Gulfport Car Accident Attorney

Experienced Gulfport Car Accident Lawyers

A car wreck can change your entire life in just a moment. You may be suffering from painful injuries, overwhelming medical bills, and a daunting recovery. Being out of work while you heal adds to the financial burdens you’re already facing. And it’s all because someone else was careless.

The Gulfport car accident attorneys at Haug, Farrar, Franco & Ruiz, PLLC understand what you’re going through – and we’re here for you. Since 2014, we have been helping injury victims get the compensation they need to move forward after such a devastating and traumatizing event. In that time, our team has recovered millions of dollars in settlements and awards for clients, including car accident victims such as:

• $1,150,000 for a fatal motor vehicle collision filed in federal court
• $700,000 for a car accident victim who needed knee and ankle surgery
• $263,000 for a client rear-ended at a stoplight, resulting in spine and shoulder surgeries
• $260,000 for a passenger injured in a single-vehicle collision requiring an ankle fusion
• $250,000 for a client needing lumbar fusion surgery after herniated lumbar discs
• $100,000 for a minor who sustained facial scarring in a car accident

Call Now at (228) 872-8752

Why Choose Haug, Farrar, Franco & Ruiz, PLLC for Your Gulfport Car Accident Claim?

When choosing a car accident attorney to handle your claim, you have many options. So, why choose HFF? We are a full-service law firm that offers uncompromising client service. Here’s our promise to you:

• We will never treat you like another case number. We know how important your case is to your future.
• We’ll assess your case for free and advise you on your options during a no-obligation consultation.
• We’ll communicate with you openly and honestly throughout your case. You’ll always know where things stand and what to expect.
• We’ll explore every option for recovering fair compensation for your injury. Your success is our top priority.
• We’ll never charge you a fee unless we win your case. High-quality legal representation should be a right, not a privilege.

What to Expect from Our Car Crash Attorneys

When you’re dealing with the situation of a Gulfport car accident, the last thing you want to add to your plate is filing a personal injury claim and talking to insurance companies. Let the car crash lawyers at Haug, Farrar, Franco & Ruiz, PLLC handle it for you. Our legal team will:

• Investigate the cause of the collision by inspecting the accident scene, interviewing witnesses, and gathering surveillance footage and other vital evidence
• Analyze the police report, medical records, and other crash-related documents to support your case
• Collaborate with experts to reconstruct the crash, document your injuries, and calculate the full extent of your losses
• Determine all potentially at-fault parties and build a solid case proving their liability to hold them accountable
• File a car accident claim against the liable parties seeking full compensation for what you have suffered
• Negotiate for a fair settlement that covers all of your losses and take your case to trial if necessary
• Communicate with you openly and honestly throughout your case so you always know where things stand and what to expect
• Treat your car accident case with the care, dedication, and compassion it deserves, making the process as stress-free and simple for you as possible

Types of Damages You May Be Eligible to Claim

If someone else’s negligence caused your car accident injuries, you may be entitled to compensation. You can seek money for your losses in a personal injury claim against the at-fault party, including:

• Past and future medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Reduced future earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of quality of life
• Property damage

A skilled Gulfport car accident attorney from Haug, Farrar, Franco & Ruiz, PLLC can demand the maximum compensation you are owed from the party who harmed you. And you pay nothing unless we recover money for your injuries.

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How Long Does It Take for a Car Accident Claim to Settle?

The duration of a car accident case hinges on the complexity of the case, the clarity of fault, and the willingness of the insurance companies to negotiate. While some claims may settle in a matter of weeks, others can take months or even years to reach a resolution.

Remember that a speedy settlement isn’t necessarily in your best interest. Quick settlements often result in inadequate compensation, as they might not fully account for the long-term effects of the claimant’s injuries or the full impact of lost wages or earning capacity. Having patience and hiring a lawyer who’s skilled in legal representation for car accident cases may be necessary for securing a settlement that truly reflects the harm you suffered.

How Do I Know If I Have a Valid Case?

The best way to determine whether you have a valid auto crash injury compensation claim is to consult a Gulfport personal injury lawyer for car accidents. You probably have a case if you can show that another party’s wrongful behavior caused the car accident and that you suffered injuries or losses that can be offset by financial damages. An attorney can evaluate the details of your case, collect and examine evidence, and review applicable laws to determine the strength of your claim.

Is There a Time Limit for Filing a Car Accident Lawsuit in Mississippi?

The standard time limit for filing a car accident lawsuit in Mississippi is three years from the date of the accident. This deadline, which is set out in the state’s statute of limitations (Mississippi Code § 15-1-49), applies to any lawsuit seeking compensation for car accident victims, including personal injury and property damage.

If you file a lawsuit after the deadline has passed, the court will likely dismiss your case without hearing it. Should this happen, you will lose the right to seek compensation for the harm you suffered through the court system.

There are rare exceptions to the standard deadline that could apply in certain circumstances, potentially extending the time you have to file. These exceptions include cases where the injured person is a minor, the other party is out of state, or there is fraud or concealment on the part of the at-fault party.

We at HFF can prepare and file your claim within the applicable statute of limitations. Our lawyers can quickly gather evidence, consult experts, complete necessary legal paperwork, and file your lawsuit in court before the deadline.

Contact a Gulfport Car Accident Attorney Today

Were you or a loved one hurt in a car accident? Then reach out to the Gulfport car accident lawyers at Haug, Farrar, Franco & Ruiz, PLLC. You’ll pay nothing unless we successfully obtain full and fair compensation for you. You have nothing to lose to get started and everything to gain. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation and find out what we can do for you through our online form or call (228) 872-8752.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Gulfport Car Accident Claims

One of a Gulfport car accident attorney’s crucial jobs is to help you understand the legal process and explain the details of your case. Here are the answers to some of the most common questions we receive about car accidents in Gulfport.

How Long is the Car Accident Settlement Timeline in Gulfport?

It’s hard to say how long your car accident case will take because every case is different. Some factors that affect the timeline of your case include:

• Severity of your injuries – The worse your injuries are, the longer your medical treatment may take. Your case usually won’t settle or go to trial until your doctors know your long-term prognosis and can assess your future medical needs.
• Length of the investigation – Gathering evidence, including witness statements, crash reports, video footage, and medical records, takes time. If there are liability questions or the insurance company questions your claim, the investigation may take even longer.
• Insurance company response – Some insurers cooperate quickly, while others delay or challenge parts of your claim. Your lawyer may need multiple rounds of back-and-forth negotiations with an insurer to seek fair compensation for your losses.
• Amount of compensation involved – Larger personal injury claims take more time. The more money that is at stake, the more likely the insurance company is to investigate aggressively and try to limit your payout.
• Whether a lawsuit is necessary – If a fair settlement isn’t possible, filing a car accident lawsuit can add months or sometimes more than a year to the process. The court’s schedule, pre-trial procedures, and additional investigations can all lengthen your case’s timeline.
• Your willingness to settle – Seeking full compensation may take longer but often leads to better long-term results than accepting a quick settlement.

Is It Worth It to Hire a Gulfport Car Accident Attorney?

There are quite a few benefits of hiring a Gulfport car accident lawyer. After a crash, you’re likely dealing with pain, stress, medical bills, missed work, and a lot of uncertainty. An experienced lawyer can take that burden off your shoulders by handling every part of your claim, from investigating the crash to dealing with insurance adjusters. You won’t have to worry about paperwork, deadlines, or saying the wrong thing to the wrong person.

A good car accident attorney knows how to build a solid case, calculate the full value of your injuries, and push back against low settlement offers. They can also find and present compelling evidence to support your claim. Most importantly, a personal injury lawyer can protect your rights while you focus on getting better.

How Much Are Most Car Accident Settlements?

Estimating the average car accident settlement is challenging because each case is different. Your physical injuries, financial losses, and the other harm you’ve suffered are unique, so it’s hard to compare two cases directly.

A better approach is to consider what losses you can claim compensation for and document them thoroughly. To start, you can seek compensation for the collision’s financial effects, including your:

• Current and future medical expenses
• The income you lose while you heal
• How your injuries limit your future earnings
• The cost to repair or replace your car

You can use your hospital invoices, vehicle repair estimates, previous paychecks, and other evidence to demonstrate the crash’s financial toll.

You can also demand compensation for the intangible effects of a car accident. For example, you may claim compensation for your:

• Physical pain and suffering
• How your injuries limit your daily activities and quality of life
• Any emotional effects you’ve suffered, such as insomnia, anxiety, depression, or PTSD

These losses are harder to prove, but you can make a persuasive case by presenting evidence like testimony from friends and family or notes from a mental health counselor.

What if I Was Partially at Fault in the Accident?

People often worry they can’t recover compensation if they’re partly responsible for a crash. Fortunately, that’s not the case in Mississippi. To understand why, it helps to know a little about how fault works in a car accident claim and Mississippi law.

In most car accident cases, the party responsible for any injuries and property damage resulting from the collision is the one whose negligence caused the crash. When someone is negligent, that means they didn’t take reasonable steps to avoid causing the accident. For instance, speeding, distracted driving, tailgating, and drunk driving are all examples of negligent behavior. A driver who causes a crash because they were speeding or drunk would likely be considered negligent and liable for your injuries.

But what if your negligence contributed to the accident? Mississippi’s comparative negligence law applies in these situations. The law says that you can recover compensation as long as you aren’t entirely responsible for the crash. However, if you are partly to blame, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. So if you are 20 percent responsible for the collision, you lose 20 percent of your claim’s total value.

Insurance companies may cite this rule to try to reduce your compensation. An experienced car accident attorney can present evidence to work to minimize your level of fault and help you pursue as much money as possible.

What Types of Car Accident Injuries Are Eligible for Financial Compensation?

Any injury from a collision caused by someone else’s negligence could potentially qualify for compensation. Some common compensable car accident injuries in Gulfport include:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Broken bones
• Internal bleeding
• Injuries to internal organs
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Mental health conditions like PTSD

The more severe the injuries you suffered, the more compensation you might be owed.

Will My Car Accident Claim Result in an Insurance Settlement?

Most car accident cases are resolved through a settlement rather than going to court. A trial can come with additional time, risk, and expenses. Insurance settlements provide a guaranteed outcome for everyone involved in a car accident claim.

However, a trial may be necessary if an insurer refuses to make a reasonable settlement offer. Your Gulfport car accident attorney can help you weigh the pros and cons of taking your case to court.