If you are involved in a serious car accident in Mississippi, it can be an emotional and stress filled time. Many Mississippi car accident victims suffer severe injuries that result in extended time off work as well as permanent disability or disfigurement. An auto accident victim may also be coping with significant pain and suffering. The silver lining is that you expect to be compensated for your car crash-related injuries. However, the insurance company for the other driver may claim that the accident was entirely or partially your fault despite your suffering severe injuries and struggling financially because you cannot work. The insurance company of the other driver may claim that you are not entitled to recover because your own negligent (i.e. careless or unsafe) conduct caused the accident. This unfortunate scenario can and does happen more than most people realize.
When a Mississippi car crash occurs, the first place that the insurance company for the other driver will look to determine fault is the accident report prepared by law enforcement. If the car accident report identifies you as the driver who was at-fault in the accident, you need to seek legal advice immediately. Police officers are not infallible in their analysis of an accident scene. An experienced Mississippi car accident lawyer will carefully examine the facts and circumstances of the accident and form an independent opinion regarding who caused your car crash. It may be the case that the officer missed certain facts or details that would make the other driver at-fault or that there are third parties whose liability also contributed to you motor vehicle collision.
Even if you are partially at-fault for a Mississippi car accident, this does not necessarily preclude you recovering for your injuries. Mississippi is a comparative fault state, which means that your recovery is reduced but not eliminated by your degree of fault. Even if you are 90 percent at fault in causing your Mississippi car crash, you may still recover damages, but the amount of your recovery would be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, a jury might determine that your damages were a hundred thousand dollars. If you were determined to be 90 percent at fault with the other driver being 10 percent at fault your recovery would be $10,000.
Many Mississippi car accident victims make the mistake of never getting legal advice from an experienced personal injury attorney. These auto accident victims presume that the police report is accurate in assigning blame for the accident. Even worse, some car accident victims believe the other driver’s insurance company when it claims that the accident victim is at-fault for his or her own injuries. Determining fault in an accident can be a tricky and complicated process. The facts of a particular car accident are frequently open to multiple interpretations. The insurance company for the other driver will always interpret those facts in the way most beneficial to its insured. The entire goal of the other driver’s insurance company is to minimize or avoid liability for the claim.
If you are involved in a Mississippi car accident, it is imperative that you seek independent legal advice from an experienced Mississippi auto accident lawyer. The car accident lawyer will analyze all of the facts and evidence surrounding your car accident and advise you regarding your rights to recover for your injuries and other loss. Our law firm represents car accident victims throughout Mississippi. If you have been injured in a serious car accident, we offer a free honest assessment of your car accident claim. We offer a free no obligation consultation so call us today.
