A severe head trauma alters life in an instant, but a Hattiesburg brain injury lawyer protects your future by helping you secure compensation for rehabilitation, medication, and the necessary lifestyle adjustments.
Richard Schwartz & Associates builds a protective barrier around your rights while you concentrate on reclaiming your life. Our attorneys force insurance companies to respect your needs and fund the best possible care for your future.
Contact our Hattiesburg office at (601) 299-4540 to learn how we can help you secure the compensation you need.
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Hattiesburg Car Accident Lawyer Guide
- Why Choose Richard Schwartz & Associates for Your Brain Injury Case
- Establishing Liability in Hattiesburg Brain Injury Cases
- Calculating Full Damages for Financial Recovery
- How a Hattiesburg Brain Injury Lawyer Combats Insurance Company Tactics
- Identifying Common Causes of Brain Injuries
- Acting Quickly Protects Your Legal Rights
- Working With a Hattiesburg Brain Injury Lawyer
- FAQ for Hattiesburg Brain Injury Lawyer
- Let Us Fight for Your Compensation
Why Choose Richard Schwartz & Associates for Your Brain Injury Case
Richard Schwartz & Associates combines the resources of a large firm with the personal attention of a local office. Our team holds a deep commitment to the Hattiesburg community and understands the local courts in Forrest and Lamar Counties.
A History of Results in Mississippi
Richard Schwartz & Associates brings over 44 years of experience to your corner and has recovered more than $1 billion for our clients across Mississippi. We maintain a reputation for relentless advocacy throughout this state.
We have garnered more than 6,100 5-star reviews from satisfied clients who regained their financial stability through our work.
Deep Roots in Hattiesburg
Our team operates directly here in the Hub City. Our team knows the dangerous intersections along Hardy Street and the traffic patterns on Highway 49 that often lead to severe collisions.
We understand how accidents occur near the University of Southern Mississippi or the busy retail areas around Turtle Creek Mall.
Our local knowledge strengthens our ability to investigate accident scenes and build compelling arguments for our clients.
Unwavering Dedication to Clients
We treat every client with the respect and dignity they deserve. Our staff answers your calls and keeps you informed at every stage of the claims process. We fight to secure the maximum compensation available under the law, and you won’t pay us a fee until we win your case.
Call Richard Schwartz & Associates for free at (601) 299-4540 to start the conversation.
Establishing Liability in Hattiesburg Brain Injury Cases
Proving fault serves as the foundation of any successful injury claim. Your attorney conducts a thorough investigation to identify the negligent party. We gather evidence that links the accident directly to your injuries. This process requires precision and a strategic approach to legal discovery.
Investigating the Accident Scene
Our team visits the location of the incident to preserve physical evidence. In motor vehicle cases, we examine skid marks, debris fields, and road conditions on major thoroughfares, such as Interstate 59 or Highway 98.
We analyze traffic camera footage and interview witnesses who saw the event. Commercial property accidents, such as falls in busy shopping districts like The District at Midtown, demand an immediate review of surveillance video and maintenance logs.
Consulting With Subject Matter Experts
We often collaborate with industry professionals to reconstruct the accident. Engineers can analyze impact angles and force calculations to demonstrate how the injury occurred. Medical professionals review your diagnostic tests to explain the severity of the trauma to a jury.
These distinct perspectives create a cohesive narrative that defense attorneys struggle to refute. We present facts that leave no room for doubt regarding liability.
Calculating Full Damages for Financial Recovery
Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) often incur costs that extend far into the future. A skilled Hattiesburg brain injury lawyer evaluates current expenses and projects future financial needs. We refuse to accept lowball offers that fail to cover lifetime care.
Your claim includes specific categories of economic and non-economic damages, including:
- Past and Future Medical Bills: We tally costs for emergency transport, surgeries, hospital stays, and anticipated long-term rehabilitation therapies.
- Lost Wages and Earning Capacity: Our attorneys calculate the income you lost during recovery and the reduction in your ability to earn a living in the future.
- Pain and Suffering: We quantify the physical pain and emotional distress your injury has caused to secure appropriate financial recovery.
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life: Your compensation reflects the inability to participate in hobbies, sports, or family activities you once enjoyed.
- Home Modifications: We include the cost of installing ramps, lifts, or other necessary adjustments to your residence to accommodate physical limitations.
Anticipating Long-Term Care Needs
Severe brain trauma often requires lifelong medical support. When necessary, we collaborate with life care planners to estimate the costs of in-home nursing, specialized equipment, and ongoing medication.
Inflation affects these costs over decades, so we factor economic shifts into our calculations to protect your financial security. Your settlement must sustain you for the long haul.
Valuing Intangible Losses
Non-economic damages acknowledge the human cost of an injury. Our Hattiesburg TBI lawyers work diligently to tell your story to the insurance adjusters or the jury; they must understand how the injury affects your relationships, your mood, and your daily independence.
Our team paints a vivid picture of your life before and after the accident. This contrast drives higher settlement values.
How a Hattiesburg Brain Injury Lawyer Combats Insurance Company Tactics
Insurance adjusters protect their company's profits above all else, and they use specific strategies to devalue or deny valid claims. Richard Schwartz & Associates recognizes these tricks and counters them effectively. We shield you from manipulative practices.
Insurers frequently employ deceptive methods to reduce their payout:
- Requesting Recorded Statements: Adjusters frequently ask trick questions during recorded calls to make you admit fault or downplay your injuries.
- Offering Quick Settlements: They may propose a small, immediate check, hoping you accept it before realizing the full extent of your medical costs.
- Disputing Medical Necessity: The insurance company may argue that your treatments cost too much or that you didn’t require specific procedures.
- Blaming Pre-Existing Conditions: They may attempt to link your current symptoms to past medical issues to avoid paying for the new injury.
- Delaying the Process: Some insurers intentionally stall communication to frustrate you into accepting a lower offer out of desperation.
Protecting Your Communication
We handle all correspondence with the insurance company, preventing them from twisting your words. We demand they provide written justifications for any delays or denials and hold them accountable under Mississippi’s bad-faith insurance laws.
Demanding Fair Valuation
We present our calculated damages with supporting evidence, and if the insurer refuses to pay a fair amount, we’ll file a lawsuit. Our reputation for going to trial makes insurers take our demands seriously. We push back against every attempt to minimize your claim.
Identifying Common Causes of Brain Injuries
Many situations lead to TBIs in Hattiesburg, and identifying the specific cause helps us determine the correct legal strategy. We hold negligent drivers, property owners, and product manufacturers accountable for their actions.
Our team investigates these frequent causes of head trauma:
- Motor Vehicle Collisions: Car, motorcycle, and truck accidents on roads like Highway 49 often cause drivers to strike their heads against dashboards. Even low-speed impacts allow the brain to strike the skull's interior.
- Bicycle and Pedestrian Accidents: Cyclists and walkers near the University of Southern Mississippi lack physical protection during a collision. Drivers often fail to check crosswalks or yield right-of-way before turning.
- Premises Liability Incidents: Property owners in Forrest and Lamar Counties must maintain safe environments for visitors. Wet floors or uneven pavement often lead to falls that result in severe head trauma.
- Construction Accidents: Work sites present dangers, like falling debris or scaffolding collapses, and workers can suffer head injuries even while wearing protective gear.
- Medical Malpractice: Doctors and hospitals must adhere to strict standards of care during procedures; however, surgical errors or medication mistakes can sometimes deprive the brain of oxygen.
- Product Liability: Defective auto parts or failing safety helmets often worsen the impact of an accident. Manufacturers must test their products rigorously before selling them to the public.
Acting Quickly Protects Your Legal Rights
Time works against you in personal injury cases, and Mississippi law imposes strict deadlines for filing a lawsuit. Waiting too long hurts your chances of recovering compensation. Immediate action allows us to secure evidence before it disappears and file your lawsuit on time.
The Statute of Limitations
Mississippi generally enforces a three-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims. However, cases involving government entities often have much shorter deadlines, sometimes as brief as one year or ninety days.
If you miss this window, the court dismisses your case permanently. We can confirm all applicable dates as soon as we have reviewed your file.
Preventing Evidence Spoliation
Physical evidence fades quickly as rain washes away skid marks, businesses delete surveillance footage after a few weeks, and witnesses move away or forget details. We send preservation letters to all parties immediately, demanding that they preserve relevant evidence.
Retaining a lawyer early helps safeguard the proof needed to win your case.
Working With a Hattiesburg Brain Injury Lawyer
Hiring a Hattiesburg TBI attorney provides a distinct advantage because they understand the medical and legal complexities unique to brain injury cases. We approach these claims with a specific methodology designed to maximize recovery.
Our firm handles every aspect of the legal process for you:
- Comprehensive Case Review: We analyze the details of your accident and injury to determine the most viable path to compensation.
- Administrative Management: Our staff organizes medical bills, insurance documents, and legal filings, so you don't have to manage paperwork.
- Aggressive Negotiation: We negotiate directly with insurance defense lawyers to increase their settlement offers to an acceptable level.
- Trial Litigation: Our attorneys present your case to a judge and jury if the insurance company refuses to offer a fair settlement.
- Lien Resolution: We negotiate with healthcare providers and health insurers to reduce the amount you must pay back from your settlement.
Strategic Legal Positioning
Richard Schwartz & Associates structures your case to highlight the severity of your condition. We emphasize the permanence of brain injuries and refute defense arguments that label your injury as temporary or mild. Our team utilizes medical literature and case precedents to support our position.
FAQ for Hattiesburg Brain Injury Lawyer
What Medical Treatments Does TBI Compensation Cover?
Compensation covers all reasonable and necessary medical treatments related to the injury, including the initial ambulance ride, emergency room care, surgery, and hospital stays. It also covers the costs of physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and psychological counseling.
If you require medication or in-home nursing care, the settlement must include funds for these expenses as well. We project these costs over your lifetime to prevent financial shortfalls later.
How Does a Hattiesburg TBI Attorney Prove the Severity of My Injury?
We prove severity through objective medical testing and expert testimony. Neuropsychological tests measure cognitive decline in memory, attention, and problem-solving. MRI and CT scans show structural damage, while DTI scans reveal microscopic tearing in nerve fibers.
We also use testimony from family members and coworkers to illustrate how the injury altered your daily behavior and personality. This combination of scientific data and personal anecdotes builds a strong case.
Can I Recover Damages If I Have A Previous Head Injury?
You retain the right to seek compensation even with a prior head injury. Mississippi law follows the eggshell skull doctrine. This means the defendant must take the victim as they find them. If the new accident aggravated a pre-existing condition or made it worse, the at-fault party bears responsibility for that increased harm.
We carefully differentiate between the old injury and the new symptoms to protect your claim.
Can a Hattiesburg Brain Injury Lawyer Help if I Was Partially at Fault?
Yes, a Hattiesburg brain injury lawyer assists you even if you share some blame. Mississippi operates under a pure comparative negligence system, which means you recover damages as long as you’re not 100% at fault. However, the court reduces your award by your percentage of responsibility.
How Long Does It Take To Settle a Brain Injury Case in Mississippi?
The timeline varies based on the complexity of the case and the clarity of the medical prognosis. We typically wait until you reach Maximum Medical Improvement to value your claim accurately. Settling too early risks leaving money on the table.
Some cases settle in a few months, while others involving litigation take a year or more. We push for an efficient resolution but never sacrifice value for speed.
Let Us Fight for Your Compensation
A traumatic brain injury demands strong legal action. Richard Schwartz & Associates brings over four decades of experience and a winning history in Mississippi. Let an experienced Hattiesburg personal injury lawyer fight to restore what the accident took from you.
Call our Hattiesburg team today at (601) 299-4540 to schedule your free consultation.
Schedule A Free Case Consultation