Pedestrian Accident Attorney in Gulfport, MS

If you were hit by a vehicle while you were walking in Gulfport, you’re likely dealing with painful injuries that lead to expensive medical bills and might leave you unable to work. You could be entitled to compensation for what you’ve suffered, but getting it might not be as easy or as straightforward as it should be.

The driver who hit you might try to place the blame on you. Their insurer might insist that your injuries aren’t as severe as they actually are. You need someone on your side to push back and demand more. You need HFFR Injury Attorneys.

Contact us today at (228) 872-8752 for a free, no-obligation consultation with a pedestrian accident lawyer in Gulfport, and let us fight hard to recover the money you need. Your case review is fully confidential, and you pay nothing unless we successfully resolve your matter.

Why Choose Our Firm for Your Gulfport Pedestrian Injury Case?

Since 2014, HFFR Injury Attorneys has been helping accident victims demand more. We know what you’re going through right now, and we want to make the legal process as stress-free for you as possible. We offer the following to our clients:

• A Client-First Attitude – You won’t be just a case number here. We’ll get to know you and understand your concerns so we can better represent you throughout your case. Our lawyers can help you find medical care if you need it and will always be responsive to your questions.
• A Commitment to Results – We’ll work with the at-fault parties’ insurance companies to recover full and fair compensation in your case. But if they won’t cooperate, we won’t hesitate to file suit and take them to court. It’s this aggressiveness that has delivered millions in verdicts and settlements to our clients.
• Affordable Representation – We offer free consultations and do not charge a fee unless and until we win your case. That way, you’re not paying out of pocket to demand the compensation you deserve.

What to Do Immediately After a Pedestrian Accident in Gulfport, MS

The immediate aftermath of a pedestrian accident in Gulfport is a painful, overwhelming time. Still, you can best protect your rights to compensation by taking as many of the following steps as possible:

• Report the accident to the authorities if someone else hasn’t already. If you’re badly injured, call 911. If the collision is not an emergency, you can reach the Gulfport Police Department at (228) 868-5959.
• Get to a safe location, but avoid unnecessary movement if you suspect you’ve suffered a head, neck, or spinal injury.
• Obtain the driver’s name, contact information, license plate number, and insurance details. Also, get the details of anyone who may have seen what happened.
• Document the scene. Take photos or video of the vehicle, your injuries, the crosswalk or roadway, any nearby traffic signals, and anything else that might provide context for the accident.

Don’t panic if you weren’t able to take all of the above steps. One of the biggest value-adds of hiring a pedestrian accident attorney in Gulfport, MS, is having someone investigate the accident thoroughly on your behalf. Consider contacting HFFR Injury Attorneys immediately for support. You can help us in our pursuit of fair compensation by doing the following:

• Getting Medical Help if You Have Not Done So Already – We can also connect you with medical professionals to aid in your recovery. Tell your doctor you were hit by a vehicle so they know what to look for.
• Alerting Your Auto Insurer if You Have One – You may have coverage through certain policy provisions, and failing to report the accident could put that coverage at risk.
• Starting an Evidence Folder – Include anything you were able to recover at the scene. Write down what you remember about the accident while your memory is still fresh. We can help you get copies of your medical records and the police report of the accident.
• Being Careful What You Say About the Accident – Stay off social media for the time being. If the driver’s insurance provider contacts you, decline to give a recorded statement and politely direct them to us.

Understanding Mississippi’s Pedestrian Right-of-Way Laws

Several laws govern when pedestrians have the right-of-way in Mississippi and when they must yield to other road users. First, Miss. Code § 63-3-1101 requires pedestrians to adhere to traffic controls at intersections whenever they are present. Miss. Code § 63-3-1105 requires pedestrians to yield to vehicles whenever they are crossing outside a marked or unmarked crosswalk and to refrain from crossing the street between intersections with marked crosswalks.

The law, however, also places responsibilities on motorists. Miss. Code § 63-3-1103 requires drivers to yield to pedestrians who are crossing in a marked crosswalk or at unmarked crosswalks at intersections, so long as no traffic signals are saying otherwise. Additionally, other drivers must not pass a vehicle stopped to allow a pedestrian to cross the road in these circumstances.

Furthermore, Miss. Code § 63-3-1112 states that every driver must exercise due care to avoid colliding with a pedestrian under any circumstances and must take extra caution around children and anyone who’s obviously confused, incapacitated, or intoxicated.

If you were hit while crossing the street legally, a Gulfport personal injury attorney can help you pursue compensation. However, you may still have a case even if you were jaywalking at the time. Reach out to us today to find out if you do.

Common Causes of Gulfport Pedestrian Crashes

According to a large study published in the journal Traffic Injury Prevention, about two-thirds of pedestrian collisions result in injury, and drivers were assigned a contributing factor in just over half of such collisions. These factors might include the following:

• Distracted driving, particularly texting or using a navigation app
• Speeding or driving too fast for road conditions
• Failing to yield at crosswalks or intersections
• Running red lights or stop signs
• Making unsafe left or right turns
• Backing up without checking for pedestrians
• Failing to use extra caution in school zones or parking lots
• Driving while fatigued

The study also found that male drivers were more likely to be involved in pedestrian accidents, as are intoxicated drivers. Furthermore, injuries and fatalities are more likely when vehicles are traveling straight rather than turning, as that direction is associated with higher speeds.

Who Can Be Held Liable?

Many different people could be legally responsible for causing a pedestrian accident in Gulfport, including the following:

• Drivers violating right-of-way laws, speeding, or otherwise behaving negligently
• Employers of delivery drivers, truck drivers, or other commercial drivers
• Government entities that did not provide sufficient signage or road markings
• Construction crews that failed to put up warning signs or manage work zones safely
• Companies that manufacture defective vehicle components

A Gulfport pedestrian injury lawyer can investigate the crash to identify all liable parties and hold them financially accountable for their share of the accident.

What Compensation Can You Recover?

If a driver or another party is at fault for your injuries, they should have to compensate you for the way those injuries have affected your life and well-being. This compensation can take a few different forms.

Economic damages can cover the measurable financial losses you’ve incurred. Examples include medical bills, rehabilitation costs, lost income, reduced earning capacity, and the cost of necessary future care. They may also cover damaged personal property and other accident-related expenses.

Severe injuries don’t just affect your finances, though, and your compensation should reflect this fact. Non-economic damages address losses that are more personal in nature and do not have a fixed dollar value. These may include physical pain, mental suffering, emotional distress, disfigurement, disability, loss of enjoyment of life, and the ways the injuries interfere with daily activities and relationships.

Because non-economic losses are inherently subjective, juries are empowered to decide on an amount they think is fair based on the evidence they’ve heard. When cases settle without a trial, insurance adjusters and attorneys use formulas to approximate what a jury might decide. In cases of severe injury, non-economic damages account for a sizable portion of an award or settlement.

Sadly, some pedestrian accidents prove fatal, in which case the deceased’s personal representative can bring a wrongful death claim against the at-fault parties (Miss. Code § 11-7-13). The deceased’s executor generally serves as their personal representative. If the deceased died without a will, the probate court will select a personal representative. Wrongful death damages in Mississippi can cover the deceased’s medical and funeral expenses, the income they can no longer earn, the pain they suffered before they passed, and their survivors’ loss of companionship.

How Long Do You Have to File a Pedestrian Accident Lawsuit in MS?

Under most circumstances, Mississippi’s statute of limitations on personal injury claims (Miss. Code § 15-1-49(1)) gives you three (3) years from the date of a pedestrian accident to file suit against the at-fault parties. While certain things can extend this deadline, it’s best not to delay, as doing so could cost you your right to compensation.

Contact an Experienced Gulfport Pedestrian Accident Attorney Today

HRRF Injury Attorneys is proud to serve the residents of Gulfport and the surrounding region. If you were hit by a motor vehicle and need help pursuing justice, contact us today for a free, no-pressure, fully confidential consultation at (228) 872-8752 or contact us online. A Mississippi Gulf Coast pedestrian accident attorney can meet with you, answer your questions, and advise you on your options at no cost or obligation.