If you suffered injuries in a crash caused by a careless trucker, you can seek justice through an insurance claim or lawsuit. A Pascagoula, MS, 18-wheeler truck accident lawyer from our firm could help recover compensation for your injuries, bills, and other losses.
The Morris Bart law office in Pascagoula provides complimentary consultations for accident victims. We know how to develop a claim and hold the at-fault parties responsible. We will discuss your rights and options with you today for free.
Recoverable Damages in a Pascagoula Truck Accident Claim
We seek a just outcome for our clients by demanding the truck driver, trucking company, or another liable party pay for the harm they caused. This often includes financial losses, physical injuries, and emotional damages. We do not believe accident victims should carry the financial burden of a crash caused by a commercial driver or any other party.
Generally, we can negotiate a settlement with the liable party’s insurance company. Doing so allows us to recover money damages that compensate our client for:
- Medical bills and related care costs
- Future medical needs for their injuries
- Missed wages from time away from work
- Future income lost because of reduced ability to work and earn
- Property damages, including to their vehicle
- Pain and suffering and other non-economic damages
We also pursue wrongful death damages for clients under the Mississippi Wrongful Death Act, Miss. Code Ann. § 11-7-13. This statute allows us to demand damages for qualifying family members, including the surviving spouse, children, or parents. We may be able to recover:
- Medical care costs
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Lost income
- Lost benefits
- Loss of services
- Loss of companionship, parental guidance, and other intangible losses suffered by family members
For a free legal consultation with a 18-Wheeler Accident lawyer serving Pascagoula, call (228) 207-5266
Our Lawyers Fight to Protect the Rights of Truck Accident Victims
The Morris Bart law firm works based on contingency. Our attorneys charge nothing upfront, including no retainers or fees. Instead, we gain our attorney’s fees by charging a percentage of the settlement we recover. If we do not get a payout for our client, we do not get paid, which ensures all accident victims can afford our services.
If you suffered truck accident injuries, we are here to help seek compensation for you. In 2019, we secured payouts for more than 6,500 clients across our four-state service area. Our services include:
- Providing complimentary case assessments for all victims
- Explaining our fee structure in clear, easy-to-understand language
- Representing your needs and rights throughout the claims process
- Protecting your rights
- Gathering evidence to prove your case
- Valuing your damages
- Handling all legal deadlines and necessary paperwork
- Negotiating with the insurance companies for a fair settlement
- Taking the liable parties to court if they will not agree to an appropriate settlement
Who Is Liable for a Pascagoula 18-Wheeler Truck Accident?
Before holding anyone accountable for a client’s commercial vehicle accident and injuries, we must determine what happened and who caused it. This works similarly to other types of traffic accidents. We:
- Investigate what happened
- Interview witnesses
- Work with accident reconstruction specialists
- Gather evidence and prove negligence
- Call in experts as necessary
- Document our client’s related damages
Mississippi’s traffic accident laws are fault-based. This means that once we prove who caused the crash, we know who is legally responsible. However, this is not always as straightforward as it seems in a commercial vehicle crash case.
When a Trucking Company Could Also Be Liable
In Mississippi, MS Code § 75-89-15 allows truck accident victims to pursue a case against the driver’s employer. This is known as respondeat superior. Under this legal doctrine, the employer, usually a trucking company, is vicariously liable for the negligence of their worker if:
- They are on the job.
- They are acting within the duties of their position.
In many trucking accident cases, we can prove this applies and hold the company accountable. This allows us to file a claim based on the trucking company’s sizable corporate liability insurance policy and demand a payout from their insurer. Alternatively, we could sue the trucking company and take the case to trial.
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What If We Need to Sue the Trucking Company in My Case?
We usually do not need to sue the liable parties in a truck collision case. However, we may do so on your behalf if time is running out and we have not made any headway on an out-of-court settlement. We generally only have three years from the accident date to sue the liable parties, per Miss. Code Ann. § 15-1-49. Exceptions may shorten this deadline, as well.
Other reasons we might sue include:
- They blame our client for the accident.
- They allege contributory negligence that significantly reduces our client’s payout.
- They dispute our client’s injuries or damages.
Our attorney will file a personal injury lawsuit in a Jackson County civil court or another appropriate jurisdiction nearby to begin the process. However, negotiations may continue.
We often reach an agreement after filing suit but before the case goes to trial. This may occur because the defendant realizes we are serious about going in front of the jury or because they learn about evidence in the case that makes it unlikely they will win.
Connect with Morris Bart, LTD for Your Free Case Review Today
The Morris Bart law office in Pascagoula is ready to take your call today. You can learn more about your options for holding the truck driver or trucking company liable during your free consultation. We will answer your questions about this process, your case, and our services.
Call (228) 207-5266 to speak with a truck accident lawyer today.
Questions?Call (228) 207-5266
to find a Morris Bart office near you.
