Gulfport Car Accident Lawyer

Gulfport Car Accident Lawyer

A car accident can upend your life in a matter of seconds, leaving you with painful injuries, seemingly endless medical bills, and a lot of questions about what to do next. If this happens to you or your loved one, let Haug, Farrar & Franco, PLLC, make things right.

An attorney with our Gulfport law firm can explain your rights, investigate the car accident, and pursue compensation and accountability on your behalf. You pay nothing unless we recover money for your accident injuries. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation and find out what we can do for you through our online form or call us at (228) 872-8752.

How Can a Gulfport Lawyer Help with My Car Accident Claim?

The aftermath of a car accident can be nearly as overwhelming as the incident itself, especially when injuries are involved. This is where HFF can make all the difference. A car accident lawyer from our firm can help you with your injury claim by:

  • Evaluating Your Case – Our lawyers will thoroughly review your situation to determine the validity of your claim and the potential types and amounts of compensation you could recover.
  • Investigating the Accident – Next, we will investigate the accident by gathering evidence like police reports, medical records, and witness statements to build a strong foundation for your case.
  • Assessing Your Losses – Your HFF attorney can accurately assess your economic and non-economic losses. The former includes medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage, while the latter covers pain and suffering.
  • Preparing Legal Paperwork – We will handle all the necessary legal paperwork and court filings for your claim, adhering to the strict timelines and procedures the court system requires.
  • Communicating with Insurance Companies – Your HFF lawyer will communicate with insurance companies on your behalf to negotiate a settlement that compensates you fairly for what you’ve suffered.
  • Consulting Experts – Our attorneys often work with medical experts to assess the full extent of our client’s injuries, as well as accident reconstruction experts who can demonstrate how the accident occurred.
  • Developing Legal Strategies – Your attorney will develop a legal strategy tailored to your case, whether that means negotiating for a fair settlement or preparing to take your case to trial.
  • Negotiating Settlements – As skilled negotiators, we can often secure settlements that adequately compensate our clients for their injuries and related losses without the need for a trial.
  • Representing You in Court – If your case goes to trial, your HFF lawyer will represent you in court, advocating on your behalf and presenting the evidence to the judge or jury.

What Compensation Can I Recover in a Car Accident Lawsuit?

The types and amounts of compensation you can recover for your car accident lawsuit depend on several factors. These include the severity of your injuries, who was at fault, and how much insurance coverage they have. In general, people who pursue car accident claims in Gulfport can recover money for:

  • Past and future medical expenses
  • Out-of-pocket costs for incidentals
  • Lost wages from missed time at work
  • Losses in future earning capacity
  • Subjective losses like pain and suffering
  • Losses in quality or enjoyment of life
  • Property damage

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 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.

What Are the Leading Causes of Car Accidents in Gulfport?

Traffic collisions are an all-too-common tragedy despite recent advances in technology and safety measures. Some of the most frequent causes of car accidents in Mississippi include:

  • Speeding and Distracted Driving – Excessive speed increases the risk of a car accident as well as its severity. Distracted driving involves activities that divert the driver’s attention away from the road, such as texting, talking on the phone, or eating while driving.
  • Drunk Driving – Alcohol impairs thinking, reasoning, and muscle coordination, which are essential for safe driving. Drunk driving accidents accounted for nearly 13,400 traffic deaths in a single recent year — about a third of all such fatalities.
  • Reckless Driving – Aggressive driving behaviors significantly increase the risk of accidents. These include changing lanes rapidly, tailgating, and disregarding traffic signs.
  • Running Red Lights and Stop Signs – Disobeying traffic signs or signals is a dangerous practice that often results in dangerous intersection accidents like T-bone collisions.
  • Driver Fatigue – Drowsy driving is comparable to driving under the influence of alcohol, as it similarly increases crash risk by impairing reaction time, awareness, and judgment.
  • Driver Inexperience – Novice drivers are more likely to make mistakes due to a lack of driving experience, which can lead to preventable traffic accidents.
  • Vehicle Defects – Sometimes accidents are caused by defects in the car itself, such as brake failures, tire blowouts, and steering or suspension failures.
  • Poor Road Conditions – Potholes, lack of proper signage, and similar road issues often contribute to car accidents, especially if they are not marked clearly or drivers are not paying attention.

What Are the Most Frequent Types of Car Wrecks?

Car accidents come in many different types, from the sudden jolt of a rear-end collision to the disorienting chaos of a rollover. Here are some of the most common kinds of auto wrecks our lawyers have seen in Gulfport:

  • Rear-End Accidents – These accidents happen when one vehicle’s front end strikes the back of another vehicle in front of it. They often result from sudden deceleration by the front driver or when the rear driver follows too closely (also known as tailgating).
  • Head-On Collisions – This type of wreck occurs when the front ends of two vehicles moving in opposite directions collide. They are highly dangerous and often result in severe injuries or fatalities upon impact.
  • Sideswipe Accidents – These happen when the sides of two adjacent cars scrape against each other or collide. Such crashes occue when a car drifts from its lane or when one driver tries to change lanes without noticing another vehicle in the neighboring lane.
  • T-Bone Collisions – Also known as side-impact collisions, T-bone accidents happen when the front end of one vehicle hits the side of another, forming a T-shaped wreck. They often occur at intersections and can cause significant injuries, particularly to crash-side occupants.
  • Rollover Accidents – A rollover involves a vehicle flipping over onto its side or roof. This type of wreck can be triggered by a variety of factors, including sharp turns, high speeds, and collisions. Rollovers can be particularly dangerous due to the potential for multiple impacts and ejections.

What Are Common Injuries from Car Accidents?

The extreme force imparted by even a relatively minor collision can cause a range of serious injuries. Some of the most common include the following:

  • Whiplash
  • Concussions
  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Back injuries
  • Neck injuries
  • Internal bleeding
  • Broken ribs
  • Herniated discs
  • Knee trauma
  • Leg injuries
  • Broken bones
  • Lacerations
  • Contusions (bruises)
  • Burns
  • Soft tissue injuries
  • Crush injuries
  • Dislocations
  • Amputations
  • Chest injuries
  • Abdominal injuries
  • Pelvic injuries
  • Facial injuries
  • Eye injuries
  • Dental injuries
  • Psychological trauma

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, PLLC. We’ll listen to your story, answer your questions, and review your options.

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 HFF today for a free consultation and case evaluation through our online form or call us at (228) 338-2212.

 

  • Legally Reviewed By
    Christopher “Stopher” Haug
    Christopher C. “Stopher” Haug, is licensed to practice law in Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. Stopher has over fourteen years of experience in representing clients in many areas of the law, ranging from general civil litigation to domestic and family law, personal injury, criminal law, as well as contract disputes and business formation and strategy.
  • RESULTS MATTER

    $437,696
    Work Injury
    $500,000
    Overseas Accident
    $500,000
    Premises Liability
    $205,394
    Work Injury