Automobile Injury Attorney Republic, MO
Republic, MO Personal Injury Lawyers
Call 866-382-4167 for a Free Consultation | Republic, MO Automobile Injury Attorney
Automobile injury attorney in Republic, MO. Injuries in auto wrecks happen without warning, and the mental, physical and economic burdens they create happen suddenly as well. If a thoughtless driver in Republic, MO injured you, you require an automobile injury attorney who will get you the financial recovery you need to be made whole again. At Halvorsen Klote, we stand by injury victims when they need help the most. Insurance adjusters can seem heartless, but with the help of an experienced attorney, you will get the justice and financial recovery you are rightfully entitled to. We provide the highest quality of legal representation to the injured in Republic, 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 Republic, MO now at 866-382-4167 or contact us online for a free case review.
We have experience with a number of automobile injury claims, including:
Republic, MO Automobile Injury Attorney: Frequently Asked Questions
For most of our clients, this is the first time they've had to be a part of the injury claims process. They understandably have doubts and uncertainties as to what to expect. Below is a list of FAQs to help you better understand the process:
Do I Even Have Autombile Injury Claim?
For a claim to be valid, your injury needs to create some form of economic damages, such as emergency room bills or lost wages, and accident had to be caused or contributed to by somebody else. If you you were sore for a few days after the accident, but you were never medically evaluated, you're unlikely to have a valid claim. If you were the negligence party, you cannot file a claim against someone else's insurance.
Fortunately, you don't have to make that decision alone. Halvorsen Klote's Republic, MO automobile injury attorneys offer free case evaluations for people who were injured and aren't sure of the validity of their claim.
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 your medical expenses aren't very high — say, one appointment with your doctor — send copies of your records and bills to the insurance adjuster, and ask for some extra money for inconvenience. In those types of situations, it's unlikely an automobile injury attorney will be able to get you significantly more money.
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 going to do whatever they can to pay you as little as possible. 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 negligent driver refuses to be held accountable, 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 Republic, MO?
The damages you recover 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 Republic, MO automobile injury attorney, you'll be compensated for:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages from time spent off work
- Lost earning capacity if you can no longer work
- Miscellaneous 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 compensation you receive in your car accident settlement is mostly based on how your injuries have affected your life.
How Are Noneconomic Damages Calculated?
There are two commonly accepted ways to calculate pain and suffering damages:
- 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" translates from Latin to "per day." Implementing this approach, your Republic, MO automobile injury attorney determines how much money a day of suffering is worth, and multiplies that by the number of days you suffered. So, with the above example, say $200 a day is a fair approximation of how your injuries affected you:
Say the negligent driver caused a whiplash 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. 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 = $45,000 in total compensation
$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 determine your pain and suffering damages for your specific case.
Will I Still Get Compensation 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 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 be repaid by the liable party's insurance, just as you are being compensated.
There are various legal remedies to reduce medical liens. A talented Republic, MO automobile injury attorney will know best how to reduce those liens and make sure as little is taken out of your financial recovery as possible.
What If the Insurance Coverage is Limited?
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
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. That doesn't mean we can't get more compensation than the limits. First, your Republic, MO automobile injury attorney can make an underinsured motorist claim under your own policy, that can provide compensation for the rest of your damages. 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 Republic, MO?
In most cases, liability is solely on the driver that caused the accident. However, there are other people and entities that may have contributed to your accident:
- An auto company may may have produced a faulty vehicle component, leading to a product liability claim
- If you were injured in a truck accident, there are a variety of regulations the trucking company may have violated
- A mechanic may have improperly repaired an automobile, which had a hand in the accident
- A licensed alcohol vendor if someone got drunk at their venue, drove afterwards and caused a crash
- A government 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 I'm Being Blamed For My Accident?
Shifting blame is a common trick insurance companies use to avoid paying you. Having sound evidence, as well as an experienced automobile injury attorney fighting back against that tactic, will help prove you're not to blame.
In some car accidents, both drivers really are each partially liable. Both Missouri Revised Statute §537.765 and Illinois Law followed the legal doctrine of "comparative fault." Meaning, each party pays for the percentage of fault they bear for the accident. In Illinois, you cannot make any recovery if you were more than half liable.
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 Republic, MO. While they may have to pay a moderate amount more for insurance, which is likely substantially 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?
You probably will not have to go attend hearings or a trial for a car accident claim. The Bureau of Justice Statistics reports that more than nine out of 10 tort claims are settled before trial.
Depositions and mediations are common formal procedures in automobile injury claims, but your automobile injury attorney will make sure you're adequately prepared and will handle most of the work.
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 six to eight weeks to three or four years before it results in fair compensation. Many insurance adjusters immediately agree to a settlement demand letter once they've received notice that the plaintiff hired a lawyer. Other times, a fair settlement is only offered right before trial begins, 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 while we understand that you'd like to receive your money as quickly as possible, it's always the best idea to hold out for the maximum compensation you're entitled to. Once you agree to a settlement, you can never go back and ask for more money later.
What if I Can't Afford an Automobile Injury Attorney?
Halvorsen Klote's Republic, MO automobile injury attorney work on a contingency fee basis. That means we we get a portion of your final payout, and you don't owe us anything upfront. 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 need quality legal representation to make a full financial recovery.
To learn more about the claims process, check out our other FAQs, go to our legal resources page or call us at 866-382-4167.
Other injury claims we take on in Republic, 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 Republic, MO Today
We do what we do because we believe that an injury victim deserves the same high quality legal representation that large insurance companies have. 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 Republic, MO clients the best possible results. We pride ourselves on our client communication, and handle the entire legal process so you and your Republic, MO family can spend your energy on healing. Speak to a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Republic, MO now at 866-382-4167 or contact us online for a free case review.
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.
