Mississippi Car Accidents Attorneys
Living in Oxford may have many benefits, including proximity to the University of Mississippi, the ability to enjoy a relatively mild climate and a wide variety of eateries, and more, but there’s one reality that can’t be avoided: Mississippi is one of the deadliest places to drive a car. In a single year in Mississippi, there were 581 fatal accidents resulting in 643 deaths.
At the law office of Tannehill, Carmean & McKenzie, P.L.L.C, our experienced Oxford car accident attorneys know that in the blink of an eye, a car accident could change your life. If you’ve been involved in a crash—or if you’ve lost a loved one in an Oxford car accident—our lawyers are here to provide you with the support and legal guidance that you need and deserve. To learn more about your rights and how to recover monetary compensation after a crash, please call our law firm directly today.
Your Responsibilities After a Car Accident
When you are involved in a car accident, you have certain legal responsibilities. Knowing what to do and what your rights and responsibilities are can protect you in the event of any legal action, including filing a car accident claim.
First, you should always stop your vehicle. You should immediately call the police and report the accident, as well as request emergency medical services if any injuries have occurred. When the police arrive, provide them with your version of events but do not express fault, write down the name and badge number of the responding officer(s), and request a copy of the police report. Note that failing to report an accident could be a misdemeanor offense if there are injuries or damages.
As you wait for the police to arrive, it’s important to collect evidence. Write down the name, driver’s license number, insurance information, vehicle registration, and vehicle license plate number of the other driver involved in the accident. If there were any eyewitnesses to the crash, ask for their names, contact information, and a brief description of what they saw happen.
As soon as possible after a crash, go to the hospital to seek medical care. If you don’t seek medical care immediately and later claim injuries, you may have a difficult time proving that the injuries are related to the crash.
It is also your responsibility to contact your insurance company as soon as possible after a crash—we recommend within 24-48 hours—to provide notice of the accident. If you do not provide notice of the accident within a reasonable amount of time, you could be barred from filing a claim.
Determining Fault & Liability After an Oxford Crash
When a car accident occurs in Mississippi, determining fault is a critical part of the claims process. In Mississippi, liability for a car accident is based on fault; whoever causes an accident is responsible for paying for it, usually through the party’s liability insurance coverage. Common causes of car accidents in Oxford include:
- Drunk driving
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Illegal lane changes
- Tailgating
- Driving aggressively
- Performing illegal maneuvers
In addition to drivers’ negligent or careless behavior—which is the most common cause of car accidents in our state—road defects, unsafe road conditions, and vehicle defects sometimes cause car accidents, too.
In order to determine liability for a crash, our lawyers will thoroughly investigate your case and bring in accident reconstruction experts and other professionals where necessary. We will talk to eyewitnesses, review vehicle control module data, and review any footage of the accident that exists. Our job is to determine how your accident happened and who should be held liable as such.
Comparative Negligence in a Car Accident Claim
While a car accident may be 100 percent the fault of one of the parties involved in the collision, this isn’t always the case. In fact, car accidents are often caused by the fault of two or more parties. For example, one driver may be speeding and the other may be distracted, resulting in a crash. When more than one party is to blame for an accident, the rule of comparative negligence applies. The rule of comparative negligence holds that when more than one party is to blame for an accident, each party will be held liable in proportion to their degree of fault.
Let’s say that you’re involved in an accident with a drunk driver and suffer serious injuries. An investigation shows that the drunk driver clearly caused the crash, but also that you were not wearing your seatbelt at the time of the collision. As such, the driver is found to be 85 percent responsible for your resulting injuries, and you are found to be 15 percent responsible. You suffer $500,000 in damages. You can hold the drunk driver liable for 85 percent of that $500,000, or $425,000.
How Our Oxford Car Accident Attorneys Can Help
Understanding the claims process and best practices for maximizing your settlement amount after a crash can be confusing and overwhelming. At the law office of Tannehill, Carmean & McKenzie, P.L.L.C., our Oxford car accident attorneys can provide you with support and assistance every step of the way.
In addition to informing you of the process and your rights and investigating your crash, we’ll also collect evidence, build a compelling claim, represent you in all conversations with the insurance adjuster, calculate your damages, and review and negotiate your settlement. While most claims are settled out of court, our lawyers do have trial experience and can litigate your case in court.
Call Our Oxford, MS Car Accident Lawyers Directly Today
There are few things more terrifying than being involved in a serious crash, and few things more tragic than suffering life-changing injuries and losses. If you or a loved one has been involved in a car accident, our Oxford car accident attorneys can provide you with the counsel that you need. For your free, no-obligation consultation, please call our lawyers directly today at (662) 337-7868, send us a message online, or visit our law office at your convenience. We are here for you.
