Car accidents can turn your life upside down in a split second. No matter who was at fault, the legal process that follows a severe car accident can be frustrating and misleading.
​
The insurance company’s job is to calculate how much you are owed for recovering medical costs and lost time at work. These factors are then multiplied according to the circumstances around the accident to help compensate for any emotional or mental trauma incurred. Unfortunately, the insurance company’s role is also to lower how much they need to pay you.

Insurance companies may attempt to offer you a low sum in hopes that you will take the offer just to be done with the case, or they may bully you into accepting a lower sum by trying to get you to accept partial blame in the accident. In this case, you may need to file a claim or take the case to court with a lawsuit.

If you have been in a car accident in Gulfport, MS, this should be the least of your worries. Your focus should be on getting back to a normal life while the professionals handle the paperwork. Whether you have minor injuries that hardly require hospitalization, or if you are recovering from severe or permanent injuries, you deserve justice.
In the event that you are hurt in a car crash, when should you hire a car accident attorney? How long do you have to find legal representation, and how long will the claim settlement take to be paid out?

The attorneys at Wetzel Law Firm will help you find the answer to these questions and many others. In this article, you will learn when you should hire a car accident attorney, how long you have until you can file a claim, and if it is worth hiring a lawyer for your particular case.  

What Type of Lawyer Handles Car Accidents?

If you are injured in a car accident and need legal representation in Gulfport, who should you call for help?
In the case that you are the victim of a car crash, a personal injury lawyer will be the best type of lawyer to handle your case. Personal injury lawyers are used to handling car crash cases of every type and severity. They understand the laws around injuries caused by another driver, whether you were driving a motor vehicle or a pedestrian in unfortunate circumstances.
​
Lawyers who are familiar with personal injury law are also the best choice for negotiating with the other driver’s insurance company as they know the type of arguments insurance companies use to get victims to cave and accept lower offers than they are entitled to.

How Long After a Car Crash Can You File a Claim in Mississippi?

Between hospitalization and insurance calls, the days can sweep past in what seems like minutes. How long has it been since the crash? It can seem like the accident occurred yesterday, even weeks after the event.

This begs the question, how long after a car crash do you have to file a claim? This is regulated by each state’s government and can range anywhere from one day to ten years. What about the state of Mississippi?
​
A written accident report should be filed with the police within ten days of the accident, but you have up to three years to file a claim for personal injury or property damage. The clock starts ticking from the time of the accident, so it is important to hire a lawyer as soon as possible to help you gather evidence for the claim. (1)

“Because you may need to pay for medical bills and/or cover lost wages, the sooner you contact an attorney the better.”

• Find Law

There is no statute of limitations on when you may or may not hire a lawyer for legal advice. After the three-year mark has been met, you are barred from taking any legal action against the driver or the insurance company regarding the incident, however, a personal injury attorney can provide counsel without limitation.

It is important to note that, once you accept a settlement, the insurance company will have you sign a release form. This form states that the insurance company is no longer liable for any costs or damages incurred from the incident, either directly or indirectly.
​
What this means for you is, if you have an injury that will incur ongoing medical costs, such as medication or ongoing treatment, the settlement will factor this in based on the doctor’s written notes, but the insurance company will not be liable for any further costs that you pay after a settlement has been agreed upon.

When Should I Hire a Car Accident Lawyer?

In Gulfport, it might not seem like car accident lawyers have a lot of work to do until you get into a serious car wreck yourself. Life turns into a cluster of questions and hospital bills: how long do I have to hire a lawyer, and do I need one? When should I hire a car accident lawyer? Who do I hire?

After the wreck, you may just want to focus on recovering, but life does not pause just because you had an accident. Insurance companies are bound to be calling you relentlessly, trying to get a statement and pick apart words that might be used to pin part of the blame on your shoulders.
​
It seems bizarre, especially if you are sitting in the hospital with injuries sustained from the crash instead of relaxing on the sparkling Gulfport beachfront.

That is where your personal injury lawyer comes into the picture.

The sooner you hire a lawyer, the better. You should hire a car accident lawyer for times when you have to negotiate with the insurance company and fight back against the insurance trying to pin the blame on you.
Even if you were not hospitalized, you may claim any medical expenses incurred as a result of the accident and get compensation for any emotional distress.

An accident that interferes with your ability to enjoy life like you were before is a serious matter that is covered under Pain and Suffering. This is a legal term that includes any physical or economical damage, as well as mental or emotional injuries.

This may apply to you even if you were not injured, but if a partner, parent, or child involved in the accident has sustained serious injuries that prevent them from interacting or displaying affection in the same manner as before the accident.

A personal injury lawyer can handle the legal process so you can focus on healing, allowing you the peace of mind you deserve. (2)

“Any lawyer’s secretary or paralegal will tell you that they often have to request the same records more than once and that they have to follow up endlessly with the provider’s office.”

• Nolo

​Forget the follow-ups, the negotiations, and the craziness. Hire a car accident lawyer as soon as possible to avoid as much contact with the insurance company as possible. Let the professionals handle the negotiations, collect the evidence, and argue for your case should it go to trial. 

Do I Really Need a Lawyer?

You might be wondering whether you need a lawyer in every car crash, or if the accident might be minor enough to be sorted out on your own.

Many people choose to opt for a lawyer if anyone involved in the crash sustained injuries of any kind, or if there were combined damages worth $500 or more. In the state of Mississippi, these accidents are required to be reported to the police, and while a claim may be filed with the insurance, minor cases do not often go to trial.
If the insurance company refuses to pay enough money for you to get your full claim covered, or if the policy maximum is exceeded, a case may need to go to trial to be resolved. In this case, your lawyer should be able to represent your case in court and provide advice throughout the process.

In more severe car accidents, you may choose to file a suit against the other driver. If you plan to file, you should consult a lawyer before proceeding with the case.

You may also need a lawyer if you were the victim of a car crash that involved a drunk or distracted driver. Mississippi has strict laws against drinking and driving, as well as the use of cell phones while driving.
​
There are more legal hoops and paperwork mountains to sift through in these cases, and most warrant the help of a lawyer to navigate these murky waters, as insurance companies will do their best to reduce the amount of money they owe you in a settlement.

Should I Hire a Lawyer for a Car Accident That Wasn't My Fault?

​You may not need to hire a lawyer for a car crash where you were not at fault, especially if the accident did not incur any injuries. (3) In Gulfport, these are the most common type of minor accident seen along the seaside streets. Hiring a lawyer is not necessary, but it can help to have an attorney in mind in case things go awry.
As we learned earlier, there is no time limit to hiring a lawyer for your case, and it can take several days to discover symptoms of injuries common in minor car accidents.

“There are definitely situations where you'd want an attorney to be involved, but there are also times when obtaining counsel is simply overkill.”

• Enjuris

​That is not to say that insurance companies are not bullies even in minor car accidents. They may force the blame onto you or try to convince you to take a lower settlement than you are comfortable with. If you ever feel overwhelmed by the legal paperwork when filing an injury claim, hiring a car accident lawyer can help put your worries at ease and help you focus on getting back to a normal life. 

Should I Hire a Lawyer for a Car Accident That Was My Fault?

If you are declared at fault for an accident that resulted in an injury or fatality, then you may need the help of a lawyer. A personal injury lawyer is an excellent choice for the victim, but you may need the assistance of a criminal lawyer.

Being at fault for a serious car accident can not only raise your insurance rates significantly, but it can put a permanent mark on your criminal background, leading to fines or even jail time. Crashes that result in severe injuries or fatalities often turn into a trial case as the victim tries to get full compensation for their pain and suffering.
​
Depending on your insurance policy coverage, you may not need to hire a lawyer at all. Your insurance company may provide a defense attorney to you without charge. If you are unsure whether your insurance company will do this for you, you should get in contact with them as soon as possible after the accident.

How Much Does a Lawyer Charge in Gulfport?

Different lawyers charge different rates based on their competency, record of success, and location. You should always discuss payment before you hire a lawyer. In most cases, your lawyer will be working on a contingency basis, which is common for car accident cases.

This means that your lawyer does not get paid upfront – and luckily for you, you do not need to pay out of pocket – but they will receive a portion of the final settlement claim. This percentage can range anywhere from 20-50% depending on the severity of the crash, the settlement amount, and the difficulty of the case.

Settlement claims are multiplied from the base cost that you incur, including any ongoing medical expenses, repairs, and lost wages. This multiplier is typically enough to cover any legal fees incurred during the claim and trial process, so it is rare for the victim to pay out of pocket for the expense.

Do not be surprised to pay out of pocket for consulting sessions when you are first interviewing potential car accident lawyers to take your case, however. Often, these consulting sessions are offered at discount hourly rates, which range anywhere from $150/hour to $350/hour depending on the law office.
​
Many people use these consultations to get legal advice, so lawyers must charge to protect their time. This is often paid for out of pocket, and, depending on your case, you may be able to apply this to the settlement claim as an undue hardship.

How Long Does a Car Accident Claim in Gulfport Take to Resolve?

A car accident claim in Gulfport can take a few weeks to resolve, up to a few years. The severity of the crash, the expediency of the insurance company, and any additional legal ramifications to consider – such as deaths or if you were the victim of a drunk driver – can play into how long it takes to resolve a claim case.

Most of the time, the insurance company is looking to pay as little as possible in the shortest amount of time so they can continue working on other cases. If the settlement amount is far below what you need to cover your pain and suffering expenses, then you have the option to take the case to a trial.
​
A trial or lawsuit can take far longer than a small insurance claim for a minor accident. Minor accidents are rarely drawn on, and the insurance company does an excellent job of calculating pain and suffering expenses in these cases. If the amount they offer is agreeable, a settlement can be reached without a trial and, sometimes, without hiring a lawyer. 

Talk to the Top-Rated Gulfport Car Accident Lawyers Today

Are you still wondering when you should hire a car accident lawyer? For car accidents that have resulted in injuries, significant property damage, or fatalities, the sooner your lawyer can begin working on the case, the better.
​
Do not let insurance companies bully you out of the compensation you are entitled to; let Wetzel Law Firm handle the case for you so you can focus on what matters most to you. Get your free case evaluation today by contacting Mr. Wetzel.

You just want to live your best life in the coastal town of Gulfport. It is time to get on the road to recovery. Let your new personal injury lawyer handle the mountain of paperwork and insurance negotiations. 

References:

1. Find Law
   https://injury.findlaw.com/car-accidents/hire-a-car-accident-lawyer.html
2. NOLO
   https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/how-attorney-can-help-with-your-car-accident-claim.html
3. Enjuris
   https://www.enjuris.com/personal-injury-law/attorney-not-needed-after-accident.html