Gulfport Uninsured Motorist Attorney

Mississippi law seeks to hold reckless, or negligent, drivers at fault through monetary compensation.  However, some drivers carry little or no car insurance making it difficult to recover for your accident injuries.

At Haug, Farrar, Franco & Ruiz, PLLC, our Gulfport uninsured motorist lawyers can help you get the compensation you need to move forward after a serious car crash in Gulfport involving an uninsured or underinsured motorist.  We do this by exploring your own insurance policy coverage and suing the reckless driver directly, when feasible.

Call Haug, Farrar, Franco & Ruiz, PLLC today at (228) 872-8752 to schedule your complimentary consultation with one of our Gulfport personal injury lawyers and learn about your legal rights after a collision.  Our attorneys are:

• Dedicated;
• Successful; and
• Experienced in all areas of insurance law.

We will gladly answer your questions and address any concerns you have regarding your situation.

Let Our Gulfport Uninsured Motorist Attorneys Help You

After notifying your insurance company about your accident, it is imperative you contact an experienced uninsured motorist attorney like ours at Haug, Farrar, Franco & Ruiz, PLLC for help with your claim.  Please do not go into specifics or give a recorded statement before speaking with one of our attorneys, as insurance companies, including your own, are focused on minimizing the payouts they make on uninsured and underinsured motorist claims.

At Haug, Farrar, Franco & Ruiz, PLLC, we understand the tactics insurance companies use and prepare a solid, structured case on your behalf as if we were moving forward to arbitration.  Arbitration, not trial, is usually the means of settlement dictated by insurance contracts.

Call Haug, Farrar, Franco & Ruiz, PLLC today to learn more about the insurance claims process and schedule your appointment with one of our attorneys to:

• Review your insurance policy;
• Confirm whether you have the appropriate coverage for a claim;
• If necessary, file for arbitration against your insurance company;
• Fight to protect your legal right to fair and just compensation for your losses; and
• Help protect you from bad faith dealings by insurance adjusters such as long delays, policy cancellation, or increased premiums.

Uninsured and Underinsured Motorists in Gulfport

Motorists may be uninsured or underinsured.  An uninsured motorist has no coverage at all or had coverage but let that coverage lapse.  An underinsured motorist most likely carries state minimum coverage but has an injury accident with losses far exceeding state minimums.

Both situations are extremely common in Gulfport.  Therefore, it is imperative to carry both uninsured and underinsured motorist policies on one’s own car insurance.  Otherwise, an accident victim may be left with an uncollectible judgment against an impoverished underinsured, or uninsured motorist.

There are policy time limits and state time limits to file uninsured and underinsured motorist claims and personal injury claims, so do not delay; reach out to Haug, Farrar, Franco & Ruiz, PLLC to discuss your options for recovery now.

Gulfport Liability and Insurance Laws

In Mississippi, the state law requires every driver to carry minimum amounts of car insurance. These state-mandated coverage standards include:

Bodily Injury Liability: This covers any damages for physical harm caused by an accident where you’re at fault; the minimum coverage needed here is $25,000 per person injured in an accident that you cause.

Property Damage and Accident Coverage: This policy should cover a total of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident.

Despite the fact that drivers in Mississippi are required to be insured, it’s estimated that approximately 30% of drivers in Mississippi are uninsured. While navigating Mississippi’s uninsured motorist laws might seem tricky, understanding the importance of uninsured motorist coverage and being aware of what it provides can make a huge difference.

Uninsured Motorist Coverage is Optional: While you aren’t required to opt for uninsured motorist coverage, it’s always a good idea to get it. The potential costs you could face if you’re in an accident with an uninsured driver versus what you will pay monthly could end up saving you a significant amount of money. 

Additionally, insurance companies must offer uninsured motorist coverage to you until you specifically reject it in writing.

Stacking is Permitted: The insurance laws in Mississippi allow the stacking of your policies. This means that if you or a loved one are in an accident with an uninsured driver, your UM coverage can be added up (“stacked”) over various vehicles under same policy, providing higher protection.

Compensation Available to Uninsured Motorist Accident Victims in Gulfport

If you’re hit by an uninsured driver in Gulfport, your Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage can provide compensation for various expenses:

Medical Expenses

This covers all present and future medical costs related to injuries you suffered from the accident. Examples include ambulance rides, hospital stays, surgeries, and medications.

Rehabilitation Costs

This helps reimburse you for money you have to spend on physical therapy and other treatments that will allow you to fully recover from your injuries. 

Lost Wages

If your injury keeps you out of work, your policy covers lost earnings and loss of future earning capacity due to any injuries you sustained.

Vehicle Repair or Replacement Costs

Should your vehicle incur damages following an accident with an uninsured motorist, your policy offers compensation covering repairs needed to get it back on the road. 

In cases where the damage is estimated to surpass the current value of the car, it may be deemed a total loss. In this case, you will receive an insurance payout, which can be put toward the cost of a new vehicle. 

Travel Expenses

Your compensation under this policy also includes travel costs involved in receiving medical care, which in some cases can add up. For example, if you have to see a specialist out of state, this could cost you, and your insurance may help you pay for it.

Pain and Suffering

This provides financial relief for physical discomfort caused by the accident as well as emotional trauma you’ve experienced, which might include anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). 

It’s incredibly stressful to get into an accident with a driver who doesn’t have insurance, and it’s normal that you may be concerned about your finances and recouping your expenses. Fortunately, if you have uninsured motorist coverage, you will be entitled to compensation. 

Contact an Uninsured Motorist Attorney in Gulfport

At Haug, Farrar, Franco & Ruiz, PLLC, we understand the complexities of Mississippi insurance law and will put our more than two decades of experience to work for you.  If you were injured by an uninsured or an underinsured driver, contact us today to schedule your no-cost, no-obligation case consultation.