Car accidents can turn your life upside down in the blink of an eye, leaving you with lasting injuries, emotional trauma, and a growing pile of medical bills. While you may be entitled to compensation, securing what you deserve can be challenging – particularly while recovering from car accident injuries. But is it worth hiring an attorney for a car accident, or are you better off pursuing a case alone?
At Haug, Farrar, Franco & Ruiz, PLLC, we want to help you make the decisions best suited to you and your unique circumstances after a car crash. Here’s what you need to know about whether hiring a lawyer is right for you.
Representing Yourself vs. Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer
Some car accident victims consider handling their own case, especially if the crash was minor or liability seems clear. While this may seem like a way to save money, there’s often far more to this legal process than many expect before experiencing it firsthand.
Representing yourself means:
- Gathering all evidence, including police reports, witness statements, dashcam or surveillance footage, cell phone records, black box data, and medical records
- Negotiating directly with insurance adjusters who are highly skilled at minimizing payouts and avoiding liability
- Calculating full compensation based on physical, emotional, and financial losses
- Obtaining a thorough understanding of Mississippi’s personal injury laws and applying that knowledge effectively
A claim may seem simple enough, but the moment the insurance company disputes liability, questions your medical treatment, or employs stalling tactics, things can quickly become complicated. Without legal training, you may feel overwhelmed and pressured into accepting far less than you deserve to avoid getting nothing.
An experienced Gulfport car accident lawyer can investigate the crash, secure evidence, handle all communications and negotiations with insurers, and help you avoid critical errors while pursuing your case. They not only take the burden of a significant workload off your shoulders, but they also offer a significant advantage at the negotiating table or in the courtroom.
How Much Does a Car Accident Lawyer Cost?
“Should I get a lawyer after a car accident?” is a question most commonly asked for financial reasons. Someone facing significant medical costs, out-of-pocket expenses, and extended time off work doesn’t necessarily want to risk further financial strain by hiring an attorney.
However, the team at Haug, Farrar, Franco & Ruiz, PLLC works on a contingency fee basis. That means you pay nothing up front and don’t owe us a fee unless we win your car accident case. If you recover compensation, you’ll owe your attorney an agreed-upon percentage of your settlement or verdict. With a contingency-fee arrangement, there’s no financial risk to getting the legal representation you need.
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How Do Insurance Companies Try to Undervalue Your Car Accident Claim?
Insurance companies prioritize protecting their profits over all else. That means they’ll try to weaken your claim and minimize your payout, no matter how deserving of full compensation you may be. Some common tactics they employ to do this include:
- Quick settlement offers – Insurers will offer a fast payout before you can assess the full extent and impact of your injuries. These settlements wind up being far lower than the true value of your claim, and when you accept them, you waive your right to seek further compensation.
- Minimizing medical expenses – You may be contacted by insurance adjusters looking for access to your medical history so they can create a narrative that your injuries were not connected to the collision or that the medical treatment you received was not necessary.
- Shifting blame – Insurance companies may try to lay some or all of the blame on you to either reduce your payout or deny your claim altogether.
- Delaying claims – The longer insurers can draw out the process, the more likely the accident victim is to become desperate and accept a low offer.
What a Car Accident Lawyer Can Do for You
Hiring a Mississippi car accident attorney can take all of the stress and burden of pursuing a personal injury claim off your shoulders. At Haug, Farrar, Franco & Ruiz, PLLC, our attorneys can help by:
- Reviewing your case for free – We will sit down with you, listen to your story, review your evidence, and ask you some key questions so we can determine your legal options, free of charge.
- Investigating the accident – Our attorneys will thoroughly investigate the collision, determine who may be responsible, and gather all evidence needed to hold the at-fault parties accountable.
- Handling insurance company communications – You don’t need to worry about insurance company tactics when you have a skilled attorney handling all communications with them.
- Negotiating and litigating – Whether sitting down at the negotiating table or presenting your case before a judge or jury, your attorneys will advocate aggressively for your best interests.
When Hiring an Attorney Is Crucial
There are many instances when an experienced Gulfport personal injury attorney can protect your rights in a car accident claim. Be sure to contact a lawyer when:
- You’ve suffered severe injuries.
- The other side is disputing liability.
- Your claim has been denied.
- The insurance company won’t make a fair settlement offer.
- There are multiple parties involved.
- Fault is not clear.
- The at-fault driver doesn’t have insurance.
- You’re unsure of the long-term effects of your injuries.
These situations present complications and challenges to recovering the money you deserve that an attorney is best suited to handle. A skilled car accident lawyer has the experience, resources, and knowledge needed to pursue maximum compensation, even in the most difficult cases.
Contact Our Gulfport Car Accident Lawyers
Haug, Farrar, Franco & Ruiz, PLLC has been protecting the rights of Gulfport residents for over a decade. Although each case is different and past results cannot guarantee future outcomes, we’ve secured millions in settlements and verdicts for injury victims, including a $700,000 car accident settlement. Many of our clients have expressed their satisfaction with our services through heartfelt testimonials, such as this one:
“I hired Jonathan for an accident with an 18 wheeler. This was such a traumatic time for me. Jonathan showed great compassion for what I was going through. My case was not an easy one, but he fought hard to get the highest amount possible. I love his staff, everyone is so friendly. I highly recommend Jonathan for your legal needs.” – Cheryl K.
When you need experienced, tenacious legal representation, we’re ready to fight for the compensation and accountability you deserve. Contact us online or call (228) 872-8752 today for your free legal consultation.