Jackson, MS Car Accident FAQs
Experienced Car Accident Lawyers in Jackson, MS Answer Your Most Pressing Questions
At Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz, our Jackson personal injury attorneys have been handling car accident cases for more than 30 years. That experience has given us an edge in identifying and anticipating strengths and weaknesses in motor vehicle accident cases, and building cases strategically to create better outcomes for our clients. We are always happy to provide free consultations to automobile wreck victims in the Jackson area, and our phone lines are answered around the clock.
Every case is different, so even if you have been in an automobile accident in the past, you may still have many questions about your rights and options. Here are some answers to the most common questions our Jackson car accident attorneys get after motor vehicle wrecks.
Q: Am I entitled to compensation even if I don’t have any broken bones?
A: If you have suffered any injury, big or small, and have received any type of medical attention for evaluation of your injury, you have incurred damages and are entitled to compensation from the at-fault party. Additionally, if your injury caused you to miss work, or somehow caused you further loss – i.e. pain and suffering, increased anxiety, etc. – those are also damages for which you should be compensated by the at-fault party. To recover damages through a car accident insurance claim, your injuries should be documented by a licensed doctor or medical provider.
Q: What is my car accident case worth in Jackson, MS?
A: Under Mississippi law, if you are injured in an auto collision, you may recover economic and non-economic damages if you can prove the other party is at-fault and liable for your losses. How the accident took place can affect your recovery, as claims involving reckless driving and drunk driving can come with higher offers. The amount you are entitled to in compensation depends on your ability to prove that your losses are reasonably related to and caused by the auto accident.
In Mississippi, economic damages may include medical bills and expenses, lost wages, lost earning capacity, household services, and mileage expenses. Non-economic damages may include loss of consortium, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and mental anguish. Our firm will analyze the evidence in your case to determine the type of damages you are entitled to, and if necessary, hire experts to develop the damages portion of your case. Every case is different, but the aim of any dedicated car accident lawyer in Jackson is to maximize the amount of compensation you can legally receive for your damages.
Q: Do I need to go to the doctor after a car accident?
A: After a car accident, if you experience pain or soreness, you have the right to be checked out at a medical facility, which could be an emergency room, urgent care facility, clinic, or your primary care physician’s office, to either rule out any possibility of serious injury, or get medical attention for your injury as soon as possible. Your primary concern should be your health, so consult with medical professionals to get care and for advice on how to prevent further injury. For a legal case, it is always best to obtain medical treatment as soon as possible after an auto accident, and the longer you wait to get medical attention, the harder it may be to prove that your injuries are causally related to the auto accident. Insurance companies and defense attorneys notoriously try to think of anything they can to devalue your case, so don’t make their jobs easier – get medical attention as soon as possible.
Q: Do I really need to hire a lawyer after an accident?
A: Like any field, helps to have experienced professionals on your case, especially when the at-fault party has a team of professionals from the insurance company on theirs. Car insurance companies have an incentive to save money, so even if the insurance adjuster has assured you that they will pay your medical bills and offer you compensation for your pain and suffering, that typically only means that they will pay the bills that they know about and they are not seeking to maximize the compensation that you receive. Additionally, car insurance carriers have teams of attorneys to represent their interests and their insureds’ interests, and their attorneys have informed them of legal ways to cut corners and get around paying you the money to which you are legally entitled. Even your own uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance company may do this to you in an effort to save money. At NST Law, we know how to anticipate unfair tricks and schemes to advocate for the proper compensation for our clients.
Q: I want to see if the insurance company makes a “good” offer. Can I wait to hire a lawyer to pursue my case?
A: An experienced Mississippi auto accident attorney can best advise you how to build a strong case from the start. In Mississippi, if you are trying to pursue a case against a non-governmental entity, you generally have 3 years from the date of the accident until the statute of limitations, or the deadline to pursue your case, expires. If you do not file a lawsuit in court prior to the statute of limitations, you will lose your legal rights. If you want to pursue a case against a governmental entity, you must file a lawsuit within 1 year of the date of the accident; however, if your case is against a governmental entity, you should consult an attorney immediately as Mississippi law has strict requirements on which government officials you must notify when pursuing a case against a governmental entity.
Q: Will I have to go to court?
A: If you are not able to resolve your case prior to statute of limitations, you will have to file a lawsuit in order to preserve your legal rights. Most personal injury cases settle either prior to a lawsuit needing to be filed or prior to a trial taking place, but some cases may take longer than others if they involve complex facts, significant injuries, or multiple injured parties. At NST, we also often recommend to our clients that we file a lawsuit if the insurance company or defendant does not make a fair pre-litigation offer. If your case goes to a jury trial in Hinds County, you will likely need to go to court to testify about the facts of the accident and the injuries and losses you suffered.
Q: What if I can’t afford a lawyer?
A: At NST Law, we do not charge our clients up front or out-of-pocket fees – we handle cases on a contingency basis, meaning that our fee is contingent on recovering compensation for our clients. Typically, the fee will be a certain percentage of the overall recovery we obtain, and attorney fees come out of the recovery. If you can’t afford a lawyer or worry about how much a lawyer costs, we can make this financial burden easier on you.
Consult an Experienced Car Wreck Attorney with NST Today
At Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz, we have more than 30 lawyers and 120 support staff. Our car accident lawyers are dedicated to representing and helping our clients obtain the compensation they rightfully deserve. Call us toll free at 800-529-4004 or fill out our online form to set up a free consultation.
125 South Congress St
Suite 1300
Jackson, MS 39201
Phone: 601-362-5222
Fax: 601-991-3465
