Injury Claim Lawyer St. Charles, MO
St. Charles, MO Personal Injury Attorneys
Call 866-382-4167 for a Complimentary Case Evaluation | St. Charles, MO Injury Claim Lawyer
Injury Claim Lawyer in St. Charles, MO. Injuries can happen to anyone almost anytime, creating unforeseen and severe economic, physical and emotional hardships. It's normal to be angry when your injuries are the consequence of someone else's careless actions. Missouri and Illinois law provide an outlet for injured victims to receive a financial recovery for their injuries by means of personal injury claims. Most of the time, it can be difficult for St. Charles, 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 because someone else was negligent, call us today at 866-382-4167 or contact us online for a complimentary case review.
Top Causes of Personal Injury Claims | St. Charles, MO Injury Claim Lawyer
Personal injury claims are legal claims seeking restitution for injuries caused by someone else's inattentive, 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 claims our injury claim lawyer team gets great compensation for in St. Charles, MO are:
- Auto crashes, such as
- Product liability
- Premises liability
- Slip and fall
- Nursing home abuse and neglect
- Dog bites
- Construction site accidents
- Daycare injuries
- Swimming pool accidents
Regardless of how you sustained your injuries, trust your Halvorsen Klote injury claim lawyer in St. Charles, MO to know how maximize the value of your claim. In order to get the best results for your claim, get in touch with us as soon as possible so we can start working on your claim.
Determining If You Have an Injury Claim | St. Charles, MO Injury Claim Lawyer
Not all injuries and accidents are cause for an injury or accident claim; you must demonstrate that another party is at fault for your damages. In order for your injury claim lawyer to win your case, they must how the other party's action or inaction constitutes the five elements of negligence:
- Duty of Care: Confirming a duty of care is the first step in a personal injury claim. You must show that the defendant had a duty to refrain from acts that could predictably harm you. If you were injured in an auto accident, the other driver automatically had a responsibility, as both Missouri and Illinois have stipulated that drivers owe other drivers, passengers, bicyclists and pedestrians a duty of care. Other associations, a doctor-patient relationship or that between a property manager and patron, have predetermined duties of care.
- Breach of Duty: After establishing a breach of duty, you have to show that the person who had a duty to your safety did not act as a reasonable person would or as the law demands.
- Cause in Fact: The third course of action is showing that were it not for the defendant's actions or inaction, you would not have been injured. For instance, if a driver had not been distracted, or if a restaurant manager had put a "wet floor" sign up, you would not have incurred the damages for which you are making a claim.
- Proximate Cause: This relates to whether or not the defendant can be held accountable for the cause in fact. A doctor may not be held accountable if they followed standard procedures, even if they missed a diagnosis.
- Damages: The final aspect of negligence is that you sustained damages. In a personal injury suit, that means you were injured. If you're in a slip and fall and only sustain a minor bruise that goes away after a couple days, you probably will not be able to bring a valid claim because you did not receive any actual damages.
Every St. Charles, MO injury claim lawyer at Halvorsen Klote knows how to prove the five elements of negligence and get you the great results you are entitled to. If you're unsure if another party bears responsibility for your damages, it's best to consult with an injury claim lawyer right away. We don't charge anything for evaluating your case, so there's no risk in calling us to discuss your claim.
Frequently Asked Questions | St. Charles, MO Injury Claim Lawyer
When we take on a new case in St. Charles, MO, it's typically the first time our client has gone through an injury claim and is understandably uncertain about the process and how it works. The following are some of the most frequently asked questions our injury claim lawyer team receives in St. Charles, MO:
How Much Is My Injury Claim Worth?
That will vary depending on the specifics of your injury, the extent of your damages and the expertise of your St. Charles, MO injury claim lawyer. With our assistance you can collect a financial restitution for:
- Property damage, like damage to your car
- Wage loss from time spent recovering
- Decreased earning capacity if your injuries result in disability
- Medical expenses, such as:
- Emergency room visits
- Follow up appointments
- Assistive devices such as modifications to your home or vehicle
- Medications
- Surgeries
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
Your St. Charles, MO injury claim lawyer at Halvorsen Klote knows how to properly value the full extent of your damages and secure you the great compensation you are entitled to.
What's the Time Limit to File a Personal Injury Claim?
In Missouri, you generally have five years after the date you suffered your injury to file a claim, while you have just two years in Illinois.
There are some notably exceptions in each state, but it is paramount to contact an injury claim lawyer in St. Charles, MO right away after being in an accident so that the clock does not run out.
What Is The Burden of Proof in Personal Injury Claims?
The phrase "beyond a reasonable doubt" is ubiquitous in American culture. That's the burden of proof that juries and judges must follow in criminal cases to protect innocent people from prison. Personal injury claims are settled and tried in civil court, and the burden of proof is called a preponderance of the evidence. That means that a jury or insurance adjuster must find only that there is a greater than 50 percent chance that the claim is true.
That means that if a drunk driver gets out of their criminal case because of errors in police work, you can still hold them responsible in a civil court.
If your injury claim lawyer is helping you pursue punitive damages, you must show clear and convincing evidence, which means that the jury or insurance adjuster are left with a firm belief that the claim is probably true.
How Long Does an Injury Claim Take?
Again, that will change based on the particulars of your case. The Bureau of Justice Statistics found that 96 percent of tort claims are settled before they ever get in front of a judge and jury. If the parties settle, a claim can be resolved within a few months, while a case that goes to court in St. Charles, MO can take up to two years. If your injuries do not have lifelong consequences, it might be a good idea to wait until you've reached maximum medical improvement so you know the full extent of your medical bills.
What's the Process of a Personal Injury Claim?
Typically, following an injury caused by another person's careless actions in St. Charles, MO, the order of events is as follows:
- You receive medical attention (and continue treatment 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 an official settlement demand letter.
- If the settlement demand is denied, your injury claim lawyer will decide if the best course of action is to attempt to negotiate or file a lawsuit.
- The discovery phase begins, wherein your lawyer obtains more evidence and acquires expert opinions.
- Your injury claim lawyer and the the other party enter negotiations in front of an unbiased intermediary in mediation.
- We take your case to trial if negotiations do not lead to a fair settlement offer.
Can I Still Receive Compensation if I Was Partially to Blame?
Yes. Missouri is what is referred to a "pure comparative negligence" state, which means your financial recovery will be taken out by the percent of responsibility you bear for your injury. So if a jury decides your damages come to $100,000 but determines you were 30 percent at fault, you will only receive $70,000. Illinois is similar, but is a "modified comparative negligence" state, which means you will not receive compensation if you are more than 50 percent responsible.
How Much Do Injury Claim Lawyers Charge? | St. Charles, MO Injury Claim Lawyer
You might be worried about whether or not you can afford legal representation in St. Charles, 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 corporate lawyers in St. Charles, MO, we work on a contingency fee basis. That means three things:
- We do not charge anything in advance of services. Instead of getting an hourly rate, we are paid with portion of the compensation you collect — only after we win or settle your case.
- You owe us nothing if we do not win your claim. A Halvorsen Klote injury claim lawyer only gets paid by utilizing their experience and knowledge to achieve the best possible results.
- We only take cases on when we sincerely believe we can considerably increase your compensation . We shoulder the risk of utilizing our resources to win your case, and we'll always be honest with you and will never mislead you.
Regardless of what your present economic status may be, a Halvorsen Klote injury claim lawyer in St. Charles, MO will take on your case and fight with all of our resources to see you get the great results you deserve.
Click on the following links to see what other services we offer in St. Charles, MO:
- Fatal Car Accident Lawyer
- Auto Accident Attorney
- Bike Wreck Lawyer
- What to Do After a Car Accident
- Premises Liability Attorneys
- Automobile Injury Attorney
- Motorcycle Accidents Attorney
- Lawyer for Bicycle Accident
- Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
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St. Charles, MO Injury Claim Lawyer | Halvorsen Klote
You don't have to go through the complex legal process alone. When you hire a Halvorsen Klote injury claim lawyer in St. Charles, MO, we start building your case right away and keep you informed until we secure a successful resolution. We give you all the information you need to make the best decision for you and your St. Charles, MO family. Call an injury claim lawyer in St. Charles, MO today at 866-382-4167 or contact us online.
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.
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.