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Automobile Injury Attorney Potosi, MO

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Automobile injury attorney in Potosi, MO. The consequences of an auto accident injury are immediate and severe. If you were injured in a Potosi, MO auto accident, you need an automobile injury attorney who will defend your rights. At Halvorsen Klote Davis, we stand by those injured by the negligence of another when they need it the most. Insurance adjusters can seem heartless, but with the help of an experienced attorney, you will get the justice and financial recovery you deserve. We provide outstanding legal advocacy to the injured in Potosi, MO, the Greater St. Louis area and Southern Illinois. You owe us no fees unless we win. Speak to a Halvorsen Klote Davis automobile injury attorney in Potosi, MO today at (314) 451-1314 or reach out to us online for a free case evaluation.

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

Potosi, MO Automobile Injury Attorney: Frequently Asked Questions

For most of our clients, this is their first foray into the injury claims process. They understandably have doubts and uncertainties as to what the experience will be like. Some of the most commonly asked questions we get are:

How Do I Know if I Have a Valid Claim?

For a claim to be valid, your injury needs to lead to some form of financial loss, for instance urgent care bills or lost wages, and there has to be another party who is at least partially at fault for the accident. If you your back hurt for a few days after the accident, but you never sought medical treatment, it would be difficult for you to make a personal injury claim. If you were responsible for your injuries, you cannot file a claim against someone else’s insurance.

Never assume that you don’t have a case without speaking to an attorney first. Halvorsen Klote Davis’s Potosi, MO automobile injury attorneys offer free case reviews 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 injuries where you probably don’t need a lawyer. If there’s no dispute about who to blame for the accident and you didn’t need much medical treatment — for instance, one urgent care appointment — send copies of your records and bills to the insurance adjuster, and ask for 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, require ongoing medical treatment and result in lost wages, the insurance company is going to do whatever they can to pay you as little as possible. If the insurance company refuses to give you a fair offer, or is trying to convince you that 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.

There are things besides significant injuries that require an attorney, such as if the negligent driver refuses to be held accountable, or if your injuries occurred in a multi-vehicle accident, also make an automobile injury attorney required.

What Compensation Can I Recover For My Potosi, MO Automobile Injuries?

The damages you are eligible for after an automobile injury are intended to compensate you for the economic, physical and emotional consequences of your injuries. With an experienced Potosi, MO 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
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 compensation you receive for your automobile injuries is mostly based on the severity of your injuries.

Injured in Potosi, MO? Call Us.

How Are Pain and Suffering Calculated?

There are two commonly accepted ways to calculate pain and suffering damages:

- The Multiplier Method — With this method, we multiply the total of your medical bills, lost wages and out-of-pocket expenses by a number between 1.5 and 5, using higher numbers for more debilitating injuries.

For example, 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 few days. The pain and suffering might be given a multiplier of three. So:

$15,000 in economic damages × 3 for the noneconomic damages multiplier = $45,000 in final compensation

- The Per Diem Method — “Per Diem” translates from Latin to “per day.” With this method, your Potosi, 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 $200 a day is a fair approximation of how your injuries affected you:

$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 unique case.

Will I Still Get Reimbursement if My Medical Insurance Pays For My Medical Expenses?

Yes. All of your medical expenses will be included in your settlement or judgment, even if they were partially or fully covered by insurance. However, your medical insurance company will place a medical lien on your compensation. That allows them to collect the money that paid for your injuries from your compensation.

There are various legal remedies to reduce medical liens. A skilled Potosi, 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 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

While the negligent driver may have a policy with higher limits, there is still no guarantee that there’s enough to cover all of your damages. If that happens, we have a couple options. First, your Potosi, MO automobile injury attorney can file an underinsured motorist claim with your own insurance company, that can provide compensation for the rest of your damages. Secondly, in their investigation your attorney might uncover other liable parties who you can also make a claim against.

Who Else Could Be Liable for My Auto Accident Injuries in Potosi, 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 faulty vehicle component, leading to a product liability claim
In a truck accident, there are a variety of regulations the trucking company may have violated
A mechanic may have negligently worked on the car, which contributed to the crash
A bar or restaurant if they served alcohol to a drunk driver that caused your crash
A local, state or federal authority responsible for keeping roads safe
A construction company if a construction site was not properly cordoned off

What if I’m Being Blamed For My Accident?

Shifting blame is a common trick insurance companies use to avoid paying you. Having sound evidence, in addition to having an automobile injury attorney used to fighting back against insurance companies, will help prove you’re not at-fault.

If, as in some cases, you really were partially at fault for your injuries, you are not completely barred from compensation. Both Missouri Revised Statute §537.765 and 735 ILCS 5/2-1116 followed the legal doctrine of “comparative fault.” 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 at fault.

What if I Was Injured as a Passenger?

If you were injured in a car that somebody else was driving, you still seek compensation from the negligent driver’s insurance company, even if that person is a friend or family member in Potosi, MO. While their insurance premiums might go up a little, which is likely much less than your economic damages. 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 a car accident claim. 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 three or four years before it’s resolved. Many insurance adjusters start cooperating immediately once they’ve received notice 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 substantial investigation and time put in.

Most cases are settled from anywhere between a few months to a year. While we’d obviously like to resolve your claim without waiting a long period, it’s always in your best interest to hold out for the full, fair financial recovery you’re owed. You only have chance to receive compensation.

What if I Can’t Afford an Automobile Injury Attorney?

Halvorsen Klote Davis’s Potosi, 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 a barrier for people who just want to be fairly compensated for their injuries.

To learn more about car accident claims, have a look at the frequently asked questions area of our website, have a look at our legal resources page or contact us online.

Other cases we handle in Potosi, MO include:

Hire an Automobile Injury Attorney in Potosi, MO Today

We founded our practice on the idea that everyone 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 we will be by your side every step of the way. We stand up to insurance companies every day and know how to get our Potosi, MO clients the best possible results. We pride ourselves on our client communication, and handle the entire legal process so you and your Potosi, MO family can focus on healing. Call a Halvorsen Klote Davis automobile injury attorney in Potosi, MO today at (314) 451-1314 or contact us online for a complimentary case evaluation.