If your loved one has lost their life in an accident, another person’s negligence, you may have legal options available. Contact the Southaven wrongful death lawyers at Mama Justice as soon as possible to get justice.
If your loved one died because of someone else’s negligence in Southaven, Mississippi law generally gives you three years to file a wrongful death claim, or one year for an intentional act. A Southaven wrongful death lawyer at Mama Justice can investigate what happened and pursue compensation for your family. Call 24/7 for a free consultation.
Accidents resulting in death take place far too often in Southaven. Every year, hundreds of people in our state end up passing away due to motor vehicle accidents and thousands more are fatally injured while on the job, visiting businesses and homes across Mississippi, and while engaging in various activities.
There are few things worse than experiencing the sudden and unexpected loss of a loved one. Learning that your loved one has died as a result of another person’s actions just makes the situation even more difficult. Families who lose loved ones due to the reckless, negligent, and malicious actions of others often have legal options available to help them move forward.
Although the last thing you may want to do is pursue legal action against at-fault parties, it is important that you seek the assistance of our wrongful death lawyers in Southaven as soon as possible. Our lawyers can fight to ensure your legal rights are protected.
The attorneys at Mama Justice have decades of experience helping bereaved families in Southaven and across the state of Mississippi get justice for their loved ones after they lose their lives due to the actions of others. We provide aggressive and effective representation to ensure wrongdoers are held accountable.
If your loved one has lost their life in an accident, do not hesitate to reach out to our wrongful death lawyers in Mississippi as soon as possible. We are available to meet with you at your earliest convenience to discuss your case.
What is a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?
In the state of Mississippi, a wrongful death is a death that occurs when one person dies as a result of the legal fault of another person or entity. Generally, this includes deaths caused by:
- Any breach of a product’s warranty of fitness
- Any real, negligent, or wrongful omission
- Any real, negligent, or wrongful act
- Any unsafe appliances or machinery
Once a person dies as a result of another person’s reckless, negligent, or malicious actions, entitled parties are able to file legal claims against them to hold them to account.
In order to prevail, claimants must demonstrate that negligence existed at the time of the accident. This includes proving various factors, including:
- The death of a human being occurred
- The death was caused by the negligence of the defendant or as a result of an intentional act to cause harm
- The claimant suffered monetary injury as a result of the death
- The person pursuing legal action is qualified to do so
There are various parties who can file wrongful death claims after enduring the loss of a loved one. In Mississippi, this includes:
- The spouse of the decedent
- The parents of the decedent
- The children and any other descendants of children of the decedent (stepchildren, adopted children, etc.)
- Siblings of the deceased victim
Mississippi’s right to bring this type of claim comes from the state’s wrongful death statute.
Additionally, the estate’s personal representative can also pursue a wrongful death action against the negligent party. It is important that you review your loved one’s will to see if they had personally appointed someone to represent their estate.
Our wrongful death lawyers in Southaven can meet with you at your earliest convenience to help you determine if someone was named to represent your loved one’s estate.
Regardless of whether you file a wrongful death lawsuit initially, you can join the lawsuit once it is filed. Our lawyers can help you file the paperwork with the court to ask permission to join the case so you can get justice.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Wrongful Death in Southaven?
A wrongful death claim can be filed against any person, business, or entity whose negligence or wrongdoing caused your loved one’s death. Depending on how the accident happened, liability may fall on more than one party.
Common parties who can be held responsible in a Southaven wrongful death case include:
- A negligent driver who caused a car, truck, or motorcycle crash
- A trucking company that failed to properly train or supervise its drivers
- An employer whose unsafe workplace led to a fatal on-the-job accident
- A property owner or business that failed to keep its premises safe
- A nursing home or care facility that neglected or abused a resident
- A manufacturer whose defective product caused a fatal injury
Our Southaven wrongful death lawyers investigate every angle of your loved one’s accident to identify each party who bears responsibility, so your family does not miss out on compensation because one wrongdoer was overlooked.
How Long Do I Have to File a Wrongful Death Claim in Southaven, Mississippi?
It is important to be aware of the time in which you have to file a wrongful death claim after losing a loved one. There are two separate time limits that guide claims in Mississippi. These time limits depend on the cause of death. These include:
- A one-year statute of limitations: If a person lost their life as a result of an intentional act, such as a shooting, stabbing, or another intentional act, families have only one year to file a claim.
- A three-year statute of limitations: If a victim lost their life as a result of another person’s negligence, such as in a car accident or an accident on the job, families have a period of up to three years from the date of death to take legal action.
Although these timelines do provide families with adequate time to file a legal claim, it is best to file a claim as soon as possible. Waiting to protect your legal rights can result in lost evidence, the loss of witnesses, and other important types of evidence and information that are essential to your case.
What Are the Leading Causes of Wrongful Death in Southaven?
A person can lose their life in an accident due to a variety of reasons. Unfortunately, there are various types of accidents that we see claim the lives of victims more often than others. These include:
Car Accidents
When drivers enter the roadway without the consideration of others, they put their lives at risk. We see many people lose their lives in car accidents caused by drivers who are distracted, talking on their cellphones, or engaging in other irresponsible acts while behind the wheel. Drunk driving accidents account for a significant number of fatal crashes each year. Should your family lose a loved one as a result of an accident, our Mississippi car accident lawyers can help you get the justice you deserve.
Bus Accidents
Buses have been around for decades as a reliable method of transportation in Southaven and across Mississippi. The ability to safely operate these vehicles is imperative, especially when carrying a lot of passengers. Unfortunately, we see many people lose their lives in bus accidents due to negligent hiring practices, distracted drivers, impaired drivers, inadequate maintenance of vehicles, and various other acts of negligence.
Semi-Truck Accidents
Accidents involving commercial vehicles claim the lives of more than 4,000 people across the United States each year. Commercial vehicle drivers are required to meet tight deadlines, which often causes them to engage in actions that can be dangerous. When drivers remain on the roadway for too many hours, they can become drowsy. Some drivers abuse over-the-counter drugs to stay awake. These and other actions continue to claim the lives of innocent people at an alarming rate.
Motorcycle Accidents
Every year, motorcycle accidents take the lives of more than 5,000 people across the country. The state of Mississippi is one of the top three states with the highest rate of motorcycle fatalities each year. Even though we have a helmet law in place to reduce the number of riders fatally injured in accidents, we continue to see victims lose their lives due to negligent drivers.
Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrian accidents take the lives of nearly 6,000 people across the United States annually. Pedestrians are completely unprotected during accidents. As a result, they are more likely to suffer severe injuries in accidents.
Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect
We place our loved ones in nursing homes when they require full-time care that we simply are unable to provide. Most of us choose nursing homes that we feel provide quality services. Although most care facilities are reliable and trustworthy, there are instances where patients are neglected and abused and end up paying the ultimate price.
Workers’ Comp Accidents
According to statistics, more than 5,300 people in the United States end up losing their lives while on the job. There are many instances where workers die as a result of malfunctioning equipment, inadequate training, assault, and improper training.
Premises Liability Accidents
Every year, tens of thousands of people lose their lives in slip and fall accidents, attacks, and other types of accidents while visiting homes and businesses across the United States. We see many families affected by fatal premises liability accidents right here in Southaven. When property owners are negligent in the care and maintenance of their properties, they should be held liable.
In many instances, wrongful deaths can be attributed to some type of negligent act. If your loved one has lost their life in an accident, our lawyers can meet with you at your earliest convenience to discuss the potential legal options available to help your family get justice.
What Should I Do After Losing a Loved One in a Southaven Accident?
Losing a loved one suddenly is overwhelming, and it is normal not to know what to do next. These steps can help protect your family’s legal rights while you grieve:
- Request a copy of the police or incident report as soon as it becomes available.
- Keep any medical records, bills, or a death certificate related to the accident.
- Avoid giving a recorded statement to an insurance company before speaking with an attorney.
- Hold onto any photos, witness names, or other evidence connected to the accident.
- Confirm whether your loved one named a personal representative for their estate.
- Contact a Southaven wrongful death lawyer as soon as you are able, since evidence and witness memories fade quickly.
Mama Justice can help your family through each of these steps and handle the legal work so you can focus on your family.
What Compensation Can My Family Recover in a Southaven Wrongful Death Claim?
Following the loss of a loved one, you may be able to pursue a wrongful death claim to recover compensation for various damages you face. In general, entitled parties can receive compensation to help alleviate both economic and non-economic damages they face after enduring the loss of a loved one. Our lawyers at Mama Justice will help you get the maximum amount of compensation for damages, such as:
- Lost earnings and other income/benefits
- The loss of inheritance
- Funeral expenses
- Medical costs
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of consortium
- Burial expenses
In some instances, surviving parties may be entitled to punitive damages as well. These damages are awarded to victims as a form of punishment toward the defendant. Our wrongful death lawyers in Southaven will fight to help you maximize the amount of punitive damages by proving to the court that the defendant engaged in wanton negligence.
Frequently Asked Questions About Southaven Wrongful Death Claims
How long do I have to file a wrongful death claim in Southaven, Mississippi?
In Mississippi, you generally have three years from the date of death to file a wrongful death claim if the death was caused by negligence, or one year if it resulted from an intentional act. Deadlines vary by claim type, so confirm yours with a Southaven wrongful death attorney as soon as possible.
Who can file a wrongful death lawsuit in Mississippi?
Mississippi law allows the spouse, parents, children, and siblings of the deceased to file a wrongful death claim, along with the personal representative of the deceased’s estate. A Southaven wrongful death lawyer can help you determine who in your family is entitled to file.
What compensation can my family recover in a Southaven wrongful death claim?
Families may be able to recover compensation for lost earnings and benefits, loss of inheritance, funeral and burial expenses, medical costs, pain and suffering, loss of companionship, and in some cases punitive damages. There is no set amount; your recovery depends on the facts of your case.
Who can be held liable for my loved one’s wrongful death?
Liability depends on how the accident happened. It could fall on a negligent driver, an employer, a property owner, a nursing home, a product manufacturer, or another party whose negligence contributed to your loved one’s death.
What if my loved one was partly at fault for the accident?
Mississippi follows a pure comparative fault rule, which means your family can still recover compensation even if your loved one was partly at fault. Any compensation awarded is simply reduced by their percentage of fault.
Do I need a lawyer to file a wrongful death claim in Southaven?
You are not required to hire one, but wrongful death cases involve strict deadlines, multiple potential defendants, and grieving family members who should not have to negotiate with insurance companies alone. A Southaven wrongful death lawyer can handle these details so your family can focus on healing.
How much does it cost to hire a Southaven wrongful death lawyer?
Mama Justice works on a contingency fee basis, so there is no upfront cost and no fee unless we win your case. Your initial consultation is always free and confidential.
Written by the Mama Justice legal team. Legally reviewed by Missy Wigginton, Founding Attorney (“Mama Justice”). Last reviewed: September 28, 2026.
Mama Justice Will Fight For You
The sudden loss of a loved one is not something that we can prepare for. It is one of the most devastating experiences a person can ever endure. When victims lose their lives due to the negligence, malicious, or wrongful deaths of others, it is only right that families get justice.
Our Southaven wrongful death lawyers remain by our client’s side every step of the way and we advocate to make sure their best interests are protected. We understand that the majority of families we work with have never filed a claim in civil court before. For this reason, we help guide our clients every step of the way so they understand what is taking place at all times.
Our lawyers are available to answer questions about your case and what to expect moving forward. The Mississippi wrongful death attorneys at Mama Justice provide high-quality representation for families in Southaven and throughout the entire state of Mississippi.
Contact our Southaven wrongful death injury law firm today by calling (888) 805-6010 to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation in Southaven or any of our thirteen offices across Mississippi.
