You’re in the flow of traffic going to work, or the beach, and before you realize what happened, another car slams into yours and both parties are on the side of the road trying to figure out what comes next.

Whether it happened in Gulfport’s sometimes turbulent coastal weather or on a dry, sunny day, it doesn’t change the fact that you were the victim of a car accident and deserve a settlement. Injuries can be permanent reminders of the accident, and lost time at work can cause undue hardship.
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No matter the situation, if you are asking yourself, “how do I maximize my car accident settlement?” then it’s time to call Wetzel Law Firm. Specializing in personal injury and car accident settlements, we can make sure you get the most out of your settlement to help you get back to life as normal.

How is a Car Accident Settlement Figured in Gulfport?

Whether you choose to pursue a lawsuit on your own, or if you are considering hiring a lawyer to represent you in court and help maximize your car accident settlement, you will first need to figure out the maximum you can reasonably ask for. The other party’s insurance company is going to try to argue for the lowest number, but with the right argument and a fair asking price, you can set yourself up for success.

The exact formula can vary depending on the situation, which can make the calculation difficult, but there are ways you can estimate the damages done and injuries caused to come up with a number. (1)
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In general, the best number to ask for is the cost needed to repair any damage done to your car – or replace it at like-value if it is totaled – and the cost of any medical bills incurred because of any injuries.

“The effects of an injury vary from person to person. For instance, if there is a car accident involving a young athlete and a retired elderly woman, and the athlete loses a limb, they would experience far greater financial, emotional, and psychological pain and suffering than the elderly woman, who is no longer working.”

• For the People

Injuries are where many people get confused when calculating their financial due. There is no way you can accurately estimate, in a monetary sense, the psychological and emotional effects of permanent injuries.
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For minor injuries that are guaranteed to heal with no ill effect on your body, you might choose to estimate the medical bills and enough on top to cover lost time at work. The loss of a limb or broken bones, however, incur a much more significant settlement price that can fluctuate wildly based on the attorney’s ability and how the level of coverage provided by the other party’s insurance company.

How Much is the Average Settlement for a Car Accident in Gulfport?

Across the nation, the number of car accidents due to distracted and drunk driving is rising, putting you and your family more at risk for serious injuries. Because of this, it is more important than ever to know how much you may be eligible to receive to cover costs in the case of an accident.

The average settlement for a car accident nationally ranges between $14,000 and $28,000 according to some sources, but this can rise even higher if there are serious injuries or deaths involved. If the other driver was driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you will be able to ask for an additional sum due to their negligence.

Of course, in any settlement case, you are limited by the other party’s insurance. Each policy has a maximum limit to how much they are willing to pay out on any individual case. Any costs that you need to cover above that policy maximum must be a separate lawsuit directly from the individual, not directed at their insurance company.
It can be difficult to judge exactly how much you might be eligible for without knowledge of how much certain repairs and injuries typically cost, and other legal circumstances such as the driver at fault being under the influence at the time.
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If you’re wondering how you can maximize your car accident settlement, the best option is to book a consultation with a personal injury lawyer specializing in car accidents such as the Wetzel Law Firm.

How Much Money Should You Settle For?

There are a variety of circumstances that go into calculating the settlement amount you are entitled to, however, the minimum you should settle for should be no less three times the cost of your medical bills.

By settling for this amount as a bare minimum, you will still be able to make some repairs on your vehicle or put a down payment on a new vehicle if the one involved in the wreck was totaled. This also gives you additional leeway for medical fees that go above the original cost assessment.

Overall, covering the cost of your injuries is the most vital part of the settlement money, but there should still be room in the financial estimate to cover additional expenses and compensate for lost time, emotional distress, and lost wages. This is what the money above bare medical costs will cover, so you should never settle for less than three times the medical costs.
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If the car accident was minor and no injuries were sustained, there is a weaker argument for a large settlement, but it is possible to receive compensation for lost wages, time, and emotional distress in this instance. The minimum you should settle for should be three times the financial equivalent of these factors.

What is a Reasonable Settlement for Pain and Suffering in Gulfport, MS?

You might be surprised to learn that “pain and suffering” is a legal term applied to many settlements. This is a precise legal term that refers to any injuries sustained by the crash. This term also includes emotional or mental injuries, such as fear, insomnia, grief, or worry. The loss of enjoyment in life can also be counted as a part of pain and suffering.
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While settlements are often calculated by the personal injury lawyer hired to settle the case, insurance companies often utilize a computer program to project the costs of the victim. (2) This can cause a discrepancy in how much the insurance company thinks is fair to pay out in a settlement, while it is your lawyer’s job to maximize your car accident settlement and get you the amount that you are owed based on their method of calculation. This is where the negotiations begin, and a settlement must be reached.

“A reasonable approach is to use either the multiplier method or the per diem method to get a ballpark figure […] Then consider whether there were additional circumstances that might increase or decrease that amount.”

• All Law

Since the circumstances for pain and suffering terms vary so wildly based on the particular scenario, your Gulfport lawyer will be able to tell you what you should expect as a reasonable settlement amount, and the number they will fight for.
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Any pain and suffering, either physical or emotional, will stand a better chance in court if there is evidence to support the severity of the damages done. The more evidence, the better your lawyer can argue your case and help you maximize your car accident settlement.  

What Factors Affect Car Accident Settlements in Mississippi?

Several factors affect the amount you can receive in a car accident settlement in Mississippi, but the standards are not often regulated on a state level. These are all factors of pain and suffering and may be included in the settlement as a rightful cause for financial compensation.
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In general, you should aim to include the following economic and personal damages in your settlement request under pain and suffering:
 

1. Medical bills or bills incurred due to personal injuries, such as ambulances, emergency services, doctor’s appointments, surgeries, medications, hospitalization, and any therapy that might be required. In more serious crashes, this can easily take up the bulk of the settlement cost.
   
   
2. Damages done to personal property, such as your vehicle, items inside the vehicle, or other forms of personal property.
   
   
3. Future medical bills incurred as a result of the injury. Though it can be difficult to determine whether the injury will continue to cost you money in the event of complications, medical professionals can advise you whether an injury will require long-term care.
   
   
4. Lost wages due to medical bills or the crash itself. This also includes any future wages that are at risk because of a disability or injury caused by the crash.
   
   
5. Pain and suffering due to the crash. This can include anything from aches and stiffness to disfigurement and disability. This is difficult to put a financial estimate on since it is a personal experience rather than something that costs you money. This must be assessed during the settlement process to determine a fair number.
   
   
6. Loss or bereavement can be included in the settlement cost if the crash turns out to be fatal to another member in your vehicle. Again, this is difficult to assign a monetary value to but is generally assessed during the settlement process when you sit down with a lawyer.  

Should You Get a Lawyer for a Car Accident That Wasn't Your Fault?

If the car accident was not deemed to be your fault, it might seem like an open-and-closed case. You might think the other party’s insurance policy will pay out fairly and you will receive your dues without any problems.

Unfortunately, this is not often the case. Insurance companies want to find every technical and legal loophole they can to avoid paying out as much money, making their settlement offers difficult to accept. If you are representing yourself in a case, it can be easy to let these companies trick you into believing their estimates are fair.
For this reason, it is advised to immediately hire a lawyer and sit down for a consultation about the accident before speaking to the at-fault driver’s insurance company.

An experienced personal injury lawyer has the technical expertise to see through legal loopholes and make arguments against them, getting you more settlement money for your pain and suffering. A lawyer will also be able to advise you on what to say to the insurance company, as they will want to speak with you about the details of the crash to make their claim for how much the settlement will come to.
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Furthermore, by hiring a lawyer, you may even be able to increase your settlement value, as they are more experienced in these types of cases and better understand what can and cannot be claimed as a part of the settlement. These advantages are priceless if you are involved in a serious accident where damages or injuries occurred. 

How Long Does a Car Accident Lawsuit Take?

​A lawsuit, just like the injuries that occur in a crash, is difficult to estimate. There are so many variables that go into each case, between delays in the court, to the amount of evidence that must be gathered by both parties, and how long it takes for each lawyer to argue and come to an amount both parties can agree on. It is common for many settlements to be settled once the discovery period of costs and injuries has been completed, but before the actual trial begins. (3) 

“[…] most cases settle within a few months to a few years after the lawsuit commences.”

• Curtis Lee

There are, however, several reasons why a case might drag on and take those several months to even a few years to come to a settlement.

Some cases might not be about the money, but by the principle of the case under some circumstances, or by another moral standing that the defendant or defense attorney may have unrelated to the specific case.
Even if the defendant knows they have a losing case, they may want to drag the case on as long as possible, drawing out the process and incurring additional expenses on the victim’s behalf.
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It is because of this that it becomes much more difficult to estimate how long it will take to resolve the lawsuit, but with an experienced personal injury lawyer on your side, you stand the best chance of maximizing your car accident settlement in Gulfport, MS. 

Still Asking Yourself, "How Do I Maximize my Car Accident Settlement in Gulfport?"

If you are stilling wondering how you can maximize your car accident settlement for an accident that happened in or around Gulfport, MS, the best choice is to go with a personal injury lawyer with years of experience in personal injury and car accident settlements.  
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The experienced personal injuries lawyers at Wetzel Law Firm are ready to book your consultation and go through the details of your case today. 

“We were born and raised on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and we care about the people of our community. If you have been seriously injured, lost a loved one, or are facing financial injustice, we can help."
-Jim Wetzel, Founder”
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​Give Wetzel Law a call today and stop worrying about the legal difficulties that lie ahead. Let the top-rated Gulfport law firm handle the case for you so you can focus on getting your life back to normal.

References:

1. For the People
   https://www.forthepeople.com/auto-accident-attorneys/car-accident-compensation/
2. All Law
   alllaw.com/articles/nolo/personal-injury/insurance-company-determine-pain-suffering.html
3. NOLO
   https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/how-long-will-my-car-accident-case-take.html