Automobile Injury Attorney Lemay, MO
Lemay, MO Personal Injury Lawyers
Call 866-382-4167 for a Free Consultation | Lemay, MO Automobile Injury Attorney
Automobile injury attorney in Lemay, MO. The effects of an auto accident injury are immediate and severe. If you were injured in a Lemay, MO auto accident, 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 a knowledgeable attorney by your side, you will get the justice and financial recovery you deserve. We provide outstanding legal representation to the injured in Lemay, MO, the Greater St. Louis area and Southern Illinois. You don't pay until you get the compensation you deserve. Call a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Lemay, MO today at 866-382-4167 or contact us online for a complimentary case evaluation.
We have experience with a number of automobile injury claims, including:
Lemay, MO 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 what the experience will be like. Below are some of the questions we get most frequently:
Do I Even Have a Personal Injury Claim?
In order to have a case, your injury needs to lead to some amount of economic damages, for instance an appointment with your GP or time spent off work recovering, and accident had to be caused or contributed to by somebody else. If you suffered some bumps and bruises, but you never sought medical treatment, 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.
Fortunately, you don't have to rely on guesswork to understand if you have a case. Halvorsen Klote's Lemay, MO automobile injury attorneys are more than happy to discuss the validity of your claim for free.
Do I Need to Get a Lawyer for an Automobile Injury?
Usually, yes, but not all the time. If the other party accepts liability and you didn't need much medical treatment — say, one emergency room visit — send detailed records to the insurance company, and see if you can get a little more on top for the hassle. With milder injuries where fault is not in dispute, an automobile injury attorney probably isn't necessary.
However, if your injuries are more severe, result in several physical therapy or chiropractic appointments and cause you to lose time off work, the insurance company is going to do whatever they can to pay you as little as possible. If the insurance company is not willing to compensate you fairly, or is trying to convince you that your injuries were pre-existing, then you absolutely need a lawyer. 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.
What Compensation Can I Recover For My Lemay, MO Automobile Injuries?
The damages you are eligible for 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 talented Lemay, MO automobile injury attorney, you'll get a financial recovery 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 transportation to and from medical appointments
- 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 is mostly based on how your injuries have affected your life.
How Much Will I Get for Noneconomic Damages?
The dollar amount a plaintiff receives for noneconomic damages is determined through one of two methods:
- 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, using higher numbers for more debilitating injuries.
- The Per Diem Method — "Per Diem" means "per day" in Latin. With this method, your Lemay, 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, if we stick with the same example, say $200 a day is a fair approximation of your pain and suffering:
Say the negligent driver caused a moderate neck injury, leading to $15,000 in medical expenses and lost wages, and which led to physical discomfort for four months, and further disrupted you because it forced you 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 = $45,000 in final compensation
$200 × 121 days (four months) = $24,200 in noneconomic damages (in addition to your medical bills and lost wages)
Your attorney will know the best way to calculate your noneconomic damages for your specific case.
Will I Still Get Compensation 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 your insurance paid for it. However, your medical insurance company will place a medical lien on your settlement. 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 Lemay, MO automobile injury attorney will know best how 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 no guarantee that there's enough to cover all of your damages. 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.
What Other Parties Could Be Held Accountable for My Auto Accident Injuries in Lemay, MO?
In most cases, liability is solely on the driver that caused the crash. However, depending on the specifics of your case, other parties may be liable:
- An auto company may may have produced a faulty vehicle component, and you can make a product liability claim
- If you were injured in a truck accident, 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 had a hand in the crash
- A licensed alcohol vendor if they served alcohol to a drunk driver that caused your crash
- A government 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?
An insurance adjuster may try to convince you that you were the at-fault driver in order to devalue your claim. Having strong evidence, as well as 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 responsible for the accident. Both Missouri Revised Statute §537.765 and 735 ILCS 5/2-1116 followed the legal doctrine of "comparative fault." 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 half at fault.
What if I Was Injured as a Passenger?
If you were injured as a passenger, you would still file a claim against the at-fault driver, even if it was the person driving your car. While their insurance premiums might go up a little, that doesn't compare to the medical bills and lost wages you've sustained because of their negligence. An automobile injury attorney will communicate with other side so you don't have to feel awkward.
Will I Have to Go to Court?
It's very unlikely that you'll have to go to court for your automobile injuries. The Bureau of Justice Statistics reports that more than nine out of 10 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 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 take anywhere from a month to three or four years before it's resolved. Many insurance adjusters start cooperating immediately once they've learned that you hired a lawyer. In other cases, a fair settlement is only offered right before trial begins, 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 financial recovery as quickly as possible, it's always in your best interest to wait to agree to a settlement until it's the best possible compensation you're entitled to. This is your only chance to receive compensation.
Is It Expensive to Hire an Automobile Injury Attorney?
Halvorsen Klote's Lemay, MO automobile injury attorney are paid through a contingency fee. 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 owe us anything, 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 automobile injury claims, have a look at the frequently asked questions area of our website, go to our legal resources page or contact us online.
Other cases we handle in Lemay, 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 Lemay, MO Today
We do what we do because we believe that an injury victim should have access to the same high quality legal representation 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 negotiate with insurance companies every day and know how to get our Lemay, MO clients the best possible results. 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 Lemay, MO family. Speak to a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Lemay, MO now at 866-382-4167 or contact us online for a complimentary case review.
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.
