Automobile Injury Attorney Wellsville, MO
Wellsville, MO Personal Injury Lawyers
Call 866-382-4167 for a Free Consultation | Wellsville, MO Automobile Injury Attorney
Automobile injury attorney in Wellsville, MO. Injuries in auto wrecks happen without warning, and the mental, physical and financial hardships they create are quick to materialize as well. If you were injured in a Wellsville, MO auto accident, you need an automobile injury attorney who will defend your rights. At Halvorsen Klote, we fight for those injured by the negligence of another 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 Wellsville, MO, the Greater St. Louis area and Southern Illinois. You owe us no fees until you get the compensation you deserve. Speak to a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Wellsville, MO today at 866-382-4167 or contact us through our website for a complimentary case evaluation.
We have experience with many different automobile injury claims, including:
Wellsville, 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 how to proceed going about getting a financial recovery for their damages. Some of the most commonly asked questions we get are:
Do I Even Have Auto Accident Case?
In order to have a realistic chance of being compensated, you have to have sustained an injury that led to some form of financial loss, such as emergency room bills or time spent off work recovering, and accident had to be caused or contributed to by somebody else. 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, your own insurance company can pay for your damages, but your premiums will go up.
Fortunately, you don't have to make that decision alone. Halvorsen Klote's Wellsville, MO automobile injury attorneys offer free consultations for people who were injured and aren't sure if they have a case.
Do I Need to Hire a Lawyer for an Automobile Injury?
Usually, yes, but not all the time. If there's no dispute about who the at-fault driver was 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 ask for some extra money for the hassle. With milder injuries where fault is not in dispute, it's unlikely an automobile injury attorney will be able to get you significantly more money.
But, if your injuries are more severe, 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 refuses 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 have a lot of experience minimizing payouts; personal injury lawyers know how to get maximum compensation.
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 necessary.
How Much Are My Automobile Injury Worth in Wellsville, MO?
The damages you are eligible for after an automobile injury are meant to reimburse you for the economic, physical and emotional consequences of your injuries. With an experienced Wellsville, MO automobile injury attorney, you'll be compensated for:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages from time spent recovering
- Lost earning capacity if you can no longer work
- Other related 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 money you get for your automobile injuries depends largely on how your injuries have impacted your life.
How Are Pain and Suffering 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, 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 significant injuries.
- The Per Diem Method — "Per Diem" means "per day" in Latin. Implementing this method, your Wellsville, MO automobile injury attorney determines how much money a day of suffering is worth, and multiplies that by the number of days your injuries affected you. So, with the above 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 few days. Your noneconomic damages might be assigned a multiplier of three. So:
$15,000 in medical bills and lost wages × 3 for a pain and suffering multiplier = a $45,000 financial recovery
$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 individual case.
Will I Still Get Reimbursement 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, insurance companies and healthcare providers have a right place a medical lien on your claim. 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 skilled Wellsville, 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 the Insurance Coverage is Limited?
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. 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, in their investigation your attorney might uncover other liable parties who you can also make a claim against.
What Other Parties Could Be Held Accountable for My Auto Accident Injuries in Wellsville, MO?
In most cases, liability is squarely on the driver that caused the crash. However, there are other people and entities that may have contributed to your accident:
- An car manufacturer may may have produced a faulty vehicle 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 required their driver to drive more hours than regulations allow
- A mechanic may have negligently worked on the car, which caused the accident
- A licensed alcohol vendor if someone got drunk at their venue, drove afterwards and caused a crash
- A government authority responsible for keeping roads safe
- A construction company if a construction site was not properly cordoned off
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. Providing sound evidence, in addition to having an experienced automobile injury attorney fighting back against insurance companies, will demonstrate that you aren't liable.
In some car accidents, both drivers really are each partially liable. Both Missouri Revised Statute §537.765 and Illinois Law followed the legal principle 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 50 percent liable.
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's someone you know. While they may have to pay a moderate amount more for insurance, which is likely far less than your economic damages. 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 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 prep you for those and handle most of the work.
How Long Will My Claim Take?
Each claim is different, and the more complicated a case, usually the longer it takes. A personal injury claim can take anywhere from a month to several years before it's resolved. Many insurance adjusters start cooperating immediately once they know 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 are settled within three to nine months. While we'd obviously like to resolve your claim earlier than not, it's always the best idea to wait to agree to a settlement until it's the full, fair compensation you're entitled to. 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 Wellsville, MO automobile injury attorney are paid 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 secure any compensation for you, you don't owe us anything, so there's no reason to see money as an obstacle in hiring one of our lawyers.
We see no reason that money should be a barrier for people who just want to be fairly compensated for their injuries.
To learn more about the claims process, have a look at the frequently asked questions area of our website, have a look at our legal resources page or request a free consultation.
Other injury claims we take on in Wellsville, 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 Wellsville, MO Today
We do what we do because we believe that an injury victim should have access to the same high quality legal representation that large insurance companies have. An injury is shocking 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 Wellsville, MO clients the full financial recovery they deserve. We pride ourselves on our client communication, and handle the entire legal process so you and your Wellsville, MO family can spend your energy on healing. Speak to a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Wellsville, MO now at 866-382-4167 or contact 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.
