A vehicle wreck could upend every aspect of your life. You might be unable to work, even as medical bills pile up. If your injuries are severe, you could be forced to adjust to a much different future than you had planned for yourself. Amidst all these pressures, the stress of trying to get fair compensation from an insurance company might be too much. David E. Gordon is here to help.
A Southaven car accident lawyer is skilled at ensuring that responsible parties pay for the harm they caused to others. Seeking help from an experienced personal injury attorney might be the best move you could make after a car accident.
Liability in Auto Accidents
Under Mississippi law, the driver who caused a crash is responsible for compensating others for any losses they suffered. The at-fault driver’s insurer will cover losses up to the limits of their policy. If the injured person’s losses exceed the at-fault driver’s policy limits, then that driver is personally responsible and the client might need to pursue a civil lawsuit.
Minimum auto liability coverage under Mississippi law is $25,000 for bodily injury or death of one person, $50,000 for injury or death of two or more people, and $25,000 property damage. Given the cost of healthcare, the losses of someone who was seriously injured might exceed the policy limits if the driver has only the minimum required coverage.
Regardless of the coverage amounts that was purchased, insurers do their best to reduce their liability in an accident. An injured person needs an aggressive Southaven auto collision lawyer to fight for their right to restitution.
Claimant Negligence in Car Wrecks
Car wrecks could result from multiple factors, and the injured client’s negligence might have contributed to the incident. Mississippi law allows a negligent claimant to seek compensation from other negligent parties, but his or her monetary award will be adjusted to reflect their degree of culpability.
Unfortunately, liability insurers might try to unfairly shift blame away from their insureds and onto an injured person in an attempt to reduce their own liability. David can push back against those attempts by presenting investigatory evidence and expert opinions that could prove the extent of liability.
Statute of Limitations in Southaven
State law in Mississippi allows an injured person three years to bring a lawsuit seeking compensation for their losses. In the legal realm, this is not a lot of time, so it is to a person’s advantage to start preparing a lawsuit right away, even if they hope to avoid going to court.
When an injured person seeks professional assistance after a wreck, a Southaven car accident attorney can take immediate steps to strengthen his or her claim. For example, a lawyer can:
- Demand the preservation of evidence if a lawsuit is necessary
- Interview witnesses and secure sworn statements while memories are fresh
- Investigate the accident and identify other potentially responsible parties
- Hire accident reconstructionists, accountants, actuaries, medical doctors, and other experts whose testimony supports the client’s demands
- Use this information to negotiate with responsible parties and their insurers to secure an equitable settlement for the client
Swift action is especially important when a car crash involves the State of Mississippi or a local government. This situation could occur if one of the vehicles was owned by a government entity, if the driver was a government employee who was on the clock at the time of the wreck, if the accident happened at a government-funded roadwork site, or if poor road maintenance contributed to the crash. When the state or a local government is named in a personal injury lawsuit, the injured person has only one year to file a lawsuit and must inform the government entity of their intent to file suit 90 days in advance.
Let a Southaven Auto Accident Attorney Fight for You
If you have suffered an injury in a traffic accident, do not attempt to handle a claim by yourself. The responsible parties will have experienced professionals looking out for their interests, and you deserve the same protection.
A Southaven car accident lawyer can work diligently to get you a settlement that addresses your injuries, and can bring a lawsuit if necessary. To get a capable and aggressive ally on your side, schedule a consultation with the Law Office of David E. Gordon today.
