One minute you are speeding down Highway 90 or taking I-10 to go home, and the next thing you know you have to handle airbags, police sirens, and an extremely uncertain future. Following an auto accident, the injuries are not all you will have to worry about. You will begin accruing medical bills, your car may be totalled, you may have lost time at work, and the insurance adjustor will be on the phone calling you to "just tell your side of the story." This can be an overwhelming experience, and it is even easier for you to do something that will come back to haunt you later on down the road.

Reasons for Frequent Crashes in Gulfport

Gulfport includes commuter traffic in the area, tourism traffic, trucking by the port and commercial carriers, as well as high-traffic roads such as US-49, I-110 and the beach road. Seasonal tourists unfamiliar with the roads, unexpected rainfall, storm season evacuation traffic, and distracted drivers increase the chance of crashes.

Common reasons for crashes include speeding, driving while texting, drunk driving, running a red light, tailgating and unsafe lane changing. There is the additional danger from commercial vehicles because a crash that involves an 18-wheeler will usually result in much more serious injuries. Whichever reason there may be for a crash, the negligent driver is liable, not you.

What to do minutes/hours after the accident

It's your health that matters first. Call 911, get to a safe place, and see a doctor if possible. Adrenaline blocks the feeling of pain, but even if you feel fine at the moment of the crash, it may take hours/days for symptoms to appear. For example, a concussion, whiplash, herniation and internal bleeding. Your medical file will help establish the link between the injuries and the crash, when the insurer claims you suffered it elsewhere.

Take photos of the cars, road condition, skid marks, traffic lights and your own injuries. Write down the name and all contact details of the other driver, his license number and his insurance information. Try to gather the contact details and names of the witnesses. Also, ask the officer who responded the report number. Document everything, as the memories fade really fast. Remember to stay calm and objective at the scene. Don't apologize or speculate on what has happened, even your "sorry" can later be interpreted as your admission of guilt.

Watch Out For the Insurance Company

The other party’s insurance company is not working for you. Adjusters are trained to settle your case as soon as possible and with the smallest payment. They might seem pleasant when talking with you, but they could want you to give a recorded statement or offer you money right away without knowing how severe your injuries are. Once you sign an agreement for compensation, you usually cannot change your mind about it even if in the future, you have to get surgery and physical therapy.

What Mississippi law means for your case

Being an at-fault state, the driver who causes the accident will pay for the consequences of his action. The state applies the pure comparative fault statute, which means that even if it is found that you share part of the fault, your compensation will be reduced according to your fault ratio but will not disappear entirely. For instance, if you are found 20 percent at fault, then your damage award will be cut down by 20 percent. This is exactly the reason why insurers put so much effort into assigning some portion of responsibility for the accident on you.

Deadlines are very important in Mississippi as well. As a rule, in any personal injury lawsuit brought before the court in this state, you need to file your claim within three years after the accident. Delaying filing the suit beyond the deadline might mean the loss of your opportunity forever and losing valuable evidence like surveillance videos, information from car computers and witnesses' memories. There are rather modest requirements concerning the insurance coverage in Mississippi, which might make your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage important.

Compensation to be Covered

In addition to the financial repercussions, you can be compensated in the non-financial aspect as well. Financial compensation covers past and future medical bills, lost earnings, diminished future earning capabilities, and the cost of repair and replacement of the car. In the non-financial aspect, you can be compensated for the pain, emotional distress, scar formation, physical incapacity, and inability to enjoy life due to your injury.

If your loved one died due to an accident, you can file a wrongful death claim for burial expenses, loss of financial assistance, and companionship. Every case differs in value depending on the extent of the injuries, the proof available, and insurance coverage.

What a Lawyer Actually Does for You

For many people, the importance of hiring a lawyer becomes obvious only after a lawsuit begins. In fact, the bulk of work needs to be done at a previous stage. An experienced lawyer conducts an investigation of the case, collects all evidence, obtains necessary medical documents, hires professionals specializing in reconstruction of accidents in case of necessity, and takes care of answering every call and letter sent by the insurance company.

Thus, when choosing your lawyer, make sure that he or she has a track record of litigation. The fact is that insurers treat cases more seriously when a lawyer is ready to bring a case to court. Communication plays an important role. A trustworthy Gulfport Car Accident Attorney should call you back, explain everything clearly and provide you with the honest assessment of your case.

Legal Fees Explained

Concern over cost often deters victims of injuries from seeking representation. Most personal injury attorneys work under a contingency fee agreement. This means that there are no initial legal fees and your attorney will get a percentage of the recovery only if your case is successful. If there is no recovery, normally you would not be required to pay the attorney's fee. It is essential to always receive the fee agreement in writing and ensure that you understand how case expenses are paid. In addition, most law firms provide free consultations, so you may consult several.

Mistakes that May Endanger Your Case Without You Realizing It

Among the worst mistakes made by people in such cases are the ones that do not seem problematic enough initially. Delaying seeing a doctor for a couple of weeks allows the insurance company to claim that your injuries were minor. Failure to visit a doctor during the follow-ups and not sticking to the treatment plan may lead to the same conclusion. Making any posts on social networks may turn against you later when it comes to the settlement. 

You Deserve Help While Recovering

An auto collision can upset your physical wellbeing, financial situation and state of mind all at the same time, but you should know that you don’t have to go through everything by yourself. The way you can help yourself is through quick access to medical treatment, documentation of the incident, exercising caution around insurers and knowing your legal rights according to Mississippi law. Contact a reliable Gulfport Car Accident Lawyer if you or someone close to you has suffered any injuries.

Mississippi Car Accident Claims at a Glance

After the Crash: Take Control Again

Even the most devastating auto wreck may throw your life into a spin within moments, leaving you with pain, costs and uncertainty as to your future. Now is the time to act with caution, seeking medical attention, gathering all relevant information, being wary of talking to insurance companies, and making sure that you don’t miss the deadline for filing your claim. Now is the time for you to heal with no legal stress to worry about. When the time comes to seek advice, turn to an experienced Gulfport Car Accident Lawyer for help.