Car accidents often leave people feeling overwhelmed as they deal with property damage, medical expenses, and a loss of income. A car accident attorney at Richard Schwartz & Associates in Tupelo, MS can help you regain control by dealing with the insurance company and coordinating with your medical care providers — allowing you to focus solely on recovering from your injuries.
Do not let yourself become frustrated by attempting to fight your insurance company or doctor’s offices on your own.
An experienced auto accident lawyer can help remove the stress from a stressful situation by helping with all of the following:
Negotiate With the Insurance Company
Oftentimes, even before you fully recover from your car accident, the insurance company will offer to send you a settlement check. This initial offer is almost always too low! Do NOT accept this settlement before seeking legal assistance. Our personal injury attorneys can help you determine if your current settlement offer is appropriate and negotiate on your behalf for a better offer.
Insurance companies seek to minimize the money that they pay out in claims so negotiating with them can be difficult if you aren’t familiar with their tactics. Oftentimes an insurance provider will attempt to trick you into admitting something you didn’t intend to admit, just to devalue your claim. An experienced auto accident attorney understands how to protect your rights and acts as a legal barrier between you and the insurance company — ensuring that you are treated fairly and that you obtain all of the compensation you need and deserve.
Calculating Your Damage
Your current and future expenses are both considered when calculating damages suffered from your car accident injuries. For example, if you received a traumatic brain injury, you may be facing a long road to recovery. Not only do you have medical expenses to deal with right now, but you could be facing expensive and long-term future medical treatment. Insurance companies understand this and will oftentimes push you to accept a quick settlement. This quick settlement offer may cover any costs you’re dealing with right now, like your initial hospital bills, but it could leave you paying out of pocket for future expenses.
If you have questions regarding your settlement offer or how to calculate damages associated with your injuries, schedule your free initial consultation with Tupelo car accident attorneys at Richard Schwartz & Associates.
Representing You in Court
We say this all the time: Never go to court without an attorney. If negotiations fail, your case may be heading to the courtroom and you need a trial lawyer with the right experience and know-how to fight for your rights. It is important to us that you receive maximum lawful compensation. Richard Schwartz & Associates has 40+ years of experience winning settlements in court for our clients.
Is it Worth Getting a Car Accident Lawyer for a Minor Car Crash?
While stopped at a red light, someone hits you from behind. You suffer whiplash but most of the damage is to your car. Is it worth getting a car accident lawyer for a simple fender bender?
The answer is a bit more complicated than simply yes or no. It all comes down to the circumstances surrounding your situation. Even a minor fender bender can cause significant personal injury. If any of the following occurred in your accident, you should speak with an attorney:
- You developed severe injuries: Even a fender bender could result in a concussion or a brain injury. That’s why it’s always important to seek medical help following a car accident.
- You’re not at fault for the accident: If another driver’s carelessness caused your accident, you may need an attorney to help you with your claim.
- The insurance company denied your claim: If the insurance company denied your claim, you may need to speak to an attorney to learn the reasons why and your next steps.
The one thing to remember is there are no requirements when it comes to speaking with one of our Tupelo Car Accident attorneys. Each situation is different and it is impossible to know for certain what the future may bring for your injuries. So, even if the accident was minor, it may be a good idea to schedule a free consultation with a personal injury attorney that can advise you on your next steps.
What Are the Causes of Auto Accidents?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there are more than 35,000 fatalities and hundreds of thousands of injuries each year caused by motor vehicle accidents. It is likely you will be involved in a car accident in your lifetime. There are many types of car accidents and they can have many causes. The most common cause of car accidents is human error, including:
Distracted Driving
- The number one cause of car accidents in the U.S. today is distracted driving. The number of deaths caused by distracted driving is rising each year. Distracted driving occurs anytime that you take your eyes off of the road ahead, your hands off of the wheel for any reason, or if your mind starts to focus on something other than driving. With distracting technology, such as texting or changing the music on your phone, and distractions along the road, many factors can take your attention away from the road.
Drowsy Driving
- If an individual drives while they are fatigued, their driving skills and judgement can be significantly impaired. Driving while drowsy is proven to affect drivers similarly to driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and poses a major danger to the individual behind the wheel and other drivers. According to the CDC, being awake for 18 hours or more is similar to having a blood-alcohol level of 0.05% or more. Those whose professions require driving late at night or for long periods of time, such as commercial drivers or shift drivers, are at higher risk for unintentionally driving while fatigued.
Drunk Driving
- Driving while intoxicated is the cause of approximately one-third of all car accident fatalities, with more than 10,000 or more deaths due to drunk drivers each year. In the United States, it is illegal to drive with a 0.08% blood alcohol concentration. Driving past this limit seriously affects visual function, reduces coordination, impairs the perception of objects and speed, and therefore impairs overall vehicle control. Drunk driving is completely preventable, yet there are still deaths every day attributed to driving while intoxicated.
Speeding and Aggressive Driving
- Driving at excessive speeds and aggressive driving is one of the top reasons for fatal car crashes in the United States. While exceeding the speed limit accounts for one-third of all auto accident fatalities, driving unreasonably fast under certain conditions also contributes to these car accidents. Speeding during heavy downpours, snowstorms, and congested traffic, for instance, pose a deadly threat to other drivers, pedestrians, and to the driver themselves. Individuals who drive aggressively put everyone else on the road in danger. Aggressive driving includes erratic driving, “brake checking”, illegal passing, and weaving aggressively in and out of traffic.
Poor Weather Conditions
- Driving when it’s raining increases your risk of getting into a vehicle accident. Driving conditions like ice, fog, snow, and rain force drivers on the road to take their time and drive carefully. While most drivers comply with bad weather conditions, some drivers continue to drive carelessly and drivers who refuse to slow down, turn on their headlights, or maintain a safe distance from other cars are much more likely to be involved in an accident.
What Are the Common Injuries Associated with a Car Accident?
There are a variety of injuries that can occur as a result of a vehicle accident, ranging from minor to severe. The nature of the car collision, including whether or not a seatbelt was used, the position of the collision, and if it was high-speed or low-speed, will all influence the severity of injuries. The most common injuries after a car crash include:
- Whiplash and Neck Injuries
- Soft Tissue Injuries
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
- Broken Bones
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Herniated Discs
- Dislocation
- Burns
What Should I Expect in an Auto Accident Settlement?
Car accidents may cause substantial damage, but even minor injuries might wreak havoc on a victim’s life and turn everything upside down. In addition to the physical pain and emotional distress, you may also face unexpected costs or be unable to work. As the injured victim, you may be able to take legal action in order to get reimbursed for these damages. Unfortunately, navigating the legal process and dealing with insurance companies can be overwhelming. That’s where our team of experienced tupelo car accident lawyers can help. Accident victims who retain the services of an experienced vehicle accident lawyer will typically receive up to three times as much compensation as those who handle their case alone.
Insurance companies profit by paying as little as possible to automobile policyholders and car accident victims. Never accept an offer from the insurance company without first speaking with a top-rated car crash lawyer who understands how car accident law and can protect your rights. Our experienced accident lawyers can assess your claim, identify any legal issues, and help ensure that you get every dollar you deserve.
At Richard Schwartz & Associates, we help car accident victims file personal injury lawsuits to recover compensation for:
- Medical bills
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy
- Long-term care
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
We also help our clients pursue wrongful death claims against at-fault drivers in order to get justice for their loved ones and provide future security for their families. If you need legal help, or want to ensure that you are being fairly compensated for your injuries, please call our Tupelo, MS office to schedule your free consultation today!
No Settlement, No Fee – That’s Our Promise to You
At Richard Schwartz & Associates, we believe that everyone should have equal access to the justice system, regardless of income. That’s why we do not charge a fee for our services unless we win your case. We cover all the upfront costs so that you don’t have to pay a penny out of pocket. Our contingency fee (a percentage of the settlement or verdict we obtain for you) will never exceed the total amount paid to you. If we are unable to produce results for your car accident case, you owe us nothing.
Hiring an excellent Tupelo, MS car wreck attorney is more affordable than most people think because the accident lawyers at Richard Schwartz & Associates will not collect a fee unless we recover financial compensation for you.
Speak to an Expert Car Wreck Attorney in Tupelo, MS Today
Getting into a car accident can be a frightening and stressful experience, especially if you have been injured and do not have legal representation. Several questions are probably running through your head at this time: How am I going to pay the medical bills? What if my car can’t be salvaged? Will the insurance company deny my claim? We are here to answer all your questions.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a car crash, call one of the accident lawyers at Richard Schwartz & Associates today!
