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Mississippi Local Accident Resources

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Mississippi Local Accident Resources

Has Someone You Know Been in a Fatal Car Accident in Mississippi Today

Have you recently lost a loved one where the loss was caused by someone else’s negligence? Contact Local Accident Reports today to speak with an experienced Mississippi wrongful death lawyer to discuss your path to justice and compensation.

If you have lost a loved one in a fatal car accident in Mississippi today, we understand the shock and grief you are overwhelmed with. Although it might feel like you have no course of action, you do, with legal representation from a wrongful death attorney who has the experience to help you gain the recovery you deserve. If you have emotional damages on your plate or have experienced financial burdens during this difficult time, our team of wrongful death lawyers is here to help. You might be facing challenges unlike anything you have been through before, so you need resources and professionals to help you during this challenging time in your life.

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If Your Loss Resulted in Lost Income

After losing a loved one in a tragic accident, you may be facing grief along with financial burdens. Unfortunately, you may have trouble paying these new bills because your main source of income for your family might have been provided by the person who passed away. If you are facing a situation like this, you may be entitled to various benefits to help you through this difficult time.

  • Social Security Disability Benefits: In Mississippi, these benefits can help you exponentially when you cannot work due to a disability. If your condition is expected to last one year or more, these benefits might be perfect for you. Follow this helpful link to help you start the multi-step process that will help you retain benefits that can help you and your family during this difficult time.
  • Supplemental Security Income: At this link, you will be able to find out more information on the supplemental security income benefits that might be available to you, which help those who are disabled or have little to no income and need to meet basic needs for food, clothing, and more for their family.
  • The Mississippi Bar: The Bar Association can help you when you need to connect to a personal injury attorney who can help when you seek damages for your accident case.

Need help with requesting an official copy of the incident police report?

Obtaining a copy of the police report following an accident helps impacted victims’ families prove their negligence claims against all responsible parties. For those who were harmed in car accidents in the state of Mississippi, copies of police reports can be obtained via mail, online, or in person. The fee to pick up a police report in person or have it mailed is $15. To receive a copy of the report online costs $20. 

We also have a local personal injury lawyer who is willing to obtain a complimentary copy of your police report. If you or a loved one was hurt in a Mississippi car accident and are having a hard time obtaining the police report, contact our office, and we will help you get one.

Emotional Support

In the case of wrongful death, the lasting emotions that follow your family in a wrongful death case can be immensely life-altering, which means that you will need support on your side at this time. If you still feel the deep emotional wounds left over from an accident, you could benefit by reaching out to the following resources:

  • DMH: The Mississippi Department of Mental Health offers a statewide system that can help you if you are feeling emotionally unwell or unstable. They can help make sure you receive the care you need to move forward at this time.
  • Mississippi Trauma Groups: If you have experienced trauma, whether by witnessing the car accident that took your loved one or being injured in the accident yourself, these specific trauma groups are designed to help you get the help you need.
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When You Are Seeking Assistance to Help Pay for Crime-Related Expenses

Legal fees can be heavy, so you should always have help when paying for crime-related expenses in Mississippi. If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident due to a crime, such as a hit-and-run accident or drunk driving, you have rights. Here is a resource that might be able to offer you financial assistance at this time:

    • Victim’s Compensation in Mississippi: The Mississippi Victim’s Compensation network offers you financial assistance if you have been the victim of a crime. Innocent victims should not have to fight on their own as they work toward the damages they need during this time. You are not alone.

Accident Due to a Drunk Driver

Drunk and drugged driving accidents are some of the most devastating accidents that take place on our roads for a variety of reasons. They can cause extreme amounts of damage, such as injuries, fatalities, property damage, and more that can change your life forever. Under Mississippi law, certain amounts of BAC will lead to DUI charges in drivers. These include the following:

  • BAC of .02% and over for anybody over 21
  • .08% BAC for those over 21 years of age
  • .04% for all commercial drivers on our roadways

If an officer suspects that the other driver was driving under the influence of drugs at the time, they will give a blood test to help them make this determination, and charges could result. Below is a special resource that will help you find the support you need during this difficult time if you have been involved in one of these accidents:

  • MADD Mississippi: Mothers Against Drunk Driving is a nonprofit that helps end drunk and drugged driving in its wake. If you need support because you have been involved in a drunk or drugged driving accident, MADD can help in your time of need. With a 24-hour victim helpline and other resources for you to use, you will find endless support during this time.

Charities Supported by Local Accident Reports

  • Arrive Alive Tour: The Arrive Alive Tour offers educational programs concerning negligent driving and its dangers. It tours different schools and campuses and raises awareness concerning the consequences and dangers of intoxicated driving.
  • The Compassionate Friends: This organization provides comfort, hope, and support to families experiencing the death of a child.
  • Healing Tree: The Healing Tree provides trauma-focused education, resources, and empowerment to attempt to create a healing environment.
  • The McClean Fletcher Center: This center offers a nurturing and supportive environment for grieving children and teenagers.
  • Stop Distractions: This is a grassroots non-profit committed to removing the devastation that results from losing someone you love suddenly and wrongfully.

Frequently Asked Questions on Wrongful Death in Mississippi

According to the wrongful death statute in Mississippi, wrongful death is when someone loses their life due to another individual or entity’s wrongful act. Some of these include:

  • Negligence, such as reckless driving
  • An intentional attack, such as battery or assault
  • A fatality during a crime
  • Manslaughter
  • Vehicular manslaughter
  • Murder
  • Unsafe appliances or machinery
  • A breach of the fitness warranty of a product
How Do I File a Wrongful Death Claim in Mississippi?

Filing a wrongful death claim in Mississippi is a process, but here’s a rundown in simple terms:

First, determine if you’re eligible to file the claim. Usually, the person in charge of the deceased’s estate does this. If no one has been appointed yet, the court can step in and choose someone.

Gather up any evidence you have that supports your case. This could be medical records, reports about what happened, or statements from witnesses.

Talking to an experienced attorney regarding wrongful death cases in Mississippi is highly recommended. They’ll be able to guide you through the process, tell you what your rights are, and help you figure out the strength of your case.

With your lawyer’s help, you’ll complete all the paperwork and file the claim with the right court in Mississippi. Your attorney will help you ensure everything is done correctly and submitted on time. In Mississippi, you usually have about three years from the date of death to file.

Once the claim is filed, the people you’re suing (the defendants) must be officially told about it. This is called “serving” them with notice.

Depending on how things go, your case might end up in court or get settled outside of it. If it goes to trial, both sides will present their evidence and arguments, and a judge or jury will decide. If you settle, you’ll work out a settlement agreement with the other party without going to trial.

If you win your case or settle, any money awarded will be divided up according to Mississippi’s rules, which are discussed below. Usually, it goes to the deceased person’s family.

Every wrongful death case is different, so it’s crucial to have a good lawyer by your side to help you out. They’ll ensure you do everything right and fight for what you deserve.

A wrongful death lawsuit is typically filed in civil court. Although a suspect can be prosecuted for murder, private parties can only sue for financial compensation for the wrongful passing of a loved one. Although the state can prosecute someone for murder, private parties can only sue for monetary compensation for the death of a loved one.

Under Mississippi’s wrongful death statute, the following individuals can file a wrongful death lawsuit:

  • Parents
  • Spouse
  • Children and any descendants of children
  • Siblings

The personal representative of the deceased person’s estate can also file a wrongful death lawsuit. You should check with your loved one’s will to see who he or she appointed as the estate’s representative.

Regardless of who files the wrongful death lawsuit, all interested parties can join once it is filed. Paperwork will need to be filed with the civil court asking permission to join, so having help from a lawyer is invaluable in order to file everything and create the correct legal arguments.

In a successful Mississippi wrongful death lawsuit, the defendant is ordered to pay damages concerning the claimed losses of the deceased individual’s survivors. According to the law in Mississippi, damages in a wrongful death case include financial compensation for several different loss categories, including:

  • Funeral/burial expenses
  • Payments for destroyed or damaged property
  • The pain and suffering of the deceased person
  • Survivors’ loss of the deceased’s companionship
  • The value of the lost wages and benefits the deceased may have earned if he or she would have survived

Like numerous other states, Mississippi has limited the damages awarded to a plaintiff in wrongful death cases. Noneconomic damages are capped at $1,000,000 and intended to cover abstract losses such as pain, suffering, loss of companionship, and more. If the fatality was due to medical malpractice, the cap is $500,000. These caps do not apply to economic damages like lost wages or funeral/burial expenses. (Miss. Code § 11-1-60 (2021).)

Wrongful death lawsuits must be filed within a certain period, set by a “statute of limitations.” The statute of limitations for the majority of wrongful death lawsuits in Mississippi is three years from the date of the victim’s passing. However, if the death was due to an intentional act, such as battery or assault, the wrongful death claim has to be filed within one year of the date of the fatality.

Financial compensation awarded after a wrongful death claim in Mississippi will be divided as follows:

  • If a surviving spouse is present, and the victim is not a parent, the surviving spouse receives everything.
  • If a surviving spouse and the children of the deceased exist, the compensation will be divided equally between them.
  • If only the deceased person’s children remain, the financial compensation gets divided between them equally.
  • If the deceased had no children and no spouse, the financial compensation would be equally divided between the deceased person’s parents and siblings.

Rarely punitive damages can be awarded in wrongful death cases in Mississippi. These types of damages are meant to punish the defendant for egregious actions and discourage future negligent behavior. To prove punitive damages, the claimant has to show that the defendant acted with:

  • Malice
  • Actual fraud
  • Gross negligence
  • Wanton or willful and careless disregard for another individual’s safety
Wrongful death cases may take several months to several years to resolve, and no case follows any specific timeline. Most cases take two to four years, but some will settle within a year or several months. Some cases take much longer, particularly those that do not pay out of court.

It is wise to consult a skilled personal injury lawyer before pursuing a Mississippi wrongful death claim. Wrongful death claims can be complicated, especially if multiple family members are involved. A skilled attorney can help you determine how the laws in Mississippi apply to your case and make sure all the correct steps are taken. A preliminary investigation can also be conducted to figure out what caused the death of your loved one, which may help you figure out whether or not you have a valid legal claim.

There were 772 deaths related to car wrecks in Mississippi in 2021, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. There were 697 car crash fatalities in Mississippi in 2022. From 2019 to 2022, the number of traffic fatalities in Mississippi increased by 8%.

In 2021, Mississippi saw a total of 1,045 vehicles involved in fatal accidents, with passenger vehicles accounting for 35 percent of those crashes. Pickup trucks made up the largest share at 45 percent, followed by large trucks, which comprised 10 percent, and motorcycles at 4 percent. Additionally, about 5 percent of the vehicles involved in these fatal accidents were not reported or identified, adding a layer of complexity to the overall analysis.

Despite a reduction in the number of miles driven, Mississippi has experienced a troubling rise in traffic fatalities in recent years. According to TRIP, a private nonprofit focused on traffic research, traffic-related deaths in the state increased by more than 8 percent from 2019 to 2022. In 2019, there were 643 reported fatalities, which spiked to 752 in 2020. The number continued to rise in 2021, with 772 deaths, before slightly decreasing to 697 fatalities in 2022. 

This upward trend is particularly concerning, given that fewer vehicles were on the road during parts of this period due to pandemic-related restrictions. The increase highlights the persistence of dangerous driving behaviors and challenges in ensuring road safety across the state.

Reach out to Local Accident Reports Today

Suddenly, losing a beloved member of your family in an accident is never, ever easy, especially if you believe the reckless or careless actions of a negligent driver may have caused their wreck. Working alongside a skilled Mississippi wrongful death attorney can help you to financially recover so you can focus on your health and well-being and that of your loved ones.  Local Accident Reports has been lending a helping hand to crash victims and their loved ones for decades. We are here to help you during this difficult time, so do not hesitate to contact us to learn how we can assist you in your financial recovery. 

Mississippi Grief & Trauma Resources

Resources by State

Motor Vehicle Crash Deaths by Road User Type and State

Car Occupants

Car Occupants

307

Pickup and SUV Occupants

Pickup and SUV Occupants

228

Large Truck Occupants

Large Truck Occupants

16

Motorcyclists

Motorcyclists

40

Pedestrians

Pedestrians

71

Bicyclists

Bicyclists

7

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