Is it Worth Getting a Lawyer for a Car Accident?

Car accidents, unfortunately, are an all too common occurrence in both the state of Mississippi and the US as a whole. In fact, in 2019, Mississippi saw 581 fatal crashes and 643 total deaths from car accidents. This, of course, does not even account for all of the non-fatal accidents that occurred in the state during that time, many of which were also devastating and potentially life changing. 

At Giddens Law Firm, our Mississippi car accident lawyers know that a car accident of any kind is a deeply traumatic event. What’s more, navigating the legal system after your accident can be exhausting and overwhelming. We believe that you should be able to focus on your recovery, so let us handle the rest. We are so sorry for the pain you’ve experienced, and we will fight tirelessly to ensure you receive the justice and financial compensation you so deserve.

So if you if you are asking yourself is it worth to get a lawyer for a car accident, reach out today for a free initial consultation, and remember, we do not get paid unless we win your case. 

Why do you need a car accident lawyer? 

Because car accidents are so common, many people may assume it’s possible to traverse the legal aftermath on their own. However, it’s always in your best interest to seek legal counsel. For one thing, having a lawyer on your side means you can focus on the important things: recovery physically, mentally, and emotionally.

We can do the heavy lifting so that you don’t have to endure any additional and unnecessary stress. But there’s also so much more that a Mississippi car accident lawyer can provide for you. Read on to find out why it is worth getting a lawyer for a car accident and how they can help you with your claim.

Fighting to protect your interests

After an accident, you will most likely immediately start receiving calls from insurance adjusters, and perhaps from the other driver’s legal team as well. Mississippi operates on a fault-based insurance system, which means that if the other driver is at fault, their insurance company pays out damages to you. But the reality is that the other driver’s insurance company will, of course, want to avoid paying out any more to you than they have to.

For this reason, they may try to get you to admit partial fault, or they may attempt to undersell your injuries or psychological damage. They may even attempt to get you to agree to a settlement number that’s far less than what you deserve. All of this could dramatically lessen the amount of compensation you receive.

With an experienced car accident lawyer on your side, you remove the possibility of being taken advantage of by an insurance monolith. All conversation with insurance companies will pass through your legal team, ensuring your words are not misconstrued and your injuries are not underplayed. 

Procuring evidence

One of the most important services a car accident lawyer can provide for you is procuring evidence that will help prove liability and win your case. An experienced car accident lawyer will know to look for things that the average person may not know to look for, and will have the resources to actually obtain that evidence.

For instance, is there a chance the accident occurred because the other driver was texting while driving? Your Mississippi car accident lawyer can procure phone records that show if any texts or email were sent by the driver at the time of the accident. Could it have been caused by the other driver’s inebriation? Your lawyer can search for CCTV footage that may show the driver exhibiting signs of inebriation prior to the accident. Your Giddens car accident lawyer will search tirelessly for witness statements, police reports, accident scene photographs, and anything else that may help establish your case. 

Reaching a settlement

In most car accident cases, the goal is to reach a settlement. You, as a victim of a car accident, may not have a broad sense of just how much your case is worth and how much you should expect. Our lawyers, on the other hand, have handled hundreds of car accident cases, and can assess your case to determine exactly how much compensation you should receive. Once we’ve helped you reach this number, we will fight to ensure you don’t get lowballed by the other driver’s insurance team.

If you don’t have legal representation, they may try to convince you that their counter offer is a fair one, but we have the expertise and experience to know when a settlement is fair. We will go back and forth with the opposition as many times as necessary in order to get you a fair settlement, and we will not settle for less than what you deserve. 

Protecting you even if you bear partial negligence

Mississippi is a pure comparative negligence state. The general notion of comparative negligence means that the defendant can still receive compensation even if they are partially at fault for the accident. In a partial comparative negligence state, the plaintiff can only receive compensation if they are 50% or less at fault; if they are 51% at fault, they cannot receive anything. But in a pure comparative negligence state like Mississippi, the plaintiff can still recover damages even if they are 99% at fault for the accident; in a case like that, the defendant would still be possible for paying out their 1%. 

An experienced lawyer will fight to ensure you still receive compensation even if you are partially responsible for the accident. What’s more, your lawyer will work to make sure that you are not assigned a higher percentage of fault than you deserve, which will impact your compensation. If you don’t have legal representation, the defendant’s legal team may try to have you assigned an unfairly high percentage of responsibility. This fact alone makes having a lawyer entirely worthwhile. 

Protecting you in court

The vast majority of car accident cases reach a settlement long before there’s any need for a trial. However, there are cases in which a settlement cannot be reached and going to court becomes necessary. Many personal injury firms across the nation have lawyers that are experienced only in mediation, and are not able to represent you in trial. But at the Giddens Law Firm, we can fight for you every step of the way, including in the courtroom.

Our Mississippi car accident lawyers have hands-on trial experience and excellent records. In the event that a trial is deemed essential, we will fight for you there as well. 

Why Giddens Law Firm? 

At Giddens Law Firm, the aim is to not just address your legal needs quickly, but to address them correctly. Some law firms are motivated by client turnover, and will speed through your case as fast as possible; this leaves room for sloppiness that can have huge consequences in the long run. At Giddens, we will go over every aspect of your case with a fine tooth comb, guaranteeing you receive the care and attention you deserve.

When you work with us, you don’t need to worry about racking up legal fees you can’t afford. We always discuss fees up front, so there are no mystery costs. Your consultation is always free, and we do not get paid unless you win. 

We believe all victims deserve justice, and we aim to provide that. If you are still thinking if it is worth getting a lawyer for a car accident to handle your case, don’t hesitate to reach out for a free initial consultation.