Mississippi Car Accident Lawyers Ready To Stand Up For Your Right To Compensation
Auto accidents happen every hour of every day throughout Mississippi. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), every 10 seconds of every day, someone in the United States is involved in a car accident. Our Mississippi auto accident attorneys at Kilpatrick & Philley understand that auto accidents can cause emotional, physical and financial hardships for you and your family. We boast a comprehensive knowledge of state insurance and liability laws and can work tirelessly to see that you and your family receive just compensation for the injuries you have suffered.
A car accident, under any circumstances, is a traumatic event. Whether you’re involved in a minor fender bender that leaves you with cosmetic damage, or a serious auto crash, you have rights. Auto insurance companies are notorious for denying auto accident injury claims or for paying out measly auto accident injury settlements just to make clients go away. In many cases, these settlements are insufficient to cover even your medical bills, and they don’t come close to paying your full damages. No matter your situation, you need tough representation and advocacy.
Making Insurers Pay What Is Owed
A Mississippi car accident attorney can help make sure you get the auto accident injury settlement that you deserve. Don’t waste time dealing with the insurance company. In fact, be careful what you say to the insurance company adjuster about your accident, as the insurance company may later use it against you. The general rule is that you should not give any recorded statements to the other driver’s insurance company.
Kilpatrick & Philley has recovered millions of dollars for clients over the years. Consult a Mississippi personal injury attorney now at 601-707-4669.
Causes And Common Injuries
Causes of auto collisions range from speeding, drunk driving, recklessness, texting or talking on cellphones, disobeying traffic signals, failing to signal while turning, disregarding weather or traffic conditions, failing to drive on the right side of the road, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, eating, playing with the radio, or just not paying attention to the roadway.
Common car accident injuries include:
- Whiplash
- Broken bones and bone fractures
- Concussions
- Scrapes, cuts and lacerations
- Internal injuries
- Bruises
- Spinal cord injuries
- Loss of limbs
- Back injury
- Brain injuries
- Paralysis
- Death
Any of these injuries can quickly add up to major medical bills. A trip in an ambulance starts around $400 – $500 and can mount to well over $1,000 quickly. Even a brief stay in the emergency room starts around $1,000. Even a relatively minor car accident can quickly add up to $5,000 to $10,000 in medical bills; a major accident can cost up to $200,000 just in medical expenses.
If you don’t have health insurance, this is a daunting number. Even if you do have health insurance, some health insurers refuse to pay auto claims, so you could be left with the bill.
What About Other Damages?
This doesn’t even count the damage to your car, any personal belongings with you in the car, missed time from work or other financial damages. If your car is totaled, that’s another $10,000 in damages. Miss a week or more of work? Depending on your salary, that could range from $500 to $2,000, if not more. If you miss multiple weeks or months, or are unable to return to work at all, the damages can be even more substantial.
Auto Accident ‘Do’s And Don’ts’
Most people have no idea what to do when they have a car accident, which means they can make a lot of mistakes at the accident scene and shortly after. If you’ve been in a car accident, consider these do’s and don’ts for how to handle the insurance company, medical treatment and your case:
- DO complete a police report as soon as possible.
In most car accident cases, police respond to the accident and interview the people involved at the scene of the accident. You’ll tell the police officer what happened, and the officer will file a police report. Don’t leave the scene of the accident until you’ve spoken to a police officer. If you did have an accident and no police officer responded, fill out a police report as soon as possible. - DO get medical treatment if you’re having health problems or are hurt.
Far too many auto accident victims don’t get medical treatment for their injuries. You should go to the doctor as soon as possible after you’re injured, for two reasons: to document your injuries, and to begin a course of treatment. - DO take pictures of your car and your injuries as soon as possible.
In today’s world of cellphones with cameras and small digital cameras, it’s not uncommon to have a camera with you when you have an accident. Try to take pictures of your accident at the scene of the accident, if possible. Photo-document the damage to your car, the damage to the other person’s car, the way your cars stopped, skid marks and anything else that seems relevant to your accident. - DO get the names and telephone numbers of witnesses to the collision.
It is important to get the names, addresses and telephone numbers of all witnesses to the collision because, oftentimes, the person who was at fault in the accident, changes his/her story about what happened. - DO retain a car accident attorney as soon as possible.
Don’t wait until you start having trouble with the insurance company to retain a Ridgeland auto accident lawyer. There are critical deadlines you must meet to file an auto accident lawsuit, and waiting too long can jeopardize those deadlines. In dealing with the insurer, you also risk weakening your case. - DON’T talk to the insurer without consulting your attorney first!
Auto insurers are experts at finding ways to reduce their liability. Don’t talk to the insurer, or provide a recorded statement or oral statement to the auto insurance company, until you’ve spoken with your attorney. Your attorney will advise you on how to best protect your case, and tricks to avoid when speaking with the insurer. - DON’T discuss liability for the accident!
Never discuss liability for the accident. If you’re not quite sure what happened, wait until you see the police report and talk with your attorney. Don’t admit fault to the insurer, the other driver or anyone at the scene until you and your attorney have had a chance to review the facts of the accident. - DON’T be dishonest about your injury.
Most people err on the side of minimizing their injuries, but it’s important to always be honest about your injury. Don’t say it doesn’t hurt if it hurts, but don’t pretend that your neck is broken, either. Don’t exaggerate your injuries. Insurers oftentimes investigate your auto accident injury claim, so it’s a good idea to be honest from the beginning to make sure you don’t jeopardize your case.
Finally, don’t wait too long before contacting an experienced personal injury attorney for further guidance.
Q&A About Car Accident Claims
Why do I feel so tired after a car accident?
A car accident is a traumatic experience, and it is not unusual for victims to require rest afterward. However, extended periods of fatigue and tiredness could indicate a serious head injury. One of the main symptoms of concussion is excessive tiredness. Minor concussions can subside after a few days, but feeling tired after this could be an indication that something more serious is at play.
All head injuries after a crash should be treated as emergencies. It’s essential that you see a doctor immediately after the crash so that the extent of your injuries can be accurately evaluated.
Can I get compensation for mental health issues after an accident in Mississippi?
Yes. Mississippi law accounts for emotional distress caused by car accidents, and this can form part of your claim. Damages will relate to the extent of your condition, medical costs, expected recovery period and lost wages. The more documentation you have, the stronger your claim will be.
Common Injuries Resulting From Car Wrecks
Common car accident injuries for which you may wish to file a personal injury claim include:
Loss Of Limbs
Losing a limb as a result of an automobile accident – whether in the accident itself or by necessary amputation afterward – will, needless to say, have long-lasting detrimental effects for the victim. Limb amputation is not only physically damaging, but can have severe mental, emotional and financial impacts as well. A person who sustains a limb amputation as a result of a car accident may find themselves struggling to afford prosthetics and medical treatment, unable to return to work and otherwise incapable of returning to their everyday, normal life. This is why it’s imperative to have the help of an experienced Mississippi personal injury attorney on your side who can help you fight for the fair financial reparation you are owed.
Damage To Soft Tissue
Soft tissue damage encompasses an array of injuries, including any that do not involve visible cuts, lacerations, scarring or broken bones. Damage to a person’s soft tissue can include strained or torn muscles, ligaments, or tendons and typically involve injuries to the neck, shoulders and back. Treatment for soft tissue damage can be complicated, requiring intensive physical rehabilitation, medication or chiropractic treatment. Medical expenses for soft tissue damage can quickly add up, making it crucial to enlist the assistance of a car accident attorney who can help you fight for fair compensation.
Back Or Neck Injury
Of the common types of injuries sustained in car accidents, back and neck injuries are by far the most prevalent. This is largely due to the sudden back-and-forth motion involved in most collisions. This jerking typically causes victims to experience sudden whiplash, or compression fracture of the spine, that can lead to severe, long-lasting back and neck injuries. Because of their potential to lead to permanent disability, back and neck injuries require immediate medical attention. Even if you only feel a slight soreness initially, it’s important to seek treatment so that your injuries do not progress. If you’ve been involved in a car accident and are now experiencing back or neck stiffness, muscle spasms, increasing neck pain, or other unexplained neck or back pain, contact your doctor as soon as possible.
Brain Or Head Trauma
Concussions and other head trauma are serious injuries that commonly occur in car accidents. Common symptoms include blurry vision, headaches/migraines, dizziness, nausea, memory problems, loss of consciousness, problems concentrating and more. Always seek medical treatment right away if you suspect you or a loved one sustained any brain damage during a car collision.
Knee Or Shoulder Damage
When people involved in car accidents brace for impact, it commonly leads to knee or shoulder damage, as these areas of the body are some of the first to absorb impact. Serious injuries related to knee and shoulder damage include torn ligaments or ACL and can require long-term treatment and/or surgery. Physically painful and often the root of recurring medical problems, knee and shoulder damage can be incredibly costly to treat. For this reason, it’s important to seek the help of an experienced Jackson car accident lawyer who can help you fight for any compensation you are owed.
Spinal Cord Damage
More serious car accidents often result in more severe injuries, including spinal cord damage. Herniated disks, bulging disks, and cervical or lumbar disk injuries can all cause debilitating pain and emotional suffering that make it difficult for victims to get back to their everyday lives. Treatment can be incredibly expensive and long-lasting, often requiring invasive surgical procedures to correct any issues. Spinal cord injuries can even cause permanent paralysis, ongoing muscle spasms, recurring pain, loss of bladder control, sexual dysfunction and infection. These negative effects drastically alter a victim’s quality of life and ability to live as they always have. If a car accident caused by someone else’s negligence resulted in spinal cord damage to yourself or a loved one, the attorneys at Kilpatrick & Philley can help you seek justice.
Cuts Or Lacerations
Cuts and lacerations are incredibly common injuries sustained in vehicle collisions. When an accident occurs, the windshield of your car will often break, or you may collide with some part of your vehicle. Whether minor or major, cuts and lacerations require medical attention to avoid excessive bleeding and infection. In some instances, serious cuts can leave permanent scarring and other damage.
Broken Or Fractured Bones
Car accidents often result in broken or fractured bones. Whether a serious compound fracture, or a relatively less severe hairline fracture, all broken bones are painful and require immediate medical attention. It’s crucial to see a doctor right away, as proper treatment is the only way to ensure that bones heal correctly and further damage is avoided.
Call 601-707-4669 Today For Proven Advocacy
Need a Mississippi personal injury lawyer? Have you or a loved one been in a car accident in Jackson, Ridgeland, Madison, Canton or beyond? Kilpatrick & Philley can help. Take advantage of a free initial consultation. Ask our team questions. We will provide straight answers and explain what we can do for your case and how we can help you during this stressful time.
No fees unless we recover for you! Contact our firm now at 601-707-4669.