Automobile Injury Attorney Litchfield, IL | Personal Injury Lawyers | Car Accident Lawyers | Halvorsen Klote

Litchfield, IL

Automobile Injury Attorney Litchfield, IL

Litchfield, IL Personal Injury Lawyers


Call 866-382-4167 for a Free Consultation | Litchfield, IL Automobile Injury Attorney

Automobile injury attorney in Litchfield, IL. Injuries in auto accidents happen in an instant, and the mental, physical and economic burdens they carry happen suddenly as well. If you were injured in a Litchfield, IL auto accident, you require an automobile injury attorney who will defend your rights. At Halvorsen Klote, we stand by those injured by the negligence of another when they need it the most. Insurance adjusters may try to devalue your claim, but with a skilled attorney in your corner, they will not be able to keep you from the full compensation you are lawfully entitled to. We serve the injured in Litchfield, IL, the Greater St. Louis area and Southern Illinois. You don't pay unless we win. Speak to a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Litchfield, IL today at 866-382-4167 or reach out to us through our website for a complimentary case evaluation.

We've gotten full compensation for our Litchfield, IL clients in numerous types of auto accident claims, including:


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Litchfield, IL Automobile Injury Attorney: Frequently Asked Questions

Most injury victims have never had to make an injury claim before, and understandably have doubts and uncertainties as to what the experience will be like. Some of the most commonly asked questions we get are:

Do I Even Have a Personal Injury Case?

In order to have a realistic chance of being compensated, you have to have suffered an injury that led to some amount of financial loss, for instance urgent care bills or time spent off work recovering, and there has to be another party who is at least partially at fault for the accident. If you suffered some bumps and bruises, but you were never medically evaluated, 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.

The good news is you don't have to rely on guesswork to understand if you have a case. Halvorsen Klote's Litchfield, 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 Hire a Lawyer for an Automobile Injury?

There are some cases where you probably don't need a lawyer. If the other party accepts responsibility and your medical bills are minimal — for example, one appointment with your doctor — include copies of your records and bills in your settlement letter, and see if you can get a little more on top for the hassle. In those types of situations, it's unlikely an automobile injury attorney will be able to get you significantly more money.

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 those damages. If the insurance company refuses to give you a fair offer, or is trying to convince you that 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 have just as much experience holding them accountable.

Other complications, such as if the negligent driver refuses to admit fault, or if you were in a multi-vehicle accident, almost always require the assistance of an automobile injury attorney.

How Much Will I Receive For My Litchfield, IL Automobile Injuries?

The damages you are eligible for after an automobile injury are intended to reimburse you for the economic, physical and emotional toll your injuries cause. With a skilled Litchfield, IL automobile injury attorney, you'll be compensated for:

  • Medical expenses
  • Lost wages from time spent recovering
  • Lost earning capacity 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 injuries prevent you from helping and giving affection to your spouse

How much compensation you receive for your automobile injuries is mostly based on the severity of your injuries.

How Are Noneconomic Damages Calculated?

The dollar amount a plaintiff receives for pain and suffering damages is determined through one of two methods:

  • The Multiplier Method — With this approach, your economic damages will be multiplied by a number, typically between 1.5 and 5, using higher numbers for more debilitating injuries.
  • Say the negligent driver caused a moderate neck injury, leading to $15,000 in economic damages, and which caused you to have neck pain for four months, and further disrupted you because it forced you to wear a neck brace for a week. 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
  • The Per Diem Method — "Per Diem" means "per day" in Latin. Implementing this approach, your Litchfield, IL automobile injury attorney determines how much money a day of suffering is worth, and multiplies that by the number of days you suffered. So, using the same whiplash injury example, say your lawyer assigned $200 a day to your injuries:
  • $200 × 121 days (four months) = $24,200 in noneconomic damages (in addition to your economic damages)

Your attorney will know the best way to determine your noneconomic damages for your specific case.

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Will I Still Get Compensation if My Medical Insurance Pays For 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, 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.

The law allows a variety of avenues to reduce medical liens. A skilled Litchfield, IL 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 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

While the at-fault 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, 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 Litchfield, IL?

In most cases, liability is squarely on the driver responsible for the crash. However, depending on the specifics of your case, other parties may be liable:

  • An auto manufacturer may may have produced a defective 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 improperly repaired an automobile, causing a defect that had a hand in the wreck
  • A bar or restaurant if someone got drunk at their venue, drove afterwards and caused your injuries
  • 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?

An insurance adjuster may try to blame you for your accident in order to avoid paying you. Providing sound 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 Law and 735 ILCS 5/2-1116 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, your right to compensation is barred 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 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 medical bills and lost wages you've sustained because of their negligence. 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 have 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 make sure you're adequately prepared and will do most of the work themselves.

How Long Will My Claim Take?

Each case 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 learned that there's an attorney on the case. In other cases, a fair settlement is only offered right before trial begins, or there are complexities to the case that require considerable 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 soon, it's always the best idea to wait to agree to a settlement until it's the full, fair 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 Litchfield, IL 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 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 a barrier for people who need quality legal representation to make a full financial recovery.

To learn more about the claims process, check out the frequently asked questions area of our website, have a look at our legal resources page or call us at 866-382-4167.

Other cases we handle in Litchfield, IL include:

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Hire an Automobile Injury Attorney in Litchfield, IL 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 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 Litchfield, IL 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 Litchfield, IL family. Call a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Litchfield, IL today at 866-382-4167 or reach out to us through our website for a free case review.


Joel Halvorsen

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

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.