It all starts with finding the right Gulfport, MS personal injury attorney for you. At Reeves & Mestayer, our goal is to fight aggressively on behalf of every single client and get the compensation they deserve. Ready to sit down and talk about your case in greater detail? Give us a call at 228-374-5151 and let’s set up a consultation.
Reeves & Mestayer is Here for Your Personal Injury Claim
The team at Reeves & Mestayer has extensive experience in many types of personal injury cases, including:
- Vehicle accidents
- Bicycle collisions
- Pedestrian accidents
- Burns
- Defective products
- Premises liability
- Medical malpractice
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death
A successful personal injury claim rests on your attorney’s ability to prove liability. There are several components to proving liability:
- Duty of care. The other party must have had a duty of care to you. In a car accident claim, for example, the other party automatically has an obligation to minimize risk to others on the road by driving safely. In a slip and fall case, a store owner has an obligation to protect shoppers from preventable harm.
- Breach of that duty. The other party must have breached that duty. The driver texted while driving or the shop owner didn’t use a “Wet Floor” sign after mopping.
- Related injury. The breach of duty must have led to an injury. The distracted driver T-boned your car, leaving you with broken bones and a TBI. The store owner’s failure to put up a sign caused you to fall and hurt your spine.
- Measurable damages. You must have actual damages in order to pursue compensation. It isn’t enough that something could have happened—something must have actually caused you harm for you to have a claim.
Why do you need a personal injury lawyer in Gulfport, MS? From your perspective, your accident might seem very cut and dry. The other party acted negligently, you have obvious damages, and you just want what you’re owed. Do you really need an attorney for that?
Yes, you do. One of the common misconceptions of a personal injury case is that the liable party pays out of pocket for your losses. While this does occasionally happen, the vast majority of cases require the liable party’s insurance company to pay.
Insurance companies are excellent at limiting their financial losses by downplaying injuries, denying claims, or simply offering ridiculously low offers to accident victims. You might not even realize that their offer is too low until you’ve run out of money before even paying your hospital bills.
An attorney can help you avoid this trap and fight for fair compensation. The team at Reeves & Mestayer knows exactly how insurance adjusters try to avoid liability and sidestep a fair settlement. Thanks to our work with numerous insurance companies, we know exactly what type of evidence we need to prove your claim. Our goal is to prove your case to the insurance company and get the money you are due.
Although most personal injury claims are settled out of court, it doesn’t always work out that way. Sometimes an insurance company is unwilling to negotiate in good faith, or their understanding of an injury is so far from the truth that negotiation simply isn’t possible. If your claim can’t be settled through negotiations, we are ready to go to court and fight on your behalf.
The Personal Injury Claim Process
The timeline of a personal injury case varies, depending on the intricacies of the case and how motivated each side is to settle. You can expect your claim to follow these steps:
- Discussing your claim with an attorney. Your claim starts with a no-risk free consultation. If your attorney believes you have a valid claim, you can choose them to handle your case. From there, they will get more information on the accident, how it occurred, and how it has affected your life.
- Researching your accident and injuries. Your attorney’s goal is to build a case strong enough to back the insurance company into a corner. When they are forced to admit their client’s liability, it is much harder for them to avoid a full and fair settlement. Your attorney may look at the evidence you’ve gathered, such as photos, video footage, medical bills, and medical records. They may also look through official documentation, talk to eyewitnesses, and speak with expert witnesses.
- Sending a demand letter and negotiating. Once your attorney has gathered the relevant evidence and built up your case, they will send a demand letter to the insurance company. This states what they are asking for and why they believe you deserve it. This leads to negotiations, which can last days, weeks, or even months if either side is stubborn. Most claims settle at this stage. At that point, attorney’s fees and other expenses are paid out of your settlement before the rest is given to you.
- Preparing for court. If your claim is not settled during negotiations, it’s time to prepare for court. This is more in-depth than your attorney’s prior research and investigation, so plan on the process lasting several more months. However, both sides may still reach an agreement while preparing for court.
The type and amount of compensation you receive depend on how strong your case is, how severe your injuries are, and how much evidence you have of your damages. Common types of compensation awarded in Gulfport, MS personal injury cases include:
- Medical bills and other expenses
- Future medical expenses if you have lifelong or injuries from the accident
- Lost wages
- Lost future income if your ability to work is impaired
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
Reach Out Today to Get Started
Getting the compensation that you deserve starts with choosing the right attorney. You can trust Reeves & Mestayer to fight for you every step of the way, giving you more time to recover and recuperate. Set up a consultation with us now by calling us at 228-374-5151 or filling out our online contact form.
