Automobile Injury Attorney St. Louis County, MO
St. Louis County, MO Personal Injury Lawyers
Call 866-382-4167 for a Free Consultation | St. Louis County, MO Automobile Injury Attorney
Automobile injury attorney in St. Louis County, MO. The consequences of an auto accident injury are immediate and severe. If you were injured in a St. Louis County, MO auto accident, you need an automobile injury attorney who will get you the full compensation you need to truly recover. At Halvorsen Klote, we have dedicated our practice to fighting for injury victims when the whole world seems to have turned against them. Insurance adjusters may try to devalue your claim, but with the help of an experienced attorney, you will get the justice and financial recovery you are owed. We serve the vulnerable in St. Louis County, 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 St. Louis County, MO now at 866-382-4167 or contact us online for a free case evaluation.
We have experience with many different automobile injury claims, including:
St. Louis County, MO Automobile Injury Attorney: Frequently Asked Questions
For most of our clients, this is their first experience with the injury claims process. They understandably have a lot of questions as to the process and what the experience will be like. Below is a list of FAQs to give you a little bit clearer picture of what to expect:
How Do I Know if I Have a Valid Claim?
In order to have a case, you have to have sustained an injury that led to some form of financial loss, such as emergency room bills or time spent off work recovering, 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 responsible for your injuries, you cannot file a claim against someone else's insurance.
Never assume that you can't make a successful claim without speaking to an attorney first. Halvorsen Klote's St. Louis County, 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 cases where a lawyer won't be able to add much value to your claim. If the other party accepts liability and your medical expenses aren't very high — for instance, one emergency room visit — include detailed records in your letter to the insurance adjuster, and see if you can get a little more on top for the hassle. With milder injuries where fault is clearly established, an automobile injury attorney probably isn't necessary.
However, if your injuries are more severe, require ongoing medical treatment 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 isn't coming close to giving you a fair offer, or is saying your injuries weren't caused by the accident, then you absolutely need a lawyer. Insurance adjusters know how to devalue claims; personal injury lawyers know how to fight back against them.
Other complications, 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 Are My Automobile Injury Worth in St. Louis County, MO?
The damages you are eligible for after a car accident are intended to compensate you for the economic, physical and emotional consequences of your injuries. With an experienced St. Louis County, MO automobile injury attorney, you'll be compensated for:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages from time spent off work
- Lost earning potential if your injuries result in permanent disability
- Out-of-pocket expenses, such as hiring a nanny or take care to look after your kids
- 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 is mostly based on the severity of your injuries.
How Are Noneconomic Damages Calculated?
The dollar amount a plaintiff receives for pain and suffering 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." Implementing this approach, your St. Louis County, 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, using the same whiplash injury example, say $200 a day is a fair approximation of how your injuries affected you:
Say you suffered a moderate neck injury, leading to $15,000 in economic damages, and which led to 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 economic damages × 3 for a pain and suffering multiplier = $45,000 in total compensation
$200 × 121 days (four months) = $24,200 in pain and suffering damages (on top of your medical bills and lost wages)
Your attorney will use the method that applies best to your individual case.
Will I Still Get Reimbursement 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, insurance companies and medical providers have a right place a medical lien on your compensation. That allows them to collect the money that paid for your injuries from your compensation.
The law allows a variety of avenues to reduce medical liens. A talented St. Louis County, MO automobile injury attorney will know best how to reduce those liens and make sure as little is taken out of your settlement as possible.
What If the Insurance Coverage is Limited?
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
The other driver could have those, or other policy limits, but there is still no guarantee that there's enough to compensate you for all of your damages. That doesn't mean we can't get more compensation than the limits. First, your St. Louis County, MO automobile injury attorney can file an underinsured motorist claim under your own policy, asking them to make up the difference. Secondly, your attorney can find out if there are other liable parties.
Who Else Could Be Liable for My Auto Accident Injuries in St. Louis County, 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 defective car component, and you can make 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 negligently worked on the car, causing a defect that contributed to the crash
- A bar or restaurant if someone got drunk at their venue, drove afterwards and caused a crash
- A local, state or federal authority 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?
An insurance adjuster may try to convince you that you were the at-fault driver in order to devalue your claim. 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 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 it is determined that you were more than 50 percent to blame.
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 it was the person driving your car. While their insurance premiums might go up a little, 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 have to go to court 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 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?
Each injury 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 several years before it reaches its conclusion. Many insurance adjusters start cooperating immediately once they've learned that you hired a lawyer. Other times, a fair settlement is only offered right before trial begins, 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 while we understand that you'd like to receive your money earlier than not, it's always the best idea to wait to agree to a settlement until it's the maximum financial recovery you're owed. Once you agree to a settlement, your right to get additional compensation is barred.
What if I Can't Afford an Automobile Injury Attorney?
Halvorsen Klote's St. Louis County, 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 pay, so there's no financial risk involved in hiring our services.
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 personal injury claims, have a look at our other FAQs, go to our legal resources page or call us at 866-382-4167.
Other injury claims we handle in St. Louis County, 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 St. Louis County, MO Today
We do what we do because we believe 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 we will be by your side every step of the way. We fight back against insurance companies every day and know how to get our St. Louis County, MO clients the full financial recovery they deserve. We always have open lines of communication with our clients, and handle the entire legal process so you and your St. Louis County, MO family can focus on healing. Speak to a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in St. Louis County, MO today at 866-382-4167 or contact us through our website for a free case evaluation.
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.
