Pedestrian Accident Attorney in Mississippi
Getting hurt as a pedestrian by a motor vehicle can leave you facing serious injuries, mounting medical bills, and a future that looks nothing like the one you planned. If a driver’s negligence has put you in this position, you have the right to financial compensation, and you need a law firm with the experience to help you win it.
At Williams Newman Williams, our personal injury law firm has over four decades of combined experience and has secured millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements across Mississippi. We know what it takes to demand maximum compensation from those liable for your injury. The deep-pocketed insurers and their defense lawyers are familiar with the WNW name because we prepare from the get-go as though your case will go directly before a judge and jury.
If you or someone close to you suffered harm in a pedestrian accident, our Mississippi pedestrian accident lawyers are ready to fight for you. Contact us today to arrange your free, no-obligation, fully confidential consultation.
Why Choose WNW for Your Mississippi Pedestrian Injury Case?
At WNW, we prepare every pedestrian accident case as though it will head straight for trial, whether in Hinds County Circuit Court, Forrest County Circuit Court, or Rankin County Circuit Court, as well as the Mississippi Supreme Court. That ready-for-litigation strategy gives us the leverage we need to pursue maximum compensation for every client we represent. When insurers know we are willing to litigate, they approach negotiations differently from day one.
We also bring a distinct advantage to injury claims that most firms cannot offer: our attorneys have extensive experience representing corporate defendants, including large insurance providers. We know the tactics these companies use to minimize payouts, and we know how to counter them.
Our results reflect that advantage. At WNW, we have recovered millions of dollars for injured clients across Mississippi to date, including a $208,000 recovery in one fatal pedestrian collision case. When you work with us, you get attorneys who dig deeper, work harder, and refuse to settle for less than what your case is truly worth.
We believe that solid communication matters just as much as courtroom skill. That is why our lawyers prioritize real conversations from the outset of the cases we handle, so we can fully understand your situation before we make a move. We also communicate clearly and consistently and remain available to answer your questions when you need us, so you always feel heard and taken seriously. No matter how difficult the case, we will go the distance for you.
Reach out to our law firm today to learn your legal options. Your case review is free and fully confidential.
What Compensation Could You Recover in a Pedestrian Injury Claim?
The losses that follow a serious pedestrian accident often extend well beyond emergency room bills. A successful pedestrian accident claim can yield compensation for a wide range of those losses, including the following:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Income losses
- Reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Property damage costs
How Long Do You Have to File a Pedestrian Injury Lawsuit in Mississippi?
In Mississippi, the filing window for most pedestrian accident lawsuits is three years from the date of the accident. If you miss that deadline, you lose the right to pursue compensation in court, no matter how strong your case may be.
Swift action also matters for strategic reasons in pedestrian injury cases. Over time, evidence can degrade or disappear, memories can fade, and witnesses can become harder to locate, so the strength of your case can diminish with each delay. The sooner you speak with a WNW attorney, the better.
Could You Recover Compensation If You Are Partly to Blame for a Pedestrian Accident?
Mississippi follows a pure comparative fault rule. Under this system, you can recover pedestrian accident compensation from other parties even if you were partially at fault for the accident. However, your total recovery will decrease based on your percentage of fault. As an example, if a court determines you are 20 percent at fault, it will reduce your total award by 20 percent. That would mean you could only recover $80,000 on a $100,000 award.
Insurance companies know this rule, and they will likely try to inflate your share of fault to reduce what they owe you. Our attorneys know how to push back against such tactics aggressively to protect your recovery amount.
Who Could Be Held Liable for a Pedestrian Accident in Mississippi?
Liability in a pedestrian accident is not always limited to the driver who struck you. Depending on the facts of the case, multiple parties may share responsibility, such as the following:
- The At-Fault Driver – In most pedestrian injury cases, the driver who struck the pedestrian bears primary responsibility. Evidence of negligent behaviors, such as distracted driving, speeding, impaired driving, and failure to yield at crosswalks, can establish a driver’s liability.
- A Government Entity – Poor road design, missing or damaged crosswalk markings, malfunctioning traffic signals, and inadequate lighting can all create dangerous conditions for pedestrians. If a pedestrian injury occurs due to a government agency’s failure to keep this kind of infrastructure in good condition, that entity may be held liable.
- A Vehicle Manufacturer – In some cases, vehicle defects, such as brake failures or malfunctioning warning systems, contribute to pedestrian collisions. If that happens, a manufacturer or another party in the vehicle’s distribution chain may bear responsibility.
- A Property Owner – Pedestrian injuries do not always happen on public roads. If a hazard on someone’s private property, such as an obstructed walkway or a poorly lit parking lot, played a role in the incident, the property owner could face liability.
- An Employer – If a driver causes a pedestrian accident injury while performing job-related duties or driving a company vehicle, the driver’s employer may be vicariously liable for the resulting injuries. This is particularly common in collisions involving commercial and delivery vehicles.
How Many Pedestrians Are Killed in Mississippi Annually?
If you are wondering how many pedestrians are killed in Mississippi each year, there is a simple answer: far too many. Unfortunately, the numbers are getting worse.
According to a recent report from the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), Mississippi has one of the worst pedestrian fatality rates in the country. In the first half of one recent year, Mississippi saw nearly 1.94 pedestrian deaths per 100,000 people, second only to New Mexico. That rate was a sharp increase from 1.53 during the same period the previous year.
The raw numbers are equally alarming. In the first six months of that year alone, Mississippi recorded a preliminary count of 57 pedestrian fatalities. That represents a 26.7 percent increase over the first half of the prior year, when the state recorded 45 pedestrian deaths in that same period.
What Should You Do After a Pedestrian Injury?
The steps you take after a pedestrian injury can significantly affect the strength of a future claim for compensation. If you are physically able to do so, take these steps:
- Document the scene with photos, including vehicle positions, road conditions, and your injuries.
- Collect the driver’s name, contact information, and insurance details.
- Ask for names and contact information from any witnesses.
- Seek a full medical evaluation, even if you feel your injuries are minor.
- Avoid speaking with insurance adjusters before consulting an attorney.
- Contact a pedestrian accident lawyer in Mississippi as soon as possible.
What Are Common Types and Causes of Pedestrian Accidents?
No two pedestrian injury cases are exactly alike, but certain types recur with troubling frequency across Mississippi. They include the following:
- Crosswalk and intersection collisions
- Parking lot crashes
- Backing vehicle collisions
- Hit-and-run acc crashes idents
- Collisions involving turning vehicles
- Sidewalk injury incidents caused by mounting vehicles
In the overwhelming majority of pedestrian crash cases, a driver’s negligent behavior is the direct cause of the collision. The following driver failures contribute to a large share of auto-pedestrian crashes:
- Distracted driving, including texting behind the wheel
- Speeding or driving too fast for conditions
- Failing to yield at crosswalks
- Driving while drunk or otherwise impaired
- Running red lights or stop signs
- Failing to adjust appropriately to poor road conditions
What Are Typical Injuries Resulting from a Pedestrian Injury?
Pedestrians hit by a car have no structural protection against the force of impact. As a result, pedestrian accident injuries tend to be severe and often life-altering. Common examples include the following:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Fractured and dislocated bones
- Internal organ damage
- Soft tissue injuries
- Crush injuries
- Lacerations and road rash
- Psychological injuries, such as PTSD
What Can a Mississippi Lawyer Do for Your Pedestrian Collision Case?
A reputable Mississippi pedestrian accident attorney does far more than file paperwork. From the moment you retain the lawyers at WNW, our team gets to work on your behalf, so you can focus on healing. This involves conducting a thorough investigation to gather and preserve evidence, identifying all liable parties, and crafting the strongest possible case. We also handle all communication with insurance companies and push back against lowball offers, so you never have to settle for less.
If the insurance company refuses to pay what your case is worth, we will not hesitate to go to trial. Our pedestrian accident law firm has the courtroom experience and the tenacity to see your injury case through to the end.
Contact a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer in Mississippi Today
If you or someone you love was seriously hurt in a pedestrian injury incident, do not wait to get help. At WNW, our pedestrian accident attorneys in Mississippi are ready to listen, ready to fight, and ready to win. Contact us today to get started with a free, fully confidential consultation at no cost or obligation to you.
When You Need a Win, turn to WNW.