Southaven Car Accident Lawyer

Car accidents can cause catastrophic injuries that are expensive to treat and may impact your quality of life. If you’ve been hurt in a collision caused by another driver, you could receive financial compensation with the help of an attorney. Filing an insurance claim is one way to recover losses, but what happens when insurers refuse to play fair?

The best way to counter dishonest insurance tactics is to consult with a Southaven personal injury lawyer from Gatti, Keltner, Bievenu & Montesi PLC. Our dedicated personal injury attorneys have obtained high-value insurance settlements for injured clients throughout Desoto County since 1970.

We have the experience to deliver the case results you’re counting on.

Typical Compensation for Car Accident Claims

To get an accurate estimation of the damages you might receive, speak to a Southaven car accident attorney. They will calculate your economic and non-economic damages to determine how much compensation you could be entitled to. If the number they give you is far higher than the insurance company’s initial offer, you have even more reason to hire a lawyer.

Although we can’t provide an exact estimate of what you can expect to recover from a claim or lawsuit until we’ve heard more about your accident, we can tell you about the damages available to injury victims, some of which include:

• Medical expenses
• Hospital and ambulance costs
• Lost wages
• Property damage repair costs
• Decreased earning ability
• Psychological issues like anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment of life

Types of Injuries You Can File an Insurance Claim for

Whether you’ve suffered a minor or severe injury, you should explore your legal options with a car accident lawyer in Southaven, MS. An experienced attorney can evaluate your injuries and losses to determine whether or not you should pursue legal action.

Our firm has helped countless clients recover from motor vehicle accident injuries. We have the skills to recover compensation for any of the following physical injuries:

• Traumatic brain injury
• Spinal cord injury
• Catastrophic injury
• Internal bleeding and complications
• Whiplash
• Broken bones
• Lacerations
• And more

Our car accident lawyers can work hard to get the damages you need to pay for medical care and replenish your lost wages. They’ll use your treatment bills, medical records, and possibly your doctor’s testimony to support your claim. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and find out if your injuries warrant an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit.

What to Do Immediately After a Car Accident

If you’ve been involved in an auto accident, there are several actions you can take to prevent further complications from your injuries and increase the likelihood that you’ll receive a fair settlement. Please take the following measures after a collision:

Turn Off the Vehicle

After an accident, you might panic and try to get out of your car immediately without turning it off. This can be a huge mistake, as a damaged vehicle that is running can lead to a dangerous explosion. If possible, always turn the car off before exiting the vehicle. Doing so can prevent further damage and minimize the risk to other people.

Call 911 as Soon as Possible

Auto collisions can cause significant injury to everyone involved. Even if you are not injured, you should call emergency services. They can help anyone else who may have been hurt in the accident. Calling 911 is also important because it’s important that police officers come and document the accident.

Remain as calm as possible and share your location with the 911 operator. Tell them if anyone on the scene has been injured so the operator can dispatch the appropriate personnel. If nobody is injured, explain that an accident has occurred and you need an officer to come to make a police report.

A car accident attorney in Southaven, MS, can use the police report as evidence for your claim.

Identify if Other Drivers Are Intoxicated

Drunk driving is, unfortunately, very common in Mississippi. If you suspect that the driver who caused the accident is intoxicated, look for signs of intoxication, like slurred speech, red eyes, and the smell of alcohol. If you notice signs of intoxication, inform the police officer when they arrive.

Do Not Take the Blame

Even if you believe you may have contributed to the accident, do not accept responsibility for it. The police officers will do their best to assess fault at the scene, but you have no obligation to accept liability. Let the courts decide who should be held responsible.

Exchange Information with Other Drivers and Witnesses

If you have to take your car accident claim to court, it helps to have eyewitness testimony. If anyone saw the collision occur, speak to them and take down their contact information. Your lawyer can call on them during your trial to give their account of the collision.

You’ll also want to exchange information with the driver. Your attorney can use their general information and insurance details to craft an effective insurance claim or lawsuit. If the driver refuses to provide their information, the responding police officers can facilitate the exchange.

Seek Medical Treatment

If you are severely injured, you should skip the previous steps and seek medical attention ASAP. Call emergency services and ask for an ambulance to take you to the nearest hospital. A physician can evaluate your injuries and provide the treatment you need. 

Tell the doctor about any pains you are experiencing so that they can be well documented. Accurate medical records are essential for proving your damages. Our car accident lawyers can help you collect these medical records when needed.

Speak to a Car Accident Attorney in Southaven, MS

Once you’ve taken these steps and sought medical treatment, it’s time to get started on your accident claim. Contact a car accident lawyer to find out if you’re entitled to compensation. They’ll assess the details of your accident and advise you on your best options moving forward.

If they advise you to pursue an insurance settlement, they’ll collect the necessary evidence, guide you through the process of filing a claim, and negotiate a fair settlement with the insurer. If an insurance claim won’t cover your losses, an attorney can represent you and court and demand that you’re awarded the compensation you need to get back on your feet.

Time Limits for Car Accident Claims

Under Miss. Code Ann. § 15-1-49, you have three years from the date of your accident to file a lawsuit. If you miss this deadline, your suit could get thrown out, leaving you without the money you need to cover your medical bills and other losses.

To get your suit submitted before the three-year due date, contact a car accident attorney ASAP. While it is possible to file beyond the statute of limitations, cases that do not have extenuating circumstances are very likely to be dismissed.

Get Professional Legal Counsel

Recovering from car accident injuries is stressful enough as it is. You shouldn’t have to deal with the complicated claims process or be expected to gather evidence for a lawsuit. To get a fair outcome without having to go through all the steps yourself, have Gatti, Keltner, Bievenu & Montesi PLC handle your case.

Our team can do the heavy lifting while you relax and focus on recovering from your injuries. That’s why we say, “it’s easy with Montesi.” Contact us today to get the comprehensive legal help you need to recover compensation. We’ll schedule a free consultation to answer your questions and determine if you can pursue damages.