Automobile Injury Attorney St Clair, MO
St Clair, MO Personal Injury Lawyers
Call 866-382-4167 for a Free Consultation | St Clair, MO Automobile Injury Attorney
Automobile injury attorney in St Clair, MO. Injuries in auto crashes happen in an instant, and the emotional, physical and financial burdens they create are quick to materialize as well. If a negligent driver in St Clair, MO injured you, you require an automobile injury attorney who will fight to get you justice. At Halvorsen Klote, we have dedicated our practice to fighting for injury victims when they need it the most. Insurance adjusters may try to deceive you, but with the help of a knowledgeable attorney, you will get the justice and financial recovery you deserve. We serve the injured in St Clair, MO, the Greater St. Louis area and Southern Illinois. You don't pay until you get the compensation you deserve. Call a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in St Clair, MO today at 866-382-4167 or contact us through our website for a complimentary consultation.
We've gotten great financial recoveries for our St Clair, MO clients in a variety of auto accident claims, including:
St Clair, MO Automobile Injury Attorney: Frequently Asked Questions
Most injury victims have never had to make an injury claim before, and understandably have a lot of questions as to the process and what to expect. Below is a list of FAQs to help you better understand the process:
How Do I Know if I Have a Valid Claim?
In order to have a realistic chance of winning, you have to have suffered an injury that led to some form of economic damages, such as urgent care bills or time spent off work recovering, and accident had to be caused or contributed to by another party. If you suffered some bumps and bruises, but your injuries didn't lead to financial loss, it would be difficult for you to make a personal injury claim. If you were responsible for your injuries, 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 St Clair, MO automobile injury attorneys offer free case reviews for people who were injured and aren't sure if they're eligible for compensation.
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 bills are minimal — say, one urgent care appointment — send copies of your records and bills to the insurance company, and ask for a little more on top for the nuisance. With milder injuries where fault is clearly established, an automobile injury attorney won't be able to add much value to your claim.
However, with more significant injuries that result in several physical therapy or chiropractic appointments and result in lost wages, the insurance company is not going to willingly pay for all the ways the injury has affected your life. If the insurance company refuses to compensate you fairly, or is saying your injuries were pre-existing, then a lawyer is likely the only way you'll get what you deserve. Insurance adjusters have a lot of experience minimizing payouts; 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 admit fault, or if your injuries occurred in a multi-vehicle accident, also make an automobile injury attorney necessary.
How Much Are My Automobile Injury Worth in St Clair, MO?
The damages you are eligible for 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 St Clair, MO automobile injury attorney, you'll get a financial recovery for:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages from time spent recovering
- Lost earning capacity if you can no longer work
- Miscellaneous 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 in your car accident settlement is mostly based on how your injuries have impacted your life.
How Much Will I Get for Noneconomic Damages?
The dollar amount a plaintiff receives for noneconomic damages is determined through one of two methods:
- 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, depending on how severe your injuries were. The more disruptive the injury, the higher the number.
- The Per Diem Method — "Per Diem" translates from Latin to "per day." Using this approach, your St Clair, 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, with the above example, say your lawyer assigned $200 a day to your injuries:
For example, you suffered a moderate neck injury, leading to $15,000 in economic damages, and which caused you to have neck pain for four months, and further disrupted you because it forced you to wear a neck brace for a short period. The pain and suffering might be given a multiplier of three. So:
$15,000 in economic damages × 3 for a pain and suffering 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 use the method that applies best to your specific case.
Will I Still Get Reimbursement if My Medical Insurance Pays For My Medical Expenses?
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 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 St Clair, 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 nearly 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 at-fault driver may have a policy with higher limits, 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 St Clair, 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 auto company may have negligently designed, manufactured, or tested a car component, leading to a product liability claim
- In a truck accident, the trucking company may have failed to maintain a truck, or may have forced their driver to drive more hours than regulations allow
- A mechanic may have improperly repaired an automobile, which contributed to the accident
- A licensed alcohol vendor if they served alcohol to a drunk driver that caused your crash
- A local, state or federal body responsible for keeping roads safe
- A construction company if a construction site was not properly cordoned off
What if The Insurance Company is Saying the Accident is My Fault?
Shifting blame is a common trick insurance adjusters use to avoid paying you. Providing sound evidence, in addition to having 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 to blame. Both Missouri Revised Statute §537.765 and Illinois Law allow for what's called "comparative negligence." 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 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 it's someone you know. 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 suffered because of their negligence. An automobile injury attorney will communicate with other side so you don't have to feel awkward.
Will I Have to Go to Court?
You probably will not be required to go to court for a car accident claim. The Bureau of Justice Statistics issued a study in 2005 that found that more than nine out of 10 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 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 a month to three or four years before it results in fair compensation. Many insurance adjusters start cooperating immediately once they know that there's an attorney on the case. Other times, 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 time put in.
Most cases are settled within three to nine months. 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 best possible financial recovery you deserve. Once you agree to a settlement, you can never go back and ask for more money later.
Is It Expensive to Hire an Automobile Injury Attorney?
Halvorsen Klote's St Clair, MO automobile injury attorney work on a contingency fee basis. That means we take a percentage of your final compensation as our attorneys' fees, 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 an obstacle for people who just want to be fairly compensated for their injuries.
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 handle in St Clair, 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 St Clair, MO Today
We founded our practice on the idea that an injury victim deserves 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 negotiate with insurance companies every day and know how to get our St Clair, MO clients the best possible results. We always have open lines of communication with our clients, and handle the entire legal process so you and your St Clair, MO family can spend your energy on healing. Speak to a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in St Clair, MO now at 866-382-4167 or reach out to us online 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.
