The roads in Southaven are busy, and car accidents are all too common. Fortunately, there are steps to take after getting in a collision that can help an injured person’s case for compensation, particularly when another driver is responsible for the crash.
The most important steps to take after a Southaven car accident are to call 911, file a police report, and receive any necessary medical attention. Beyond this, an experienced car wreck attorney can advise what their client should do to ensure they have the strongest possible claim for compensation in the wake of a collision. The stakes are too high to try and do this alone. Entrust your case to our board-certified lawyer, David E. Gordon.
What to Do In the Aftermath of a Car Crash
As previously mentioned, the most important thing to do after an auto accident in Southaven is to get emergency medical attention. Filing a police report and exchanging insurance and contact information with the other drivers involved in the wreck is also important. So is collecting as much evidence as possible—things like witness information, photos, and videos—that could be used later to build a case for liability.
Insurance companies come lawyered up in these situations and will anticipate and be ready to defend against a car accident victim’s case, poking holes in their argument wherever possible. By hiring a seasoned motor vehicle accident lawyer, an injured person will have someone on their side who will know how to avoid insurance company tactics such as lowball settlement offers and trying to trap victims into making statements against their interest.
Negotiating with the Insurance Companies
Most car crash cases are settled out of court at the negotiation table with insurance company representatives. An experienced Southaven car wreck attorney brings their legal training with them into the negotiation room and will be able to make a strong case for the maximum compensation allowed under the law.
A diligent lawyer can compile a comprehensive list of the injured individual’s costs and losses and affix a dollar amount to it as a starting point in the negotiation. Someone who has never handled a negotiation will likely find calculating compensation difficult. It involves a complex set of factors and determining who exactly is liable for the accident.
Determining Liability
Mississippi law gives injured parties three years to file a lawsuit after a car accident in Southaven. However, not all auto accidents are the same; some may prove difficult to investigate or involve complex liability issues. For example, if a commercial truck is involved in an accident, several laws apply, such as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) and Mississippi Code § 63-3-1201.
A well-practiced auto collision attorney will be intimately familiar with these areas of the law and able to use them to investigate and build a case on their client’s behalf. If a trucking company or manufacturer is at fault in addition to the driver, this could expand the avenues for compensation available to the victim of a crash. How to proceed will depend on the facts of the specific case.
Discuss Steps to Take After a Car Accident with a Southaven Attorney
Call The Law Office of David E. Gordon today for a free consultation and learn more about the essential steps to take after a Southaven car accident. You owe it to yourself to have proper representation after a motor vehicle collision caused by someone else’s careless or reckless actions. David E. Gordon will stand up for your rights and pursue the comprehensive compensation award you deserve.
