What You Need To Know About Personal Injury Law In Mississippi

So you've been in an accident that wasn't your fault, and it's resulted in a serious injury. Nobody ever wants to be injured, and certainly, they don't want to deal with an injury that could leave them in the hospital recovering for days. But the fact is that sometimes, you don't have much of a choice in the matter due to mistakes or even conscious choices made by someone else. This adds an especially infuriating note to the experience, as it wasn't your fault. There was nothing you could have done to prevent the accident, and now you're dealing with physical and potentially emotional trauma, as well as medical bills and possibly issues with working in the future. Sometimes, accidents that are beyond our control can change our lives permanently. This is why personal injury lawyers exist. Not only are they there to ensure that your rights are represented and protected; they can also help you pursue the compensation that you deserve so that you are not left at an extreme financial disadvantage. But many people do not pursue personal injury lawsuits as quickly as they should. This is in part because of the fact that there is a degree of unfair shame with which personal injury cases are sometimes treated. We hear often about personal injury lawyers being treated as ambulance chasers, and many don't understand the intricacies and the justice behind personal injury lawsuits. Therefore, lots of people don't understand that they are entitled to representation, and entitled to pursue their personal injury cases in the first place. With that being said, there are other issues that can sometimes make it difficult for people to pursue personal injury cases to the extent that they should. Personal injury law varies from state to state, and if you live in the state of Mississippi, you may not understand when you are able to pursue personal injury lawsuits and what you should do if you'd like to move forward with a case. There are so many instances in which personal injury law does apply in Mississippi. For example, if you're bitten by a dog, which happens to almost 4.5 million Americans each year with half of them being children, you would potentially be able to pursue a personal injury lawsuit in Mississippi. But before you begin making plans, let's look into what you need to do in order to pursue your case fully.

What Do I Need To Know Before Pursuing A Personal Injury Case?

Pursuing a personal injury lawsuit is complex, and in fact, many personal injury cases do not go to trial, with 95% to 96% being settled in the pretrial phase. A settlement can still be significant. Sometimes, a settlement may cover all or at least some of your medical bills, or extend beyond that, even. But you shouldn't pursue a personal injury lawsuit because you believe that you're entitled to a settlement. There is no guarantee that your opponent will settle with you, and you will need to spend money when you hire a lawyer. Personal injury lawsuits are not get-rich-quick schemes, and they require a lot of hard work. Furthermore, you can't simply decide to file a personal injury claim based on an injury that you received years ago, for which you're still paying today. Mississippi does have a statute surrounding personal injuries, and generally speaking, you cannot file a claim if it has been three or more years since the injury occurred. But that's the general rule. Things can get a bit more complex depending on the specifics of your case. Say your incident involved medical malpractice; in that case, the statute can move down to two years. This is why it's so important that you work with a lawyer. Technically speaking, you can move forward with a personal injury case without a lawyer, but this is generally ill-advised. Law is difficult to understand as a layman, and due to the different state variations involving personal injury law, there is even more to worry about. State courts have been looking into the evidence surrounding legislative intent in construing state law for more than 100 years, and it's still hard to comprehend. When it comes to personal injury law, it can take a lot for you to simply prove that you have a claim, let alone to move forward with it.

How Can My Attorney And I Build A Case?

You'll need to prove that you have a case with evidence, which will typically involve gathering any photos and documentation that you have about the accident. Depending on the type of accident that occurred, this could involve police records or even footage of the accident. However, you will most probably have medical records surrounding the incident that can potentially prove that you were in an accident and that the accident caused your injuries. From there, the issue is really proving the connection between the person responsible for the accident and the accident itself. This may involve witness testimonies and even the reconstruction of the scene in some cases. Afterward, you can move forward with filing the potential case alongside your attorneys.

What Kinds Of Damages Can I Expect?

The damages you may be owed can vary based on your specific case. In fact, the state of Mississippi does not have a cap on the amount of money that you can receive in damages. If you win or settle your case, your financial damages can cover your medical bills, as well as lost income and even funeral costs if the case is a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of another. However, non-economic damages can also be awarded by a judge, who may limit or punish the person responsible for the accident in another way. These damages, called punitive damages, require quite a bit of evidence that is solid and concrete against the defendant. There are a lot of complex issues surrounding personal injury law in Mississippi. But it doesn't have to be overly confusing. With the help of a good attorney, you can determine what you are entitled to in a court of law.