Automobile Injury Attorney Ste Genevieve, MO
Ste Genevieve, MO Personal Injury Lawyers
Call 866-382-4167 for a Free Consultation | Ste Genevieve, MO Automobile Injury Attorney
Automobile injury attorney in Ste Genevieve, MO. The effects of an auto accident injury are immediate and severe. If you were injured in a Ste Genevieve, MO auto accident, you need an automobile injury attorney who will fight to get you justice. At Halvorsen Klote, we stand by injury victims when they need help the most. Insurance adjusters can seem heartless, but with the help of a knowledgeable attorney, you will get the justice and financial recovery you deserve. We serve the injured in Ste Genevieve, MO, the Greater St. Louis area and Southern Illinois. You don't pay until we win your case. Speak to a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Ste Genevieve, MO now at 866-382-4167 or reach out to us online for a free consultation.
We've gotten great results for our Ste Genevieve, MO clients in a variety of auto accident claims, including:
Ste Genevieve, MO Automobile Injury Attorney: Frequently Asked Questions
Most of our clients have never had to make an injury claim before, and understandably have doubts and uncertainties as to what the experience will be like. Below are some of the questions we get most frequently:
How Do I Know if I Have a Case?
In order to have a case, your injury needs to create some form of economic damages, for instance an appointment with your GP or lost wages, and accident had to be caused or contributed to by another party. If you your back hurt for a few days after the accident, but you never sought medical treatment, it would be difficult for you to make a personal injury claim. If you were the negligence party, you cannot file a claim against someone else's insurance.
Fortunately, you don't have to rely on guesswork to understand if you have a case. Halvorsen Klote's Ste Genevieve, MO automobile injury attorneys are more than happy to discuss the validity of your claim for free.
Do I Need to Get a Lawyer for an Automobile Injury?
Usually, yes, but not all the time. If the other party accepts responsibility and your medical expenses aren't very high — say, one appointment with your doctor — include copies of your records and bills in your letter to the insurance adjuster, and see if you can get a little more on top for the hassle. 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 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 refuses to give you a fair offer, or is trying to convince you that 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 get maximum compensation.
There are things besides significant injuries that require an attorney, such as if there is a dispute over liability, 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 Ste Genevieve, MO?
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 talented Ste Genevieve, MO automobile injury attorney, you'll get a financial recovery for:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages from time spent recovering
- Lost earning capacity if your injuries prevent you from making a living as you're used to
- Miscellaneous expenses, such as hiring transportation to and from medical appointments
- 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 for your automobile injuries is mostly based on how your injuries have affected your life.
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 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 method, your Ste Genevieve, 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, using the same whiplash injury example, say your lawyer assigned $200 a day to your injuries:
Say you suffered a moderate neck injury, leading to $15,000 in medical expenses and lost wages, and which led to physical discomfort for four months, and inconvenienced you because you had to wear a neck brace for a week. The pain and suffering might be given a multiplier of three. So:
$15,000 in medical bills and lost wages × 3 for the noneconomic damages multiplier = $45,000 in total compensation
$200 × 121 days (four months) = $24,200 in noneconomic damages (in addition to your economic damages)
Your attorney will know the best way to calculate your pain and suffering damages for your individual case.
Will I Still Get Compensation if My Medical Insurance Pays For My Medical Expenses?
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 claim. 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 knowledgeable Ste Genevieve, 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 My Damages Exceed the Policy Limits?
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
While the negligent driver may have a policy with higher limits, there is still no guarantee that there's enough to cover all of your damages. If that happens, we have a couple options. First, your Ste Genevieve, MO automobile injury attorney can make an underinsured motorist claim under your own policy, asking them to make up the difference. Secondly, in their investigation your attorney might might determine that there are other liable parties who you can also make a claim against.
What Other Parties Could Be Held Accountable for My Auto Accident Injuries in Ste Genevieve, MO?
In most cases, liability is solely on the driver responsible for the crash. 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, 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, which contributed to the wreck
- A bar or restaurant if someone got drunk at their venue, drove afterwards and caused a crash
- A local, state or federal entity responsible for keeping roads safe
- A construction company if a construction site was not properly secured
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. Having detailed evidence, in addition to having an automobile injury attorney used to fighting back against that tactic, will help prove you're not at-fault.
If, as in some cases, you really were partially at fault for your injuries, you can still make a recovery. Both Missouri Revised Statute §537.765 and 735 ILCS 5/2-1116 followed the legal doctrine of "comparative negligence." 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 half at fault.
What if I Was Injured as a Passenger?
If you were injured as a passenger, you still seek compensation from the liable driver's insurance company, even if that person is a friend or family member in Ste Genevieve, MO. While they may have to pay a moderate amount more for insurance, that doesn't compare to the economic and noneconomic damages you've incurred 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 have to go to court for a car accident claim. The Bureau of Justice Statistics issued a study in 2005 that found 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 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 a month to three or four years before it's resolved. Many insurance adjusters start cooperating immediately once they've learned 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 expert testimony.
Most cases reach a conclusion within three to nine months. While while we understand that you'd like to receive your money as quickly as possible, 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.
Is It Expensive to Hire an Automobile Injury Attorney?
Halvorsen Klote's Ste Genevieve, 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 there are no upfront costs. 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 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, have a look at our other FAQs, have a look at our legal resources page or request a free consultation.
Other injury claims we take on in Ste Genevieve, 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
Speak to an Automobile Injury Attorney in Ste Genevieve, MO Today
We founded our practice on the idea that everyone deserves the same high quality legal representation 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 Ste Genevieve, MO clients the best possible results. We always have open lines of communication with our clients, and do everything we can to make the claims process easy and seamless for you and your Ste Genevieve, MO family. Speak to a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Ste Genevieve, MO today at 866-382-4167 or contact us online for a complimentary 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.