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The Real Scoop Regarding Mississippi Car Accident Whiplash Injuries [Part I]

Although whiplash injuries are among the most common injuries suffered in car accidents and other types of accidents, many do not understand the intense pain and degree of debilitation associated with whiplash.  A significant reason for this misconception is the tendency of television sit-coms and movies to make whiplash the object of comic fodder.  Despite these depictions of whiplash as a fabrication of malingers looking to “cash in,” whiplash is a serious injury that can inflict pain for months and even years after a car accident.  More than a million people experience whiplash injuries annually, and three-fourths of those who suffer such injuries continue to be affected by symptoms even six-months after their car accident.

What Is Whiplash?

Whiplash injuries are alternatively referred to as “cervical strain,” and “hyperextension/hyperflexion” injury.  The term “whiplash” refers to the motion of the head and neck that are jerked forward then backward similar to the motion of a whip.  Whiplash is an injury that occurs most typically in rear-end accidents when one’s vehicle is struck from behind while stopped or moving slowly.  The force of impact on the vehicle results in the head being jerked backward.  Because the whiplash victim generally does not see and anticipate the collision, there is little chance to brace one’s body for the impact, but the natural reaction when one’s head is whipped back is to contract the muscles in the front of the neck to compensate for the sudden backward movement of one’s neck.

Common Symptoms of Whiplash Injuries

The intense whipping motion of the head and neck in a rear-end car accident can do additional damage to the back and neck, including injury to the cervical muscles, discs of the back, ligaments, nerves and intervertebral joints.  It is important that whiplash injuries be identified promptly so that treatment can be initiated as soon as possible.  Early treatment can accelerate long-term recovery and result in a more favorable prognosis.  Some of the more common symptoms of whiplash injuries include the following:

  • Neck stiffness
  • Pain in the back
  • Discomfort when swallowing
  • Impaired balance
  • Tingling in the back, neck and shoulders
  • Diminished concentration and/or memory
  • Hoarseness or sore throat

If you or a loved one is injured in a Mississippi car accident or a loved one dies, you may have a right to seek legal compensation for your injuries and loss.  At the Barrett Law Offices PLLC, our experienced Mississippi personal injury lawyers represent injury victims throughout Mississippi.  Our law firm has roots that reach back 75 years so contact us today for your free initial consultation at (662) 834-2376 to see how we can help.

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Understanding the Tactics of Insurance Companies in Mississippi Car Accident Cases

If you are seriously injured by the negligence or misconduct of a third party, it is likely that any amount of compensation that you receive for your injuries will be paid by an insurance company.  This is both good and bad.  When the party that injures you has insurance, it means that there should be available funds to compensate you for your injuries if you prove your claim.  However, it also means that you may have to deal with the tactics used by insurance companies to avoid paying valid claims.

While from the perspective of a customer who pays premiums, you may conclude that the function of auto insurance companies is to cover the financial risk of loss when someone is liable for a collision.  An insurance company function from the perspective of its stockholders and management is to increase profits, which is not accomplished by paying more claims and higher amounts of recovery.  Insurance companies use a wide array of approaches to deny, delay and minimize meritorious insurance claims.  We have provided an overview of some of the types of tactics and strategies that are frequently used by auto accident insurance companies:

Shifting Blame to the Victim: While many car accident victims know that the usual basis for imposing liability in a car accident is negligence, some victims do not realize that a court may determine that an accident victim is also liable for his or her own injures.  Insurance companies commonly argue that a car accident victim in a Mississippi car accident failed to take responsibility for the victim’s own injuries.  It is important to have an experienced Mississippi car accident attorney on your side that can defend you against the claim that your own negligence contributed to your injuries.  If you are found to have had some role in causing your own injuries, your recovery may be reduced based on the amount of fault assigned to you.

Any Injuries Were Pre-Existing: While a distracted, drunk, or otherwise unsafe driver may be liable for exacerbating a pre-existing injury, insurance companies frequently argue that an injury allegedly suffered in a car accident was actually the result of an earlier trauma in an attempt to reduce the amount of recovery for the injury.  Insurance companies often engage in extensive discovery and carefully scrutinize a Mississippi car accident victim’s medical records to make this claim.

Failure to Mitigate Damages: Although a careless driver or other negligent party may be liable for your injuries suffered in a car accident, the law imposes an obligation on accident victims to take appropriate steps to minimize any loss.  An accident victim that fails to seek medical treatment or follow through on physical therapy may be vulnerable to a defense based on lack of mitigation of damages.  This defense essentially provides that any additional harm that could have been reasonably avoided, but for the failure of the plaintiff to take reasonable steps to reduce his or her loss, should not be compensated.

War of Attrition: Mississippi car accident victims may have enormous medical bills and be unable to work for long periods of time.  Sometimes the insurance company will drag out the claims process as long as possible to increase the financial pressure on an accident victim to settle for less than the value of the claim.  An experienced Mississippi car accident attorney can counter such tactics and may even be able to advance certain amounts against the potential recovery depending on your case.

If you or a loved one is injured in a Mississippi car accident or a loved one dies, you may have a right to seek legal compensation for your injuries and loss.  At the Barrett Law Offices PLLC, our experienced Mississippi personal injury lawyers represent injury victims throughout Mississippi.  Our law firm has roots that reach back 75 years so contact us today for your free initial consultation at (662) 834-2376 to see how we can help.

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Prescription Drug Abuse Linked to Increase in Car Accidents

Although many people are aware of the dramatic rise in the abuse of prescription drugs, the increased danger of severe car accidents linked to this abuse is less well known.  Many prescription drugs that are abused are taken for the same reasons as recreational drugs. This means that they are often sought out for their impact on one’s mental state so those who abuse these drugs are fully what aware of the danger of driving while under their effects.  Many prescription drugs with side effects that make it unsafe to drive carry warnings, which expressly indicate it is not safe to operate heavy machinery while under the influence of the medication.  Unfortunately, some drivers choose to ignore these warnings which often results in serious Mississippi car accidents that can cause life altering injuries.

There are a wide variety of types of prescription medications that may be involved in drugged driving accidents in Mississippi including pain killers, sleeping pills, anti-anxiety medications and muscle relaxants.  These drugs may include Xanax, Ambien, Flexeril, Percocet, Norcos, Vicodin and similar medications.  They may contribute to serious Mississippi drugged driver car accidents because of a number of adverse effects on driving ability, including but not limited to the following:

  • Impaired driver judgment
  • Distorted perception
  • Drowsiness
  • Diminished coordination
  • Slow reflexes

While these are only a few of the ways that prescription medications can adversely impact driving ability, the current epidemic of abuse and misuse of prescription drugs poses a serious danger to everyone who travels the roadways of Mississippi.  Drivers who disregard warning labels on prescription drug bottles may be determined to be at fault even if they are lawfully taking the medication. Our experienced Mississippi drugged accident attorneys carefully investigate car accident cases where drugged driving may be involved. A driver who is using a prescription drug illegally may be considered to be engaged in reckless conduct, particularly if they are speeding or otherwise consciously engaging in extremely unsafe driving practices.  If a drugged driver is impaired because of illegal use of a prescription drug plan that causes a serious car accident, you or your loved one may be entitled to punitive damages to punish particularly egregious conduct.  Our Mississippi drugged driving attorneys typically examine police reports, toxicology analysis, and medical records to develop evidence of drugged driving.

The experienced Mississippi drugged driving lawyers at Barrett law are committed to holding wrongdoers accountable and compensating victims.  Our experienced Mississippi drugged driving accident attorneys offer a free consultation so that we can evaluate your accident claim and explain your rights and remedies.  At the Barrett Law Offices PLLC, our experienced Mississippi drugged driving lawyers represent injury victims throughout Mississippi.  Our law firm has roots that reach back 75 years so contact us today for your free initial consultation at (662) 834-2376 to see how we can help.

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The Dangers of Eating While Driving

Many people are aware of the dangers of texting and driving or any other use of a cell phone while operating a motor vehicle.  Few people give a second thought to the form of distracted driving that many safety experts consider even more dangerous to other drivers, passengers and pedestrians.  In fact, billions of dollars are generated by businesses promoting this type of inattentive driving annually.  The type of inattentive driving that many traffic safety experts believe poses an even greater danger to others on the roads is eating and drinking while driving.  The practice is so commonplace that for many the activity is second nature.

The practice of eating and drinking while driving is promoted by the billion dollar fast food industry, which offers fast food drive thru windows, as well as convenience stores that offer hot coffee and tanker sized soft drinks to those on the go.  Some places will even wrap the food to facilitate eating the food while you are driving.  However, eating and drinking while driving can constitute one of the worst forms of driver distraction because it involves a distraction at all three levels of driver distraction – visual, mental and physical.

Unwrapping Food: Most fast food or packaged food that drivers eat in their car must be unwrapped or re-wrapped for eating, which requires that one’s eyes, hands and concentration all be directed to manipulating the packaging so that the food item can be eaten in the vehicle.  This even applies to a lesser degree to soft drinks where drivers may have to remove a straw from the wrapper so that the straw can be inserted into the drink.

Liquid Spills: These are among the most dangerous hazard associated with consuming food and beverages while driving.  Hot drinks like coffee or tea can spill in one’s lap causing a burn and distracting drivers from driving while struggling to alleviate the discomfort and prevent a serious burn.  The other serious issue related to spills of drinks is that a driver’s first instinct may be to reach for something to mop up the mess.  This means that the driver is again distracted mentally thinking about cleaning up the mess, physically reaching for something to clean up the mess, and visually while checking to ensure that the spill is properly mopped up.

Messy Foods: Many motorists are concerned about food creating messes in their car.  When juicy burgers or tacos loaded with sauce leak on the upholstery or carpet of the interior of a vehicle, drivers may be focused on preventing permanent stains than avoiding serious injuries.  A survey conducted of the most dangerous foods to consume when driving rated messy foods near the top of the list.

The fundamental point is that it is not safe to eat and drink while driving despite the fact this is a common practice for many Mississippi drivers.  Studies have shown that eating and drinking while driving may be a factor in as many as eighty percent of all car accidents.  If you or someone you love has been injured in a Mississippi car accident with a driver who was distracted while eating, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries.  At the Barrett Law Offices PLLC, our experienced Mississippi distracted driving lawyers represent injury victims throughout Mississippi.  Our law firm has roots that reach back 75 years so contact us today for your free initial consultation at (662) 834-2376 to see how we can help.

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Do Bans on Texting Messaging and Driving Actually Work?

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Drivers distracted while texting on cell phones and other portable communication devices remains a serious cause of Mississippi car accidents.  Although there have been numerous proposals to prohibit texting and driving in Mississippi, all of these proposals have failed to be enacted to this point.  An important consideration in whether Mississippi should follow through on enacting a texting and driving ban is a consideration of whether such legislation has been effective in other states.

Extensive research on the subject shows that the impact of ant-texting laws is somewhat complicated.  While there is substantial evidence that anti-texting laws reduce car accident rates, there is also evidence that the deterrent impact of these laws declines over time.  AAA has conducted a series of studies that provides insight into the impact of banning texting and driving as well as potential limitations on such bans.  One study revealed that there was an initial reduction in texting and driving when California’s texting and driving ban first went into effect, but the effectiveness of the ban declined over time with the number of text messaging citations increasing annually since the ban was enacted in 2009.  There were over 500,000 texting and driving citations issued in California during 2011, which represented more than a 20 percent increase over the prior year and more than a 50 percent increase from the year the text messaging ban went into effect.

Studies conducted by AAA before the ban went into effect suggested that 1.4 percent of drivers in the state were engaged in texting while driving at any point in time.  Follow-up studies revealed that texting and driving declined by as much as seventy percent in the months immediately after enactment of the prohibition on texting messaging while driving.  However, the number of drivers that were engaged in text messaging while driving had doubled from the point of the post-ban enactment decline.  Despite evidence that the deterrent impact of texting and driving bans diminishes over time, there is also evidence that these bans do save lives and prevent serious bodily injury.  According to one state agency, the number of mobile phone related car crashes declined by 45 percent during the first two years of the state’s prohibition on texting while driving.

This data along with other statistical information about texting and driving makes clear that while a Mississippi ban on texting and driving would be a positive step the form of the ban is relevant.  One study has shown that texting while driving increases the probability of a motor vehicle collision eightfold.  However, there are certain features of existing text messaging bans in other states that may explain the mixed results.  The effectiveness of the texting ban as well as most traffic safety laws appear to be based on both the probability of being caught and the severity of the penalty.  Many text bans carry only nominal fines and have no impact on driving records.  This type of limited penalty can result in drivers conducting a mental cost-benefit analysis and determining that the insignificant penalty that accompanies a texting and driving violation is outweighed by the convenience and desire of engaging in this unsafe driving practice.

The lack of deterrent impact of many anti-texting laws is compounded by enforcement challenges.  Because smart phones, iPods and other portable communication devices may be used for a wide variety of functions, it can be very difficult to prove that a driver was using it for texting as opposed to some other function that is not banned.  The formula for enacting an effective texting and messaging ban may be to impose more significant penalties, including costly fines and points against one’s driving record as well as enacting a complete ban of all portable electronic devices while driving.  The experienced Mississippi distracted driving accident attorneys at Barrett Law have been providing effective representation to person injury victims for over 75 years.  We provide diligent legal representation and impassioned advocacy so we invite you to call us today at 662-834-2376 to learn how we can help.

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Drowsy Driving Causes Many Fatal Car Accidents in Mississippi

If you have ever driven late at night or after not getting enough sleep and drifted off behind the wheel, you know the feeling of panic when you suddenly realize that you have drifted off to sleep while driving. Despite awareness by most drivers that it is extremely dangerous to drive when tired, many drivers consistently engage in this unsafe driving practice.  A study conducted by the AAA Foundation found that 96 percent of drivers recognize that it is wrong to drive when so tired that one is struggling to keep one’s eyes open, but approximately a third of all drivers admit to doing so during the prior month.

The AAA Foundation also found that over 16 percent of all fatal car accidents involve a drowsy driver.  It is particularly concerning that drowsy driving is not a rare event for most drivers but a habitual pattern of driving behavior.  According to the National Sleep Foundation’s 2011 Sleep in America poll, ten percent of drivers report driving when drowsy as many as two times per week.

The magnitude of the danger of driving while drowsy can hardly be overstated.  When you are cruising down the freeway at 65 mph and dose at the wheel for even a few seconds, your vehicle can travel the length of a football field.  A driver who has been awake for twenty consecutive hours displays impaired driving skills comparable to a driver with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 percent BAC, which is the legal limit for drunk driving in Mississippi.

In some respects, drowsy driving is a more challenging Mississippi car accident risk than drunk driving.  Reducing drunk driving rates requires persuading drivers to take avoidable steps to avoid drinking and driving.  Drivers have less flexibility to avoid driving when tired because commutes to work are not optional like drinking at a bar or party.  The problem is becoming more significant because people are generally getting less sleep.  This is partially the result of financial pressure to work more hours and traffic congestion resulting in longer commute times.

Fatigue and drowsy driving is also a common cause of commercial trucking accidents, but anti-fatigue rules that regulate hours of service by truck drivers has reduced the number of fatigue based trucking collisions.  Trucking regulations that specify the number of consecutive hours, hours per week and length of rest periods help limit drowsy truck driving accidents.  However, no such limits apply to drivers of passenger vehicles so drowsy driving is a significant problem.

If you or a family member is injured or a loved one dies in a collision caused by a distracted driver, you may have the right to pursue legal action and obtain financial compensation for your injuries or loss.   The experienced Mississippi drowsy driving car accident attorneys at Barrett Law have been providing effective representation to person injury victims for over 75 years.  We provide diligent legal representation and impassioned advocacy so we invite you to call us today at 662-834-2376 to learn how we can help.

 

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Mississippi Car Accidents Caused by Product Defects in Motor Vehicles

Everyday drivers in Mississippi are involved in serious accidents caused by careless drivers that violate traffic safety laws, fail to give undivided attention to one’s driving or engage in aggressive driving practices to get to one’s destination a few minutes faster.  While these types of unsafe driving are responsible for the vast majority of Mississippi traffic collisions, there are a fair number of accidents that are caused at least in part by defective motor vehicle components.  When you are involved in a collision caused by the failure of a component or system in your vehicle, you may be able to assert a product liability claim against the manufacturer of your car, truck or SUV.  Product liability claims against the manufacturers of motor vehicles require a law firm with extensive experience and substantial resources.  Barrett Law has been effectively representing those injured by the negligence of others in Mississippi for more than 75 years.

There are two basic types of motor vehicle defects: (1) product defects that increase the likelihood of a collision; and (2) product defects that cause more severe injuries when a collision occurs.  There are some defects that both increase the probability of a Mississippi motor vehicle collisions and the seriousness of injuries.  Faulty brakes are an example of the type of defect that makes a collision more likely whereas a defective seatbelt or airbag is the type of defect that may cause more serious injury though not raise the odds that a motorist will be involved in a Mississippi motor vehicle collision.  Defects like tread separation will both increase the likelihood of a collision if a tire blows out and also result in more severe injuries because the vehicle may rollover causing roof crush injuries or a vehicle ejection.

Some of the most common forms of motor vehicle defects that may cause Mississippi car accidents include the following:

Defective Safety Equipment: When an airbag or seatbelt fail they may leave a vehicle occupant unprotected in the event of a collision.  A seatbelt may have a defective buckle that does not fully engage or that releases in a collision.  The webbing of the belt itself may also be defective so that it rips or tears during a collision.  While some injuries are caused by airbags that fail to deploy leaving the driver or passenger without adequate protection during a collision, some airbags may independently cause injury.  Airbags deploy at enormous rates of speed so the timing of their deployment is critical to avoid injury.  If the airbag deploys too late or in a low speed collision, an overly aggressive airbag may slam into a vehicle occupant causing severe facial or head injuries including traumatic brain injury.

Tire Defects: When your tires have steel belts, it is critical that the rubber and steel belts properly bond during the manufacturing process.  When this does not happen, the tread can separate from the tire causing the tire to blowout.  Tire blowouts often result in rollover accidents, which are extremely dangerous because vehicle occupants may be ejected from the vehicle.

Defective Latch Systems on Car Doors: When a vehicle rolls in a collision it puts stress on the frame of the vehicle.  If the latch mechanisms on car doors are defective, it can cause the doors of the vehicle to swing open so that vehicle occupants may be thrown from the vehicle.

Unintended Acceleration Accidents: There are few experiences as frightening as having your vehicle suddenly accelerate uncontrollably even as you attempt to apply the brakes.  There are a variety of defects that may contribute to this type of accident including defective floor mats and electrical systems.  Because the vehicle may accelerate to high rates of speed, these accident may easily result in catastrophic injury or wrongful death.

If you or someone you love has been injured or a loved one dies in a Mississippi car accident caused by a defective car, truck or SUV, you or your loved one may have a right to seek compensation for any injuries or other loss.  The experienced Mississippi product defect car accident attorneys at Barrett Law have been providing effective representation to person injury victims for over 75 years. We provide diligent legal representation and impassioned advocacy so we invite you to call us today at 662-834-2376 to learn how we can help.

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Defective Tires May Cause Serious Mississippi Car Accidents

China has surged in the production and exportation of manufactured products including tires, but tires like other products imported by China sometimes lack the quality control and workmanship to make them safe.  While defective products imported from China have routinely made recent news reports, the prospect of injury from defective tires may be more concerning than other reports of defective products manufactured in China.  Some manufacturers of motor vehicles in the U.S. have chosen to outsource the production of tire valve stems to a China company that has produced defective valve stems, which have been installed on millions of new cars manufactured in the U.S.  The defective tire valve stems have already prompted a Florida wrongful death lawsuit.

These defective tire valve stems were manufactured by Top Seal, which is a subsidiary of Shanghai based Baolong Industries.  The valve stems have become a major issue because the faulty tire valve stems have been used in tires by major tire retailers, such as Discount Tire Stores.  These defective valve stems increase the risk of a tire blowout, which may result in a loss of control, run off the road or roll over accident.  The defect has been determined to have been caused by erroneous mixing of the rubber during the fabrication process.

There are a number of factors that contribute to Mississippi car accidents caused by defective tires.  These defects include the following:

Tire Tread Separation: This defect is caused by inadequate bonding of the tire tread to the steel belt when the tire is manufactured.  Tread separation has been the cause of numerous tire recalls and may be the cause of a rollover accident.  The risk posed by tire tread separation is particularly dangerous when the vehicle involved is an SUV or 15-passenger van with a high center of gravity.  These types of vehicles are particularly susceptible to rollover accidents that are often caused by tire blowouts.

Old Tires: Tires undergo chemical changes over time so old tires are more prone to blowouts.  Sometimes a tire remains in the inventory of a tire company for an extended period; the manufacturer or retailer may be liable if the tire blows out because a tire was actually much older than represented when the tire was purchased.  If the tire is old, it does not matter if there is a lot of tread and the tire does not look worn.

Selling Used Tires as New: If you purchase tires that are marketed by the retailer as new but are really used tires, you may have a legal claim against the retailer and others if it causes a Mississippi car accident.

If you or a close family member has suffered severe injuries or you have lost a loved one in a Mississippi motor vehicle accident caused by a tire blowout, you may be entitled to damages for your injuries. The experienced Mississippi personal injury attorneys at Barrett Law have been providing tenacious representation to Mississippi car accident victims for over 75 years.  We provide diligent legal representation and impassioned advocacy so we invite you to call us today at 662-834-2376 to learn how we can help.

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Liability of an Employer for an Employee’s Car Accident

Many people are involved in collisions with people that are driving company vehicles.  These may be either employees of private companies or public employees.  While a driver may be liable for injuries even if the driver is engaged in employment and driving a company car, there are many situations where the company that employs the driver is a more feasible defendant.  An employee may not have insurance and may have limited assets to pay a personal injury judgment.  While you may be able to successfully pursue a claim against the driver’s employer in such situations, this is not always the case.  This issue is particularly relevant with the growing trend of cell phone use for calling and texting while employees are working.

Texting or talking on a cell phone when driving is a visual, mental and physical distraction that creates a significant risk of being involved in a collision.  An employee generally is liable for injuries caused to third parties in an auto accident if the injuries occurred in the “scope of employment.”  This essentially means that the employee is doing something that is beneficial to one’s employer.  The trip does not have to have been specifically requested nor does it even need to occur during business hours.  If an employee decides to pick up blueprints on the way home from the office to save one’s employer a trip, this may be sufficient to be within the scope of employment.  If an employee is in an accident while on the way to the grocery store after getting fast food for oneself while driving home from work, this generally is not within the scope of employment.  There is lots of grey area between these two scenarios so it is a good idea to seek legal advice from an experienced Mississippi personal injury lawyer in either situation.

If any employer encourages their employee to use their phone while on the road or tacitly approves such conduct, this may serve as a basis for finding an employer liable if the employee is conducting some form of company business.  However, even if an employer does not specifically instruct an employee to use a cell phone or provide a company phone, this does not necessarily mean that an employer is not liable for an auto accident involving an employee.  In such situations, our experienced Mississippi car accident lawyers will carefully investigate to determine the employer’s policies regarding cell phone use when driving, enforcement of such policies and the purpose of the driving excursion.  Because the factual scenarios can be extremely complex, these cases often turn on their individual facts.

If you are involved in a Mississippi car accident with an employee of a company, the experienced personal injury attorneys at Barrett Law can evaluate the circumstances of your Mississippi car accident so that we can advise you of your rights and options. The experienced Mississippi car accident attorneys at Barrett Law have been providing tenacious representation to car accident victims for over 75 years.  We provide diligent legal representation and impassioned advocacy so we invite you to call us today at 662-834-2376 to learn how we can help.

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Hazardous Roads May Cause Serious Mississippi Auto Accidents

While most motor vehicle accidents are caused by negligent drivers, some accidents are caused at least in part by unsafe roads.  Roadways can be poorly designed or inadequately maintained resulting in a high risk of collision that may cause catastrophic injuries or wrongful death.  Personal injury lawsuits involving dangerous streets, highways and interstates pose special litigation challenges because the defendant in most dangerous road cases is a public entity.  Governmental entities may protected by sovereign immunity that protects them from litigation for personal injury.  However, most jurisdictions have passed tort claims acts that waives this sovereign immunity at least in part provided claimants comply with special procedures and timing requirements.  The Mississippi Tort Claims Act is a set of statutes, codified collectively, that explains when, how and whether someone can bring a lawsuit against a governmental entity or political subdivision.

The Mississippi Tort Claims Act imposes the following limitations or conditions when pursuing a claim against a government entity or subdivision including:

  • All damages when aggregated are capped at $500,000
  • Bar on punitive damages
  • The Statute of Limitations is only one year from the date of  incident resulting in injury
  • Trial must be by judge not jury

These limitations combined with the virtually unlimited resources that public entities have to defend personal injury lawsuits makes it essential to retain a law firm with extensive experience handling lawsuits against public entities if you are involved in a Mississippi car accident caused by a hazardous roadway.  There are many types of road hazards that can contribute to a serious motor vehicle accident including:

Construction Zones: Construction zones are dangerous and confusing for motorists.  There may be misplaced barriers, heavy equipment obstructing travel and debris in the roadway.  Many construction projects involve detours that can be confusing particularly because there are so many visual distractions in most work zones.

Edge of the Road Drop-Offs: Many roads have dangerous unsafe drop-offs and lack barriers like guardrails to keep vehicles from dropping off the edge of the roadway.  Deterioration of the edge of roadway can cause the pavement to collapse under the tire of a motor vehicle.

Faulty Intersection Geometry: This essentially refers to design defects that may impair visibility or negotiation of turns at an intersection, such as extremely narrow roads or sharp turns.

Unsafe Slopes and Dips: Slopes and dips in the road can impair visibility and sometimes cause a loss of control causing serious collisions.

Visual Obstruction of Intersection: Many times the design or maintenance of a vehicle can result in impaired visibility at an intersection, such as overgrown foliage.

Water Pooling from Poor Road Design: Sometimes road design does not permit proper drainage of rain from the roadway so that water pooling may occur and cause a vehicle to hydroplane.  Hydroplaning occurs when a vehicle loses traction with the roadway and floats across the pooled water.

This is a representative list of the types of dangerous road conditions that may cause a motor vehicle accident in Mississippi, but there are many other types of road hazards that may cause serious Mississippi car accidents.  If you or a close family member is injured in a Mississippi auto accident, it is important to conduct an investigation and determine the following:

  • How long has the unsafe road condition been present?
  • Have there been prior accidents caused by the road hazard?
  • Were complaints made by other motorists about the hazard?

At Barrett Law, we carefully investigate our client’s accidents so that we can develop the best possible litigation strategy.  We invite you to contact Barrett Law so that we can evaluate your Mississippi pool or spa accident claim and advise you of your rights and options.  Call us at 662-834-2376.

No Recovery No Fee!

 

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