Automobile Injury Attorney Quincy, MO
Quincy, MO Personal Injury Lawyers
Call 866-382-4167 for a Free Consultation | Quincy, MO Automobile Injury Attorney
Automobile injury attorney in Quincy, MO. Injuries in auto wrecks happen suddenly, and the mental, physical and economic burdens they create are quick to materialize as well. If you were injured in a Quincy, MO auto accident, you need an automobile injury attorney who will fight to get you justice. At Halvorsen Klote, we fight for injury victims when the whole world seems stacked against them. Insurance adjusters can seem heartless, but with the help of a knowledgeable attorney, they will not be able to prevent you from collecting the full compensation you are rightfully entitled to. We provide exceptional legal representation to the vulnerable in Quincy, MO, the Greater St. Louis area and Southern Illinois. You owe us no fees until we win your case. Call a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Quincy, MO now at 866-382-4167 or reach out to us online for a complimentary consultation.
We have experience with a number of automobile injury claims, including:
Quincy, 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 what the experience will be like. 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 winning, your injury needs to lead to some form of economic damages, for instance 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 your back hurt for a few days after the accident, but you never sought medical treatment, you're unlikely to have a successful claim. If you were the negligence party, 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's Quincy, 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?
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 your medical bills are minimal — say, one urgent care appointment — include detailed records in your letter to the insurance adjuster, and ask for a little more on top for the nuisance. In those types of situations, an automobile injury attorney probably isn't necessary.
However, with more significant injuries that result in months of physical therapy or chiropractic appointments and cause you to lose time off work, the insurance company is not going to willingly pay for all those damages. If the insurance company is not willing to compensate you fairly, or is trying to convince you that your injuries were pre-existing, then you absolutely need a lawyer. Insurance adjusters have a lot of experience minimizing payouts; personal injury lawyers know how to have just as much experience holding them accountable.
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 Quincy, MO?
The damages you recover after a car accident are meant to provide you with an equitable financial recovery for all the ways an injury affected your life. With an experienced Quincy, MO automobile injury attorney, you'll be compensated for:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages from time spent recovering
- Lost earning capacity if your injuries result in permanent disability
- Out-of-pocket 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 injuries prevent you from helping and giving affection to your spouse
How much money you get in your car accident settlement is mostly based on the severity of your injuries.
How Much Will I Get for Noneconomic Damages?
The dollar amount a plaintiff receives for pain and suffering damages is determined through one of two methods:
- The Multiplier Method — With this approach, 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.
- The Per Diem Method — "Per Diem" means "per day" in Latin. Implementing this method, your Quincy, 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, with the above example, say $200 a day is a fair approximation of how your injuries affected you:
For example, the negligent driver caused 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 week. Your noneconomic damages might be assigned a multiplier of three. So:
$15,000 in medical bills and lost wages × 3 for a pain and suffering 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 know the best way to determine your pain and suffering damages for your individual case.
Will I Still Get Reimbursement 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, your medical insurance company will place a medical lien on your settlement. That allows them to collect the money that paid for your injuries from your compensation.
There are various legal remedies to reduce medical liens. An experience Quincy, 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 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. If that happens, we have a couple options. First, you can use your own policy's underinsured motorist coverage. Secondly, your attorney can find out if there are other liable parties.
What Other Parties Could Be Held Accountable for My Auto Accident Injuries in Quincy, MO?
In most cases, the other driver is the only personal responsible for your injuries. However, depending on the specifics of your case, other parties may be liable:
- An car manufacturer may may have produced a defective vehicle 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 required their driver to drive more hours than allowed
- A mechanic may have improperly repaired an automobile, which contributed to the accident
- A bar or restaurant if someone got drunk at their venue, drove afterwards and caused your injuries
- A government entity responsible for keeping roads safe
- 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 detailed 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 Law and 735 ILCS 5/2-1116 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 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 liable driver's insurance company, even if that person is a friend or family member in Quincy, MO. While they may have to pay a moderate amount more for insurance, which is likely much less than your medical bills and lost wages. An automobile injury attorney will communicate with other side so you don't have to feel awkward.
Will My Claim Go to Trial?
It's very unlikely that you'll be required to go attend hearings or a trial 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.
You'll likely have to take a deposition and may have to attend a mediation, but your automobile injury attorney will prep you for those and do most of the work themselves.
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 three or four years before it reaches its conclusion. Many insurance adjusters start cooperating immediately once they've learned that there's an attorney on the case. In other cases, a fair settlement is only offered right before trial begins, or there are complexities to the case that require substantial 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 in your best interest to hold out for the maximum financial recovery you're entitled to. This is your only chance to receive compensation.
Is It Expensive to Hire an Automobile Injury Attorney?
Halvorsen Klote's Quincy, MO automobile injury attorney are paid 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 secure any compensation for you, you don't owe us anything, 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 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 Quincy, 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
Hire an Automobile Injury Attorney in Quincy, MO Today
We do what we do because we believe that everyone deserves the same standard of legal advocacy as the insurance companies that are trying to keep them from the financial recovery they are owed. Injuries are always unexpected and create fear and confusion. 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 Quincy, 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 Quincy, MO family can focus on healing. Speak to a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Quincy, MO now at 866-382-4167 or reach out to us through our website for a free 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.
