend your energy on healing. Speak to a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Lebanon, IL today at 866-382-4167 or reach out to us through our website 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.
