Automobile Injury Attorney Weldon Spring, MO
Weldon Spring, MO Personal Injury Lawyers
Call 866-382-4167 for a Free Consultation | Weldon Spring, MO Automobile Injury Attorney
Automobile injury attorney in Weldon Spring, MO. The consequences of an auto accident injury are immediate and severe. If you were injured in a Weldon Spring, MO auto accident, you require an automobile injury attorney who will fight to bring you justice and a fair financial recovery. At Halvorsen Klote, we stand by injury victims when they need it the most. Insurance adjusters can seem heartless, but with the help of a knowledgeable attorney, you will get the justice and financial recovery you are lawfully entitled to. We provide outstanding legal representation to the vulnerable in Weldon Spring, 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 Weldon Spring, MO today at 866-382-4167 or contact us online for a complimentary case evaluation.
We have experience with many different automobile injury claims, including:
Weldon Spring, 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 how to proceed going about getting a financial recovery for their injuries. Below is a list of FAQs to help you better understand the process:
Do I Even Have Auto Accident Claim?
For a claim to be valid, you have to have suffered an injury that led to some form of financial loss, for instance 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 were never medically evaluated, you're unlikely to have a successful claim. If you were the negligence party, your own insurance company can pay for your damages, but your premiums will go up.
Never assume that you can't make a successful claim without speaking to an attorney first. Halvorsen Klote's Weldon Spring, MO automobile injury attorneys are more than happy to discuss your case for free.
Do I Need to Hire a Lawyer for an Automobile Injury?
Usually, yes, but not all the time. If the other party accepts responsibility 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 some extra money for the hassle. In those types of situations, it's unlikely an automobile injury attorney will be able to get you significantly more money.
However, with more significant injuries that result in several physical therapy or chiropractic appointments and result in lost wages, the insurance company is going to do whatever they can to pay you as little as possible. If the insurance company isn't coming close to giving you a fair offer, or is saying your injuries were pre-existing, then you absolutely need a lawyer. Insurance adjusters know how to devalue claims; personal injury lawyers know how to fight back against them.
There are things besides significant injuries that require an attorney, such as if the negligent driver refuses to be held accountable, 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 Weldon Spring, MO?
The damages you are eligible for after an automobile injury are meant to reimburse you for the financial, physical and emotional consequences of your injuries. With an experienced Weldon Spring, MO automobile injury attorney, you'll be compensated 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
- 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 spousal relationship is negatively impacted by your injuries
How much compensation you receive for your automobile injuries depends largely 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, your economic damages will be multiplied by a number, typically between 1.5 and 5, using higher numbers for more debilitating injuries.
- The Per Diem Method — "Per Diem" means "per day" in Latin. With this approach, your Weldon Spring, MO automobile injury attorney assigns a dollar amount to a single day of suffering, 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, 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. 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 final compensation
$200 × 121 days (four months) = $24,200 in noneconomic damages (on top of your economic damages)
Your attorney will use the method that applies best to your specific 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 compensated 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 Weldon Spring, 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 financial recovery as possible.
What If My Damages Exceed the Policy Limits?
Missouri and Illinois have very similar laws regarding minimum auto coverage:
- $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 at-fault driver may have a policy with higher limits, 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 Weldon Spring, MO automobile injury attorney can make an underinsured motorist claim with your own insurance company, that can provide compensation for the rest of your damages. 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 Weldon Spring, MO?
In most cases, the other driver is the only personal responsible for your injuries. However, depending on the specifics of your case, other parties may be liable:
- An car company may have negligently designed, manufactured, or tested a car component, leading to 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 required their driver to drive more hours than regulations allow
- A mechanic may have improperly repaired an automobile, which had a hand in the crash
- A licensed alcohol vendor 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 avoid paying you. Providing strong evidence, in addition to having an experienced automobile injury attorney fighting back against that tactic, will demonstrate that you aren't liable.
In some car accidents, both drivers really are each partially at fault. Both Missouri Revised Statute §537.765 and Illinois Law allow for what's called "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 to blame.
What if I Was Injured as a Passenger?
If you were injured as a passenger, you still seek compensation from the negligent driver's insurance company, even if it was the person driving your car. While they may have to pay a moderate amount more for insurance, that doesn't compare to the economic and noneconomic damages you've sustained as a result. An automobile injury attorney will communicate with other side so you don't have to feel awkward.
Will I Have to Go to Court?
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 less than five 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 prep you for those and do most of the work themselves.
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 last anywhere from six to eight weeks to three or four years before it results in fair compensation. Many insurance adjusters immediately agree to a settlement demand letter once they've received notice 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 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 money soon, it's always the best idea to hold out for the best possible financial recovery you're owed. 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 Weldon Spring, 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 there are no upfront costs. 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 personal injury claims, have a look at the frequently asked questions area of our website, have a look at our legal resources page or call us at 866-382-4167.
Other cases we handle in Weldon Spring, 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 Weldon Spring, MO Today
We founded our practice on the idea that everyone should have access to the same standard of legal advocacy that large insurance companies have. Injuries are always unexpected and can leave you with a profound sense of uncertainty. 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 Weldon Spring, MO clients the best possible results. We pride ourselves on our client communication, and handle the entire legal process so you and your Weldon Spring, MO family can focus on healing. Call a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Weldon Spring, MO now at 866-382-4167 or reach out to us online 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.
