Automobile Injury Attorney Moscow Mills, MO
Moscow Mills, MO Personal Injury Lawyers
Call 866-382-4167 for a Free Consultation | Moscow Mills, MO Automobile Injury Attorney
Automobile injury attorney in Moscow Mills, MO. The consequences of an auto accident injury are immediate and severe. If a negligent driver in Moscow Mills, MO injured you, you need an automobile injury attorney who will defend your rights. At Halvorsen Klote, we have dedicated our practice to fighting for injury victims when the whole world seems stacked against them. Insurance adjusters may try to cheat, but with the help of a knowledgeable attorney, they will not be able to prevent you from collecting the best possible financial recovery you are owed. We serve the vulnerable in Moscow Mills, 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 Moscow Mills, MO now at 866-382-4167 or reach out to us online for a complimentary case evaluation.
We've gotten great financial recoveries for our Moscow Mills, MO clients in a variety of auto accident claims, including:
Moscow Mills, MO Automobile Injury Attorney: Frequently Asked Questions
Most people who call our office have never had to make an injury claim before, and understandably have doubts and uncertainties as to how to proceed going about getting a financial recovery for their damages. Some of the most commonly asked questions we get are:
How Do I Know if I Have a Case?
In order to have a case, you have to have sustained an injury that led to some form of economic damages, for instance an appointment with your doctor or lost wages, and there has to be another party who is at least partially at fault for the accident. If you you were sore for a few days after the accident, but you never sought medical treatment, you're unlikely to have a valid claim. If you were the negligence party, you may not have a case either.
Never assume that you can't make a successful claim without speaking to an attorney first. Halvorsen Klote's Moscow Mills, MO automobile injury attorneys are more than happy to discuss the validity of your claim for free.
Do I Need to Hire a Lawyer for an Automobile Injury?
There are some injuries where you probably don't need a lawyer. If there's no dispute about who the at-fault driver was and your medical expenses aren't very high — say, one urgent care appointment — include copies of your records and bills in your letter to the insurance adjuster, and see if you can get some extra money for inconvenience. In those types of situations, an automobile injury attorney probably isn't necessary.
But, if your injuries are more severe, result in several physical therapy or chiropractic appointments and result in lost wages, the insurance company is not going to willingly pay for all those damages. 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 have just as much experience holding them accountable.
There are things besides significant injuries that require an attorney, such as if there is a dispute over liability, or if you were in a multi-vehicle accident, almost always require the assistance of an automobile injury attorney.
How Much Are My Automobile Injury Worth in Moscow Mills, MO?
The damages you recover after an automobile injury are intended to provide you with an equitable financial recovery for all the ways an injury affected your life. With an experienced Moscow Mills, MO automobile injury attorney, you'll get a financial recovery for:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages from time spent recovering
- Lost earning capacity if you can no longer work
- Other related 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 affected by your injuries
How much money you get for your automobile injuries depends largely on the severity of your injuries.
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, using higher numbers for more significant injuries.
- The Per Diem Method — "Per Diem" means "per day" in Latin. Using this method, your Moscow Mills, 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, using the same whiplash injury example, say your lawyer assigned $200 a day to your injuries:
For example, you suffered a whiplash injury, leading to $15,000 in medical expenses and lost wages, and which caused you to have physical discomfort for four months, and further disrupted you because it forced you to wear a neck brace for a short period. 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 = a $45,000 financial recovery
$200 × 121 days (four months) = $24,200 in pain and suffering damages (in addition to your economic damages)
Your attorney will know the best way to calculate your noneconomic damages for your unique case.
Will I Still Get Compensation if My Medical Insurance Covers 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, insurance companies and healthcare providers have a right place a medical lien on your settlement. 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. A skilled Moscow Mills, MO automobile injury attorney will know best how to reduce those liens and make sure as little is taken out of your compensation as possible.
What If My Damages Exceed the Policy Limits?
Missouri and Illinois have almost 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
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. That doesn't mean we can't get more compensation than the limits. First, your Moscow Mills, MO automobile injury attorney can make an underinsured motorist claim under your own policy, asking them to make up the difference. Secondly, in their investigation your attorney might might determine that there are other liable parties who you can also make a claim against.
Who Else Could Be Liable for My Auto Accident Injuries in Moscow Mills, MO?
In most cases, liability is squarely on the driver that caused the accident. 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, and you can make a product liability claim
- If you were injured in a truck accident, the trucking company may have failed to repair a truck, or may have forced their driver to drive more hours than regulations allow
- A mechanic may have improperly repaired an automobile, which caused the crash
- A bar or restaurant if someone got drunk at their venue, drove afterwards and caused your injuries
- A local, state or federal entity responsible for designing and maintaining the safety of roads
- A construction company if a construction site was not properly secured
What if I'm Being Blamed For My Accident?
Shifting blame is a common trick insurance companies use to avoid paying you. Providing sound evidence, as well as an experienced automobile injury attorney fighting back against insurance companies, will demonstrate that you aren't liable.
In some car accidents, both drivers really are each partially liable. Both Missouri Revised Statute §537.765 and Illinois Law 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, 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 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 they may have to pay a moderate amount more for insurance, which is likely far less than your medical bills and lost wages. An automobile injury attorney can help make the process less personal.
Will My Claim Go to Trial?
It's very unlikely that you'll have to go attend hearings or a trial for a car accident claim. The Bureau of Justice Statistics reports that only four percent of tort claims go to 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 handle most of the work.
How Long Will I Have to Wait Until I'm Compensated?
That depends on your case and, usually, how complex it is. A personal injury claim can last anywhere from a month to three or four years before it reaches its conclusion. Many insurance adjusters start cooperating immediately once they've received notice that you hired a lawyer. Other times, a fair settlement is only offered right before trial begins, or there are complexities to the case that require considerable investigation and expert testimony.
Most cases are settled within three to nine months. While while we understand that you'd like to receive your money soon, it's always the best idea to wait to agree to a settlement until it's the maximum compensation you're entitled to. This is your only chance to receive compensation.
What if I Can't Afford an Automobile Injury Attorney?
Halvorsen Klote's Moscow Mills, MO automobile injury attorney receive our fees through a contingency fee. That means we we get a portion of your final payout, and we only get paid at the conclusion of your claim. 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 don't believe 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 the claims process, have a look at the frequently asked questions area of our website, go to our legal resources page or call us at 866-382-4167.
Other injury claims we take on in Moscow Mills, 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 Moscow Mills, 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 can leave you with a profound sense of uncertainty. 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 Moscow Mills, MO clients the full financial recovery they deserve. We pride ourselves on our client communication, and do everything we can to make the claims process easy and seamless for you and your Moscow Mills, MO family. Speak to a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Moscow Mills, MO now at 866-382-4167 or contact us online for a complimentary consultation.
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.
