Automobile Injury Attorney Mehlville, MO | Personal Injury Lawyers | Car Accident Lawyers | Halvorsen Klote

Mehlville, MO

Automobile Injury Attorney Mehlville, MO

Mehlville, MO Personal Injury Lawyers


Call 866-382-4167 for a Free Consultation | Mehlville, MO Automobile Injury Attorney

Automobile injury attorney in Mehlville, MO. Injuries in auto crashes happen in a flash, and the emotional, physical and economic hardships they carry happen suddenly as well. If a careless driver in Mehlville, MO injured you, you need an automobile injury attorney who will defend your rights. At Halvorsen Klote, we stand by injury victims when they need it the most. Insurance adjusters may try to cheat, but with the help of a skilled attorney, they will not be able to keep you from the maximum compensation you are rightfully entitled to. We provide the highest quality of legal representation to the vulnerable in Mehlville, 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 Mehlville, MO today at 866-382-4167 or reach out to us online for a free consultation.

We've gotten full compensation for our Mehlville, MO clients in a variety of auto accident claims, including:


Schedule a Free Consultation

Autombile Injury Attorney Mehlville, MO | Personal Injury Lawyers | Injury Claim Lawyers | Auto Accident Law Firm Near Mehlville

Mehlville, 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 are some of the questions we get most frequently:

How Do I Know if I Have a Case?

In order to have a case, your injury needs to create some amount of financial loss, such as urgent care bills or lost wages, and accident had to be caused or contributed to by another party. 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 the negligence party, 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 Mehlville, MO automobile injury attorneys offer free case reviews for people who were injured and aren't sure if they're eligible for compensation.

Is it Worth it 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 you didn't need much medical treatment — say, one emergency room visit — include detailed records in your letter to the insurance adjuster, 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.

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 refuses to compensate you fairly, or is saying 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 get maximum compensation.

Other complications, 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 Are My Automobile Injury Worth in Mehlville, MO?

The damages you are eligible for after a car accident are intended to provide you with an equitable financial recovery for all the ways an injury affected your life. With a talented Mehlville, MO automobile injury attorney, you'll be compensated for:

  • Medical bills
  • Lost wages from time spent off work
  • Lost earning capacity if your injuries result in permanent disability
  • 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 spousal relationship is affected by your injuries

How much compensation you receive for your automobile injuries depends largely on how your injuries have impacted your life.

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 method, 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 led to physical discomfort for four months, and inconvenienced you because you had to wear a neck brace for a week. Your noneconomic damages might be assigned a multiplier of three. So:

    $15,000 in economic damages × 3 for a pain and suffering multiplier = a $45,000 financial recovery
  • The Per Diem Method — "Per Diem" translates from Latin to "per day." With this approach, your Mehlville, 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, if we stick with the same example, say your lawyer assigned $200 a day to your injuries:
  • $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.

Autombile Injury Attorney Mehlville, MO | Personal Injury Lawyers | Injury Claim Lawyers | Auto Accident Law Firm Near Mehlville

Will I Still Get Reimbursement if My Medical Insurance Covers My Medical Expenses?

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 claim. That allows them to be repaid by the liable party's insurance, just as you are being compensated.

There are various legal remedies to reduce medical liens. An experience Mehlville, 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

While the negligent driver may have a policy with higher limits, 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, you can use your own policy's underinsured motorist coverage. Secondly, in their investigation your attorney might might determine that there are other liable parties who you can also make a claim against.

What Other Parties Could Be Held Accountable for My Auto Accident Injuries in Mehlville, MO?

In most cases, the other driver is the only personal liable 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 accident, the trucking company may have failed to repair a truck, or may have required their driver to drive more hours than regulations allow
  • A mechanic may have improperly repaired an automobile, which had a hand in the wreck
  • A bar or restaurant if they served alcohol to a drunk driver that caused your crash
  • A local, state or federal entity 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?

Shifting blame is a common trick insurance adjusters use to devalue your claim. Having sound evidence, as well as an automobile injury attorney used to fighting back against that tactic, will help prove you're not at-fault.

If, as in some cases, you really were partially to blame for the accident, you are not completely barred from compensation. Both Missouri Revised Statute §537.765 and 735 ILCS 5/2-1116 followed the legal principle of "comparative negligence." 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 your friend's or family member's insurance premiums might go up a little, which is likely substantially less than your economic damages. An automobile injury attorney will communicate with other side so you don't have to feel awkward.

Will I Have to Go to Court?

You probably will not have to go to court for a car accident claim. The Bureau of Justice Statistics reports that less than five percent of tort claims go to 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 claim 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 reaches its conclusion. Many insurance adjusters immediately agree to a settlement demand letter 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 soon, it's always in your best interest to hold out for the full, fair financial recovery you deserve. You only have chance to receive compensation.

Is It Expensive to Hire an Automobile Injury Attorney?

Halvorsen Klote's Mehlville, MO automobile injury attorney work on a contingency fee basis. That means we we get a portion of your final payout, and there are no upfront costs. If we don't secure any compensation for you, 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 our other FAQs, go to our legal resources page or request a free consultation.

Other injury claims we handle in Mehlville, MO include:

Autombile Injury Attorney Mehlville, MO | Personal Injury Attorney | Car Crash Lawyers | Auto Accident Attorneys Near Mehlville

Speak to an Automobile Injury Attorney in Mehlville, MO Today

We founded our practice on the idea that an injury victim should have access to the same high quality legal representation that large insurance companies have. Injuries are always unexpected and can leave you with a profound sense of uncertainty. 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 Mehlville, MO clients the best possible results. We always have open lines of communication with our clients, and handle the entire legal process so you and your Mehlville, MO family can spend your energy on healing. Call a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Mehlville, MO now at 866-382-4167 or reach out to us online for a free consultation.


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.