Car Accident Lawyers In Southaven, Mississippi

Crashes Caused by Distractions

Driving while distracted is another commonly reported factor involved in crashes across Southaven. Statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show that driving while distracted can be just as dangerous as operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. When it comes to distractions, it is important to recognize the three forms of distractions that impact drivers across our state. These include:

Visual distractions

These distractions are objects that take the attention of drivers off the road ahead. When drivers fail to remain alert of the road ahead, it can result in them crashing into other vehicles, objects, and people nearby.

Manual distractions

This type of distraction requires drivers to take their hands off the steering wheel. When drivers engage in tasks that use their hands, and remove them from the wheel, their ability to maintain control over their vehicles is drastically impacted.

Cognitive distractions

The third category of distraction is cognitive distraction. These distractions are anything that can take your mind and attention off the road ahead. Some people identify cognitive distractions as daydreams and other thoughts that remove the concentration of the driver from the road ahead.

It is important that drivers remain focused on the roadway at all times. Unfortunately, there are many actions that drivers engage in while operating their vehicles that create an unsafe environment for others. These include:

Texting
Talking on the phone
Checking social media accounts
Watching videos
Eating or drinking
Taking pictures/recording videos
Talking and interacting with other people in the vehicle
Applying makeup or doing their hair
Changing the radio station
Reading a map or using a GPS
Sending or receiving emails

If you have been injured in an accident as a result of a distracted driver, you may have legal options available to help you recover compensation that you can use for medical care and more.

Aggressive Driving Behaviors

Another leading cause of crashes in Southaven is aggressive driving. We see many people make hasty decisions while operating their vehicles that result in life-changing accidents. Some of the most commonly reported aggressive driving actions include:

Changing lanes too quickly
Following too closely/tailgating
Changing lanes without signaling
Blocking lanes
Speeding
Illegal turns
Wrong-way drivers
Excessive horn use
Stopping traffic for no reason
Making inappropriate hand gestures
Improper parking

Aggressive drivers continue to be an issue in Southaven and all across the state of Mississippi. Should you be harmed in a crash as a result of these or other acts of aggression, reach out to our car accident lawyers in Southaven as soon as possible.

Types of Car Accidents in Southaven, Mississippi

No two motor vehicle accidents are exactly the same. Given the fact that crashes can take place for a variety of reasons, it is no surprise that there are various types of crashes that impact drivers. Some of the most common types of car accidents we see in Southaven include:

Intersection accidents
Sideswipe accidents
Highway construction accidents
Drunk driving accidents
Head-on collisions
Side-impact accidents (T-bone crashes)
Rollover accidents
Rear-end accidents
Uninsured motorist claims / hit-and-run accidents
Uber and Lyft accidents

If you are harmed in a motor vehicle accident, it is crucial that you reach out to a car accident lawyer in Southaven as soon as possible. Our lawyers at Mama Justice will get started immediately on investigating your accident to determine what legal options are available for you moving forward.

Injured as a Result of Inadequate Security

Property owners are required to ensure their property is safe for guests. This can include implementing various security measures to ensure others are not harmed while visiting your property. Business owners in particular have a duty to keep guests from being harmed by foreseeable criminal activities. An attack can result in severe and life-threatening injuries, and sometimes death. Unfortunately, we see frequently people harmed by others in Southaven due to inadequate security. Some of the leading causes of these incidents include:

Not performing employee background checks before hiring workers
Not complying with industry safety standards
Not having adequate locks on the premises
Not having secure entrances and exits
A lack of surveillance cameras
Not having adequate lighting in dark areas
Not having a security alarm system
Inadequate crowd controls
Not having security personnel on-site

When home and business owners fail to ensure adequate security measures are in place, guests are at an increased risk of being harmed. Some of the most common accidents resulting from inadequate security include:

Shooting
Stabbing
Sexual assault
Physical assault
Murder

If you were injured in any such incident on another person’s property due to inadequate security, or your loved one lost their life, you may have legal options available to help you move forward. Our lawyers at Mama Justice are available to meet with you and discuss the legal options that may be available for you.

Most Common Car Crash Injuries

No one is able to predict the extent of damages crashes can have. In many instances, victims involved in crashes are left with serious injuries that demand immediate medical care. Some of the most common injuries victims of accidents are left with include:

Neck and soft tissue injuries
Back injuries
Spinal cord injuries
The loss of limbs
Broken bones and compound fractures
Head trauma
Herniated discs
Amputations
Chest injuries
Broken or displaced ribs
Internal organ damage
Lacerations and abrasions
Torn ligaments
Damaged pelvis
Traumatic brain injuries
Cuts, scrapes, lacerations
Paralysis (paraplegia and quadriplegia)
Traumatic brain injuries
Disfigurements

Although there have been numerous advancements in medicine that allow victims to go through various treatments to heal from their injuries, going through surgery, being hospitalized, and other treatments are extremely expensive. Furthermore, many treatments come without any guarantee of a full recovery.

In addition to dealing with physical injuries, many victims endure overwhelming trauma. The mental and emotional consequences of crashes can make it difficult to function. In many instances, victims have to go through counseling or take medication to help cope with stress, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder.

The impacts of crashes expand beyond the mental and physical. There are numerous financial burdens that victims and their families have to deal with. These include:

The costs of medical care, surgery, and hospitalization
The costs of therapy, rehabilitation, and other long-term expenses
Dealing with lost wages due to taking time off work to recover
Lost earning capacity and the loss of benefits from being forced out of work permanently
Vehicle repair costs or the costs to replace your vehicle
Pain and suffering
Loss of consortium
Permanent scarring and disfigurement
Loss of enjoyment of life

Thankfully, you do not have to move forward and deal with all of these issues on your own. Our Southaven personal injury lawyers at Mama Justice will stand by your side as we fight to get you full and timely compensation to help alleviate the expenses you face moving forward.

Car Insurance Coverage in Mississippi

The state of Mississippi requires all drivers to carry liability insurance. Each insurance policy is designed to compensate individuals who are harmed in crashes due to the actions of the policyholder. The state minimums include: up to:

$25,000 coverage for personal injury
$50,000 coverage for property damage per accident
Up to $25,000 in property damage per accident

Although this may seem like a lot of money, medical expenses can add up quickly – especially when people are seriously injured. Accidents that result in spinal cord injuries and even traumatic brain injuries can result in hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical expenses.

Liability coverage in Mississippi is designed to alleviate the impacts of lost wages, injuries, and pain and suffering caused by the policyholder to another driver or their passengers.

Our state offers various optional car insurance coverage as well. These coverages include:

Collision coverage

This policy covers damages to your vehicle if you collide with another vehicle or object.

Comprehensive coverage

These plans provide coverage for your vehicle from non-collision perils, such as weather damage or theft.

Medical payments

This coverage will help cover the costs of medical expenses for people in your vehicle at the time of your crash, regardless of who is at fault.

Roadside assistance

This coverage can help by reimbursing the cost of towing fees, overnight stays, and fixing flat tires.

Rental car reimbursement

This coverage option will help you get a rental car paid for should you be in an accident that leaves you without a vehicle during repairs.

Uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage

These policies can help cover the accumulated costs after an accident with a driver who is underinsured or not insured at the time of the crash.

Uninsured motorist property damage

Although these policies can be extremely beneficial, they are not mandatory in Mississippi. It is important that you consult with a skilled personal injury lawyer in Southaven following your accident to determine what coverage is available for you.

You’ve Been in a Crash. Now What?

The time immediately following a collision can be overwhelming. It is important that you remain focused and take various steps to ensure you are in the best position possible to get justice.

First, you must report the accident immediately to local law enforcement. Having an officer respond to the crash and write a report surrounding the accident can help build a strong case. Even though some accidents do not require the police to be notified, it is strongly advised to alert the police in case someone suffers injuries with a delayed onset.

Next, you will want to exchange insurance information with the other drivers involved. Write down their name, address, and phone number. Obtain their driver’s license number, the insurance company and policy information, and the information of the owner of the vehicle. Finally, you will want to make a note of the make, model, and color of the car and any names on the vehicles if they are company-owned.

Use your phone to document the accident. Whenever possible, take pictures of the scene, the vehicles involved, and all subsequent damage. You will want to take pictures of where the accident occurred and any contributing factors. Take pictures of your injuries as well.

Gather contact information for people who witnessed the accident. These witnesses can provide statements in support of your claim later on, which can help you prevail when filing a personal injury lawsuit.

You will want to seek medical attention right away. Even if you do not feel like you are injured, it is important that you undergo a medical exam. You may have internal organ damage and other injuries with a delayed onset of symptoms.

Finally, do not sign any documents before consulting with a car accident lawyer. Insurance companies will do everything in their power to convince you to accept a minimum settlement following your crash. Accepting a settlement can prevent you from recovering full and timely compensation for your injuries and damages later on.

Our lawyers at Mama Justice are available to speak with you 24/7 about your case and to schedule a free evaluation to discuss the legal options available for you. We will handle the insurance companies on your behalf and demand that they pay you the full amount of compensation that you need and rightfully deserve after being harmed.

Get Help Navigating Your Claim

Our Southaven car accident attorneys at Mama Justice will help you determine the cause of your crash. When it comes to prevailing in your case, liability ultimately depends on fault. It can be difficult to identify the party or parties that are responsible for your crash. For this reason, our lawyers will investigate your crash and help you understand why and how it occurred. Our lawyers will identify all parties who are responsible for your injuries and damages and we will hold them accountable.

When it comes to identifying leading factors of crashes, there are three main causes. These include:

Driver error or negligence

This broad term applies to various actions that can fall under the category of negligence. In general, drivers are negligent when they engage in actions that are not considered reasonable while operating their vehicles. This includes drivers who speed, fail to yield the right of way, text while driving, or become distracted by other means.

Poor road conditions

There are instances where poor road conditions result in life-changing crashes. These incidents can be caused by broken roads, a lack of secure guardrails, poor weather conditions, inadequate signage, potholes, and debris in the road.

Vehicle malfunction

There are instances where crashes are caused by part malfunctions. Defects that lead to accidents can include issues with the ignition switches, steering, brakes, tires, and more. When vehicle collisions are caused by defects and malfunctions, there are several parties who can be held liable. A thorough investigation is imperative in order to get justice.

Mississippi is a fault base state. It also maintains a pure comparative negligence compensation system. In general, comparative negligence assigns each party to an accident some degree of fault. After it is determined what percentage of fault each party contributed to the crash, damages are awarded in a manner that reflects the findings.

In a pure comparative negligence system, a person who is harmed in a crash may be able to bring a claim for injuries resulting from a crash even if they are found to be mostly responsible. In Mississippi, fault can be used as a partial defense when arguing liability. Defendants often argue fault because it can reduce the amount of damages they are responsible to pay.

Our lawyers are well-versed in personal injury laws in Mississippi. We will conduct a thorough investigation of your crash and create the strongest case possible to prove the defendant is at fault and should be held accountable. Not only will we perform a thorough investigation of your accident, but we will hire experts who can help build your case. Our connections to some of the top forensics experts and reconstruction experts in Mississippi allow our team to put forth the clearest and most convincing evidence in support of our client’s claims.

Contact a Southaven Car Accident Lawyer Today

The impacts of a motor vehicle accident are far-reaching. Not only are victims left with painful physical and emotional injuries, but the financial consequences can make it nearly impossible to move forward. Being forced out of work does not mean that your bills are going to stop. No matter what type of severe injuries you are left with after your accident, you need the guidance of a Southaven car accident lawyer as quickly as possible.

Our lawyers at Mama Justice are committed to treating every client we work with as if they were part of our family. We are committed to helping our clients achieve their goals and we work to empower each person we work with so they are able to take control of their situation.

We understand that most victims feel incredibly overwhelmed after being hurt in a car accident. We recognize the difficulties that victims and their families face. For this reason, we remain by our client’s side every step of the way and advocate on their behalf. We guide our clients through all the technicalities and help them understand where they stand.

Our lawyers are available to meet with you at your earliest convenience to discuss your case and to help you move forward and get justice. We offer free, no-obligation consultations in Southaven or any of our thirteen offices across Mississippi. Contact our car accident attorneys today by calling (662) 262-6264.

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