Looking For A Mississippi Personal Injury Lawyer?

What Does a Personal Injury Attorney Do?

Attorneys practicing personal injury law advocate for people who have been hurt by someone else’s negligent actions or intentional wrongdoing. After a car accident or other incident, an injured person may file a claim with the responsible party’s insurance company. But insurance companies rarely offer to pay victims what their claims are truly worth.

This is where personal injury attorneys come in. If a personal injury lawyer takes your case, they can build a strong legal argument for why you deserve fair compensation. They may even consult expert witnesses to strengthen your case.

The majority of personal injury cases tend to be settled out of court, meaning you and the other party come to an agreement on a certain amount of compensation. However, if you cannot agree on a settlement, your lawyer can also argue your case in a civil trial.

Understandably, many injured people are concerned about the potential cost of a personal injury lawyer. Most Mississippi personal injury lawyers work on contingency, meaning you pay them a percentage of your compensation only if you win your case. If you lose your case, you pay nothing.

What to Look for When Choosing Mississippi Personal Injury Attorneys

If you want to improve your chances of success in recovering fair compensation for your injury, you don’t need just any lawyer — you need someone with skill, determination, and relevant experience.

Most Mississippi personal injury lawyers offer free consultations, so you should take your time when selecting an attorney. Here are a few things to look for when choosing your lawyer:

Specific Experience

Personal injury is a very broad area of law. Some personal injury lawyers take a generalist approach, while others focus on a few types of cases. There’s nothing wrong with selecting either type of firm, but it’s important to verify that any attorney you’re considering has experience with your specific type of case.

Positive Results

If the attorney you choose has a history of great results, you can assume you’ll also have a reasonable chance of winning your case. Many accomplished personal injury lawyers will publish their results on their websites.

Good Communication Skills

Personal injury cases usually take months or years. Frequent contact with your attorney is essential, so you’ll want to choose a lawyer who understands the importance of communication. If an attorney you’re considering promptly responds to your questions, that’s a good sign.

Personalized Case Planning

No two personal injury cases are exactly alike. While an attorney probably won’t go into great detail during a consultation, you should at least get the sense that they will create an individualized plan for your case.

Common Types of Personal Injury Claims Filed in Mississippi

A personal injury lawyer can help people like you recover compensation for a wide range of injuries. Some of the most common types of personal injury cases include:

Car Accidents

Many people who file personal injury claims have been hurt in auto accidents. Sometimes, a car accident involves one driver who was obviously at fault and one who was blameless. Practically speaking, though, many car accidents involve drivers who share fault.

Fortunately, thanks to Mississippi’s comparative negligence law, you can seek damages even if you were partially at fault for your accident. However, if you are awarded compensation, the amount you receive will likely be reduced by your percentage of fault.

Pedestrian and Bicycle Accidents

Pedestrian and bike accidents often lead to life-altering injuries, especially if the accident involves a moving car. Even at fairly low speeds, accidents with motor vehicles can be harmful or fatal to cyclists and pedestrians.

Truck Accidents

It may seem like handling a truck accident case would be no different from a car accident lawsuit. However, truck accidents present additional challenges. For instance, liability for these crashes is often shared among the trucking company, the truck driver and potentially other parties.

Trucking companies are typically represented by entire teams of very skilled attorneys. If you want to maximize your chances of a victory, you should choose a personal injury lawyer who has experience facing off against these legal teams.

Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycle accidents are a bit different from car accidents. When you’re on a motorcycle, you don’t have the protective shell of a car around you, and that often translates to serious injuries.

Even if you aren’t at all to blame for your accident, recovering damages as a motorcyclist can be tougher than it should be. Many insurance companies and courts have a bias against motorcyclists. But an experienced Mississippi personal injury lawyer may be able to argue for you to receive the compensation you deserve.

Slip and Fall Accidents

Slip and fall accidents are among the most common premises liability cases. In Mississippi, property owners have a legal obligation to maintain a safe environment for visitors. If a property owner fails to address a hazard and you suffer an injury as a result, you may be able to pursue a premises liability case.

Medical Malpractice

Some personal injury attorneys also work as medical malpractice lawyers. If you’ve been harmed because a medical professional failed to deliver the appropriate standard of care, a medical malpractice lawsuit may help you recover compensation.

Medical malpractice cases are extremely complex and require an in-depth knowledge of medicine. To increase your chances of success, make sure any attorney you consider has a record of success specifically in medical malpractice cases.

Dog Bites

Mississippi is a “one-bite” state when it comes to dog bites. This means that if a dog does not have a history of aggression, an owner may not be liable for any injuries it causes.

The state does not have an explicit dog bite law, though. Instead, courts reference a 1973 dog bite case as precedent. This fact can make dog bite lawsuits very complex, so having experienced legal representation is crucial.

Workplace Accidents

Some workplaces are more dangerous than others. While you may not be likely to suffer a catastrophic injury while working behind a desk, construction injuries frequently cause life-changing injuries and even death.

Most Mississippi employers must carry workers’ compensation insurance, but navigating the claims process can be confusing if you don’t have a legal background. The right personal injury lawyer can advocate for you at every step to increase your chances of receiving fair compensation.

Do I Have a Personal Injury Case?

The only person who can tell you for sure whether you have a viable case is a Mississippi personal injury lawyer. If you schedule a free consultation, an attorney can review your case with you and help you explore whether a lawsuit is the best way forward.

When Should I Hire a Personal Injury Law Firm?

If you were involved in an accident and have no injuries or very minor injuries, pursuing legal action may not be worthwhile. However, if your injuries were caused by someone else and have a significant impact on your life, it’s wise to talk to a personal injury firm.

How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Claim in Mississippi?

In Mississippi, the statute of limitations for personal injury cases is three years. This means that you generally have three years from the date of your injury to pursue legal action.

Some people see this statute of limitations and think it means they can wait a couple of years before consulting a Mississippi personal injury lawyer. To win your case, though, your lawyer must be able to prove the elements of negligence, as well as the extent of your injuries.

It takes time to build a strong case, so ideally, you should consult a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.

Common Damages in Personal Injury Cases

If a Mississippi personal injury lawyer discusses your case with you and agrees to represent you, they will attempt to recover damages, a legal term referring to compensation for your losses. These are some of the most common damages recovered in personal injury cases:

Medical Bills

You may already know that if you win your personal injury case, you can recover compensation for the medical bills you’ve already incurred. However, your attorney may be able to secure compensation for future medical bills as well.

For instance, severe traumatic brain injuries often require lifelong care. If you are awarded compensation for future medical care, you can rest assured that you can afford the care you need.

Property Damage

If the incident that caused your injury also damaged your property, your attorney might be able to recover compensation for that as well. For example, if you get hurt in a car accident, you might be awarded compensation to repair or replace your damaged vehicle.

Lost Income

After suffering a major injury, you almost certainly will have to take time off work. If you win your case, the other party might be responsible for replacing your lost wages.

Lost Earning Capacity

Some serious injuries heal completely. Others may leave you with a permanent partial or total disability. If that disability limits your earning capacity going forward, your Mississippi personal injury lawyer might be able to secure compensation to make up for it.

Pain and Suffering

When people talk about compensation for pain and suffering, they’re usually describing payment for non-economic damages. These are losses that can’t be easily quantified, including physical pain and emotional distress.

Loss of Consortium

If you are married and your injuries have a significant impact on your relationship, you might be able to recover compensation for loss of consortium.

Serving Personal Injury Clients Across Mississippi

ConsumerShield partners with thousands of attorneys across the country so that you can find a skilled attorney near you. We can match you with an attorney in just about every city in Mississippi, including these:

• Aberdeen
• Biloxi
• Brandon
• Clinton
• Columbus
• Greenville
• Gulfport
• Hattiesburg
• Horn Lake
• Jackson
• Meridian
• Olive Branch
• Oxford
• Pascagoula
• Pearl
• Ridgeland
• Southaven
• Starkville
• Tupelo
• Vicksburg

Whether you’re in a major metropolis or a quiet rural town, we can help you find the right attorney for your situation.

Connect With Experienced Mississippi Personal Injury Lawyers

If you’ve suffered a serious injury because another person was negligent, a Mississippi personal injury lawyer may be able to help you recover the compensation you deserve to move forward. Your choice of lawyer can make a major difference in the outcome of your case, but if you’re like most people, you may be unsure of how to start your search.

That’s where ConsumerShield can help. We’re committed to matching people like you with experienced, pre-vetted lawyers near you. Ready to get started? Fill out our simple contact form for a free case review.