Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers in Mississippi

Mississippi's three-year deadline

Mississippi gives you three years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit under Miss. Code § 15-1-49. A drunk driving case often runs alongside a criminal prosecution, but your civil claim for compensation is separate and has its own deadline. We begin building the civil case immediately, gathering the evidence while it is fresh and independent of the criminal case.

Punitive damages against a drunk driver

Beyond compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain, Mississippi allows punitive damages meant to punish conduct as reckless as drunk driving. That makes a drunk driving claim different from an ordinary car crash, and we pursue the full measure of damages the law allows for a driver who chose to get behind the wheel impaired.

When a bar or casino over-served the driver

Mississippi's dram shop law under Miss. Code § 67-3-73 generally protects a business that lawfully serves alcohol to an adult, but that protection falls away when the establishment served someone who was visibly intoxicated. If a bar, casino, or restaurant kept serving a person showing clear signs of intoxication who then caused a crash, it can share responsibility. We investigate where the driver was drinking and how they were served.

Why partial fault does not end your Mississippi claim

Mississippi follows pure comparative negligence under Miss. Code § 11-7-15. Even if a drunk driver's insurer tries to shift some blame onto you, being partly at fault reduces your recovery by your percentage rather than eliminating it. We use the crash evidence, the police investigation, and the driver's impairment to keep fault where it belongs. The most seriously injured are treated at Mississippi's designated trauma centers, including the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, the state's only Level I trauma center.

Serving victims of drunk drivers across Mississippi

Howe.Law represents people injured by drunk drivers throughout Mississippi, with offices in Jackson, Gulfport, Hattiesburg, and Biloxi. Wherever in the state a drunk driver hurt you, we serve you.

Reports, treatment, and filing your case

A drunk driving crash inside a city is investigated by that city's police department, one in an unincorporated area by the county sheriff, and one on an interstate by the Mississippi Highway Patrol. We obtain the crash report and the criminal case records along with your medical records and file your lawsuit in the county where the crash occurred, in that county's Circuit Court.

Speak with a Mississippi drunk driving accident attorney

You did nothing wrong, and you deserve a firm that will make the drunk driver answer for it. Call (844) 876-4357 for a free, confidential consultation. We work on a contingency fee basis, so you owe no attorney fee unless we recover compensation for you.

Common questions

The drunk driver is being prosecuted. Do I still need to file my own case?

Yes. The criminal case can punish the driver, but it does not pay for your medical bills, lost wages, or pain. Your civil claim is separate, has its own three-year deadline, and is how you recover compensation. A criminal conviction can also help prove your civil case.

Can I recover punitive damages in a drunk driving case?

Often yes. Mississippi allows punitive damages for conduct as reckless as drunk driving, on top of the compensation for your losses. We evaluate your case for the full range of damages available.

Can the bar or casino that served the driver be held responsible?

Sometimes. Mississippi's dram shop law protects a business that lawfully serves an adult, but not when it served a visibly intoxicated person. We investigate how and where the driver was served to determine whether that claim is available.