Automobile Injury Attorney Wright City, MO | Personal Injury Lawyers | Car Accident Lawyers | Halvorsen Klote

Wright City, MO

Automobile Injury Attorney Wright City, MO

Wright City, MO Personal Injury Lawyers


Call 866-382-4167 for a Free Consultation | Wright City, MO Automobile Injury Attorney

Automobile injury attorney in Wright City, MO. Injuries in auto crashes happen in an instant, and the mental, physical and financial burdens they create happen suddenly as well. If a careless driver in Wright City, MO injured you, you require an automobile injury attorney who will defend your rights. At Halvorsen Klote, we have dedicated our practice to fighting for injury victims when they need it the most. Insurance adjusters may try to deceive you, but with a knowledgeable attorney in your corner, they will not be able to prevent you from collecting the best possible financial recovery you are owed. We provide exceptional legal representation to the injured in Wright City, MO, the Greater St. Louis area and Southern Illinois. You owe us no fees until you get the compensation you deserve. Call a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Wright City, MO now at 866-382-4167 or reach out to us through our website for a complimentary case evaluation.

We have experience with a number of automobile injury claims, including:


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Wright City, MO Automobile Injury Attorney: Frequently Asked Questions

For most of our clients, this is their first experience with the injury claims process. They understandably have doubts and uncertainties as to what to expect. Below are some of the questions we get most frequently:

How Do I Know if I Have a Valid Claim?

In order to have a case, your injury needs to lead to some amount of financial loss, for instance urgent care bills or lost wages, and there has to be another party who is at least partially at fault for the accident. If you your back hurt 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 the accident was largely your fault, your own insurance company can pay for your damages, but your premiums will go up.

Never assume that you don't have a case without speaking to an attorney first. Halvorsen Klote's Wright City, MO automobile injury attorneys are more than happy to discuss the validity of your claim for free.

Is it Worth it to Get 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 there's no dispute about who to blame for the accident and you didn't need much medical treatment — for instance, one emergency room visit — include copies of your records and bills 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, with more significant injuries that result in months of physical therapy or chiropractic appointments and cause you to lose time off work, 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 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.

Other complications, such as if there is a dispute over liability, or if you were in a multi-vehicle accident, also make an automobile injury attorney required.

How Much Are My Automobile Injury Worth in Wright City, MO?

The damages you recover after a car accident are meant to provide you with an equitable financial recovery for all the ways an injury affected your life. With an experienced Wright City, MO automobile injury attorney, you'll get a financial recovery for:

  • Medical expenses
  • Lost wages from time spent recovering
  • Lost earning potential 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 negatively impacted by your injuries

How much compensation you receive in your car accident settlement depends largely on the severity of your injuries.

How Much Will I Get for Pain and Suffering?

The dollar amount a plaintiff receives for noneconomic 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.
  • For example, 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 further disrupted you because it forced you 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 the noneconomic damages multiplier = a $45,000 financial recovery
  • The Per Diem Method — "Per Diem" means "per day" in Latin. With this method, your Wright City, 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, if we stick with the same example, say your lawyer assigned $200 a day to your injuries:
  • $200 × 121 days (four months) = $24,200 in noneconomic damages (on top of your economic damages)

Your attorney will know the best way to calculate your pain and suffering damages for your unique case.

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Will I Still Get Reimbursement 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, insurance companies and medical providers have a right 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.

There are various legal remedies to reduce medical liens. An experience Wright City, MO automobile injury attorney will be able to work with your insurance company and healthcare providers 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 Wright City, MO?

In most cases, liability is squarely on the driver responsible for the crash. However, there are other people and entities that may have contributed to your accident:

  • An auto company may have negligently designed, manufactured, or tested a vehicle component, leading to a product liability claim
  • If you were injured in a truck accident, there are a variety of regulations the trucking company may have violated
  • A mechanic may have improperly repaired an automobile, which caused the accident
  • A bar or restaurant if someone got drunk at their venue, drove afterwards and caused a crash
  • A government authority responsible for designing and maintaining the safety of roads
  • A construction company if a construction site was not properly cordoned off

What if The Insurance Company is Saying the Accident is My Fault?

Shifting blame is a common tactic insurance companies use to devalue your claim. Providing strong evidence, in addition to having an experienced automobile injury attorney fighting back against insurance companies, will help prove you're not at-fault.

If, as in some cases, you really were partially responsible for the accident, you can still make a recovery. Both Missouri Law and 735 ILCS 5/2-1116 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 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 liable driver's insurance company, even if it was the person driving your car. 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 can help make the process less personal.

Will My Claim Go to Trial?

It's very unlikely that you'll be required to go to court for a car accident claim. The Bureau of Justice Statistics issued a study in 2005 that found that 96 percent of 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 do most of the work themselves.

How Long Will I Have to Wait Until I'm Compensated?

Each claim is different, and the more complicated a case, usually the longer it takes. A personal injury claim can take anywhere from six to eight weeks to several years before it results in fair compensation. Many insurance adjusters start cooperating immediately once they know that there's an attorney on the case. Other times, a fair settlement is only offered right before trial begins, or there are complexities to the case that require substantial 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 financial recovery soon, it's always the best idea to hold out for the full, fair financial recovery you're entitled to. This is your only chance to receive compensation.

Is It Expensive to Hire an Automobile Injury Attorney?

Halvorsen Klote's Wright City, 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 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 don't believe that money should be a barrier for people who need quality legal representation to make a full financial recovery.

If you have any other questions about personal injury 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 Wright City, MO include:

Autombile Injury Attorney Wright City, MO | Personal Injury Attorney | Car Crash Lawyers | Auto Accident Attorneys Near Wright City

Speak to an Automobile Injury Attorney in Wright City, MO Today

We founded our practice on the idea that everyone deserves the same standard of legal advocacy that large insurance companies have. 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 Wright City, MO clients the best possible results. We always have open lines of communication with our clients, and do everything we can to make the claims process easy and seamless for you and your Wright City, MO family. Call a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Wright City, MO now at 866-382-4167 or contact us online for a complimentary case evaluation.


Joel Halvorsen

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

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.