Pedestrian Accident Lawyers in Hattiesburg

The three-year deadline and vanishing evidence

Mississippi gives an injured pedestrian three years from the date of the collision to file a lawsuit under Miss. Code Ann. § 15-1-49. The deadline is generous, but the proof is not. Surveillance video from campus-area and downtown businesses is often recorded over within days, and student and visitor witnesses move on quickly. We begin investigating immediately so the facts are preserved while they can still be found.

Pure comparative fault and the driver's usual defense

A pedestrian's share of the blame reduces a Mississippi claim, it does not erase it. Under the pure comparative negligence rule of Miss. Code Ann. § 11-7-15, you can recover even if a jury finds you partly at fault, with your award reduced by your share, and only a person entirely to blame recovers nothing. Drivers and insurers almost always argue that the pedestrian stepped out suddenly or crossed against the signal. That argument does not end your case here, and we gather the evidence that shows the driver failed to keep a proper lookout.

Foot traffic around the University of Southern Mississippi

The streets around the University of Southern Mississippi mix a heavy student population on foot with drivers who are in a hurry, unfamiliar with the area, or looking for parking. Students crossing between campus and nearby housing, especially at night, are at real risk when a driver rolls through a crossing or turns without looking. We investigate the specific intersection or crossing where you were hit, including the signals, the lighting, and the driver's conduct, to establish exactly how the collision happened. Injured pedestrians are treated at Forrest General Hospital.

Serving injured pedestrians throughout the Pine Belt

Our Hattiesburg team represents injured pedestrians across Forrest, Lamar, Perry, Jones, Covington, and Marion counties. We handle claims for people hurt in Hattiesburg, Petal, Purvis, Oak Grove, Sumrall, Ellisville, Laurel, Collins, Columbia, and Lumberton.

Reports, treatment, and filing your case

A pedestrian crash on the city streets of Hattiesburg is investigated by the Hattiesburg Police Department, which prepares the official report, and injured victims are treated at Forrest General Hospital. We help you obtain your report and records, and when a fair settlement cannot be reached, we file your lawsuit in Forrest County Circuit Court.

Contact a Hattiesburg pedestrian injury attorney

If a driver's carelessness left you injured, you deserve dedicated legal help. Call (601) 501-4730 for a free, confidential case review. We work on a contingency fee basis, so you pay no attorney fee unless we recover compensation for you.

Speak with a Hattiesburg pedestrian accident attorney

Common questions

I was a student hit while walking near campus at night. Does poor lighting affect my case?

Inadequate lighting usually helps establish why a driver failed to see you, and it can also point to responsibility beyond the driver. We examine the lighting and the design of the crossing as part of proving how and why the collision happened.

The driver says I was not in a crosswalk downtown. Is my claim over?

No. A driver always has a duty to exercise care to avoid hitting a pedestrian, and where you crossed is one factor a jury weighs, not an automatic bar. Because Mississippi uses pure comparative fault, even if you share some blame you can still recover, reduced by your share. We evaluate the full circumstances to find the strongest path forward.

What if the driver who hit me had no insurance?

If the driver was uninsured, we look to the uninsured motorist coverage on your own auto policy, which can apply even when you were injured on foot rather than in your vehicle. We review every policy that might respond to your injuries.