Mississippi Car Accident Lawyers
Trusted Law Firm for Car Accident Claims in Oxford, MS
Living in Oxford has many benefits, including proximity to the University of Mississippi, the relatively mild climate, and a great culture. One problem is that 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. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a car accident, reach out to our legal team at Tannehill Carmean as soon as possible.
At the law office of Tannehill Carmean, our experienced Oxford car accident attorneys have seen that, in the blink of an eye, a car accident can change a life forever. If you’ve been involved in a crash or lost a loved one in an Oxford car accident, our lawyers are here to provide you with the support and legal guidance you need and deserve. Please call our law firm today to learn more about your rights and how to recover monetary compensation after a crash.
What Should You Do After a Car Accident in Mississippi?
You have certain legal responsibilities when you are involved in a car accident. Knowing what to do and your rights and responsibilities 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, report the accident, and request emergency medical services if anyone in the car has sustained injuries. When the police arrive, provide your version of events, but do admit fault. Write down the name and badge number of the responding officer(s) and request a copy of the police report. If you fail to report an accident, you could be charged with an offense if any individual suffers an injury.
As you wait for the police to arrive, collect evidence if you can. Write down the name, driver’s license number, insurance information, vehicle registration, and vehicle license plate number of any 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, seek medical care. If you don’t seek medical care immediately and later discover you have been injured, it makes it far more challenging to prove your injuries are crash-related.
You are responsible for contacting your insurance company as soon as possible after a crash. We recommend providing notice of the accident within 24-48 hours. If you do not provide notice of the accident within a reasonable time, you may be barred from filing a claim.
Who is Liable in a Car Accident?
Determining fault is a critical part of the claims process when a car accident occurs in Mississippi. In our state, liability for a car accident is based on fault; whoever causes an accident is responsible for paying damages, usually through the party’s liability insurance coverage. Common causes of car accidents in Oxford and throughout Mississippi include:
- Drunk driving
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Illegal lane changes
- Tailgating
- Driving aggressively
- Illegal driving maneuvers
In addition to a driver’s negligent or reckless driving behavior, other common causes of car accidents are road defects, unsafe road conditions, and vehicle defects, which can lead to a car crash with injuries. When road conditions have led to a serious injury accident, it may be necessary to file a claim against the government responsible for maintaining safe roadways. Be advised that filing a claim against any government agency is a different process, with far less time available. Rather than having three years, you have only one year to file a lawsuit when road conditions lead to a serious injury accident.
How Do You Prove Fault in a Car Crash?
To determine liability for a crash, our lawyers will thoroughly investigate your case and bring in accident reconstruction experts and other experts if necessary. We will talk to eyewitnesses, review vehicle control module data, and review any footage of the accident. Our job is to determine how your accident happened, who must be held liable, and to pursue compensation. The other party’s insurance company may say you were at fault. Our accident reconstruction experts can evaluate all evidence, including the condition and position of the vehicles, the skid marks on the road, and all other available evidence to establish fault and help you seek justice, even in the most challenging cases.
What Is 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. Car accidents may be 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 comparative negligence rule applies. The rule of comparative negligence holds that when more than one party is to blame for an accident, each party is liable for their percentage of fault.
How Does Comparative Negligence Work in a Car Accident?
An example of comparative negligence could be an accident with a drunk driver where an individual sustained serious injuries. An investigation establishes that the drunk driver clearly caused the crash, but it is discovered the injured party was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the collision. The drunk driver could then be found to be 85 percent responsible for the injuries, and the other is 15 percent responsible. If the damages are calculated at $500,000, the drunk driver is liable for 85 percent of that $500,000, or $425,000.
How Does Insurance Coverage Work in an Auto Accident Claim?
The at-fault party’s insurance coverage must pay for your losses in a car accident. The state requires that every driver has insurance on their vehicle, including liability coverage of $25,000 per person and $50,000 for an accident involving bodily injuries. If the damages exceed this amount (which they may in a serious injury case), the at-fault driver could be forced to pay the remaining costs personally.
What Damages Can Be Paid in a Car Accident Claim?
Our Mississippi car accident lawyer will seek several types of compensation in a car accident claim in the state. The damages pursued will include the following:
- Economic Damages: These are the financial losses associated with the injuries sustained in car accidents. These are financial losses such as medical bills, lost income from work, rehabilitation treatments, home remodeling, medical equipment costs, nursing care, and other quantifiable losses.
- Non-Economic Damages: In most personal injury claims in Mississippi, compensation for non-economic losses may be the most significant amount paid in a personal injury claim. These losses are very personal and include pain and suffering, loss of quality of life, the emotional anguish associated with permanent impairments or disfigurement, and other personal losses.
- Punitive Damages: These damages are awarded only in cases in which it is deemed that the individual who caused harm to the victim acted in a reckless, malicious manner or showed a gross disregard for the safety of others. Punitive damages are intended to punish the defendant and to deter others from similar actions.
Do You Need a Car Accident Lawyer?
You likely do not need an attorney if you were involved in a minor accident. If you or someone you love was seriously, catastrophically, or fatally injured, ensuring you have a law firm that will fight for justice and fair compensation is vital. Insurance companies do not want to pay out the maximum in damages, and their defense lawyers will try to reduce the value of a claim.
At Tannehill Carmean, we can level the playing field. Our legal team is experienced with these cases and focuses on ensuring the people we serve are treated fairly. We insist that the value of a claim reflects the extent of the losses suffered by the victim. We negotiate with the insurance company lawyers to ensure our clients are treated fairly. All damages are pursued vigorously, whether in negotiations or by filing a lawsuit to be resolved in civil court.
In addition to advising you about what to expect in your car accident claim, your right to fair compensation, and investigating your crash, we can collect evidence, build a compelling claim, represent you in all conversations with the insurance adjuster, calculate the full extent of the damages, and negotiate your settlement. While most claims are settled out of court, our lawyers are experienced at trial and can litigate your case in civil court to pursue a jury award.
Should I Take a Settlement or File a Lawsuit?
Every case has unique facts and evidence. When the at-fault party’s insurance coverage does not cover the extent of the losses, a legal action can be filed in civil court. The state’s statute of limitations allows for three years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. The success of a lawsuit will be based on the evidence presented to the jury. Our Oxford, MS law firm brings negotiating skills and experience to deliver the case to the court. Most car accident cases are settled outside of court, but in some cases, it is necessary to seek justice and fair compensation through the civil court system. Our firm is always well-prepared, confident, and persuasive when representing a client in court.
How Much Does a Car Accident Attorney in Oxford Cost?
At Tannehill Carmean, we offer professional legal representation on a contingency fee basis. Rather than charging our clients upfront, we are only paid legal fees when we succeed at negotiating a fair settlement or winning a jury award in court. Our experienced car accident lawyer can take on challenging cases with total confidence.
What Are the Most Common Types of Car Accident Injuries?
Every case is unique. We urge you to contact Tannehill Carmean to discuss what occurred. We represent injured people in cases of serious, catastrophic, or fatal injuries, including accidents that caused the following types of injuries:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Broken Bones
- Internal Injuries
- Amputations, Loss of Limb
- Disfiguring Injuries
- Back Injuries
- Neck Injuries
- Severe Soft Tissue Injuries
- Burns
- Joint Injuries (hip, knee, shoulder, elbow, wrist, ankle)
- Fatal Injuries
Call Our Mississippi Car Accident Lawyers Directly Today
There are few things more terrifying than being involved in a serious car crash and few things more tragic than suffering life-changing injuries and other losses. If you or a loved one has been involved in a car accident, our Oxford car accident attorneys offer the superior legal counsel you deserve. For your schedule consultation, please call our lawyers today at 662-236-9996, message us online, or visit our law office at your convenience. We are here for you.
