Trusted Gulfport Car Accident Attorneys Ready To Help You Win Your Case
At Smith & Holder, PLLC, our Gulfport car accident attorneys help accident victims and their families win the financial compensation they deserve. We are experienced Gulfport auto accident lawyers who are passionate about helping people stand up for their rights, and we take a thorough, creative, and detail-oriented approach to every case we handle. Whether you are entitled to compensation for your current and future losses or you need help seeking justice after the death of a loved one, we are here for you when you need us. And you can rest assured knowing that we only have your best interests in mind. Contact us today.
A Nation Behind the Wheel
We are a country of people constantly on the road. Nearly 90% of Americans get behind the wheel at least occasionally, putting about 276 million vehicles on the road. These vehicles make around 186 billion driving trips, spend 70 billion hours driving, and travel about 2.62 trillion miles per year. So do more vehicles on the roads also mean more accidents?
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) keeps track of not just crashes, but who is in them and how much damage they cause. Thanks to technological improvements and a greater emphasis on safety, the number of fatal crashes per capita is much lower than people think. Although our population has grown steadily since 1975, the rate of crash deaths per 100,000 population is about half of what it was forty years ago.
However, there are still 6 million crashes in total every year. The resulting property damage and medical treatments for those involved cost Americans over $230 billion per year. And many of these victims will need the assistance of a personal injury legal team to help them recover.
Your Trusted Car Accident Attorney
With offices in Gulfport, we represent clients in auto accident cases throughout the Gulfport area. From Interstates 10 and 110 to Routes 49 and 90, we handle cases involving all major highway accidents as well as collisions on local urban, suburban, and rural roads. Regardless of what happened, you owe it to yourself to find out if you have a claim for compensation. Our Gulfport auto accident attorney is happy to help you understand your rights in a free and confidential consultation.
Experienced Representation for All Types of Car Accident Claims
Distracted Driving Accidents
Drunk Driving Accidents
Drunk driving is a serious issue in the greater Gulfport area. Drunk driving is extremely dangerous. Yet, far too many people continue to make the incredibly poor decision to drink and drive. There are several telltale signs of a drunk driving accident. And if an inebriated driver is to blame for your injuries or your loved one’s death, our proven Gulfport car accident lawyer can help you collect just compensation.
Fatigued and Drowsy Driving Accidents
Driver fatigue is another all-too-common factor in serious auto wrecks. Fatigue can cause impairments similar to alcohol intoxication, and the obvious dangers of falling asleep behind the wheel should be enough to keep drowsy drivers off of the road. Unfortunately, they aren’t, and many people suffer tragic losses in accidents caused by drowsy driving.
Head-On Collisions
Intersection Accidents
Accidents at intersections can result from a variety of factors as well, and they can also be extremely dangerous. Along with head-on collisions, other common intersection accidents include side-impact (or “T-bone”) and rear-end collisions.
Multi-Vehicle Collisions
In a multi-vehicle collision, sorting out liability presents additional challenges. Who triggered the accident? Were multiple drivers to blame? If so, who is responsible for your accident-related losses? With our extensive experience in auto accident settlements and litigation, our highly skilled Gulfport auto accident attorneys can swiftly navigate these difficult questions and help you secure a maximum financial recovery.
Rear-End Collisions
Side-Impact (“T-Bone”) Accidents
Side-impact accidents often involve violent collisions, with drivers and passengers routinely suffering severe traumatic injuries. If you suffered broken bones, head trauma, spinal cord injury, or any other serious injury in a T-bone accident, it will be critical for you to seek full compensation for your financial and non-financial harm.
Sideswipe and Merging Accidents
Sideswipe and merging accidents are typically the results of driver negligence. In many cases, one driver simply fails to look before changing lanes or merging. In others, the at-fault driver may attempt to look but neglect to check his or her blind spots. Or a driving distraction or other impairment may prevent the driver from noticing an approaching vehicle.
Speeding and Reckless Driving Accidents
From speeding to following too closely, all forms of aggressive and reckless driving will potentially support claims for financial compensation. If you were injured or a loved one was killed in any type of accident involving any form of driver negligence, we encourage you to contact our dedicated Gulfport auto accident attorneys promptly for a free, no-obligation consultation.
DUI Accidents
DUI accident claims are different from most car accident claims because the defendant driver is typically more culpable than most drivers who cause accidents. This results in two possible legal consequences:
- Punitive damages may be available.
- The dram shop law may be applicable.
Punitive damages are awarded, if at all, in addition to ordinary damages. They are most likely to be available when the defendant caused the accident in a manner that is particularly morally culpable. Although the vast majority of cases do not result in an award of punitive damages, DUI accidents are particularly likely to justify such an award. A court must consider many factors before deciding to award punitive damages.
Of course, it is always possible that the defendant was driving without insurance and that the damages he caused far exceed the amount of your uninsured motorist coverage. Even if he was driving with insurance, your damages could be far greater than policy limits. In this case, you might be able to sue a bar that sold him alcohol prior to the accident (if he was visibly intoxicated when he was served) or a social host who served him (if he was under 21 years old).
FAQs: Understanding Your Rights after a Car Accident in Gulfport
Q: How can I determine if the driver who hit me was negligent?
When you are involved in a car wreck, it is not always (or often) easy to determine who is to blame. Establishing fault requires a detailed and thorough investigation, and it requires a comprehensive understanding of the various laws that apply. To find out if you are entitled to financial compensation for driver negligence, the best thing you can do is engage an experienced Gulfport auto vehicle accident attorney as soon as possible.
Q: What if I was partially at fault in the accident?
Due to the inherent challenges involved in establishing fault after a car accident, it is important not to assume that you were partially to blame. Even if you may have made a mistake such as exceeding the speed limit or stopping abruptly, this does not necessarily mean that your action played a role in the collision. A thorough investigation and analysis are required, and for these, you need the services of an experienced accident injury legal team.
But, let’s say that an investigation reveals that you were partially at fault in the accident. How does this affect your rights? Under Mississippi law, as long as you were not the only driver at fault, you will still be entitled to collect at least a portion of your accident-related losses.
Q: What types of car accident injuries are eligible for financial compensation?
Under Mississippi law, all car accident injuries are potentially eligible for financial compensation. If someone else was at fault for your accident, our proven Gulfport auto accident lawyers can help you seek compensation for injuries including, but not limited to:
- Broken bones
- Burns and scars
- Ear injuries (including tinnitus)
- Eye, nose, jaw, and other facial injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Spinal cord and neck injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
Q: Can I seek financial compensation for whiplash resulting from a car accident?
Yes. Whiplash is a type of traumatic neck injury that can easily result from the extreme forces involved in a head-on, rear-end, or side-impact collision. While many people will recover from whiplash in a matter of weeks, severe cases of whiplash can require ongoing treatment, rehabilitative therapy, and the use of prescription medications.
Q: Can I seek financial compensation for the time I miss from work?
Yes. In addition to seeking to recover your current and future medical expenses and compensation for the non-financial impacts of your injuries, you are also entitled to compensation for your loss of income. This includes both:
- Wages, salary, benefits, and other forms of income you lost while seeking medical treatment and recovering from your injuries; and,
- Your lost future earnings if your injuries will prevent you from working or force you to seek work in a lower-paying occupation.
Q: Will my car accident claim result in an insurance settlement?
Maybe. While most automobile accident claims result in insurance settlements, we cannot guarantee that your case will be successful and we cannot guarantee that we won’t have to take your case to trial. What we can promise you, however, is that we will fight to secure maximum compensation as quickly as possible. If we receive a settlement offer on your behalf, our highly experienced Gulfport car accident attorney will help you evaluate the offer and it will be up to you whether to accept or keep fighting for more.
Q: How can a car accident lawyer help me?
If you were injured in an auto accident, it is important that you have a competent lawyer who can help you with your claim. The insurance company is sure to have a lawyer advocating for its interests, so having legal counsel can help you level the playing field. Our experienced Gulfport auto accident attorneys can investigate the accident, preserve evidence, and locate evidence to help establish how the accident occurred and how the other driver is responsible. Additionally, he or she can handle all communications with the insurance company and negotiate a favorable settlement on your behalf.
Q: What is my deadline for filing a car accident claim?
In Mississippi, there is a strict statute of limitations for injury claims. This is the time limit that you have to file your claim. You have three years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. This time limit also applies if you are filing a wrongful death claim because your loved one was killed by the negligence of another driver. However, it is important that you get started with your claim as soon as possible and contact an experienced car accident attorney who can protect your legal rights during this process.
Contact Our Gulfport Car Accident Law Firm to have a Free Consultation
To learn more about your rights in a car accident or other accident and find out if you are entitled to financial compensation for your accident-related losses, please contact our established and winning Gulfport car accident attorneys to schedule your free initial consultation. You can reach us by phone or email and we will be in touch as soon as possible. Our experienced legal team is also ready to help clients with other types of injury cases such as semi-truck accidents and product defects liability. Our injury law firm is conveniently located in Gulfport, Mississippi, and proudly serves all of Jackson and Harrison Counties.
