Gulfport is a busy city that defines the MS Gulf Coast’s attitude, with hard-working locals who do their best to make the most out of the day with beach visits, cultural experiences, and seaside dinners. There is no doubt that Gulfport is a stunning place to live, but with all the city commotion can come traffic as people travel to and from these places.

With traffic, comes traffic laws, and there is bound to be a driver who has little regard for these laws. Most of the accidents in the United States are caused by drunk or distracted drivers who are operating their vehicles in unlawful ways.

In addition to these laws, one of the most common causes of car accidents along the coast is poor road conditions. Being on the coat comes with a few downsides, such as strong tropical storms that can affect your ability to see, making the commute from work difficult.

Whether you have recently witnessed or been involved in a crash, you might be wondering, what does a car accident do in Gulfport, and is it necessary for everyone to have a lawyer in the event of a car crash?
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The lawyers at Wetzel Law Firm are happy to represent you in your time of need as the premier choice for Gulfport, MS for personal injury law.

In this article, you will learn what a car accident lawyer does, what questions you should ask your attorney, and whether you should seek legal help from a lawyer based on the circumstances around your car accident. 

What Lawyer Deals with Car Accidents?

Lawyers specialize within their field to provide better services to clients. You may have seen business lawyers before, criminal lawyers, and personal injury lawyers posted on advertisements across the city, but do you know which of these lawyers handle car accidents?

The most common type of lawyer to offer legal services to individuals who have been injured in a car crash are personal injury attorneys. These lawyers help you receive compensation for your injuries, resolving the case quickly with the maximum settlement possible for your circumstances.

Personal injury lawyers are experienced in car accidents and any settlements or lawsuits that may arise from the initial crash. They will be able to guide you in determining the expected length of your suit and help you through the insurance claims investigations. You will learn everything that you need to document in the case of a claim and how to determine if the settlement offered is enough to cover your pain and suffering.
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Whether your claim is for $20 to repair a dent the other driver made in your car door, or $20,000 to cover the medical expenses of a fractured leg, the right lawyer makes all the difference in determining the outcome of your case.

What Does a Car Accident Lawyer Do?

​If another driver has hurt you in a car accident and they are found to be at fault, you are entitled to compensation for your medical expenses, emotional distress, and any lost time incurred by the crash.
Unfortunately, insurance companies are not always so kind and most are focused on paying out as little money as possible in the event of a crash. To the company, it is a matter of money, not justice. The at-fault driver’s insurance company may try to place some of the blame on you, even if the police report shows no clear indication that you did anything wrong. They may also try to claim that some of your injuries were pre-existing and not a part of the accident, which is why it is important to have your medical records from before and after the crash.

Other tactics the insurance company may try to do to pay you less than you are owed is using your statements during their investigation against you. They will offer you a low sum of money in hopes that you will take the lower sum, rather than fight for the full amount, and they may even try intimidating you into taking that lesser sum of money.  

There is a reason why insurance companies are considered manipulative and dirty, but in Gulfport, your interests are protected. With the Wetzel Law Firm on your side, you can bring in legal power to combat these dirty tactics used by insurance companies. You can count on open and honest communication from the Wetzels that will help you maximize your settlement on time. (1)

“As a general rule, if your medical bills total more than around $3,000, or if you were out of work for more than a week or so, you should probably hire a lawyer.”

• Nolo

When you find yourself wondering exactly what does a car accident lawyer do, and whether you need to hire an attorney to get the most out of your accident case, remember that the Wetzels are the top-rated choice in Gulfport, MS for fair and just service.
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A car accident lawyer can help you in a variety of ways that you might not have thought were necessary, but can drastically change the outcome of the case, such as:
 

• Negotiating with the Insurance Adjuster

Your personal injury attorney can help you negotiate with the insurance adjuster and get into their good graces. This is a tough thing to do on your own, especially if the insurance adjuster is difficult to work with or is prepared for a fight. Being in good standing with the insurance adjuster gives you a better chance of getting the settlement you are hoping for since they are the ones who essentially hold the insurance company’s wallet.

• Acquiring Evidence of Liability

Your lawyer will go out of their way to acquire evidence of liability. Even if you have already taken photos of the crash scene, they may search for further evidence in the police report, or by visiting the scene of the crash themselves. The more evidence they can present proving the other driver was at fault, the easier time you will have in proving your innocence in the case, getting the most out of the settlement as you can.

• Acquiring Evidence of Damages

It can be difficult to acquire all the evidence you need to present to a court or insurance adjustor by yourself. If you have sustained severe injuries from the crash, having a lawyer take care of this process is essential so you can focus on recovering.

Unfortunately, if you are gathering this information yourself, you might find that it takes weeks or months to get simple records if the office follows through with the request at all. There might be certain procedures in place for the nurse to request the information, and smaller doctor’s offices do not always have the time to process these requests.

Likewise, damages to your vehicle can be similarly difficult to acquire as collision centers do not make damage reports a priority, and mechanics may take their time to deal with a vehicle that was not scheduled to be in the bay.
Constantly following up on these agencies is not always practical. Life does not stop just because you get into a car crash. Part of a personal injury lawyer’s job is following up on agencies like this and requesting the documents necessary to make your case stronger, no matter how many times they must make the request. 

“[a personal injury lawer] can help identify a more accurate estimate of the real and long-term effect of injuries, such as a loss in earning capacity if the accident left the victim disabled.”

• Enjuris

A personal injury attorney has resources and connections that can help them determine the actual estimates you should request from an insurance company. (2) Rather than listening to generic advice or accepting the lowball offer from the insurance company, you have real estimates based on your accident case.
 

• Negotiating the Settlement and Liens

Once the lawyer acquires all the evidence for your case, the negotiations begin. This is what lawyers are known for, and a competent, experienced lawyer makes all the difference here.

The settlement itself must be negotiated, which is why the lawyer laid the groundwork to a good communications relationship with the insurance adjuster in the initial steps of the case. Negotiation is a skill that can be difficult to master, but lawyers know all the tricks insurance agencies use and how to work around them.

A good negotiator who has the evidence to back their argument up is sure to get you top-dollar for your settlement claim, but the negotiations do not end with the insurance adjustor. Your personal injury lawyer must also negotiate with the lien holders.

If you have used any disability, or worker’s compensation benefits because of the car accident, then they will have a lien on the settlement. The same thing happens if you use your health insurance for care after a car accident. What this means is, these agencies have a right to have that money paid back to them out of the other driver’s insurance policy settlement.
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Every dollar that the lawyer can negotiate back into your pocket is one less dollar you must pay these companies. 

What to Look for in a Car Accident Lawyer

• Book a consultation

One of the first things you should do when looking for a car accident lawyer is to book consultations with a couple of lawyers to determine if they are a good fit for your case. This will help you do your due diligence and get an attorney that will help fight for your case. 

“First, make sure the attorneys actually offer the service you're looking for. Second, check your State Bar's website to see if any disciplinary actions have been placed against them.”

• Liz Davidson

By pre-vetting your lawyer before you walk into their office, you can determine if they are going to be a good fit for you, and whether that discounted rate is to lower the price for individuals seeking help, or if it’s because of some misdemeanor the bar placed on their name in the past. (3)
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Most lawyers are busy and expect to be paid for their time, so unless they advertise a free consulting session, be prepared to shell out the money for each initial consultation you take.
 

• Ask plenty of questions

When you step into the lawyer’s office for the initial consultation, you will have the opportunity to meet each other and say hello, but there are also a variety of questions that you can ask to help you determine if they are a good fit. Do not be afraid to jump right into the questions after the pleasantries – that is why you are paying for the consultation, after all.

1. Who exactly will I be working with?
2. Do you have credentials in your specialized area of law?
3. How much experience do you have working with clients like me?
4. How and when do I pay you for this case?
5. Is there anything you need to get started?
6. Do you have any questions for me?

This is not an exhaustive list of questions, and not every question must be asked, but this list will give you a good idea of the type of questions to ask when you sit down with a car accident attorney.

• Ask for clarifications

Lawyers do not always use jargon on purpose, but legal terminology is something that they are surrounded by almost every day. This language may slip into their conversation with you, and it is important to remember that it is OK to ask for clarifications if there is something you do not understand.

No lawyer expects you to know legal terms as they do, but they also do not want to offend their clients by assuming ignorance. It is a fine line to walk, and many lawyers rely on you to ask for clarification when you need it. They will be happy to explain the terminology in plain English so you can learn the definitions that are important to your case.

• Learn about their experience with cases like yours

Of course, no two car accidents are going to look the same, but your personal injury lawyer will be able to tell you their initial expectations for your case based on similar experiences they have had with previous clients. While they will not be able to give you the exact details, you can ask after these cases and about their previous clients’ goals and their success rate. This will give you a good window into how competent your lawyer is. 

Who Pays for the Attorney in a Car Accident?

If you have been involved in a car accident, you might be worried that you cannot afford the services of a car accident attorney. This is a tricky question and requires a little explanation:

In many cases, lawyers will work on a contingency basis when working on car accident cases.

What this means is that they are not paid upfront like other services where they work on a retainer. Rather, they will work to get you the maximum amount of money owed to you in your settlement, and once the settlement is accepted, they will take a percentage of the money paid out by the insurance provider.

This percentage ranges anywhere from 20% to 50%, depending on how the case plays out and how difficult the insurance company makes it to receive the full settlement.
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In other words, the other driver’s insurance technically pays for the driver, but it comes out of your settlement sum, not the other driver’s pocket. It is always important to check with your lawyer about how they prefer to get paid, as the exact details vary with each law office.

Talk with a Lawyer from the Wetzel Law Firm Today

A car accident can turn your life upside down, making you feel like you are drowning in a sea of legal responsibilities, rather than spending a lazy evening on the beach sipping drinks with a loved one. You deserve that time back.

If you have been hurt in a car accident and need legal support in the greater Gulfport area, call the Wetzel Law Firm today. The Wetzel family has been born and raised in Gulfport, MS, making them the top choice for residents who are looking for fair and just representation from lawyers who truly care about the community.
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Let the Wetzels take care of the legal matters while you focus on recovering and getting back to the life you know and love in Gulfport today. 

References:

1. NOLO
   https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/how-attorney-can-help-with-your-car-accident-claim.html
2. Enjuris
   https://www.enjuris.com/personal-injury-law/what-personal-injury-lawyers-do.html
3. Forbes
   https://www.forbes.com/sites/financialfinesse/2011/10/05/how-to-find-a-good-lawyer-when-you-really-need-one/