Many pedestrians are, unfortunately, injured every year in Mississippi by negligent drivers. Victims of a pedestrian accident might not know what steps to take to hold the at-fault driver responsible.
There are numerous forms of compensation a victim can claim after being injured in a pedestrian accident that a skilled Mississippi pedestrian accident lawyer can help with. Pedestrian accidents can occur in several ways, and determining who should be sued is not always apparent. In some cases, multiple drivers might share the blame. If the driver fled the scene, further investigation would be needed to identify them. Fortunately, several pieces of evidence could be obtained to move your case forward.
If a negligent driver injured you in a pedestrian accident, our Mississippi pedestrian accident lawyers can help you determine the right legal strategies to recover the compensation you deserve. For a free case review, call Howe Law today at (844) 876-4357.
Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in Mississippi
Other drivers’ negligence is usually the cause of pedestrian accidents in Mississippi. Unfortunately, negligent drivers can cause pedestrian accidents in several ways, causing serious injuries and even death. The following are common causes of pedestrian accidents in Mississippi:
- Distracted driving
- Texting while driving
- Disobeying traffic signals
- Speeding
- Improper left turns
- Failure to yield the right of way
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Reckless driving
- Defective car parts
Proving fault in a pedestrian accident lawsuit will have much to do with how your injuries were caused. Different types of pedestrian accidents require various legal strategies fit for the case. Our Mississippi pedestrian accident lawyers can help you prove how the other person’s negligence caused your injuries.
Determining Liability for a Mississippi Pedestrian Accident
Determining liability after a pedestrian accident can be more challenging than one might think, depending on the circumstances. If the driver that hit you honors their duty of care to others on the road, they will stop and render aid. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for drivers to flee the scene of a pedestrian accident, either from panic or cruelty. Our Mississippi pedestrian accident lawyers can help you with your lawsuit or work to identify the driver so they can be brought to justice.
Single-Car Accidents
It is usually not too difficult to determine liability for a pedestrian accident caused by a single driver. Ideally, a driver will stop and help after a pedestrian accident while waiting for emergency services and police. In those situations, the driver should provide you with their insurance and license information, which is sufficient to file a lawsuit against them later, if necessary.
However, some drivers might be reluctant to provide their information or even hostile to you asking. Some drivers might be too emotionally upset to talk, or they might not have insurance. Whatever the reason, do not attempt to press a driver that refused to provide their information. Simply call 911 and wait for the police to come a take a report. Drivers cannot refuse law enforcement’s questions and will be cited for driving without insurance if they do not provide it to the police. Fortunately, the police report will include their personal information, like name and address, which can be used to file a lawsuit and serve them with the proper paperwork.
Hit-and-Run Accidents
In the worst pedestrian accidents, a driver does not stop to check on the victim’s condition and instead flees the scene. Hit-and-run accidents are not only morally reprehensible, but they are also a crime in Mississippi. If you were the victim of a hit-and-run accident, our Mississippi pedestrian accident lawyers will work with law enforcement to identify the person responsible for your injuries and file a lawsuit against them.
It is important to note that a hit-and-run driver’s criminal prosecution will usually occur before a lawsuit can be filed against them in civil court. However, once the criminal prosecution has concluded, the outcome of that case could be useful in establishing your civil claim in court.
Multiple-Car Accidents
In some cases, several drivers could be liable for a pedestrian accident. Multi-car accidents usually occur in chain reaction collisions, in which one car hits another and causes it to hit yet another car. These cases are complex since each driver tends to point their finger at the others, frustrating your efforts to recover compensation. However, each driver can be sued, and the issue of liability can be addressed during litigation.
Commercial Vehicle Accidents
Some pedestrian accidents in Mississippi are caused by commercial vehicles, like delivery vehicles or garbage trucks. For instance, a pizza delivery car might cut a corner too tightly and injure a pedestrian standing at the corner. In most cases, an employer can be held responsible for the acts of their employees if they were performing the typical work when they caused an accident.
Other commercial vehicles that cause pedestrian accidents might be independent contractors that work with companies like Uber and Lyft. In those cases, it will be more difficult to sue a company that employs independent contractors since they are not traditional employees.
Evidence Used to Prove a Mississippi Pedestrian Accident Lawsuit
To recover damages for your pedestrian accident injuries, you must prove that the driver’s negligence caused your injuries. This is done by obtaining evidence from numerous sources to satisfy each element of your lawsuit. It also helps paint the picture of how your injuries were caused for the court. The following are common kinds of evidence that can be used in your Mississippi pedestrian accident lawsuit:
- Police reports
- Medical records
- Photos from the scene and injuries
- Physical evidence from the scene
- Surveillance footage
- Smartphone footage
- Witness statements
- Personal recollections
Some of this evidence can be difficult to gather on your own. Our Mississippi pedestrian accident lawyers can help you track down the relevant evidence you will need to prove your case.
Our Mississippi Pedestrian Accident Lawyers Can Help
Our Mississippi pedestrian accident lawyers are dedicated to helping victims get justice for the damages caused by a negligent driver. Contact Howe Law at (844) 876-4357 for a free case assessment.
