Automobile Injury Attorney Sappington, MO

Sappington, MO Personal Injury Lawyers

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

Automobile injury attorney in Sappington, MO. The effects of an auto accident injury are immediate and severe. If you were injured in a Sappington, MO auto accident, you need an automobile injury attorney who will defend your rights. At Halvorsen Klote, we fight for those injured by the negligence of another when they need help the most. Insurance adjusters may try to cheat, but with an experienced attorney in your corner, you will get the justice and financial recovery you deserve. We serve the vulnerable in Sappington, MO, the Greater St. Louis area and Southern Illinois. You don't pay until you get the compensation you deserve. Speak to a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Sappington, MO now at 866-382-4167 or contact us through our website for a free consultation.

We've gotten great results for our Sappington, MO clients in a variety of auto accident claims, including:

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Sappington, 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 how to proceed going about getting a financial recovery for their injuries. Below is a list of FAQs to help you better understand the process:

How Do I Know if I Have a Case?

In order to have a realistic chance of winning, 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 suffered some bumps and bruises, but you were never medically evaluated, you're unlikely to have a valid claim. 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 make that decision alone. Halvorsen Klote's Sappington, MO automobile injury attorneys offer free case reviews for people who were injured and aren't sure of the validity of their claim.

Is it Worth it to Hire a Lawyer for an Automobile Injury?

Usually, yes, but not all the time. If there's no dispute about who the at-fault driver was and you didn't need much medical treatment — for example, one appointment with your doctor — include copies of your records and bills in your letter to the insurance adjuster, and ask for some extra money for the nuisance. In those types of situations, it's unlikely an automobile injury attorney will be able to get you significantly more money.

But, if your injuries are more severe, result in several physical therapy or chiropractic appointments and don't allow you to work for a period, the insurance company is going to do whatever they can to pay you as little as possible. If the insurance company isn't coming close to giving you a fair offer, or is trying to convince you that your injuries weren't caused by the accident, then a lawyer is likely the only way you'll get what you are owed. Insurance adjusters have a lot of experience minimizing payouts; 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 the negligent driver refuses to admit fault, or if you were in a multi-vehicle accident, almost always require the assistance of an automobile injury attorney.

How Much Will I Receive For My Sappington, MO Automobile Injuries?

The damages you recover after an automobile injury are intended to reimburse you for the financial, physical and emotional toll your injuries cause. With a knowledgeable Sappington, MO automobile injury attorney, you can be reimbursed 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 compensation you receive in your car accident settlement depends largely on how your injuries have impacted your life.

How Are Noneconomic Damages Calculated?

There are two commonly accepted ways to calculate noneconomic damages:

• 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, depending on how severe your injuries were. The more disruptive the injury, the higher the number.

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" means "per day" in Latin. Using this method, your Sappington, MO automobile injury attorney assigns a dollar amount to a single day of suffering, 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 pain and suffering damages (on top of your economic damages)

Your attorney will know the best way to determine your noneconomic damages for your unique case.

Will I Still Get Compensation if My Medical Insurance Pays For My Medical Bills?

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, insurance companies and healthcare providers have a right place a medical lien on your claim. 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 Sappington, 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

While the at-fault driver may have more coverage, 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.

Who Else Could Be Liable for My Auto Accident Injuries in Sappington, MO?

In most cases, the other driver is the only personal liable for your injuries. However, depending on the specifics of your case, other parties may be liable:

• An car company may have negligently designed, manufactured, or tested a vehicle component, leading to a product liability claim
• If you were injured in a truck crash, there are a variety of regulations the trucking company may have violated
• A mechanic may have improperly repaired an automobile, causing a defect that caused the crash
• A bar or restaurant if they served alcohol to a drunk driver that caused your crash
• A government entity responsible for designing and maintaining the safety of roads
• A construction company if a construction site was not properly cordoned off

What if I'm Being Blamed For My Accident?

An insurance adjuster may try to convince you that you were the at-fault driver in order to devalue your claim. Providing detailed evidence, in addition to having an automobile injury attorney used to fighting back against insurance companies, will demonstrate that you aren't liable.

In some car accidents, both drivers really are each partially at fault. Both Missouri Revised Statute §537.765 and 735 ILCS 5/2-1116 allow for what's called "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 it is determined that you were more than 50 percent at fault.

What if I Was Injured as a Passenger?

If you were injured as a passenger, you still seek compensation from the negligent driver's insurance company, even if that person is a friend or family member in Sappington, MO. While they may have to pay a moderate amount more for insurance, that doesn't compare to the medical bills and lost wages you've sustained because of their negligence. An automobile injury attorney can help make the process less personal.

Will I Have to Go to Court?

You probably will not be required to go to court for your automobile injuries. 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 prep you for those and do most of the work themselves.

How Long Will I Have to Wait Until I'm Compensated?

Each case is different, and the more complicated a case, usually the longer it takes. A personal injury claim can take anywhere from six to eight weeks to three or four years before it's resolved. Many insurance adjusters immediately agree to a settlement demand letter once they've received notice that there's an attorney on the case. In other cases, they'll wait until the eve of trial to finally agree to what is fair, or there are complexities to the case that require substantial investigation and expert testimony.

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 best possible financial recovery 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 Sappington, 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 win, you don't owe us anything, so there's no reason to see money as an obstacle in 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.

If you have any other questions about automobile injury claims, check out the frequently asked questions area of our website, have a look at our legal resources page or call us at 866-382-4167.

Other injury claims we handle in Sappington, 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

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Hire an Automobile Injury Attorney in Sappington, MO Today

We do what we do because we believe that everyone 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 you don't have to go through the claims process alone. We stand up to insurance companies every day and know how to get our Sappington, MO clients the best possible results. We pride ourselves on our client communication, and do everything we can to make the claims process easy and seamless for you and your Sappington, MO family. Speak to a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Sappington, MO now at 866-382-4167 or contact us online for a complimentary case review.

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