Car Wreck Lawyers in Jackson, MS

Injured in a Car Accident in Mississippi? We Can Help!

Thousands of Mississippi residents are injured in car wrecks each year, leaving them to deal with with massive medical bills and the uncertainty of where to turn for help. In 2018, Mississippi was ranked by the National Safety Council as the deadliest state in the nation to drive a car with 22.2 deaths for every 100,000 people.

Our Jackson car accident attorneys at ‘Maggio | Thompson, LLP take pride in providing compassionate counsel, aggressive representation, and maximum results for our clients. Regardless of whether your accident was a fender-bender or a catastrophic collision, we are here to provide answers and guidance moving forward.

‘Maggio | Thompson, LLP wants to be a resource for the people that have been affected by car accidents. Having successfully litigated thousands of accident cases in Jackson and throughout Mississippi, we know the long-term impact that a car wreck can have on individuals and their families.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a car wreck, or if you have questions that have not been answered, visit our car accident FAQ page and then call us at (601) 265-6869 for a free consultation!

On This Page:

• Common Causes of Car Wrecks in Jackson, Mississippi
• Common Types of Car Accidents
• What to do After a Car Wreck
• Who Is Liable After a Car Crash in Mississippi?
• Proving Liability After a Car Accident
• Common Car Accident-Related Injuries
• Dealing With The Insurance Company
• Recovering Damages after a Car Accident

What Are the Common Causes of Car Wrecks in Jackson, Mississippi?

Every auto accident is unique and may have been caused by one or many factors. Some stem from driver negligence, while others may be outside of a driver’s control.

Identifying the cause of the accident is an essential part of handling your claim, as this will help us determine who should be held liable (legally responsible) for your injuries or losses. Typically, the at-fault party’s insurance provider will pay damages, but we must negotiate or litigate for a fair settlement or award.

The following are potential causes of car accidents:

• Driver error or negligence
• Failure to properly service or maintain a vehicle
• Aggressive driving and road rage
• Driver inexperience
• Fatigue/falling asleep at the wheel
• Passenger distraction
• Alcohol or drug use
• Eating or drinking
• Failure to yield the right of way
• Following too closely (tailgating)
• Texting/Cell-phone use
• Unsafe lane change
• Speeding
• Turning improperly
• Improper passing or lane use
• Defective auto parts

There are many other reasons that an accident can occur, which is why you need to hire an experienced car accident lawyer to thoroughly investigate your case.

What Are the Most Common Types of Car Accidents?

Car accidents can occur under a wide range of circumstances and result in varying injuries. Knowing the specific accident type that applies to your case can help you get a better understanding of who may be liable for your injuries.

Some of the most common types of car accidents include:

• Hit and run accidents: Drivers in Mississippi have a responsibility to stop, render aid, and exchange information with all parties after being involved in an auto accident resulting in injury, death, or property damage. Fleeing the scene of an accident is a crime known as a "hit and run."
• Rear-end accidents: Rear-end crashes are often caused by tailgating or driver inattention and happen when the front of one car crashes into another from behind. Rear-end accidents are among the most common accidents in the United States. While their impact is rarely fatal, these types of crashes can still result in severe injuries, particularly whiplash.
• Drunk driving accidents: It is illegal and highly dangerous to operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Intoxicated drivers can be held civilly and criminally liable for any injuries or damages they cause.
• Head-on collisions: A head-on collision occurs when the fronts of two vehicles collide. Head-on collisions are often devastating and often occur due to driver negligence, such as when a motorist falls asleep at the wheel on a two-lane highway and drifts into the path of oncoming traffic.
• Uber & Lyft accidents: If you or a loved one has been injured while riding as an Uber or Lyft passenger, whether it be caused by the negligence of the rideshare driver themselves or another party, you are entitled to receive compensation.
• Roadway defects: Not all crashes are caused by driver negligence. Local municipalities can sometimes be held liable for collisions caused by dangerously designed or poorly maintained roadways.

What to do After a Car Wreck

First and foremost, you should check yourself and others for injuries and receive immediate medical attention.

Next, you should complete the following:

• Get the other involved drivers’ personal and insurance information

• Reach out to the police and make sure to fill out a police report and request a copy

• Document the scene of the accident by taking photographs and notes. Be sure to include any and all damage to your vehicle and any injuries sustained.

• Gather eyewitness statements if possible

• Get in contact with your insurance company and inform them of the auto accident

• And reach out to an experienced Jackson, MI car wreck attorney

Who Is Liable After a Car Crash in Mississippi?

When you suffer injuries in a crash, it becomes vital to pursue compensation for the damages you sustain as a result. Unfortunately, not everyone recognizes their rights. Even more, you may not realize who is liable for the damages you sustain.

Several parties can play a role in your crash, which is why it’s so vital to gather evidence in the aftermath. Below, we’ll help you understand the different parties you can hold accountable and what you need to do after a collision to protect your rights.

When Can You Hold the Other Driver Accountable for a Car Accident?

In most situations, you can hold the other negligent driver (or drivers) accountable for the crash. To do so, you must show that the other driver did something to cause the accident and your subsequent injuries.

Some of the most common reasons you may hold another driver accountable include:

• The other driver was intoxicated
• The other driver was texting or distracted
• The other driver was fatigued or fell asleep at the wheel
• The other driver failed to maintain his or her vehicle

The evidence you gather after a crash can help you hold someone accountable, especially with a lawyer present.

When Can You Hold a Manufacturer Accountable for a Car Wreck?

In some instances, you may be able to hold an auto part manufacturer accountable. Some manufacturers fail to create safe products, which can create many dangers on the road. Unfortunately, products can fail when manufacturers don’t prioritize safety, leading to another element of liability.

You can hold a manufacturer accountable in cases involving defective brakes, defective tires, and other problems. Proving a defective part was the cause of the accident can be difficult, though, so be sure to work with legal professionals who can help build your case.

How to Prove Liability After a Car Accident

After a car accident, pursuing compensation should be a top priority — and it helps to know how to prove liability following a crash. The following four factors play a significant role in helping you get the compensation you deserve.

Generally speaking, to prevail in a Mississippi car accident case, you must be able to prove the following elements:

• Duty of Care: Every driver has a duty of care. They must drive safely to keep others from experiencing harm in a possible crash. A duty of care means the driver must follow laws, act with other’s safety in mind, and avoid any negligent acts that could cause a severe collision.

• Breach: A negligent action is a breach of the driver’s duty of care. For instance, if a driver drinks and drives, they breach their duty of care. Similarly, the driver can also breach their duty of care when they text and drive, speed, or otherwise act with carelessness.

• Causation: To file a claim or lawsuit against someone, you must show that their negligent action was the cause of the crash. Unfortunately, causation can be difficult to prove sometimes, especially when other factors can cause a driver to crash. Therefore, it is essential to have a lawyer on your side to help prove causation.

• Damages: Finally, the last part of seeking compensation requires you to show that you suffered damages because of someone else’s actions. If you can bring all factors together and show you sustained severe injuries, you can build a successful claim.

Common Car Accident-Related Injuries

In a negligence-related accident, you can suffer significant injuries that lead to long-term problems. Unfortunately, car accidents can lead to some of the most catastrophic injuries.

In these cases, you should know what they are, how they happen, and how they impact your claim.

• Brain / head injuries: A car accident can easily lead to a head injury or traumatic brain injury because the impact can cause a significant jolt. The impact may lead to your head hitting the vehicle’s frame, steering wheel, or dashboard, leading to long-term trauma.
• Back / spine injuries: Back and spine injuries can be some of the worst when they are the most severe. For instance, a severe back injury can harm your spinal cord. If your nerves in your spinal cord experience damage, it can lead to paralysis. In some situations, you may lose functionality in your lower limbs. However, in the worst-case scenario, you can suffer quadriplegia, which impacts all four limbs.
• Neck injuries: A neck injury in a car accident is most commonly referred to as whiplash. It is one of the more common injuries because it can happen in nearly any kind of accident. The rapid movement of your head from one direction to the next can lead to long-term and significant problems.
• Broken bones: Most people tense up when they expect an accident. Unfortunately, this often leads to people suffering significant harm, including broken bones. It’s better to relax—as hard as it may seem—because your body will be less vulnerable.

Any injury you sustain should be compensated when someone else’s actions cause you harm. You need someone on your side who can help you recognize your rights through some of the more complicated legal situations.

Dealing With The Insurance Company

Insurance companies are not necessarily interested in protecting your interests. They have one goal in mind: saving money. Without an experienced attorney, the insurance company will almost always try to take every advantage they can.

If you are not represented by an attorney, the insurance company will most likely try to:

• Take a recorded statement. The insurance company may ask you to make a recorded statement in an attempt to get you to say something that may damage your claim. Even innocent statements can be construed in a manner that you never intended.
• Make a lowball settlement offer. The insurance company may offer you a quick check to settle your case, but that check may be for a small percentage of what your case is actually worth. Once you settle your claim, you are out of luck, even if your injuries turn out to be more serious than you thought.
• Unreasonably delay your claim/payment. Insurance companies will drag their feet, hoping that you will either accept less than your claim is worth or do something that will damage your case, such as discontinue medical treatment. They understand the dire situation that you may be in, and the worst part is they will absolutely attempt to capitalize on your misfortune.

What Damages Can You Recover After a Car Accident in Jackson, Mississippi?

If you’ve been injured in a car accident, recovering fair compensation is essential if you are to move on with your life. Serving Jackson and the entire state, our attorneys will work to accurately assess the losses you have experienced and may experience in the future.

There are typically three primary categories of compensation for auto accident claims:

• Medical expenses and costs
• Lost wages
• Pain and suffering

You may also be entitled to attorneys’ fees and costs, disfigurement, embarrassment, loss of consortium, expert fees, loss of use of your vehicle, diminished value of your vehicle, and any other compensatory damage that can be causally linked to your accident.

If you were injured in an employer’s vehicle, you might also be eligible for workers’ compensation. Give our car accident lawyer in Jackson a call at (601) 265-6869 to get started on your case.