A Christmas Day crash claimed the life of a Baldwyn woman, according to a news report. Amanda Autrey, 25, sustained life-threatening injuries around noon December 25, 2012. She was a passenger in a pickup-truck that hydroplaned while traveling along Mississippi 245, overturning near Shannon.

At 2:30 pm, Amanda Autrey was pronounced dead at North Mississippi Medical Center.

Timothy Autrey, driver of the pickup-truck, was ejected from the vehicle, sustaining minor injuries in the crash. Amanda Autrey, a passenger, was trapped inside the crashed vehicle. Neither Timothy Autrey, nor his wife, were wearing seatbelts when the accident occurred.

The crash remains under investigation by the Mississippi Highway Patrol.

Sadly, when you lose a loved one in an automobile accident, insurance claims adjustors knowingly intrude on your grief, counting on your vulnerability to bully you into settling an insurance claim immediately – before you’ve had the opportunity to discuss the matter with your attorney. They do this to usurp a wrongful death or personal injury claim that you may be entitled to which, in most cases, has a substantially larger award value than the settlement the insurance adjustor is offering you.

Before you sign-off on any insurance company paperwork, ask your attorney to review the documents. This would be a good time to discuss the alternative option of filing a wrongful death or personal injury claim seeking compensatory damages to cover funeral and burial expenses, medical costs, and lost income. Depending upon the circumstances of the automobile accident that took the live of your loved one, you may additionally wish to seek an award of punitive damages. Seeking damages is especially important in terms of future economic support if, for example, the decedent left children behind who depended upon his (or her) income for support.

If you don’t already have an attorney, several attorney referral services are available through your local bar association or online. It’s important to find an attorney who is both experienced and reputable, and specializes in wrongful death and personal injury law. Your attorney is an advocate who represents your interests, files a claim on your behalf, and brings you the compensation you deserve.

If you, or a loved one, have been injured in a car accident due to someone else’s negligence, make an appointment with one of our attorneys by calling (800) 707-9577.