Automobile Injury Attorney Sullivan, MO

Sullivan, MO Personal Injury Lawyers

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

Automobile injury attorney in Sullivan, MO. Injuries in auto wrecks happen suddenly, and the mental, physical and financial burdens they create happen suddenly as well. If a thoughtless driver in Sullivan, MO injured you, you need an automobile injury attorney who will defend your rights. At Halvorsen Klote, we have dedicated our practice to fighting for those injured by the negligence of another when they need it the most. Insurance adjusters may try to cheat, but with the help of an experienced attorney, you will get the justice and financial recovery you deserve. We serve the injured in Sullivan, 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 Sullivan, MO now at 866-382-4167 or contact us online for a free case evaluation.

We've gotten great financial recoveries for our Sullivan, MO clients in a variety of auto accident claims, including:

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Sullivan, MO Automobile Injury Attorney: Frequently Asked Questions

For most of our clients, this is their first foray into the injury claims process. They understandably have a lot of questions as to the process and how to proceed going about getting compensation for their injuries. 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 realistic chance of winning, you have to have sustained 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 somebody else. If you suffered some bumps and bruises, but your injuries didn't lead to financial loss, it's unrealistic to expect an insurance company to compensate you. If you were responsible for your injuries, you cannot file a claim against someone else's insurance.

Never assume that you don't have a case without speaking to an attorney first. Halvorsen Klote's Sullivan, 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 the other party accepts liability and you didn't need much medical treatment — for example, one emergency room visit — include copies of your records and bills in your settlement letter, 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, with more significant injuries that 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 refuses to give you a fair offer, or is trying to convince you that your injuries were pre-existing, 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 you were in a multi-vehicle accident, also make an automobile injury attorney required.

How Much Are My Automobile Injury Worth in Sullivan, MO?

The damages you recover after an automobile injury are intended to compensate you for the financial, physical and emotional consequences of your injuries. With a knowledgeable Sullivan, 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 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 in your car accident settlement depends largely on how your injuries have impacted your life.

How Much Will I Get for Pain and Suffering?

There are two commonly accepted ways to calculate noneconomic damages:

• The Multiplier Method — With this method, your economic damages will be multiplied by a number, typically between 1.5 and 5, using higher numbers for more debilitating injuries.

Say you suffered a whiplash 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 short period. The pain and suffering might be given a multiplier of three. So:

$15,000 in economic damages × 3 for the noneconomic damages multiplier = $45,000 in total compensation

• The Per Diem Method — "Per Diem" translates from Latin to "per day." With this approach, your Sullivan, 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 noneconomic damages (in addition to your medical bills and lost wages)

Your attorney will know the best way to determine your pain and suffering damages for your unique case.

Will I Still Get Compensation if My Medical Insurance Covers 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 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 Sullivan, MO automobile injury attorney will know best how 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 identical 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 cover all of your damages. If that happens, we have a couple options. First, you can use your own policy's underinsured motorist coverage. 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 Sullivan, MO?

In most cases, liability is squarely on the driver responsible for the crash. However, depending on the specifics of your case, other parties may be liable:

• An auto company may have negligently designed, manufactured, or tested a vehicle component, leading to a product liability claim
• In a truck crash, 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 accident
• A bar or restaurant if they served alcohol to a drunk driver that caused your crash
• A local, state or federal body 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 strong evidence, in addition to having an automobile injury attorney used to fighting back against that tactic, will help prove you're not to blame.

In some car accidents, both drivers really are each partially to blame. Both Missouri Law and Illinois Law 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, your right to compensation is barred if it is determined that you were more than half to blame.

What if I Was Injured as a Passenger?

If you were injured in a car that somebody else was driving, you would still file a claim against the at-fault driver, even if it was the person driving your car. While your friend's or family member's insurance premiums might go up a little, which is likely far less than your medical bills and lost wages. An automobile injury attorney can help make the process less personal.

Will My Claim Go to Trial?

You probably will not have to go to court for a car accident claim. The Bureau of Justice Statistics reports 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 several years before it results in fair compensation. Many insurance adjusters immediately agree to a settlement demand letter once they know that the plaintiff hired a lawyer. Other times, they'll wait until the eve of trial to finally agree to what is fair, or the liability and insurance coverage elements are so complex that they require substantial investigation and time put in.

Most cases reach a conclusion within three to nine months. While while we understand that you'd like to receive your compensation earlier than not, it's always the best idea to wait to agree to a settlement until it's the best possible financial recovery you're owed. You only have chance to receive compensation.

Is It Expensive to Hire an Automobile Injury Attorney?

Halvorsen Klote's Sullivan, 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 pay, so there's no financial risk involved in hiring our services.

We see no reason 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 car accident claims, 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 cases we take on in Sullivan, 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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Consult With an Automobile Injury Attorney in Sullivan, MO Today

We founded our practice on the idea that everyone deserves the same standard of legal advocacy as the insurance companies that are trying to keep them from the financial recovery they are owed. 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 negotiate with insurance companies every day and know how to get our Sullivan, MO clients the full financial recovery they deserve. 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 Sullivan, MO family. Call a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Sullivan, MO today at 866-382-4167 or contact us through our website for a complimentary consultation.

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