Drivers who fail to exercise reasonable care and obey traffic laws can cause serious car accidents. Crashes can happen at any time and are often unavoidable for the responsible driver who was struck. Victims are often faced with immense pain and financial struggles in the aftermath of an accident.
Our Hattiesburg car accident lawyers can help recover financial compensation for those who have been injured in car crashes because of another driver’s negligence. Car accidents can lead to a variety of injuries. The monetary damages awarded in car accident lawsuits provide support to victims during difficult times.
If you have been injured in a car accident because of another driver’s negligence, get help recovering the compensation you deserve. Contact our experienced Hattiesburg car accident lawyers by calling Howe Law at (844) 876-4357 for a free case review.
Settling a Case vs. Taking a Case to Trial in Hattiesburg, MS
Insurance companies will hire teams of people and employ numerous tactics when trying to decrease the value of a claim. One such strategy is attempting to entice low, early settlement agreements. Insurance adjusters will often make low settlement offers in the aftermath of a car accident. However, you should not speak with another driver’s insurance company until after reviewing your case with our experienced Hattiesburg car accident lawyers. Our team can evaluate the facts of your case and explain the full range of legal options available to you.
After seeking medical treatment, gathering evidence, and filing your case, you should begin negotiating with a defendant’s insurance company. Our Hattiesburg car accident lawyers can lean on years of experience and offer guidance throughout the negotiation process. Our team can ensure that you know the true value of your case. Accordingly, you can avoid accepting low settlement offers.
If a settlement agreement is not reached, a case may go to trial. There are many inherent risks and potential rewards that accompany the decision to take a case to trial. Plaintiffs could be awarded more damages at trial, or they could be left empty handed. Our Hattiesburg car accident lawyers can help determine if going to trial is the right decision in your case.
Time Limits to File a Car Accident Case in Hattiesburg, MS
In Hattiesburg, car accident plaintiffs will have three years from the date of their accident to file a lawsuit. However, plaintiffs should file their case quickly after suffering a car accident.
There are numerous requirements for filing a claim beyond just filing it on time. If plaintiffs file an invalid claim, they may need time to re-file. The time it takes to re-file your case could cause you to miss out on compensation. Furthermore, important evidence may become harder to collect as time goes by. Accordingly, victims should contact our Hattiesburg car accident lawyers as soon as possible after an accident for help filing their claim.
Establishing Fault in a Hattiesburg, MS Car Accident Case
In order to recover damages in a car accident lawsuit, you must provide evidence to establish that another driver was at fault for a crash. There are many forms of negligence that may lead to car accidents. The following forms of evidence may be used to prove that a car accident was caused by another driver’s careless or reckless conduct:
- Witness statements
- Accident reports
- Photos from the scene
- Physical evidence from the scene
- Crash diagrams
- Surveillance footage
- Dashboard camera footage
- Personal recollections
The process for collecting evidence to prove your claim can be difficult. For instance, witnesses refuse to cooperate, important documents become lost, and memories become hazy. Our Hattiesburg car accident lawyers can help gather evidence to support your case.
Damages Available in a Hattiesburg, MS Car Accident Case
Car accidents can cause victims to suffer multiple forms of physical and mental injuries. The cost of treatment for these injuries can be immense. Accordingly, there is a wide array of damages available to plaintiffs in Hattiesburg car accident cases.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are compensatory damages related to an accident that are more easily proven. Mississippi does not place a limit on the amount of economic damages that may be recovered in car accident cases. These economic damages may include past and future medical expenses, lost wages, out of pocket expenses, and property damages incurred because of an accident. Our Hattiesburg car accident lawyers can help victims recover economic damages in their case.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages cover damages for subjective, less identifiable harm such as physical pain and emotional anguish. Non-economic damages may be difficult to prove but can produce a devastating impact on victims. Some injuries may never heal. Such injuries can affect a victim’s quality of life. Accordingly, our Hattiesburg attorneys can help plaintiffs establish non-economic damages suffered because of a negligent driver.
However, Mississippi places a $1,000,000 limit on non-economic damages awarded in their state. In other words, the law will prevent plaintiffs in Hattiesburg from recovering more than $1,000,000 in damages for their physical pain and emotional suffering.
Punitive Damages
In rare car accident cases, punitive damages may be awarded. Punitive damages are also referred to as exemplary damages. They are meant to punish a defendant and discourage similar behavior. In other words, punitive damages serve to “make an example” of a particularly negligent defendant.
In Hattiesburg, punitive damages may only be awarded in cases where it is clear a defendant acted with actual malice or gross negligence, committed fraud, or showed willful, wanton, or reckless disregard for others’ safety. For example, punitive damages may be awarded in a case where the defendant committed a hit and run while driving under the influence.
Punitive damage caps in Mississippi are typically determined by evaluating a defendant’s net worth. Our Hattiesburg car accident lawyers can help determine if punitive damages may be available in your case.
If You Were Injured Because of Another Driver’s Negligent Conduct in Hattiesburg, MS, Our Lawyers Can Help
If you were injured because of another driver’s negligent conduct, seek assistance from our experienced Hattiesburg car accident lawyers by calling Howe Law at (844) 876-4357 for a free case review.