Gulfport Car Accident Attorney
In total, there are approximately 38,000 fatalities because of car accidents each year. Some sources state that the average person will get into a car accident every 18 years. Not every car accident ends in death, but many end in serious, life-changing injuries such as traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injuries.
Injuries from car accidents can be devastating, not only causing a large change to one’s quality of life but also leaving them with large piles of medical debt, lost wages, and an inability to continue working the same job they had before the accident.
Not all car accidents will cause devastating or dramatically life-changing events, but most will result in damages of some kind or another. Hiring an attorney is the best way to recover these damages. Not only will our talented attorneys help get you the most compensation possible, but we’ll also help take the stress off your shoulders and allow you to focus on resting and relaxing while we build your case.
Common Causes of Aar Accidents
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is to blame in most car accident cases. In the 21st century, we just can’t seem to keep our eyes off our phones and our eyes on the road. Common distractions include:
- Texting or talking on the phone
- Looking for the perfect playlist or song
- Finding direction
- Eating
- Applying makeup
- Grabbing something off the floor
- Talking to someone in the back seat
Distractions, while most commonly occur because of cell phones, include more than just that. The brain can’t switch between tasks and focus on the road ahead at the same time.
Speeding
Running late, attempting to keep up with traffic, and even unintentional speeding are all reasons that one may cause an accident. Speeding makes it harder to slow down when there are changes in traffic, such as a light turning red or traffic coming to a halt.
Running Red Lights And Stop Signs
About 40% of all car accidents occur at intersections. Running a red light or stop sign can occur when people are drunk driving, or driving while distracted, causing them to miss the light turning red. People may also be cocky in their ability to fly through yellow lights, causing an accident.
Aggressive Driving
Aggressive driving or road rage can also be a cause for car accidents. If someone angrily cuts someone off or swerves around someone, they could cause a sideswipe accident to occur. Most aggressive driving or road rage comes from people’s impatience.
Drunk Driving
Drunk driving is incredibly dangerous and stupid. Driving while intoxicated can cause visual and cognitive impairment, meaning that accidents are much more common when one is intoxicated. Drunk drivers may be easily distracted, unable to make decisions, and overly aggressive.
Driving While Tired
Drowsy driving occurs when the person operating the motor vehicle is too exhausted to remain alert and at the wheel. A tired driver may have slower reaction times, reduced vigilance, and impaired thinking. Tired drivers may even fall asleep at the wheel.
Common Injuries from Car Accidents
Car accidents result in a variety of different injuries, ranging from mild to severe. Some injuries may be devastating, causing the victim to adjust to a new way of living, while others may be more minor, though they can still be devastating for a short period of time.
Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic brain injury or TBI occurs when the head is struck or penetrated by a great force. In car accidents, the head may hit the steering wheel, windshield, or door frame/window. There are various types of traumatic brain injury, including contusions, hematoma, and coup/contrecoup injury.
Even mild traumatic brain injury can cause lifelong pain and suffering.
Spinal Cord Injury
Spinal cord injuries occur because of a sudden blow to the spinal cord or the surrounding tissues. Severe spinal cord injury can result in complete or incomplete paralysis or para, tetra, or quadriplegia.
Spinal cord injuries that result in disability are especially stressful on the victim, as they may have to relearn a lot of basic tasks or even have their home renovated to better fit their needs.
Neck and Back Injuries
Common types of neck and back injury because of a car accident include:
- Whiplash
- Lumbar sprains and strains
- Spinal stenosis
- Disc herniation
- Joint injuries
Internal Injuries
Internal injuries occur when there’s a blunt force trauma to the abdomen. Internal injuries include damage to the organs and internal bleeding. Internal injuries don’t often present themselves right away, which is why it’s important to seek medical attention even if you don’t believe that you’re injured.
Broken Bones
Broken bones are common in car accidents, especially ribs, arms, and legs. More severe breaks may occur in many places, causing the victim to require surgery in order to heal properly. When people experience multiple breaks in the leg bones, they may require physical therapy in order to relearn how to walk after spending a lot of time off their feet.
Soft Tissue Injuries
Soft tissue injuries occur when the muscles, ligaments, or tendons are damaged. Soft tissue injuries cause pain, swelling, bruising, and occasionally loss of function or decreased range of motion. Soft tissue injuries include:
- Sprains
- Strains
- Contusions
- Whiplash
What to do After a Car Accident
After you’ve been involved in a car accident, there are a few vital steps you need to take. Following this checklist will help to maintain the integrity of your car accident claim.
- Contact the police to file a report. A police report is strong evidence for your case.
- Receive the contact information of the at-fault party and any other involved parties.
- Gather evidence such as pictures and videos of the surrounding area, the vehicles involved, and your injuries.
- Get the contact information of any witnesses, and encourage them to stick around and speak to the investigating police officer if possible.
- Receive medical attention immediately, even if you don’t believe that you’re injured.
- Contact an attorney before you speak to any insurance companies. Insurance companies may try to ask for your statement in exchange for quick cash, don’t take it. A talented attorney can get you much more.
How can a car accident attorney help me?
A talented car accident attorney will be able to help you understand your options as well as help you receive the most compensation possible for your injuries. They’ll negotiate a settlement offer on your behalf and argue your case if it goes to trial.
They’ll also talk to insurance companies, so you don’t have to and keep up with your doctors to make sure you’re staying on track with your medical plans. They’ll collect evidence, further investigate the accident, and collect documents to build up your case.
In general, they’ll take all of the stress off of your shoulders so that you can focus on recovering from your injuries.
What damages can I recover for a Gulfport car accident?
If you’re involved in a Gulfport car accident, and you believe that someone else is at fault for your injuries, you may be entitled to compensation. You can claim compensation for both economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages include:
- Past and future medical bills
- Past and future lost wages
- Property damage
Non-economic damages include:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of earning capacity
- Permanent disability or disfigurement
Contact an Experience Gulfport Car Accident Attorney
If you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your damages. For more information, please contact our talented team of attorneys here at Jones Law Group. We have years of experience working on car accident cases, and we can help you get the compensation that you deserve.
For a free case evaluation, contact us online or through chat. You can also call us at 727-571-1333.
