Automobile Injury Attorney Lebanon, MO
Lebanon, MO Personal Injury Lawyers
Call 866-382-4167 for a Free Consultation | Lebanon, MO Automobile Injury Attorney
Automobile injury attorney in Lebanon, MO. The effects of an auto accident injury are immediate and severe. If a careless driver in Lebanon, MO injured you, you require an automobile injury attorney who will fight to get you justice. At Halvorsen Klote, we fight for those injured by the negligence of another when they need help 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 best possible compensation you are owed. We serve the injured in Lebanon, 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 Lebanon, MO today at 866-382-4167 or reach out to us through our website for a complimentary case evaluation.
We have experience with a number of automobile injury claims, including:
Lebanon, 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 doubts and uncertainties as to what to expect. Some of the most commonly asked questions we get are:
Do I Even Have Auto Accident Claim?
For a claim to be valid, you have to have sustained an injury that led to some amount of economic damages, for instance urgent care bills or time spent off work recovering, and accident had to be caused or contributed to by somebody else. If you you were sore for a few days after the accident, but your injuries didn't lead to financial loss, it would be difficult for you to make a personal injury claim. If you were responsible for your injuries, your own insurance company can pay for your damages, but your premiums will go up.
Never assume that you can't make a successful claim without speaking to an attorney first. Halvorsen Klote's Lebanon, MO automobile injury attorneys offer free case evaluations for people who were injured and aren't sure if they're eligible for compensation.
Do I Need to Get 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 to blame for the accident 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 hassle. In those types of situations, an automobile injury attorney probably isn't necessary.
But, 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 a lawyer is likely the only way you'll get what you are owed. Insurance adjusters have a lot of experience minimizing payouts; personal injury lawyers know how to fight back against them.
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.
How Much Will I Receive For My Lebanon, MO Automobile Injuries?
The damages you are eligible for after an automobile injury are intended to reimburse you for the financial, physical and emotional consequences of your injuries. With a talented Lebanon, MO automobile injury attorney, you can be reimbursed for:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages from time spent off work
- Lost earning potential 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 Pain and Suffering?
There are two commonly accepted ways to calculate noneconomic damages:
- 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 debilitating injuries.
- The Per Diem Method — "Per Diem" means "per day" in Latin. Using this approach, your Lebanon, MO 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:
Say you suffered a moderate neck 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 a pain and suffering multiplier = $45,000 in final compensation
$200 × 121 days (four months) = $24,200 in noneconomic damages (on top of your medical bills and lost wages)
Your attorney will know the best way to determine your noneconomic damages for your specific case.
Will I Still Get Reimbursement if My Medical Insurance Covers 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 be repaid by the liable party's insurance, just as you are being compensated.
The law allows a variety of avenues to reduce medical liens. A knowledgeable Lebanon, MO 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 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. That doesn't mean we can't get more compensation than the limits. First, your Lebanon, MO automobile injury attorney can file an underinsured motorist claim under your own policy, that can provide compensation for the rest of your damages. Secondly, in their investigation your attorney might uncover other liable parties who you can also make a claim against.
Who Else Could Be Liable for My Auto Accident Injuries in Lebanon, MO?
In most cases, liability is squarely on the driver responsible for the accident. However, depending on the specifics of your case, other parties may be liable:
- An auto manufacturer may have negligently designed, manufactured, or tested a car component, and you can make a product liability claim
- If you were injured in a truck accident, 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 contributed to the wreck
- A bar or restaurant if they served alcohol to a drunk driver that caused your crash
- A local, state or federal authority responsible for keeping roads safe
- A construction company if the accident was caused by an unsafe construction site
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. Providing strong evidence, as well as an experienced automobile injury attorney fighting back against that tactic, will help prove you're not at-fault.
In some car accidents, both drivers really are each partially liable. Both Missouri Revised Statute §537.765 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 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 they may have to pay a moderate amount more for insurance, 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 My Claim Go to Trial?
It's very unlikely that you'll have to go attend hearings or a trial for your automobile injuries. The Bureau of Justice Statistics reports that 96 percent of tort claims are settled before trial.
Depositions and mediations are common formal procedures in personal injury claims, 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 case is different, and the more complicated a case, usually the longer it takes. A personal injury claim can take anywhere from a month to several years before it reaches its conclusion. Many insurance adjusters start cooperating immediately 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 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 in your best interest to hold out for the maximum 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 Lebanon, MO automobile injury attorney work on a contingency fee basis. 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 see no reason that money should be an obstacle for people who just want to be fairly compensated for their injuries.
If you have any other questions about car accident claims, check out the frequently asked questions area of our website, go to our legal resources page or call us at 866-382-4167.
Other injury claims we take on in Lebanon, 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
Hire an Automobile Injury Attorney in Lebanon, MO Today
We do what we do because we believe that an injury victim deserves the same high quality legal representation as the insurance companies that are trying to keep them from the financial recovery they are owed. An injury is shocking and create fear and confusion. 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 Lebanon, MO clients the full financial recovery they deserve. We pride ourselves on our client communication, and handle the entire legal process so you and your Lebanon, MO family can spend your energy on healing. Call a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Lebanon, MO today at 866-382-4167 or contact us through our website 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.
