Getting involved in a serious accident can change your life permanently. The injuries resulting from the accident can profoundly affect every aspect of your life – from your physical appearance to your mental health, your ability to work, your mobility, and even your ability to perform activities of daily living.
If you or any of your family members have been injured in a serious accident, you need an experienced Gulfport, MS personal injury attorney on your side to recover the largest possible compensation you are entitled to.
At Boyce Holleman & Associates, we have been fighting for the rights of injury victims on the Mississippi Gulf Coast for more than 70 years. We can provide you with the personalized legal advice, guidance, and support you need at this difficult time and fight tirelessly to get the settlement you deserve.
Contact our law firm today to schedule a free consultation with one of our Gulfport, MS serious accident attorneys.
Types of Injuries That Can Result from a Serious Accident
A serious or catastrophic accident, whether it is a motor vehicle accident, construction accident, fall from height, slip and fall accident, or an accident caused by a defective product, can result in long-term debilitating injuries. These include:
- Spinal cord injuries resulting in partial or total paralysis.
- Traumatic brain injuries resulting in cognitive or physical disability.
- Severe burn injuries resulting in significant or permanent disfigurement.
- Traumatic amputation resulting in the loss of a limb.
- Crush injuries resulting in nerve damage.
- Injuries that result in the loss of vision, hearing, or other senses.
- Damage to internal organs.
- Wrongful death of the victim.
How Does a Serious Injury Claim Differ from a Regular Personal Injury Claim?
Serious injury claims tend to be more complicated than regular personal injury claims due to a number of reasons. These include:
- Serious and catastrophic injuries often result in the loss of a body function or a serious cognitive or physical disability, which can affect your ability to perform activities of daily living, work, or have an intimate relationship with your spouse. As a result, you might be entitled to a considerable amount of compensation, which is usually not the case with regular personal injury claims stemming from minor to moderate injuries.
- In order to prove the severity of your injuries and their long-term impact on your personal and professional life, you might require reports or testimonies from a number of experts including medical professionals, rehabilitation experts, occupational therapists, vocational experts, and many others.
- The risk of litigation is higher in claims involving serious injuries compared to regular personal injury claims. Rather than paying you what you are entitled to, the at-fault party’s insurance company might try to dispute your claim all the way to trial.
Types of Financial Compensation in Serious Accident Claims
Depending on the severity of your injuries, you might be entitled to the following damages.
Economic Damages
- Current and future medical expenses associated with your injuries.
- Cost of physical rehabilitation, vocational therapy, and psychotherapy.
- Cost of buying assistive devices.
- Cost of modifying your home and vehicle to accommodate your disability.
- Cost of long-term care at home or at a facility.
- Lost earnings.
- Loss of earning capacity.
- Property damage.
Non-Economic Damages
- Pain and suffering.
- Mental anguish.
- Permanent disability or disfigurement.
- Loss of consortium.
- Diminished quality of life.
In addition to this, you might also be able to seek punitive damages from the at-fault party – if they are found to have acted in a grossly negligent manner or without any regard for the safety of others. Depending on the circumstances, you might be awarded anywhere from 2% to 4% of the at-fault party’s net worth.
Mississippi’s Pure Comparative Negligence Law Can Affect Your Compensation
Under Mississippi’s pure comparative negligence law, you have the legal right to recover compensatory damages from the other party even if you are found to be partially responsible for the accident. At the same time, the amount of compensation you are awarded will be reduced – depending on the extent to which you were responsible for the accident.
For example, if you are awarded a sum of $150,000 and you are found to be 10% at fault for the accident, you will only receive $135,000.
How Our Experienced Gulfport, MS Serious Accident Lawyers Can Help You
- We will investigate the accident thoroughly and find out how it happened, what caused it, and who can be held responsible for it.
- After identifying all the liable parties, we will collect the evidence needed to prove their liability.
- We will communicate with your insurance company and the at-fault party’s insurance company on your behalf.
- We will get statements and testimonies from eyewitnesses to support your claim.
- We will get reports and testimonies from expert witnesses to prove the extent of your injuries, their long-term impact on your life, and the financial consequences of the disabilities caused by your injuries.
- We will determine the extent of your economic and non-economic losses and calculate the amount of compensation you can demand from the at-fault party.
- We will negotiate with the insurance company and try to get the highest settlement offer possible.
- If a negotiated settlement is not possible, we will take your case to trial and make convincing arguments before the jury to recover the maximum amount of compensation possible.
Choose the Seasoned Gulfport, MS Serious Accident Lawyers to Fight for You
The injuries you sustain in a serious accident can be catastrophic and life-altering. At Boyce Holleman & Associates, we have a long track record of representing individuals injured in serious accidents and we have recovered millions in settlements and jury awards for our clients over the years.
Our attorneys can investigate your case, determine who can be held liable for your injuries, accurately calculate the value of the tangible and intangible losses you suffered in the accident, and fight aggressively to recover every dollar you are owed.
To find out about your legal options, call us today at 228-863-3142 or fill out our online contact form and schedule a free consultation and case assessment.
