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In order to help you more quickly, please fill out the quick form and submit or call 866.461.1591. A representative of the firm will call you ASAP.Facts Concerning Mississippi Accident Law
The attorneys of Cumbest, Cumbest, Hunter & McCormick are skilled in Mississippi accident law, in particular the laws related to auto accidents, asbestos and mesothelioma, products liability, and maritime law. Below is a summary of the Mississippi laws that are in place to protect state residents involved in accidents.
Auto accidents
In Mississippi, car insurance requirements dictate minimum coverage of up to $50,000 for personal injuries to any and all people in the car at the time of the accident. This includes a limit of $25,000 for any one person and $25,000 for damage to property. Mississippi has a small claims limit of $2,500. The statute of limitations for personal injury cases is three years, though this time starts from the moment injuries are discovered if they are not discovered immediately.
Product liability
For product liability cases, Mississippi residents have three main options for pursuing litigation. The first is proving negligence on the part of the manufacturer, such as designing a product without safety in mind. A second option is what is called breach of express and implied warranties. This also falls under the jurisdiction of negligence. A third option, called strict liability, does not require showing manufacturer negligence but rather, that a product simply was defective due to some fault by the manufacturer. The statute of limitations is three years for wrongful death suits stemming from defective products.
Asbestos and mesothelioma
Mississippi has been the scene of famous asbestos cases, such as the $21.5 million awarded to a plaintiff against Halliburton Industries and a $48.5 million settlement awarded to 12 plaintiffs against E.D. Bullard Co. Both of these were jury trials and since then many asbestos cases have been handled out of court.
Some asbestos accident lawsuits in Mississippi have included thousands of plaintiffs and hundreds of defendants due to Mississippi’s loose joinder laws. Also, Mississippi has no cap on jury awards. Beginning in 2003, Mississippi began pursuing tort reforms which are still being worked out in the courts today.
Maritime law
Due to Mississippi’s proximity to the Gulf Coast and Mississippi River, many people work and play in the local waters. There are specific laws that govern offshore liability, including the Jones Act, the Death on the High Seas Act, and the Longshore and Harbor Worker’s Act.
A note on liability in Mississippi
Mississippi courts abide by a pure comparative negligence system in which a plaintiff can recover a percentage of damages even if they are up to 99 percent to blame for their injuries. Under this system fault can be shared for damages. Plaintiffs receive a settlement that is equal to the amount of damages decided by the jury, minus the percentage of their own fault.
Contact us for help with Mississippi accident laws
The above is just a brief assessment of Mississippi accident laws. It is necessary to talk to an accident attorney in Mississippi experienced in the field of accident law, such as those at Cumbest, Cumbest, Hunter & McCormick, for a complete explanation.
