Automobile Injury Attorney Marlborough, MO
Marlborough, MO Personal Injury Lawyers
Call 866-382-4167 for a Free Consultation | Marlborough, MO Automobile Injury Attorney
Automobile injury attorney in Marlborough, MO. Injuries in auto wrecks happen without warning, and the mental, physical and financial hardships they create are quick to materialize as well. If a careless driver in Marlborough, MO 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 stand by injury victims when the whole world seems stacked against them. Insurance adjusters may try to devalue your claim, but with an experienced attorney by your side, they will not be able to prevent you from collecting the best possible financial recovery you are owed. We provide exceptional legal advocacy to the injured in Marlborough, 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 Marlborough, 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:
Marlborough, 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 how to proceed going about getting a financial recovery for their injuries. Some of the most commonly asked questions we get are:
Do I Even Have Auto Accident Case?
In order to have a realistic chance of being compensated, your injury needs to lead to some amount of financial loss, such as emergency room 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 never sought medical treatment, it would be difficult for you to make a personal injury claim. If you were the negligence party, you cannot file a claim against someone else's insurance.
Fortunately, you don't have to rely on guesswork to understand if you have a case. Halvorsen Klote's Marlborough, MO 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 liability and you didn't need much medical treatment — for instance, one urgent care appointment — include copies of your records and bills in your settlement letter, and ask for some extra money for the nuisance. In those types of situations, it's unlikely an automobile injury attorney will be able to get you significantly more money.
But, if your injuries are more severe, result in months of 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 refuses to compensate you fairly, or is trying to convince you that your injuries weren't caused by the accident, then you absolutely need a lawyer. Insurance adjusters know how to devalue claims; personal injury lawyers know how to have just as much experience holding them accountable.
There are things besides significant injuries that require an attorney, such as if the negligent driver refuses to be held accountable, or if you were in a multi-vehicle accident, also make an automobile injury attorney required.
What Compensation Can I Recover For My Marlborough, MO Automobile Injuries?
The damages you recover after an automobile injury are meant to compensate you for the economic, physical and emotional toll your injuries cause. With a knowledgeable Marlborough, MO automobile injury attorney, you'll get a financial recovery for:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages from time spent off work
- Lost earning capacity if your injuries prevent you from making a living as you're used to
- Miscellaneous 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 spousal relationship is negatively impacted by your injuries
How much money you get for your automobile injuries is mostly based on how your injuries have impacted 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, 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 Marlborough, MO automobile injury attorney determines how much money a day of suffering is worth, and multiplies that by the number of days your injuries affected you. So, using the same whiplash injury example, say your lawyer assigned $200 a day to your injuries:
Say you suffered 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. The pain and suffering might be given a multiplier of three. So:
$15,000 in medical bills and lost wages × 3 for a pain and suffering multiplier = $45,000 in total compensation
$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 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 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 knowledgeable Marlborough, MO 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 compensation 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 a chance with more significant injuries that your damages will exceed the policy limits. 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 Marlborough, MO?
In most cases, the other driver is the only personal responsible for your injuries. However, there are other people and entities that may have contributed to your accident:
- An car company may may have produced a defective car 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, which contributed to the accident
- A licensed alcohol vendor if they served alcohol to a drunk driver that caused your crash
- A government authority responsible for designing and maintaining the safety of roads
- A construction company if the accident was caused by an unsafe construction site
What if I'm Being Blamed For My Accident?
Shifting blame is a common tactic insurance adjusters use to avoid paying you. Providing detailed evidence, in addition to having an automobile injury attorney used to fighting back against that tactic, will help prove you're not to blame.
In some car accidents, both drivers really are each partially liable. 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, your right to compensation is barred if you were more than 50 percent to blame.
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 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 incurred as a result. An automobile injury attorney can help make the process less personal.
Will My Claim Go to Trial?
It's very unlikely that you'll 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.
Depositions and mediations are common formal procedures in automobile injury claims, but your automobile injury attorney will prep you for those and handle most of the work.
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 last anywhere from a month to three or four years before it reaches its conclusion. Many insurance adjusters immediately agree to a settlement demand letter once they know that there's an attorney on the case. 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 we'd obviously like to resolve your claim as quickly as possible, it's always the best idea to wait to agree to a settlement until it's the best possible financial recovery you're entitled to. You only have chance to receive compensation.
Is It Expensive to Hire an Automobile Injury Attorney?
Halvorsen Klote's Marlborough, 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 financial risk involved in hiring our services.
We don't believe that money should be a barrier for people who need quality legal representation to make a full financial recovery.
If you have any other questions about personal injury claims, have a look at our other FAQs, have a look at our legal resources page or call us at 866-382-4167.
Other injury claims we handle in Marlborough, 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
Speak to an Automobile Injury Attorney in Marlborough, MO Today
We founded our practice on the idea that everyone should have access to 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 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 Marlborough, 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 Marlborough, MO family can spend your energy on healing. Speak to a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Marlborough, MO now at 866-382-4167 or reach out to us online for a free 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.