Automobile Injury Attorney Warrenton, MO
Warrenton, MO Personal Injury Lawyers
Call 866-382-4167 for a Free Consultation | Warrenton, MO Automobile Injury Attorney
Automobile injury attorney in Warrenton, MO. The consequences of an auto accident injury are immediate and severe. If you were injured in a Warrenton, MO auto accident, you require 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 they need it the most. Insurance adjusters may try to cheat, but with a skilled attorney by your side, they will not be able to keep you from the best possible compensation you are rightfully entitled to. We provide exceptional legal advocacy to the injured in Warrenton, MO, the Greater St. Louis area and Southern Illinois. You don't pay unless we win. Speak to a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Warrenton, MO now at 866-382-4167 or reach out to us through our website for a complimentary consultation.
We have experience with many different automobile injury claims, including:
Warrenton, MO Automobile Injury Attorney: Frequently Asked Questions
Most injury victims have never had to make an injury claim before, and understandably have doubts and uncertainties as to what to expect. Some of the most commonly asked questions we get are:
Do I Even Have a Personal Injury Case?
In order to have a case, you have to have sustained an injury that led to some amount of financial loss, such as urgent care bills or lost wages, and accident had to be caused or contributed to by somebody else. If you suffered some bumps and bruises, but you never sought medical treatment, you're unlikely to have a successful claim. 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 Warrenton, MO automobile injury attorneys offer free consultations for people who were injured and aren't sure if they have a case.
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 there's no dispute about who the at-fault driver was and you didn't need much medical treatment — for example, one urgent care appointment — include detailed records in your letter to the insurance adjuster, and see if you can get a little more on top for the nuisance. 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, 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 have a lot of experience minimizing payouts; 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 negligent driver refuses to admit fault, or if you were in a multi-vehicle accident, also make an automobile injury attorney required.
How Much Are My Automobile Injury Worth in Warrenton, MO?
The damages you are eligible for after an automobile injury are intended to compensate you for the financial, physical and emotional toll your injuries cause. With a knowledgeable Warrenton, MO automobile injury attorney, you'll be compensated for:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages from time spent off work
- Lost earning potential 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 affected by your injuries
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 noneconomic damages is determined through one of two methods:
- The Multiplier Method — With this approach, we multiply the total of your medical bills, lost wages and out-of-pocket expenses by a number between 1.5 and 5, using higher numbers for more debilitating injuries.
- The Per Diem Method — "Per Diem" translates from Latin to "per day." With this approach, your Warrenton, 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:
Say you suffered a whiplash 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 few days. 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 final compensation
$200 × 121 days (four months) = $24,200 in pain and suffering damages (in addition to your economic damages)
Your attorney will know the best way to determine your noneconomic damages for your specific case.
Will I Still Get Compensation if My Medical Insurance Pays For My Medical Bills?
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, your medical insurance company will place a medical lien on your settlement. 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. A knowledgeable Warrenton, 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 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 significant injuries that your damages will exceed the policy limits. That doesn't mean we can't get more compensation than the limits. 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 Warrenton, MO?
In most cases, the other driver is the only personal responsible for your injuries. However, there are other people and entities that may have contributed to your accident:
- An car manufacturer may may have produced a defective car component, and you can make a product liability claim
- If you were injured in a truck accident, the trucking company may have failed to repair a truck, or may have forced their driver to drive more hours than allowed
- A mechanic may have negligently worked on the car, which had a hand in the accident
- A bar or restaurant if they served alcohol to a drunk driver that caused your crash
- A government authority responsible for keeping roads safe
- A construction company if the accident was caused by an unsafe construction site
What if The Insurance Company is Saying the Accident is My Fault?
An insurance adjuster may try to blame you for your accident in order to devalue your claim. Having strong evidence, in addition to having an experienced automobile injury attorney fighting back against that tactic, will help prove you're not to blame.
In some car accidents, both drivers really are each partially at fault. Both Missouri Law and Illinois Law allow for what's called "comparative fault." Meaning, each party pays for the percentage of fault they bear for the accident. In Illinois, you cannot make any recovery if it is determined that you were more than 50 percent liable.
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's someone you know. While their insurance premiums might go up a little, that doesn't compare to the medical bills and lost wages you've suffered as a result. 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 attend hearings or a trial for your automobile injuries. 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 prep you for those and handle most of the work.
How Long Will I Have to Wait Until I'm Compensated?
That depends on your case and, usually, how complex it is. A personal injury claim can take 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 you 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 are settled from anywhere between a few months to a year. While while we understand that you'd like to receive your financial recovery earlier than not, it's always in your best interest to hold out for the best possible financial recovery you deserve. Once you agree to a settlement, your right to get additional compensation is barred.
Is It Expensive to Hire an Automobile Injury Attorney?
Halvorsen Klote's Warrenton, 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 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 don't believe that money should be a barrier for people who need quality legal representation to make a full financial recovery.
To learn more about car accident claims, check out our other FAQs, go to our legal resources page or call us at 866-382-4167.
Other cases we take on in Warrenton, 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 Warrenton, MO Today
We do what we do because we believe that everyone deserves the same high quality legal representation as the insurance companies that are trying to keep them from the compensation 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 Warrenton, MO clients the full financial recovery they deserve. We pride ourselves on our client communication, and do everything we can to make the claims process easy and seamless for you and your Warrenton, MO family. Call a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Warrenton, MO now 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.
