Automobile Injury Attorney Wentzville, MO
Wentzville, MO Personal Injury Lawyers
Call 866-382-4167 for a Free Consultation | Wentzville, MO Automobile Injury Attorney
Automobile injury attorney in Wentzville, MO. The effects of an auto accident injury are immediate and severe. If you were injured in a Wentzville, MO auto accident, you need an automobile injury attorney who will fight to bring you justice and a fair financial recovery. At Halvorsen Klote, we have dedicated our practice to fighting for those injured by the negligence of another when they need help the most. Insurance adjusters can seem heartless, but with the help of an experienced attorney, you will get the justice and financial recovery you deserve. We serve the vulnerable in Wentzville, MO, the Greater St. Louis area and Southern Illinois. You owe us no fees until we win your case. Call a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Wentzville, MO today at 866-382-4167 or contact us through our website for a free case review.
We have experience with a number of automobile injury claims, including:
Wentzville, MO Automobile Injury Attorney: Frequently Asked Questions
For most of our clients, this is the first time they've had to be a part of the injury claims process. They understandably have doubts and uncertainties as to how to proceed going about getting compensation for their damages. Some of the most commonly asked questions we get are:
Do I Even Have Autombile Injury Case?
For a claim to be valid, your injury needs to create some amount of economic damages, such as urgent care bills or time spent off work recovering, and accident had to be caused or contributed to by another party. If you your back hurt for a few days after the accident, but you were never medically evaluated, it's unrealistic to expect an insurance company to compensate you. If you were responsible for your injuries, you may not have a case either.
Fortunately, you don't have to make that decision alone. Halvorsen Klote's Wentzville, MO automobile injury attorneys are more than happy to discuss the validity of your claim for free.
Is it Worth it to Hire a Lawyer for an Automobile Injury?
There are some injuries where a lawyer won't be able to add much value to your claim. If the other party accepts liability and your medical bills are minimal — for instance, one emergency room visit — include copies of your records and bills in your letter to the insurance adjuster, and ask for a little more on top for inconvenience. In those types of situations, an automobile injury attorney probably isn't necessary.
However, if your injuries are more severe, require ongoing medical treatment 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 pay the full extent of your damages, 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 have just as much experience holding them accountable.
Other complications, such as if the negligent driver refuses to admit fault, or if you were in a multi-vehicle accident, almost always require the assistance of an automobile injury attorney.
How Much Are My Automobile Injury Worth in Wentzville, 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 knowledgeable Wentzville, MO automobile injury attorney, you can be reimbursed for:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages from time spent recovering
- Lost earning capacity if you can no longer work
- Out-of-pocket 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 spousal relationship is negatively impacted by your injuries
How much compensation you receive for your automobile injuries is mostly based 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 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" means "per day" in Latin. Using this approach, your Wentzville, 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, using the same whiplash injury example, say $200 a day is a fair approximation of how your injuries affected you:
For example, the negligent driver caused a moderate neck injury, leading to $15,000 in economic damages, and which led to physical discomfort for four months, and inconvenienced you because you had to wear a neck brace for a week. The pain and suffering might be given a multiplier of three. So:
$15,000 in medical bills and lost wages × 3 for a pain and suffering multiplier = $45,000 in total 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 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, 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 talented Wentzville, MO automobile injury attorney will know best how 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 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 cover all of your damages. 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 might determine that there are other liable parties who you can also make a claim against.
What Other Parties Could Be Held Accountable for My Auto Accident Injuries in Wentzville, MO?
In most cases, the other driver is the only personal liable 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, and you can make a product liability claim
- If you were injured 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 government authority responsible for designing and maintaining the safety of roads
- A construction company if a construction site was not properly secured
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 sound evidence, in addition to having an experienced automobile injury attorney fighting back against that tactic, will demonstrate that you aren't liable.
If, as in some cases, you really were partially at fault for your injuries, you can still make a recovery. Both Missouri Revised Statute §537.765 and 735 ILCS 5/2-1116 followed the legal doctrine of "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, you cannot make any recovery 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 would still file a claim against the at-fault driver, even if it's someone you know. While they may have to pay a moderate amount more for insurance, which is likely much 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 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 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 your case and, usually, how complex it is. A personal injury claim can last anywhere from six to eight weeks to several years before it reaches its conclusion. Many insurance adjusters start cooperating immediately once they've learned that there's an attorney on the case. In other cases, a fair settlement is only offered right before trial begins, or the liability and insurance coverage elements are so complex that they require substantial investigation and time put in.
Most cases reach a conclusion from anywhere between a few months to a year. While we'd obviously like to resolve your claim without waiting a long period, it's always in your best interest to hold out for the best possible financial recovery you deserve. Once you agree to a settlement, you can never go back and ask for more money later.
Is It Expensive to Hire an Automobile Injury Attorney?
Halvorsen Klote's Wentzville, MO automobile injury attorney are paid through a contingency fee. That means we we get a portion of your final payout, and we only get paid at the conclusion of your claim. 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 an obstacle for people who just want to be fairly compensated for their injuries.
To learn more about the claims process, check out our other FAQs, go to our legal resources page or call us at 866-382-4167.
Other cases we take on in Wentzville, 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 Wentzville, MO Today
We founded our practice on the idea that an injury victim deserves the same high quality legal representation as the insurance companies that are trying to keep them from the compensation they are owed. 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 stand up to insurance companies every day and know how to get our Wentzville, 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 Wentzville, MO family. Speak to a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Wentzville, MO now at 866-382-4167 or contact us through our website for a free consultation.
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.
