The damages you suffer in a car accident can be much deeper than the physical pain of your injuries. You may now face financial concerns due to medical bills and vehicle damage, compounded by a reduced income from missing time at work.
At the Morris Bart law firm, we believe that if another party caused the collision that resulted in your injury, they should be held accountable for these damages. Fortunately, Mississippi is a tort state. This means you may be eligible for compensation for your losses from the at-fault party.
Our personal injury attorneys provide free initial consultations. Contact us today to speak to an auto accident lawyer about your legal options.
The Role that Negligence Plays in a Car Accident
Any party who occupies a roadway, maintains a road, or manufactures or sells vehicles or parts owes a duty of care. This term describes the responsibility these parties have for taking reasonable measures and acting to keep road occupants free from harm.
When a person or party violates this duty through their actions or inactions, they are said to be legally negligent. Under tort law, they can be held accountable for the damages associated with the injury. Many forms of negligent behavior can cause a car accident, including:
- Driving while distracted
- Driving while intoxicated (DWI) or under the influence (DUI), commonly called drunk driving
- Acting out because of road rage
- Driving at excessive speeds
- Passing in a no-passing zone
- Failing to use a turn signal
- Failing to yield the right of way
- Driving while fatigued
- Not checking before entering a roadway
- Violating other traffic laws meant to prevent collisions
- Providing insufficient lighting on the road
- Construction zones
- Debris on the road
- City failing to maintain a roadway
- Manufacturers designing or producing defective vehicle components
- Distributors and retailers selling defective vehicle components
Our car accident lawyer can investigate the circumstances leading to a collision, identify the at-fault party, and work to hold them accountable for your damages. Our collision attorneys prepare and file personal injury claims and lawsuits for injured clients daily. We help accident victims recover the financial compensation they need to pay for minor, moderate, or severe injuries.
How a Hattiesburg Car Accident Lawyer Will Investigate Your Case
When you hire a car accident lawyer in Hattiesburg to handle your car accident claim, we will begin by investigating the collision to determine how it happened and who is at fault. This is an essential step in the claims process because it is how we build a compelling case to hold the at-fault driver or another negligent party responsible.
To this end, we will:
- Visit the accident scene to collect evidence
- Interview witnesses
- Gather photos and videos
- Obtain a copy of the police accident report
- Work with accident reconstruction specialists
- Hire medical experts
- Seek and preserve other evidence that supports the claim or lawsuit
The information from our investigation will enable us to identify the defendant in your case. In some cases, there may be more than one liable party. Our attorneys understand how to use this information to pursue a favorable settlement or fair compensation in many types of accidents, including:
- Passenger car crashes
- Motorcycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Truck accidents
- Uber/Lyft accidents
Assessing Your Car Accident Damages
Your Hattiesburg personal injury lawyer will also conduct thorough research to determine and specify all your losses due to car accident injuries. This research will include:
- Obtaining wage statements from your employer
- Gathering all your medical records related to your injury
- Collaborating with experts in medicine, occupational therapy, economics, and psychology to determine the ongoing and future impact of your injury
Our law firm is well acquainted with almost every type of car accident case. Over the years, we have assisted thousands of victims in recovering the damages they suffered from their collision-caused injuries.
What Is a Reasonable Settlement for a Car Accident?
This depends on the type and severity of your damages. If someone is badly injured, they are more likely to receive more money in their settlement than someone with minor injuries. Similarly, a client with more severe property damage or more lost wages will recover more than someone whose livelihood was less impacted by the crash.
Your settlement will also depend on the coverage you have from your insurance company. If your insurance plan covers more, then your settlement will be better. Your compensation will also depend on how your Hattiesburg car crash lawyer negotiates with your insurer.
Proven Success in Hattiesburg
Our track record speaks volumes. Below are some of the significant settlements we’ve secured for our clients in Hattiesburg:
- $580,000 for a client who suffered a back injury after a car accident.
- $253,000 for a car accident client with a severe back injury in Hattiesburg.
Each case is unique, and our experienced team is here to help you determine the compensation you deserve. Don’t settle for less—let us fight for the full settlement you’re entitled to.
Types of Damages You Might Recover for a Car Accident
No two motor vehicle accidents are identical, and neither are the injuries and losses they cause. For this reason, your car accident injury attorney will not be able to estimate your claim until they’ve had a chance to review your evidence. You may be able to recover the cost of:
- Doctors’ and surgeons’ fees
- Hospitalization
- Prescription medicine
- Physical therapy/rehabilitation
- Home modifications
- Ambulatory devices
- Lost income and benefits
- Pain and suffering and other non-economic damages
- Disfigurement
- Mental anguish
- Emotional stress
- Diminished quality of life and loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
- Wrongful death
Wrongful Death
If your loved one died from injuries they sustained in a car accident caused by another party, you may be able to pursue a wrongful death claim. While no amount of compensation could ever replace your loved one, you may soon be financially responsible for certain costs associated with their death.
A wrongful death action can help prepare you financially for a life without your loved one. We can handle your lawsuit and try to spare you discomfort throughout the process. Our attorneys handle this legal process for families who lost loved ones. Connect with our team today to learn more. We provide free initial consultations and work based on contingency fees.
Statute of Limitations in Mississippi
Every state imposes a deadline on the amount of time that can pass for an injured party to take legal action after a car accident. Under Mississippi Code Ann. § 15-1-49, this statute of limitations is three years.
While this can seem like quite a lot of time, the sooner you hire a law firm to handle your case, the more time you give us to build a strong case. The more time passes, the more you risk not meeting the state’s filing deadline.
Contact Morris Bart Today for a Free Consultation
If you have suffered injuries in a car accident, a Hattiesburg car accident lawyer at the Morris Bart law firm will fight for your right to compensation from the party who caused your injury. Our firm has over 40 years of experience serving families in Mississippi and beyond.
We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay us nothing upfront. We charge you no legal fees until you successfully get paid via a settlement or judgment. You have nothing to lose by getting a free case review and everything to gain. Our attorneys are available now. Reach out to us by calling or using our online form.
Questions?Call 800-537-8185
to find a Morris Bart office near you.