Have you or a member of your family been injured in a Tupelo pedestrian accident? Call the law offices of Mama Justice today. We fight to get you the compensation and justice you deserve.
Pedestrians have just as much right to use Mississippi roadways as trucks, cars, and motorcycles. From walking around your neighborhood for exercise to shopping in downtown Tupelo, pedestrians can always be seen using the roadways. When drivers fail to show reasonable care, they can cause serious injuries to vulnerable pedestrians. These types of accidents demand swift legal action from an experienced Tupelo personal injury lawyer.
The Tupelo pedestrian accident Lawyers at Mama Justice have handled hundreds of these types of claims throughout our decades of practicing personal injury law. We treat our clients like family and work diligently to achieve the best possible results for their cases.
Our firm believes that being a Mississippi personal injury attorney calls for more than just aggressively and effectively representing our clients. It also entails persistence and compassion. Under the leadership of our founding attorney, Missy Wigginton, AKA Mama Justice, our Tupelo legal team has decades of experience in helping injured victims get through one of the most trying times of their lives. We understand loss and personal injury and will fight for justice on behalf of you or your family member.
Written by the Mama Justice legal team.
Legally reviewed by Missy Wigginton, Founding Attorney (“Mama Justice”).
Last reviewed: September 11, 2026.
Pedestrian Fatalities Are on the Rise
If a driver hit you while you were walking in Tupelo, you generally have three years to file an injury claim (Miss. Code Ann. § 15-1-49). Drivers must yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and use extra care. A Tupelo pedestrian accident lawyer at Mama Justice can pursue your medical bills, lost wages, and pain. Call 24/7 for a free consultation.
A report from the Governors Highway Safety Association states that nearly 6,000 pedestrians were killed by negligent drivers in recent years. This total represents nearly 16% of all traffic fatalities in that year. Based on estimates, Mississippi witnessed a 42% rise in deadly pedestrian accidents since 2017, the 6th largest increase in the United States. Pedestrian deaths have climbed in recent years, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Most of these fatal car accidents happened at night, and 32% of pedestrians involved were drunk.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in Tupelo?
Children trying to cross the street on the way to and from school, elderly people who have mobility issues, and disabled people who require more time to cross the street are extremely vulnerable to being hit by an oncoming vehicle driven by a negligent driver.
Drivers are required to follow traffic laws and exercise due care, especially where pedestrians are concerned due to their decreased visibility. When drivers disregard traffic signals, road signs, and other safety devices, serious and fatal pedestrian accidents often occur.
The main causes of pedestrian accidents in Tupelo include:
- Distracted driving: Drivers who text or talk on their cell phones, drink, eat, or participate in any other activity that pulls their attention from the roadway put pedestrians at an increased risk of debilitating injuries. Even when a pedestrian has the right of way, a driver whose attention is elsewhere poses considerable danger.
- Speeding: Speeding is not just illegal but can also be a form of reckless driving. Pedestrians who are hit by speeding vehicles are more likely to sustain critical, life-threatening injuries or die from the force of an impact.
- Driving while intoxicated: When a driver is under the influence of drugs or alcohol, their motor skills, reaction times, and reasoning become impaired. Many pedestrians are hit by drivers who had been drinking, making a Tupelo drunk driving accident lawyer essential to navigating these complex cases. This often causes drivers to overlook pedestrians, particularly in poor weather conditions and at night.
- Failing to stop or yield: Drivers who choose to ignore traffic lights, stop signs, or do not yield to pedestrians are major contributors to Mississippi’s high pedestrian fatality rate.
- Weather conditions: Drivers are supposed to be extra cautious and drive at decreased speeds in inclement weather, such as heavy fog, ice, and snow. When drivers fail to adjust their speed for these weather conditions, they might not be able to slow down or stop in time to avoid a pedestrian accident.
- Left-hand turns: Even inside marked crosswalks, pedestrians are in danger of being hit by left-turning vehicles when the driver’s focus is on the intersection itself rather than the pedestrian legally crossing the road.
How Long Do You Have to File a Pedestrian Accident Claim in Tupelo, MS?
In Mississippi, you generally have three years from the date you were hit to file a pedestrian accident claim (Miss. Code Ann. § 15-1-49). That time can disappear fast when you are recovering from a serious injury, and these cases often depend on evidence that fades, like skid marks, traffic camera footage, and witness memories.
If a government vehicle or a dangerous crossing is involved, you may face a much shorter notice deadline. The sooner you speak with a Tupelo pedestrian accident lawyer, the easier it is to protect your rights and lock down the proof. Deadlines vary by the facts, so confirm yours with an attorney as soon as you can.
Who Is at Fault When a Pedestrian Is Hit in Tupelo?
Drivers owe pedestrians a high level of care. Under Mississippi law, a driver generally must yield to a pedestrian crossing in a crosswalk (Miss. Code Ann. § 63-3-1105) and must use reasonable care to avoid hitting anyone on foot. When a driver is speeding, distracted, drunk, or ignores a signal, they are usually the one at fault.
Pedestrians have some responsibilities too, like using crosswalks where they are available and not stepping suddenly into traffic. But even if you were partly at fault, you are not out of options. Mississippi follows a pure comparative fault rule, which means you can still recover money with your amount reduced by your share of the blame. Insurance companies love to argue that the pedestrian “came out of nowhere,” so we gather the evidence to tell the real story.
What Are the Common Types of Pedestrian Accidents?
When pedestrians are involved in traffic accidents, they are usually left with serious injuries while the driver of the car is completely unharmed. Being able to collect the maximum amount of financial compensation for a claim is going to be essential to their recovery and getting the medical care they need.
Our Tupelo pedestrian accident attorneys handle cases involving:
- Failing to yield at a crosswalk
- Walkers or joggers hit by vehicles
- Parking lot and backing vehicle accidents
- School bus stop accidents
- Intersection accidents
- Multiple threats
- Midblock or mailbox accidents
Unfortunately, pedestrians do not have the same protections available to them as the occupants of a passenger vehicle. If they are in an accident involving a truck, bus, car, or even a motorcycle, they are at risk of a violent impact with a windshield, bumper, or the road itself.
Pedestrian accidents can be devastating, leaving innocent victims with serious head injuries, spinal cord injuries, and traumatic brain damage. When a pedestrian crash is fatal, our team can help the family seek justice with a Tupelo wrongful death lawyer.
Failing to Yield at a Crosswalk
Crosswalks are located at almost every busy intersection. Additional crosswalks can also be found in between intersections on busy roadways. They are intended to provide pedestrians with a safe and efficient way to get where they are going.
Mississippi law requires drivers to stop for pedestrians crossing the street inside a crosswalk, but distracted and impatient drivers often hit unsuspecting pedestrians as they legally cross the road.
Walkers or Joggers Hit by Vehicles
Whenever pedestrians are walking or jogging along busy roadways, they should use sidewalks wherever possible. In cases where a sidewalk is not available, however, pedestrians should keep to the far right-hand side of the street. If drivers fail to notice pedestrians due to poor weather conditions or decreased visibility, nighttime conditions, or inclement weather, they could cause a fatal accident.
Parking Lot/Backing Vehicle Accident
These accidents frequently take place in parking garages, parking lots, and streets where vehicles backing out of driveways have limited visibility of the road. Drivers are responsible for being aware of their surroundings and reversing slowly enough to react in time if a pedestrian enters their path.
School Bus Stop Accidents
Drivers who are in a hurry prioritize their time over other people’s safety. An example of this is drivers who overtake school buses that are stopped with their lights and stop sign arm activated. Drivers like this need to be held accountable for their irresponsible and negligent actions.
Through Vehicle at an Intersection
These accidents occur when a pedestrian crossing an intersection is struck by a car driving straight through. This can happen when a driver deliberately runs a stop sign or traffic light, a traffic signal malfunctions, or an intersection does not have a traffic control device. Through vehicle accidents are typically the driver’s fault and they could be liable for damages.
Multiple Threat Accidents
In a multiple-threat accident, a pedestrian passes between two stopped cars and into the next lane, causing them to be struck by a vehicle whose driver never saw them. There is often comparative liability involved in these accidents, depending on how fast the car was traveling when the collision happened.
Midblock or Mailbox Accidents
Midblock and mailbox accidents take place when a car hits a pedestrian while they interact with a vehicle on the side of the road, such as an ice cream truck, or check their mail. The driver could be fully liable if they were speeding or distracted when the accident occurred.
What Happens if a Driver Flees After Hitting a Pedestrian?
Unfortunately, not every driver obeys the law and stops to render aid after they hit a pedestrian. A study published by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety states that about 20% of pedestrian deaths are due to hit and run accidents. Hit and runs are occurring more and more frequently throughout the country, affecting a disproportionate number of pedestrians.
Anytime a driver flees the scene of an accident, it makes it hard for an injured pedestrian to pursue financial compensation. With no identifiable defendant, there is nowhere to begin an insurance claim. Fortunately, injured pedestrians might be able to seek compensation after a hit and run crash under their uninsured and underinsured insurance coverage. These claims are notoriously challenging but an experienced Tupelo pedestrian injury attorney can advise you on the best steps to take to increase your chances of a successful outcome.
Get our Tupelo Pedestrian Accident lawyers on your side. Contact Mama Justice now.
What Are the Most Common Pedestrian Accident Injuries?
After being involved in an accident, it is unlikely that a pedestrian will walk away unharmed. The most likely outcome is that they will suffer serious injuries or death.
Some of the most common injuries in Tupelo pedestrian accidents are:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Internal injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Bone fractures
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Soft tissue injuries
- Crush Injuries
- Psychological injuries
Not every pedestrian accident is fatal but survivors are often forced to live with permanent disabilities. At the Tupelo law office of Mama Justice, our pedestrian accident attorneys are prepared to guide you through the claims process if you or a family member was injured or killed in a pedestrian accident.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries are one of the more common and devastating forms of pedestrian injuries. A TBI happens when the victim’s head is struck with significant force or penetrated by an object. A pedestrian struck by a car often suffers a serious brain injury, and a Tupelo brain injury lawyer can assist in fighting for long-term care compensation.
Traumatic brain injuries may cause lifelong complications associated with:
- Coherent thoughts
- Processing emotions
- Memory loss
- Inability to reason
- Logical thinking
- Experiencing sensation
- Speech and language processing
- Effective and intelligible communication
Due to the fact that pedestrians have no protection from oncoming vehicles, head injuries are more severe than other types of injuries. When a head makes contact with an object, like the hood of a car, it can result in significant trauma to the brain.
Internal Injuries
Internal injuries can be fatal for a pedestrian when the body is punctured or hit with blunt force, like a vehicle. Internal organs can be heavily damaged and massive internal bleeding can occur.
Spinal Cord Injuries
One of the more serious forms of injury that occurs in a pedestrian accident is damage to the spinal cord. A spinal cord injury takes place when the spinal cord, which controls communication between your brain and the rest of your body, is damaged. An injury to the spinal cord can cause everything below the injured area to be permanently paralyzed.
Bone Fractures
Bone fractures are not uncommon and can happen even when there are no other serious injuries. When a pedestrian is knocked to the ground, fractures to the elbow, skull, collar bone, wrist, and hips frequently occur.
Scarring and Disfigurement
We have already established that pedestrian accidents can result in incapacitating injuries, but they could also leave the victim disfigured or with permanent physical scars. These injuries are painful, traumatic, and, in some cases, disabling.
Crush Injuries
When a pedestrian is not just hit, but also run over by a vehicle, they experience crush injuries. Crush injuries, when they aren’t fatal, usually result in the amputation of a limb.
Psychological Injuries
Someone involved in a pedestrian accident can endure more than just bodily harm. Psychological trauma, such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and anxiety are frequently experienced by victims.
What Should You Do After Being Hit by a Car in Tupelo?
Getting hit while on foot is frightening, and your health comes first. When you are able, these steps help protect both your recovery and your claim.
- Call 911. Get police and medical help to the scene, and make sure a report is created.
- Get the driver’s information. If they stop, get their name, license, and insurance. If they flee, try to note the vehicle, color, and any part of the plate.
- Get medical care right away. Serious injuries like a concussion or internal bleeding may not be obvious at first. North Mississippi Medical Center or another provider can check you and start a record.
- Take photos and get witnesses. Capture the scene, your injuries, and the names of anyone who saw what happened.
- Do not settle quickly. The driver’s insurer may offer a fast, low payout. Talk to a lawyer first.
- Call Mama Justice before giving a recorded statement. This matters even more after a hit and run, when an uninsured motorist claim may be your path to recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pedestrian Accidents in Tupelo, MS
How long do I have to file a pedestrian accident claim in Mississippi?
In Mississippi, you generally have three years from the date you were hit to file a pedestrian accident claim (Miss. Code Ann. § 15-1-49). Claims involving a government entity can have much shorter notice deadlines. Because evidence fades quickly, it is best to talk to a Tupelo pedestrian accident attorney as soon as possible.
Who is at fault when a pedestrian is hit by a car in Tupelo?
It depends on the facts, but drivers owe pedestrians a high level of care. Mississippi law generally requires drivers to yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk (Miss. Code Ann. § 63-3-1105). When a driver is speeding, distracted, drunk, or ignores a signal, they are usually at fault. Pedestrians also have duties, but sharing some blame does not bar your claim.
What if I was partly at fault, like crossing outside a crosswalk?
You can still recover. Mississippi follows a pure comparative fault rule, so you can collect compensation even if you were partly responsible, with your recovery reduced by your share of fault. Insurers often try to overstate a pedestrian’s fault to pay less, and we push back with evidence like witness accounts and camera footage.
What if the driver fled the scene after hitting me?
You may still have a path to compensation. If the driver cannot be identified, your own uninsured motorist coverage can often step in to pay for a hit-and-run injury. These claims can be tricky, so it helps to have a Tupelo pedestrian accident lawyer handle the process and deal with your insurance company for you.
What if the driver who hit me had no insurance?
If you carry uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, it can help pay for your injuries when the at-fault driver has no insurance or not enough. There may also be other responsible parties depending on the facts. We look at every possible source of recovery so you are not left paying for someone else’s mistake.
Who can be held liable besides the driver?
Often it is just the driver, but not always. An employer may be responsible if the driver was working, a bar may share blame if the driver was drunk, and in some cases a government body may be responsible for a dangerous crossing or a broken signal. We investigate to find every party who should pay.
What is my Tupelo pedestrian accident case worth?
There is no set formula. Value depends on how serious your injuries are, your medical bills, lost income, whether you face lasting effects, and your pain and suffering. Because pedestrians have no protection in a crash, these injuries are often severe, which can raise the value. We can give you a realistic picture after we review the facts. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
How much does a pedestrian accident lawyer cost in Tupelo?
At Mama Justice, you pay nothing up front. We work on a contingency fee, which means our fee comes out of the recovery only if we win your case. If we do not win, you do not owe us a fee. Your first consultation is always free.
Why is Mama Justice Right For Me and My Family?
No one who decides to take a stroll expects to be hit by a car. Even the most conscientious, law-abiding pedestrian cannot predict when those around them will act negligently, nor foresee the full scope of adversity that is sure to follow.
If you or a family member were injured in a pedestrian accident, you could be entitled to collect financial compensation.
Our personal injury attorneys represent injured pedestrians from Tupelo and all throughout Mississippi. Our clients count on us to get the full amount of compensation they are entitled to following a serious pedestrian accident. We take that responsibility to heart and make our clients our priority.
At Mama Justice, we have a real-world understanding of how seriously this kind of accident will affect your life. When this happens, we are here to make sure you understand your rights and don’t miss any of the details that could negatively impact your claim.
Our clients are our family. If you or someone you love was injured in a pedestrian accident, we are here for you. Contact our Tupelo law offices today at 800-670-0567 to schedule a free consultation with Missy Wigginton, AKA Mama Justice.
We handle personal injury claims in Mississippi, Tennessee, and Alabama.
