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Tupelo Car Accident Attorneys
If you have sustained injuries in a Mississippi car accident, contact the Tupelo car accident lawyers at Mama Justice to explore your legal options and right to compensation.
Dealing with physical injuries after a car accident can be extremely challenging. In addition to these painful injuries, most victims are forced to navigate serious financial difficulties too. Hospital bills, physical therapy, and car repair costs, combined with the economic setback of not being able to work leave victims feeling like they may never get their life back on track.
Anyone who has been injured in a car accident knows all too well the financial, mental, and physical strains that come with being the victim of someone else’s negligence. Many accident victims need help but are unsure of where to turn.
The Tupelo car accident attorneys at Mama Justice know first-hand what car accident victims go through. Our firm has been providing outstanding personal injury legal representation to the residents of Tupelo and surrounding areas for decades.
Our lawyers will conduct a thorough investigation into your case to ensure that you are fully and fairly compensated for your damages. We pride ourselves on offering compassionate and reliable assistance to injured victims and their families as they try to get through one of the most difficult times of their lives.
Our experienced Tupelo car accident attorneys treat every client the way they would want to be treated. We have a well-established track record that speaks for itself and has ensured our reputation as a renowned and respected law firm in the personal injury field.
Factors that Lead to Car Accidents
Even though every car accident is different, several elements are very common among them, including:
- Distracted drivers
- Speeding drivers
- Impaired drivers
- Reckless drivers
- Poor weather or road conditions
- Inexperienced drivers
- Tailgating
- Aggressive drivers
- Drowsy drivers
Studies have shown that as much as 34% of all fatal car accidents in Mississippi involve alcohol. State law says that alcohol cannot be sold to anyone already under the influence, so if a drunk driver caused your car accident, you might have a claim against a restaurant, bar, or other business if the impaired driver was sold alcohol.
Common Causes of Car Accidents
Negligence
Almost all car accidents are the result of another driver’s negligence. This means that the driver acted carelessly or failed to exercise the care and caution that a reasonable driver would have.
Distracted drivers are an example of someone negligent behind the wheel. If you think a negligent driver was at fault for your accident, reach out to a Tupelo car crash lawyer as soon as possible.
What is Negligence?
Negligence occurs when a driver behaves recklessly or carelessly. There are two types of negligence. The first is when a driver performs an unsafe action, placing others in danger. The second is when a driver fails to take action, putting others in danger. If a driver is acting dangerously or failing to do something to ensure safety, and someone is injured as a result, they can be found negligent and held liable for any resulting damages.
Examples of Driver Negligence
Many actions could be considered driver negligence. Some of the most common kinds of negligence include:
- Running a stop sign or stoplight
- Distracted driving
- Reckless driving
- Driving while intoxicated
- Speeding
- Aggressive lane changing
- Not obeying road signs and traffic signals
- Aggressive driving
- Failure to maintain the vehicle in a safe condition
If you were injured in a Tupelo car accident due to someone else’s negligence, you might have an uphill battle in front of you. From medical bills and lost income to insurance adjusters trying to devalue your claim, you need a strong advocate on your side.
The simplest way to get your life back after a Mississippi car accident is to speak with a personal injury attorney in Tupelo. Your attorney will handle the details of your case and ensure you understand your rights while you focus on your recovery.
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving has become an epidemic not only in Mississippi but throughout the United States. Research from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has shown that distracted driving is just as dangerous as drunk driving. Despite the statistics that clearly show the dangers of driving while distracted, people still continue to text and drive.
Texting isn’t the only form of distraction drivers are engaging in either. Numerous actions could be viewed as distracting when performed by someone behind the wheel.
Many different actions can be considered distracted driving, but all of them fall into one or more of three categories.
Manual Distractions: Manual distractions happen when you need to take your hands off the steering wheel to do something unrelated to the task of driving. This includes eating, changing the radio station, and adjusting your seat. Both hands need to be on the wheel to drive safely.
Visual Distractions: Visual distractions take place when you look at something other than the road or your mirrors. It is important to keep your eyes on the road. It only takes a fraction of a second for another driver to swerve into your lane or for a child to wander into the street. Accidents involving visual distractions can also cause drivers to drift across a centerline or median, causing head-on crashes and fatal pedestrian accidents.
Cognitive Distractions: Cognitive distractions involve anything that takes your mind off of driving. You shouldn’t be thinking about an incident that happened at work or daydreaming. You should be focused on the road in front of you and your driving.
Many distracted driving behaviors come under two or three of these categories. For example, texting while driving is so dangerous because it is a cognitive, visual, and manual distraction.
Examples of Distracted Driving
While there is no comprehensive list for what counts as distracted driving, some of the more common examples include:
- Personal grooming/applying make-up
- Making phone calls
- Texting
- Checking social media
- Sending and receiving emails
- Looking for an address
- Reading a map or using GPS
- Changing the radio station
- Watching a video
- Drinking or eating
- Interacting with passengers
- Taking pictures
Aggressive Driving
Aggressive drivers don’t make the news as often as drunk or distracted drivers, even though they are just as dangerous. Aggressive drivers endanger everyone on the roadway. If you or a family member was injured due to an aggressive driver, you should speak with a car accident lawyer in Tupelo as soon as possible.
What Is Aggressive Driving?
Many different behaviors could be labeled as aggressive driving. Almost any kind of driving that is done deliberately that puts others in danger is considered aggressive. Tailgating and speeding are two of the most common examples of aggressive driving. Both of these actions are deliberate on the part of the driver and present a danger to anyone on the road, including the offending driver.
Different Types of Aggressive Driving
There are many forms of aggressive driving. The most common types of aggressive driving are as follows:
- Lane blocking
- Excessive speed
- Following too closely
- Sudden lane changes with no signal
- Explicit hand gestures
- Aggressive or excessive horn use
- Improper parking
- Inappropriate use of headlights
- Stopping traffic
- Threatening eye contact
Car Accidents Caused by Manufacturing Defects
Over the years, we have all seen manufacturer defects ranging from faulty brakes and defective ignition switches to fatal airbag deployment. In addition to these manufacturing defects injuring and killing innocent victims all across the country, the manufacturers themselves did not immediately recall these faulty products when they learned about the risks they posed, leaving consumers in dangerous and potentially fatal situations.
In almost every car accident case, fault can be attributed to at least one person. Aggressive and distracted driving are two examples of easily attributable fault but what happens when neither driver seems to have been negligent? What if only one car was involved, and the driver was acting appropriately and safely? Sometimes accidents like these can be attributed to defective auto parts.
Defective Auto Parts
Defective auto parts can cause catastrophic and fatal car accidents. When these parts fail, especially those designed to keep vehicle occupants safe, drivers have a much greater risk of having a serious car accident.
There have been defective ignition switches that cause vehicles traveling at high speeds to lose power, disabling their steering and brakes. There have also been child car seats where the latches won’t open, trapping babies and small children in their seats during an emergency.
Different Kinds of Manufacturing Defects
Any car part has the potential to be defective, causing it to be dangerous. Some defective auto parts include:
- Defective ignition switches
- Exploding airbags
- Faulty tires
- Defective car seats
- Faulty seat belts
- Defective heated seats
- Collapsing seatbacks
Protecting Tupelo Consumers
Vehicle manufacturers and vehicle part manufacturers owe their customers a duty of care. Your vehicle should meet all safety standards and should not put you in jeopardy due to some kind of fault or defect.
If you think your accident was caused by a faulty part, you need to talk to a knowledgeable Tupelo car accident lawyer right away. These cases can be time-consuming and time-sensitive, and they often require extensive investigation. The sooner a Mississippi personal injury attorney reviews your case, the higher your chances for a successful outcome will be.
Hurt in a car accident in Tupelo, MS? Don’t go it alone. Call (888) 484-1476 to speak with our Tupelo auto accident attorney.
Types of Car Accidents
Car accidents can happen on any type of roadway, at any time of day, and the outcome is always unpredictable. People have walked away from major multi-vehicle accidents without a scratch while others suffer debilitating injuries in a fender-bender. Any car accident has the potential to cause serious injuries and fatalities but the most common injury-causing accidents include:
Chain Reaction Accidents: A chain reaction accident involves multiple vehicles. They usually occur when a distracted driver fails to slow down for stopped or slowed traffic. The distracted driver rear-ends the car in front of it, which rear-ends the next one, which rear-ends another. Not every driver involved in a chain reaction crash shares liability. Even if you drive safely and defensively, you can still be the victim of a chain reaction accident.
Interstate Accidents: Interstate accidents happen at dangerous and potentially lethal speeds. A serious accident can be caused by a driver going as slow as 20 miles per hour, far slower than the 70 miles per hour allowed on Mississippi highways. When you take into account speeding drivers, it’s no wonder that these kinds of accidents have one of the highest rates of injuries and deaths.
The two leading causes of highway accidents are distracted driving and drunk driving. In addition to this, aggressive driving behaviors like tailgating and speeding also contribute to interstate accidents. Due to the excessive speeds typically involved in these crashes, crash scene reconstructionists and law enforcement investigators generally take longer to determine the exact cause of an accident.
Head-On Collisions: Head-on car accidents are one of the most dangerous kinds of collisions for both passengers and drivers. Many different factors can result in a head-on accident but the one thing they all have in common is the severity of the injuries they cause. Vehicle occupants often sustain fatal or life-threatening injuries and cars are almost always totaled. For those who survive, this kind of collision will have a catastrophic and lasting impact on their lives.
Any time a vehicle is driving the wrong way down a street or swerves into oncoming traffic, a head-on crash is likely. Distracted drivers are especially prone to head-on collisions because their focus is not on the roadway. Anytime one of these scenarios occurs, lives are in danger. Senior citizens and drunk drivers are also at an increased risk of causing a head-on accident.
Rollover Accidents: Numerous factors can lead to a rollover accident. The most common cause is overcorrection. Overcorrection normally occurs when a vehicle drifts off the roadway and the driver jerks the steering wheel in an attempt to get back into their lane. This sudden response can lead to a serious or fatal vehicle rollover.
These accidents can also occur when drivers suddenly swerve to avoid hitting something in the roadway. Alcohol is a common element in single-vehicle rollovers. A few of the other common causes of rollover accidents include:
- The type of vehicle involved
- The vehicle’s speed
- Driver intoxication
- Weather and road conditions
- Driver distraction
Side-Impact Collisions: Side-impact collisions can leave victims hospitalized, unable to work, and with a growing pile of medical bills. These debilitating accidents are sometimes referred to as being T-boned or broadsided.
Depending on the speed of the other vehicle, and which side of your car was impacted, the injuries produced in these kinds of collisions can range from moderate to critical and even fatal. Sadly, it is also common for victims to suffer multiple bone breaks and fractures, spinal cord injuries, and various types of soft-tissue damage associated with side-impact collisions.
Some common causes of side-impact crashes include:
- Rolling stops (not coming to a complete stop at a stop sign)
- Failing to yield the right of way
- Running a stop sign or traffic light
- Making an improper turn across lanes of traffic
- Misjudging oncoming traffic before making a turn
- Texting and driving
- Impaired, aggressive, or distracted driving
- Steering or braking failure
If you or a family member has been injured in a side-impact accident, reach out to a Tupelo personal injury attorney as soon as possible.
Common Car Accident Injuries
Car accidents victims can sustain any number of different injuries and multiple factors can contribute to the type and degree of injury or injuries they suffer.
Some of the most frequently occurring car accident injuries in Mississippi include:
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Car accidents are one of the main sources of traumatic brain injuries. Even a seemingly insignificant fender-bender can shake someone hard enough to damage their brain. It is necessary to see a physician after you have been in a car accident, even if you think you weren’t hurt.
It is also important to keep an eye out for abnormal behavior in children after a car accident. Brain injuries are very difficult to detect in children. Symptoms are often incorrectly attributed to temper tantrums or other behavior.
Neck Injuries
Whiplash is a very common car accident-related injury. It occurs when the neck is violently thrust back and forth. This injury is often seen in victims of rear-end accidents. Neck injuries ranging from stiffness and soreness to fractures and breaks are not uncommon after a car accident. Any neck injury requires immediate medical attention.
Spinal Cord and Back Injuries
Along with neck injuries, spinal cord and other back injuries are also common among crash victims.
Back and spinal cord injuries include:
- Sprains
- Strains
- Fractured vertebrae
- Herniated or bulging disc
- Soft tissue injuries
While some soreness, stiffness, and pain are normal after a car accident, you should always seek medical attention as soon as possible. Pain is how your body tells you that you are injured. If you’re experiencing back pain after a car accident, you may have a serious injury.
Facial Injuries
Most car accidents involve deployed airbags, broken glass, or shattered dashboards. This means victims are at risk of severe facial injuries. Windshields can shatter and side windows can break. It doesn’t take a lot of force to cut sensitive facial tissues. This kind of injury involves a very lengthy recovery for many reasons. You could also be left with scarring, disfigurement, and pain. Depending upon the seriousness, you may also sustain fractures and injuries to your jaw that make basic, daily tasks such as talking, eating, and drinking painful and difficult.
Broken Bones
Broken bones are another common injury suffered by car crash victims. Fractures of varying degrees can happen to every bone in your body. Whether you have a broken leg, two broken arms, or a broken hip, you are going to be hospitalized, out of work, and in pain. If you experienced a fractured or broken bone in a car accident, you need to speak with a Tupelo personal injury attorney as soon as possible.
Internal Injuries
Internal injuries are a very dangerous class of injury that can happen to car accident victims. The impact can be so powerful that it causes injuries to your:
- Bowels
- Lungs
- Heart
- Liver
- Spleen
- Kidneys
- Other internal organs.
These injuries are life-threatening and demand prompt medical attention.
Emotional Injuries
Some injuries are not talked about as much as others. For example, post-traumatic stress disorder frequently accompanies the physical injuries that follow a car accident. If you are suffering from PTSD, another anxiety disorder, or other psychological trauma after a car accident, it is important that you tell someone. Although mental anguish is not talked about as often as it should be, it is a common side-effect of being injured in a car accident and deserves the same medical attention as any other trauma.
Recovering From Car Accident Injuries
Recovering from a car accident can be a long and trying process. Whether you have internal injuries, bone fractures, traumatic brain injuries, or facial lacerations, you need the guidance of a Tupelo car accident lawyer as quickly as possible. You probably have a long road to recovery ahead of you and, during this time, you will accumulate more and more medical bills and you could be out of work indefinitely.
Life is hard enough after being injured in a car accident. Finding the right personal injury lawyer is the first step towards seeing a successful outcome to your claim.
If you have been injured in an accident in Tupelo or the surrounding areas, the car accident attorneys at Mama Justice are ready to review the circumstances surrounding your accident and answer any questions you may have. Call us today at 800-670-0567 to schedule your free consultation with Missy Wigginton, AKA Mama Justice.
Don’t lose another day to waiting and wondering. Contact us now to speak with an auto accident lawyer in Tupelo, MS.
