Automobile Injury Attorney Union, MO
Union, MO Personal Injury Lawyers
Call 866-382-4167 for a Free Consultation | Union, MO Automobile Injury Attorney
Automobile injury attorney in Union, MO. Injuries in auto wrecks happen suddenly, and the emotional, physical and economic burdens they create are quick to materialize as well. If a negligent driver in Union, MO injured you, you require an automobile injury attorney who will defend your rights. At Halvorsen Klote, we fight for those injured by the negligence of another when the whole world seems stacked against them. Insurance adjusters may try to cheat, but with the help of a skilled attorney, they will not be able to prevent you from collecting the maximum financial recovery you are rightfully entitled to. We provide exceptional legal advocacy to the injured in Union, MO, the Greater St. Louis area and Southern Illinois. You owe us no fees until we win your case. Speak to a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Union, MO today at 866-382-4167 or reach out to us through our website for a complimentary case review.
We have experience with many different automobile injury claims, including:
Union, 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 doubts and uncertainties as to what to expect. 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 being compensated, your injury needs to lead to some amount of economic damages, such as an appointment with your general practitioner or time spent off work recovering, and there has to be another party who is at least partially at fault for the accident. If you you were sore for a few days after the accident, but you were never medically evaluated, 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 Union, MO automobile injury attorneys offer free case evaluations for people who were injured and aren't sure of the validity of their claim.
Do I Need 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 example, one emergency room visit — send copies of your records and bills to the insurance adjuster, and see if you can get a little more on top for inconvenience. In those types of situations, it's unlikely an automobile injury attorney will be able to get you significantly more money.
However, if your injuries are more severe, require ongoing medical treatment 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 is not willing to compensate you fairly, or is saying 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 know how to devalue claims; 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 other side denies liability, or if your injuries occurred in a multi-vehicle accident, also make an automobile injury attorney required.
How Much Are My Automobile Injury Worth in Union, MO?
The damages you are eligible for after a car accident are intended to provide you with an equitable financial recovery for all the ways an injury affected your life. With a talented Union, MO automobile injury attorney, you'll be compensated for:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages from time spent recovering
- Lost earning potential if you can no longer work
- Miscellaneous 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 money you get for your automobile injuries is mostly based on the severity of your injuries.
How Much Will I Get for Noneconomic Damages?
There are two commonly accepted ways to calculate noneconomic damages:
- The Multiplier Method — With this approach, your economic damages will be multiplied by a number, typically 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." With this method, your Union, 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, with the above example, say your lawyer assigned $200 a day to your injuries:
For example, the negligent driver caused a whiplash injury, leading to $15,000 in economic damages, and which led to neck pain 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 final 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 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 be repaid by the liable party's insurance, just as you are being compensated.
The law allows a variety of avenues to reduce medical liens. An experience Union, MO automobile injury attorney will be able to work with your insurance company and healthcare providers to reduce those liens and make sure as little is taken out of your settlement as possible.
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
The other driver could have those, or other policy limits, but there is still a chance with more severe 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, in their investigation your attorney might uncover other liable parties who you can also make a claim against.
Who Else Could Be Liable for My Auto Accident Injuries in Union, MO?
In most cases, liability is squarely on the driver that caused the accident. 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, and you can make a product liability claim
- In a truck crash, the trucking company may have failed to maintain a truck, or may have forced their driver to drive more hours than allowed
- A mechanic may have negligently worked on the car, causing a defect that caused the wreck
- A licensed alcohol vendor if someone got drunk at their venue, drove afterwards and caused a crash
- A local, state or federal entity 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?
Shifting blame is a common tactic insurance adjusters use to avoid paying you. Providing detailed evidence, in addition to having an experienced automobile injury attorney fighting back against that tactic, will help prove you're not to blame.
If it's true that you were partially responsible for your injuries, you can still make a recovery. Both Missouri Law and 735 ILCS 5/2-1116 followed the legal principle of "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 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 Union, MO. While your friend's or family member's insurance premiums might go up a little, that doesn't compare to the economic and noneconomic damages 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 My Claim Go to Trial?
You probably will not be required to go attend hearings or a trial for a car accident claim. The Bureau of Justice Statistics reports that more than nine out of 10 tort claims are settled before trial.
Depositions and mediations are common formal procedures in personal injury claims, but your automobile injury attorney will make sure you're adequately prepared and will handle most of the work.
How Long Will My Claim Take?
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 take anywhere from a month to three or four years before it results in fair compensation. Many insurance adjusters start cooperating immediately once they've received notice that you hired a lawyer. In other cases, a fair settlement is only offered right before trial begins, or there are complexities to the case that require considerable investigation and expert testimony.
Most cases reach a conclusion from anywhere between a few months to a year. While while we understand that you'd like to receive your compensation earlier than not, it's always in your best interest to wait to agree to a settlement until it's the best possible financial recovery you're owed. 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 Union, MO automobile injury attorney receive our fees through a contingency fee. 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 win, you don't pay, so there's no reason to see money as a barrier to hiring one of our lawyers.
We don't believe that money should be an obstacle for people who need quality legal representation to make a full financial recovery.
If you have any other questions about the claims process, have a look at our other FAQs, go to our legal resources page or request a free consultation.
Other injury claims we handle in Union, 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 Union, MO Today
We do what we do because we believe that an injury victim should have access to the same standard of legal advocacy as the insurance companies that are trying to keep them from the compensation they are owed. Injuries are always unexpected and create fear and confusion. 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 Union, 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 Union, MO family. Speak to a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Union, MO today at 866-382-4167 or reach out to us online for a free case review.
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.
