Missy Wigginton
Hello friends and family, I am Missy Wigginton, also known as Mama Justice. When meeting me, some people ask me how I got my name....
View ProfileBiloxi Car Accident Lawyer
If you’ve been injured in a car accident in the Biloxi area and you believe another driver was at fault, contact MW Law Firm – Mama Justice today for a free case review.
Car accidents are extremely upsetting, even when they are minor. The experience of colliding with another vehicle on the road is traumatic and terrifying. There is a reason why car wrecks are so unsettling to us emotionally: hundreds of people are killed every year in Mississippi car accidents alone, and several thousand more are seriously injured. According to statistics from the Mississippi Department of Transportation, there were almost 700 car accident fatalities statewide in 2015. Everytime we get behind the wheel, we know we are putting our lives at risk.
To add insult to injury, car wrecks are largely preventable. Many car wrecks are caused by drivers making bad choices, including driving while distracted by their phones, or intoxicated. When a driver disregards traffic laws or drives carelessly or recklessly, they are being negligent. Negligent drivers have to be held responsible for the accidents and subsequent damages they cause. In doing so, we ensure that Mississippi roadways are safer for all who use them.
The other reason why we must hold negligent drivers responsible is because their actions cause damage. Getting injured in a car wreck or worse, losing a loved one in a fatal accident, is an extremely expensive situation to find yourself in. From medical treatment to lost wages, the costs pile up so fast you may begin to feel you are drowning in bills.
The laws in Biloxi and across our state of Mississippi allow those injured in a car accident to seek compensation for the damages they have faced. You have the right to sue to collect reimbursement for medical expenses, lost wages, therapy, and sometimes even less quantifiable damages such as pain and suffering.
The Biloxi car accident lawyers at MW Law Firm – Mama Justice are committed to holding negligent drivers accountable for the injuries and losses they cause. If you think you have a case and would like to speak to someone on our team, give us a call. We offer free consultations.
Top Causes of Car Accidents in the United States
It is not unusual for several different factors to lead to a car crash. This is why sometimes car accident cases can become complicated. The most common negligent behaviors that lead to serious car accidents in the United States are:
- Not Following the Rules of the Road: An overwhelming majority of car accidents in the United States are caused by motorists who do not adhere to the rules of the road, such as the speed limit. When a motorist drives at reckless speeds, fails to use their turn indicators, or fails to give another driver or a pedestrian the right-of-way, their conduct is considered negligent.
- Driving Under the Influence: According to data published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were more than 11,600 fatalities caused by car accidents in which at least one driver was under the influence of alcohol in 2020. This accounts for about 30% of all car accident fatalities in the United States in that year. Driving while intoxicated is not only a crime, but it is 100% avoidable. There is absolutely no justifiable reason for anyone to get behind the wheel when they have been drinking.
- Driving While Distracted: Smartphones and other electronic devices are a major part of everyone’s lives nowadays. When a driver decides to post to social media, add a song to a playlist, or send a text to a friend while they are operating a motor vehicle, they are making a very dangerous choice. Even though these tasks only take a couple of seconds, that is all it takes to cause a serious accident. Other forms of distraction, such as eating, drinking, talking to a passenger, reaching for a fallen object, and driving while tired, also cause a great deal of our nation’s car accidents.
The one thing that all three of these factors have in common is that they are preventable. To be clear, there are rare occasions where a collision is truly unavoidable. More often than not, however, car accidents are the result of negligent conduct on the part of at least one driver.
Mississippi Car Insurance
State law requires all Mississippi drivers to carry liability insurance. This is what is used to compensate the victim should the driver be responsible for causing an accident. In Mississippi, the policy minimums under the law include $25,000 per person for bodily injury, $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $25,000 for property damage. Although these amounts make it legal for you to drive and might be sufficient to cover a minor injury, in a case of serious injury with long-term effects on the victim, they are woefully inadequate to cover the medical expenses.
Depending on its severity, a car accident can cause long-term or even permanent injuries that require long-term or life long care and involve a great deal of pain and suffering. These injuries include spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, internal organ damage, compound fractures, and severe burns.
If you are badly injured in a car accident, our Biloxi car accident lawyers will work hard to ensure that you receive the maximum amount of financial compensation for your injuries and other damages. We want to help ease the burden of the legal journey you must go on to get the compensation you need and are entitled to. Our team will handle your claim so you can focus on healing and moving on with your life.
Be aware that insurance adjusters are highly trained negotiators who will try their best to reduce the amount of your payout by downplaying the severity of the accident or your injuries. They could even try to say that the car accident was not the cause of your injuries and you are lying. Remember, after you are injured in a car accident, the insurance company is worried about its bottom line, not your well-being. This is why it is so important to make sure you have a Biloxi car accident lawyer representing you.
It is possible that the other driver’s insurance carrier will claim that their client was not liable for the crash. This common strategy involves the insurer trying to shift as much of the blame as possible onto you. Insurance adjusters will do anything in their power to save their employer money after a policyholder is involved in an accident.