What should I know about Mississippi law impacting a personal injury case I have against a drunk driver who caused double knee injuries through a car accident in Jackson that has permanently and negatively altered my life?

Driving under the influence, or operating under the influence (DUI or OUI) in Jackson Mississippi is a serious offense as in most of the United States due to the amount of death and injury caused by this negligent act.  Seeking damages for personal injuries related to a drunk driving accident must adhere to the framework of Mississippi Laws where:

• Mississippi has a statute of limitations (a designated time-period for filing a claim) of three years from the date of the accident. You must file your claim with a Mississippi court who has jurisdiction over your injury within that time-period or they will refuse to hear your case.  Title 15 of the Mississippi Code Sec. 15-1-49 addresses this part of the law.
• Mississippi has a “Pure Comparative Negligence Rule” where the percentage of your fault will determine how much compensation you may be entitled to recover.  The compensation you will receive will be adjusted in accordance with that percentage of fault assigned to you.  If the accident was caused due to drunk driving, a DUI criminal convictionmay have some bearing on the outcome of the personal injury case as the other party may be 100% responsible for the accident due to drunk driving.
• Mississippi does not cap damages in personal injury cases. The Mississippi Supreme Court has consistently ruled these caps unconstitutional under the state’s constitution.

Catastrophic personal injuries.

Catastrophic injuries are those injuries that are so severe they can affect a person’s life permanently. In this case the drunk driving accident caused permanent damages to both knees, making it necessary to seek compensation for negative impacts to livelihood.  Action must be undertaken to protect future health and financial stability based on the implications of the damages sustained.  A successful legal outcome will yield a financial settlement between the parties with court awarded damages to cover current and future costs related to the accident injuries.

 

Compensation.

Damages include compensation for replacement or repair of property, costs incurred from medical professionals treating injuries, loss of wages, changes in lifestyle, pain and suffering and wrongful death claims. Because the compensation will be based on the award set by a court of law, it is important for you to maintain accurate financial records related to accident costs.

 

Due to catastrophic loss and severe life altering events caused by the accident, unbiased valuation services will need to be undertaken to calculate current and future costs of medical services including follow-up surgeries, life-expectancy impacts, loss of wages in current career versus re-training for comparable support and household income. These best possible financial strategies will support a comprehensive settlement amount requested by accident attorneys in the interests of injured parties after a drunk driving accident.

 

Hire an attorney.  Contact Matt Newman at Williams, Newman & Williams as he is an experienced, successful car accident lawyer in Jackson, who will make sure you receive compensation that addresses medical expenses, property damages, lost wages, future lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Call 601-228-6722 for a free consultation.

Williams, Newman & Williams, PLLC

129 B South President Street

Jackson, MS 39201