FAQs Personal Injury Lawyer Jackson Mississippi – Interview with The Big Man
What is Personal Injury Law in Mississippi?
Personal injury law in Mississippi covers all the injuries that people sustain through the fault of others. So whether it’s a car wreck, a slip and fall, or a dog bite case, they all qualify as personal injury cases.
What should I do if I’ve been in a car accident?
The first thing you should do is make sure you and everyone in your automobile are okay. And when I say okay, I mean they are not in critical condition and require immediate assistance. The next step is to check the other vehicles if it is safe to do so.
Then contact 911 and take any advice they offer. Don’t hesitate to take an ambulance to the hospital, as it has a lot of advantages. One, it ensures you get medical care immediately, so you don’t have unforeseen problems.
Two, it starts a paper trail. When the insurance company looks at it later, they see you started immediately.
Can’t I simply work with the at-fault party’s insurance provider? Why do I need an attorney?
You absolutely work with them, but remember that these insurance adjusters do it all day, every day. How often do you get in a car accident? Once, twice, or if you’re really unlucky, three times in a lifetime.
They have institutional knowledge of the ins and outs of the system that you don’t have. Keep in mind an insurance company is trying to pay as little money as possible on your claim.
Their job is to make money, not pay money. My job is to get you as much money as possible from the insurance company. I ensure you get what you are entitled to for your injury and what happened to you and your family.
What if I’ve already spoken with the other insurance company?
Stop speaking with them. They are building their case as early as possible. They are trying to get you to make statements that say you are at fault. Let them know you’ve retained counsel and let the attorney move forward.
Should I contact you right away after the accident?
Absolutely. That’s when you start building your claim. You want to be very proactive and hire a proactive attorney to work on your file from the very beginning to ensure you’re getting the medical treatment you need. You don’t want problems working out a settlement.
How do I know if I’ve got a claim?
Talking to an attorney is going to be the best way to know.
Will my case go to trial?
Most cases don’t and end up settling simply because the insurance companies and the victim’s attorney know the case value. Policy limits make it complicated to go above that limit.
It’s possible in limited circumstances, and those cases may go to trial. But, by far and large, your case will resolve without going to trial.
What’s typically included in a settlement?
We include pain and suffering, loss of wages, expenses incurred like medical, travel to and from the doctor, and anything associated. Then there’s property damage you sustained, but it may be a settlement that occurs early on.
What’s a case typically worth?
It’s hard to tell and depends on the injury sustained by the individual. The minimum limit in Mississippi for automobile insurance is $25,000, and I see a lot more of those cases because most people don’t have catastrophic injuries, and that’s fortunate in many respects.
With 18-wheeler policies, for example, we start getting into millions of dollars. So we need to see the facts of a case before we can tell somebody case worth.
What does it cost to hire you?
We do not charge upfront fees. We work on a contingency fee, which means we get a percentage of anything we recover for you. If we don’t recover anything, then we don’t charge anything.
What if I’m partially at fault?
That’s a great question because in Mississippi if you were found to be 30% at fault and you got a recovery, it would be reduced by 30%.
What is negligence?
It’s when one side causes an accident. It may not be intentional. It is an accidental happenstance. Nobody is trying to cause harm, and there’s no intent.
It’s when an accident occurs, and one party causes it by omitting specific duties, steps, or requirements. A failure to maintain control of the vehicle is common.
Why should we specifically hire Big Man Law?
We’re here to get you the most significant settlement possible. We love taking it to insurance companies and beating them up. The insurance company is trying to pay people with legitimate injuries as little as possible, and we’re here to get you the most significant settlement possible.
How should I prepare for our first meeting?
Bring all your documentation, like the accident report and any citations issued. If anyone was in your vehicle, bring them, so they can talk about their issues and what they observed.
Bring witnesses, if possible. If you have been to a doctor, bring medical reports, MRI and CAT scans if ordered, along with x-rays. Bring discharge papers from the hospital.
How long will my case take?
It depends on the injury. If somebody keeps receiving medical treatment for a 6, 7, or 8-month period, it will take longer. If you had an ER visit, if you see a chiropractor or neurosurgeon, it can take longer.
If you don’t need surgery and it’s just conservative care, that reduces the amount of time, as opposed to somebody who’s had surgery and requires physical therapy or pain management. So it varies, depending on the damages and the injuries.
What happens if we don’t win?
If we don’t win, you don’t owe us anything. We take in the teeth anything we’ve put into the case. We’re betting on you, and you’re betting on us.
Listen to the Interview with The Big Man!
Ask a Lawyer with Steve Sleeper ยท The Big Man at Big Man Law on Personal Injury Law in Mississippi