Drunk Driving Accidents

Mississippi is among the most dangerous states in the nation when it comes to drunk driving accidents. Reports reveal that over 600 alcohol-related collisions occurred there in both 2013 and 2014. A drunk driver may face criminal penalties for this reprehensible conduct, and victims also can bring civil claims with the assistance of a car accident lawyer, pursuing compensation for their personal injuries and other losses. Jackson drunk driving accident attorney M. Devin Whitt has extensive experience handling these types of car wreck cases. Our firm proudly serves victims and their families throughout Mississippi in Madison, Rankin, Hinds, Warren, Yazoo, Forrest, Lauderdale, Simpson, Copiah, and Lincoln Counties, or anywhere else in Mississippi. Enlist the Law Office of M. Devin Whitt for aggressive advocacy in fighting for the compensation that you deserve.

All drivers are required to handle their cars with at least as much care as a reasonable and prudent motorist would use. A reasonable motorist would be expected to obey the law in virtually all situations. According to Mississippi code section 63-11-30, it is unlawful for someone to operate a vehicle with a blood alcohol level that is greater than 0.08 percent. Moreover, police are allowed to arrest an individual for driving while intoxicated even if his or her blood alcohol content is below the legal limit, if the driver is exhibiting signs of intoxication suggesting that he or she is not fit to drive.

Mississippi courts also recognize the negligence per se doctrine, which allows a plaintiff to use a rebuttable presumption that the defendant was negligent at the time of the crash if the plaintiff can show that the defendant violated a criminal statute. In a drunk driving accident, there will often be a police report describing the wreck and its likely cause or causes. Often, this will include information regarding any field sobriety tests that were administered and the results of any breathalyzer or blood tests.

After showing that the defendant was drunk at the time of the accident, the plaintiff must demonstrate that the defendant’s intoxication was the direct cause of the injuries that he or she sustained. The defendant sometimes may attempt to argue that the plaintiff was also negligent and that this negligence was partly to blame for his or her injuries. Mississippi recognizes the pure comparative fault doctrine, which allows a jury to consider whether the plaintiff was partly at fault. If so, the jury can assign a percentage of fault to the plaintiff. However, it is important to remember that some damages still will be available if the defendant was at all responsible for the accident.

Victims of drunk driving accidents may be able to recover compensation for economic costs like lost income, medical and hospital bills, and the costs of future treatment, as well as damage to their vehicles. They also may be able to obtain damages for more subjective forms of harm, such as the pain and suffering that they endured.

If you have been involved in a collision with an intoxicated or drugged driver, Jackson drunk driving accident lawyer M. Devin Whitt is ready to help you fight for the compensation that you need and deserve. He assists people throughout the tri-county area of Madison, Rankin, and Hinds Counties, as well as in Warren, Yazoo, Forrest, Lauderdale, Simpson, Copiah, and Lincoln Counties and anywhere else in Mississippi. Although there is no amount of money that can truly account for the pain and stress that results from a drunk driving accident, compensation can help you overcome the financial burdens that may result and assist you with getting back on your feet. To schedule a free consultation with a motor vehicle collision attorney, contact us online or call us now at 601-607-5055.