Mississippi Personal Injury Attorney

Seeking Financial Compensation So You Can Focus on Healing – Jackson Personal Injury Lawyer

When you or a family member suffers a significant injury or a loved one dies because of a drunk driver, defective product or medical malpractice, the physical pain and stress of coping with such injuries can be overwhelming.  When struggling to overcome the emotional and physical challenges of recovering from serious injury or the loss of a loved one, it can be difficult to focus on legal and insurance issues.  However, the legal process is governed by deadlines and procedural requirements that must be successfully negotiated.  When people attempt to navigate this legal minefield without an experienced Mississippi personal injury attorney, they can easily make critical mistakes like signing a general release, providing a recorded statement or waiting too long to pursue their legal rights and remedies.

Jackson personal injury attorney William Kellum III recognizes the challenges that face those who suffer serious injuries like broken bones, fractures, spinal cord injuries, quadriplegia, traumatic head injuries, loss of limbs, severe burns, paraplegia and wrongful death.  When drunk drivers, indifferent property owners and others cause these types of severe injuries, the consequences are felt by both the person who is injured and his or her family.  When you speak with an experienced Mississippi personal injury lawyer at our law firm, we offer a candid assessment of your case along with aggressive and compassionate representation while pursuing the best outcome so that you can move past your personal tragedy.  Mr. Kellum’s expertise and experience in handling all types of litigation has equipped him with a thorough understanding of the tactics used by insurance companies to avoid or minimize the amount they pay for legitimate claims.

Personal Injury Law in Mississippi – What Accident Victims Need to Know

While a personal injury claim may be based on negligent, reckless or intentional acts that cause injury or the wrongful death of another individual, most claims are based on careless or inattentive action rather than intentional acts.  Negligent conduct in basic terms refers to the failure to exercise reasonable care for the safety of other to whom one owes a duty of care.  A common example includes motor vehicle accidents where a driver violates a traffic safety law or otherwise drives in an unsafe manner.  When the conduct of the party who causes injury is more egregious than simple negligence, such that it exhibits a conscious disregard for the safety or others or an intentional act, punitive damages might be available to punish the wrongdoer.

There are certain situations where an individual, company or public entity may be held strictly liable for injuries.  If a product defect causes injury to a consumer this might result in strict liability being imposed based on defective product law.  Alternatively, liability also may be imposed on a strict liability basis if injuries are caused by the violation of a public safety statute, which is referred to as “negligence per se”.

Another important aspect of Mississippi personal injury law that impacts the recovery in many lawsuits is the defense of comparative fault.  A common strategy employed by insurance companies when defending an insured in a car accident lawsuit or other personal injury case is to shift blame for causing the accident to the injured party.  If a judge or jury assigns fault to the plaintiff in a personal injury lawsuit, the negligence of the plaintiff will result in a reduction in recovery in proportion to the percentage of fault assigned to the plaintiff.  Because Mississippi is a pure comparative fault jurisdiction, an injury victim will not be barred from recovery even if his or her degree of fault is determined to be 75 percent or more.  Our experienced Mississippi personal injury lawyers anticipate such defenses, so we gather and analyze physical evidence, witness statements, medical records, law enforcement reports and other evidence so that we can provide a compelling claim for our clients.

Seeking the Full Spectrum of Damages for Many Types of Mississippi Personal Injury Lawsuits

Mississippi personal injury attorney William S. Kellum III handles the full range of personal injury and wrongful death claims, including but not limited to the following:

When you suffer catastrophic life-altering injuries or lose a family breadwinner, medical bills can quickly spiral out of control particularly if you are temporarily or permanent disabled.  While the specific damages that might be available in a personal injury lawsuit will depend on the unique facts and circumstances of your case, some types of damages that might be available include:

  • Costs of medical bills, rehabilitation and supportive care
  • Lost income from employment
  • Pain and suffering
  • Impaired earning capacity
  • Property damage (i.e. cost of vehicle repair/replacement)
  • Burial/funeral expenses
  • Loss of companionship, support, affection or guidance of a spouse/parent
  • Punitive damages (cases involving more than simple negligence)

Tips from Jackson Personal Injury Lawyers Following a Mississippi Car Accident

When you are injured in a motor vehicle accident, the pain, stress and shock can make it difficult to focus on preserving evidence and protecting your legal right to financial compensation.  Our experienced Mississippi personal injury attorneys have provided suggestions for what to do in the aftermath of a motor vehicle collision:

  • Confirm that everyone is out of harm’s way
  • Seek medical attention/treatment and follow up on all diagnostic exams and treatment
  • Have someone take photos of damage to the vehicles, injuries, position of the vehicles and surrounding vicinity
  • Exchange insurance, vehicle license and driver’s license information
  • Get the names and contact information for any witnesses
  • Note the time, lighting and weather conditions
  • Save any debris that broke off of your vehicle
  • Obtain the name of the investigating officer and police report number
  • Avoid talking to the other driver’s insurance company or providing a recorded statement
  • Schedule a free consultation with an experienced Mississippi personal injury attorney

Whether you have been injured in a motor vehicle collision or a construction accident, our Jackson, MS personal injury law firm is committed to conducting a thorough investigation of the facts, carefully researching applicable law, tenaciously negotiating with insurance companies and persuasive advocating for injury victims in court.  Jackson personal injury lawyer William S. Kellum III represents clients in Jackson, Brandon, Clinton, Canton, Brookhaven, Greenwood, Hattiesburg, Indianola, Madison, Meridian, Natchez, Pearl, Ridgeland, Vicksburg, Yazoo and other surrounding cities and areas.  We offer a free consultation so that we can explain your options and answer your questions so call us today at (601) 969-2709 or send us an email to schedule your initial consultation.