Automobile Injury Attorney Maryland Heights, MO
Maryland Heights, MO Personal Injury Lawyers
Call 866-382-4167 for a Free Consultation | Maryland Heights, MO Automobile Injury Attorney
Automobile injury attorney in Maryland Heights, MO. The consequences of an auto accident injury are immediate and severe. If you were injured in a Maryland Heights, MO auto accident, you require an automobile injury attorney who will defend your rights. At Halvorsen Klote, we fight for those injured by the negligence of another when the whole world seems to have turned against them. Insurance adjusters may try to deceive you, but with the help of an experienced attorney, you will get the justice and financial recovery you are owed. We provide the highest quality of legal representation to the vulnerable in Maryland Heights, MO, the Greater St. Louis area and Southern Illinois. You owe us no fees until you get the compensation you deserve. Speak to a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Maryland Heights, MO today at 866-382-4167 or reach out to us through our website for a complimentary consultation.
We've gotten great financial recoveries for our Maryland Heights, MO clients in numerous types of auto accident claims, including:
Maryland Heights, MO Automobile Injury Attorney: Frequently Asked Questions
Most injury victims have never had to make an injury claim before, and understandably have a lot of questions as to the process and what to expect. 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 realistic chance of being compensated, you have to have suffered an injury that led to some amount of economic damages, for instance emergency room bills or lost wages, and accident had to be caused or contributed to by somebody else. 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 Maryland Heights, MO automobile injury attorneys are more than happy to discuss your case for free.
Is it Worth it to Get a Lawyer for an Automobile Injury?
Usually, yes, but not all the time. If there's no dispute about who to blame for the accident and you didn't need much medical treatment — for example, one appointment with your doctor — send detailed records to the insurance company, and see if you can get some extra money for inconvenience. In those types of situations, an automobile injury attorney won't be able to add much value to your claim.
But, if your injuries are more severe, result in months of physical therapy or chiropractic appointments and don't allow you to work for a period, the insurance company is not going to willingly pay for all the ways the injury has affected your life. If the insurance company is not willing to pay the full extent of your damages, or is saying your injuries were pre-existing, then you absolutely need a lawyer. Insurance adjusters know how to devalue claims; personal injury lawyers know how to get maximum compensation.
Other complications, such as if the negligent driver refuses to be held accountable, 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 Maryland Heights, MO Automobile Injuries?
The damages you recover after an automobile injury are meant to compensate you for the financial, physical and emotional toll your injuries cause. With a knowledgeable Maryland Heights, MO automobile injury attorney, you'll get a financial recovery for:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages from time spent off work
- Lost earning capacity if you can no longer work
- Other related 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 money you get for your automobile injuries is mostly based on how your injuries have impacted your life.
How Are Noneconomic Damages Calculated?
The dollar amount a plaintiff receives for noneconomic 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, depending on how severe your injuries were. The more disruptive the injury, the higher the number.
- The Per Diem Method — "Per Diem" means "per day" in Latin. Using this approach, your Maryland Heights, MO automobile injury attorney assigns a dollar amount to a single day of suffering, and multiplies that by the number of days you suffered. 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 economic damages, and which led to physical discomfort 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 economic damages × 3 for the noneconomic damages multiplier = a $45,000 financial recovery
$200 × 121 days (four months) = $24,200 in noneconomic damages (on top of your economic damages)
Your attorney will use the method that applies best to your individual case.
Will I Still Get Reimbursement if My Medical Insurance Pays For My Medical Bills?
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 claim. 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. An experience Maryland Heights, 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 nearly the same 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 negligent driver may have more coverage, 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, your Maryland Heights, 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, your attorney can find out if there are other liable parties.
Who Else Could Be Liable for My Auto Accident Injuries in Maryland Heights, 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 auto manufacturer may have negligently designed, manufactured, or tested a vehicle component, and you can make a product liability claim
- In a truck crash, there are a variety of regulations the trucking company may have violated
- A mechanic may have improperly repaired an automobile, which caused the crash
- A bar or restaurant if they served alcohol to a drunk driver that caused your crash
- A government 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?
Shifting blame is a common trick insurance companies use to devalue your claim. Having sound evidence, as well as an experienced automobile injury attorney fighting back against that tactic, will demonstrate that you aren't liable.
In some car accidents, both drivers really are each partially to blame. Both Missouri Revised Statute §537.765 and Illinois Law followed the legal doctrine of "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, your right to compensation is barred 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, that doesn't compare to the economic and noneconomic damages you've incurred because of their negligence. 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?
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 last anywhere from six to eight weeks to several years before it results in fair compensation. Many insurance adjusters immediately agree to a settlement demand letter once they know 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 there are complexities to the case that require substantial investigation and time put in.
Most cases reach a conclusion from anywhere between a few months to a year. While while we understand that you'd like to receive your compensation soon, it's always in your best interest to hold out for the full, fair financial recovery you're owed. This is your only chance to receive compensation.
Is It Expensive to Hire an Automobile Injury Attorney?
Halvorsen Klote's Maryland Heights, MO automobile injury attorney receive our fees through a contingency fee. That means we we get a portion of your final payout, and there are no upfront costs. 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 just want to be fairly compensated for their injuries.
If you have any other questions 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 take on in Maryland Heights, 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 Maryland Heights, MO Today
We founded our practice on the idea that an injury victim should have access to the same standard of legal advocacy that large insurance companies have. An injury is shocking and create fear and confusion. But you don't have to go through the claims process alone. We negotiate with insurance companies every day and know how to get our Maryland Heights, 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 Maryland Heights, MO family. Call a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Maryland Heights, MO today at 866-382-4167 or contact us online for a free 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.
