Injury Claim Lawyer Columbia, MO | Personal Injury Attorneys | Auto Accident Law Firm | Halvorsen Klote

Columbia, MO

Injury Claim Lawyer Columbia, MO

Columbia, MO Personal Injury Attorneys


Call 866-382-4167 for a Complimentary Case Review | Columbia, MO Injury Claim Lawyer

Injury Claim Lawyer in Columbia, MO. No one anticipates being injured, but when they are it creates sudden and devastating financial, physical and emotional hardships. It can be maddening when your injuries result from someone else's negligence. Missouri and Illinois law offers an avenue for injured victims to receive compensation for their damages by way of personal injury claims. Usually, it can be difficult for Columbia, MO residents to get fair compensation without the help of an injury claim lawyer. At Halvorsen Klote, we have dedicated our careers to offering the injured and vulnerable in Missouri and Southern Illinois the highest level of legal representation that rivals and surpasses that of large insurance companies. If you were injured through no fault of your own, call us today at 866-382-4167 or contact us online for a free case evaluation.

Injury Claims Lawyer Columbia, MO | Auto Accident Law Firm | Personal Injury Attorneys Near Columbia

Top Causes of Personal Injury Claims | Columbia, MO Injury Claim Lawyer

Personal injury claims refer to are the manner through which you can seek restitution for injuries caused by someone else's negligent, reckless, or willful behavior. While each accident and each injury claim is unique, most cases fall into one of several common accident types. Some of the most common cases our injury claim lawyer team takes on in Columbia, MO are:

No matter how your injuries transpired, your Halvorsen Klote injury claim lawyer in Columbia, MO has seen it before. To take the first step in recovering restitution for your injuries, contact us as soon as possible so we can start working on your claim.

Determining If You Have an Injury Claim | Columbia, MO Injury Claim Lawyer

Not all injuries and accidents are cause for an injury or accident claim; you must show that another party is responsible for your damages. In order for your case to be successful, your injury claim lawyer must prove the five elements of negligence:

  1. Duty of Care: Establishing a duty of care is necessary in winning a personal injury claim. You must substantiate that the defendant had a responsibility to your safety. If you were injured in an auto accident, the other driver automatically had a responsibility, as both Missouri and Illinois have established that motorists owe others a duty of care. Other relationships, a doctor-patient relationship or that between a property manager and visitor, have preestablished duties of care.
  2. Breach of Duty: After establishing a breach of duty, you need to show that the person who owed you a duty of care behaved in a way that was unreasonable or did something against the law.
  3. Cause in Fact: Following that, you must demonstrate that were it not for the defendant's actions or inaction, you would not have been injured. So, if a driver had not been following you too closely, or a doctor had diagnosed you correctly, you would not have incurred the damages for which you are making a claim.
  4. Proximate Cause: This relates to whether the cause in fact was really the the other party's fault. If a property owner had no way of knowing of a hazardous condition they may not be liable.
  5. Damages: The final element of negligence is that you incurred damages. In a personal injury lawsuit, that means you were injured. If you were rear-ended and the only consequence was minor cosmetic damage to your vehicle, you probably do not have a claim because you did not incur any actual damages.

Every Columbia, MO injury claim lawyer at Halvorsen Klote knows how to take on, prove, and get great results in every type of personal injury claim. If don't know whether or not another party bears responsibility for your damages, you need to consult with an injury claim lawyer right away. Our consultation is free, so there's no reason not to call us to discuss your claim.

Injury Claims Lawyer Columbia, MO | Auto Accident Law Firm | Personal Injury Attorneys Near Columbia

Frequently Asked Questions | Columbia, MO Injury Claim Lawyer

The majority of our Columbia, MO clients have never had to make an injury claim before and are uncertain about the process and how it works. Below are some of the most frequently asked questions our injury claim lawyer team receives in Columbia, MO:

How Much Is My Injury Claim Worth?

That depends on the individual circumstances of your case, the significance of your injuries and the talent and dedication of your Columbia, MO injury claim lawyer. With our help you can receive a financial restitution for:

  • Property damage, for example damage to your car
  • Lost wages for any time periods where your injury did not allow you to work
  • Lowered earning potential if your injuries result in disability
  • Medical bills, for instance:
    • Emergency room visits
    • Follow up appointments
    • Assistive devices such as crutches
    • Medications
    • Surgeries
  • Pain and suffering
  • Mental distress

Your Columbia, MO injury claim lawyer at Halvorsen Klote knows how to fully value claims and get you the full compensation you deserve.

What Is the Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Claims?

In Missouri, you generally have five years following the date you suffered your injury to file a claim, while you have just two years in Illinois.

There are some important exceptions in each state, but it is vital to contact an injury claim lawyer in Columbia, MO right away after being in an accident to avoid bringing difficulties to your claim.

What Is The Burden of Proof in Personal Injury Claims?

We've all heard the phrase "beyond a reasonable doubt." That's the burden of proof that juries and judges must abide by in criminal cases so that there is no chance that an innocent person is imprisoned. Personal injury claims are civil cases, and the the pertinent burden of proof is a preponderance of the evidence. Under that standard a jury or insurance adjuster must find only that the claim is more likely than not to be true.

That means that if a drunk driver avoids a criminal conviction because of errors in a police reports, you can still hold them to blame in a civil case.

If you and your injury claim lawyer choose to pursue punitive damages, you must show clear and convincing evidence, which is a higher standard than preponderance of the evidence but lower than beyond a reasonable doubt.

How Long Does an Injury Claim Take?

Again, that will vary based on the specifics of your injury. The Bureau of Justice Statistics reports that nearly all tort cases are settled before they ever get in front of a judge and jury. A settlement may only take a few months, while a case that goes to court in Columbia, MO can take up to two years. If your injuries do not have a permanent affect on your life, your injury claim lawyer may recommend waiting until you've reached maximum medical improvement so you know the full extent of your medical expenses.

What's the Process of a Personal Injury Claim?

Typically, following an injury caused by another person's negligence in Columbia, MO, you can expect the process to proceed as follows:

  • You get medical attention (and continue care as long as necessary).
  • You consult with an injury claim lawyer.
  • The lawyer investigates your claim and acquires evidence, such as police reports and medical records.
  • Your injury claim lawyer writes a formal settlement demand letter.
  • If the the insurance company does not agree with the settlement demand, your injury claim lawyer may decide to negotiate or may immediately file a lawsuit.
  • Your lawyer enters the discovery phase, where they acquire futher evidence and obtain expert opinions.
  • Your injury claim lawyer and the the other party enter negotiations in front of an impartial intermediary in mediation.
  • We take your case to court if negotiations do not result in a fair settlement offer.

Can I Still Recover Compensation if I Was Partially at Fault?

Yes. Missouri is what is called a "pure comparative negligence" state, which means your financial recovery will be taken out by the percent of blame you share. Meaning, if a jury awards you $100,000 but establishes you were 30 percent at fault, you will only receive $70,000. Illinois is called a "modified comparative negligence" state, which means you will not receive a financial recovery if you are over half at fault.

How Much Do Injury Claim Lawyers Charge? | Columbia, MO Injury Claim Lawyer

You might be nervous about whether or not you can afford legal representation in Columbia, MO because the medical bills and lost wages are piling up and you're not sure you can afford an attorney. A benefit of hiring an injury claim lawyer at Halvorsen Klote is, in contrast to other lawyers in Columbia, MO, we work on a contingency fee basis. That means three things:

  1. We do not charge anything in advance of services. Because we don't get an hourly rate, we are paid with percentage of the compensation you collect — only after we win or settle your claim.
  2. You owe us nothing if we do not win your claim. A Halvorsen Klote injury claim lawyer only gets paid by employing their talent and dedication to attain the best possible results.
  3. We only take cases on when we genuinely believe we can significantly increase your compensation . We shoulder the risk of using our resources for you, and we'll always be honest with you and will never mislead you.

Whatever your present economic situation may be, a Halvorsen Klote injury claim lawyer in Columbia, MO will take on your case and fight with all of our resources to see you get the great results you deserve.

Check out the links below to discover what other services we offer in Columbia, MO:

Injury Claims Lawyer Columbia, MO | Auto Accident Law Firm | Personal Injury Attorneys Near Columbia

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Columbia, MO Injury Claim Lawyer | Halvorsen Klote

You shouldn't have to pay because someone else was negligent and injured you. When you hire a Halvorsen Klote injury claim lawyer in Columbia, MO, we start working on your case immediately and keep you informed until we secure a successful resolution. We make sure you understand your claim and the law so you can do what's best for you and your Columbia, MO family. Call an injury claim lawyer in Columbia, MO today at 866-382-4167 or contact us online.


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.


Samantha Orlowski

Samantha Orlowski

Attorney at Law

Samantha Orlowski is a practicing attorney Halvorsen Klote.

Samantha joined Halvorsen Klote in 2018 as a law clerk and has since become a practicing attorney. Sam's number one priority is to provide individualized experiences for each client to achieve the best results.