Spring break in Mississippi is about having fun with your friends, whether that means a trip to Biloxi, taking a boat to see some dolphins, or playing volleyball on the beach. Thousands of students relax and unwind on spring break in Mississippi every year. Sadly, the fun times often come with an increased risk of car accidents, slip and fall accidents, and other injuries caused by negligence.
If you’ve been hurt in a spring break accident in Mississippi, you don’t have to just accept the consequences of someone else’s negligent decision-making. You can hold them liable by filing a personal injury claim and pursuing compensation for your injuries.
Chatham Gilder Howell Pittman is a personal injury law firm serving Southaven and Hernando, Mississippi. Our attorneys are dedicated to helping injured people obtain compensation and holding the people who hurt them accountable. Don’t settle for a big-box law firm. Contact us for a free consultation with our Mississippi spring break accident lawyers.
Types of Accidents That Can Occur During Spring Break
With so many people partying and often drinking irresponsibly, there are many ways a person can be injured on spring break in Mississippi, including:
- Car accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Hit-and-run accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Criminal attacks
It’s bad enough when an injury is simply the result of chance, but when you are hurt because of another person’s careless or malicious actions, you shouldn’t have to put up with it. A Mississippi personal injury law firm can help you pursue compensation.
Car Accidents
According to the Mississippi State Department of Health, over 150 people are killed in drunk driving accidents in Mississippi every year. Students on spring break are often there to party with other people their age, and drinking heavily is frequently part of that. The Ole Miss Family Association warns students on spring break to avoid underage drinking and to stay out of vehicles driven by intoxicated drivers. However, the risk of being injured or killed in a car accident on spring break is still high. If you were hurt in a car accident on spring break in Mississippi, you can hold the other driver accountable whether the cause of the accident was alcohol, speeding, running a red light, or reckless driving.
Slip and Fall Accidents
When a bar owner or shop owner knows about a spilled drink, a leaky pipe, or a loose step on a staircase and does nothing to remove the hazard or warn visitors about the danger, then they are liable for any accidents that result. If you were injured by a slip and fall at a business in Mississippi, you can file a personal injury claim to collect compensation for your injuries.
Hit and Run Accidents
Victims of hit-and-run accidents in Mississippi can apply for compensation from the Crime Victim Compensation Division, which provides compensation for:
- Lost wages
- Mental health treatment
- Medical treatment
- Funeral expenses
Victims of motor vehicle accidents are not normally allowed to receive compensation from the Crime Victim Compensation Division, but Mississippi law makes an exception for hit-and-run cases because leaving the scene of an accident is a crime. You can also file a personal injury lawsuit against the person who hit you if authorities have identified them.
Pedestrian Accidents
According to the Mississippi Department of Transportation, 17% of all traffic fatalities in Mississippi are pedestrians. Pedestrian accidents may be caused by:
- Poor visibility at dusk or dawn or during poor weather
- Drivers failing to stop for pedestrians in the crosswalk
- Drivers not watching for pedestrians when turning
- Drunk drivers failing to stop for pedestrians
With so many spring break revelers walking on the street late at night, pedestrian accidents are especially common during spring break. Failing to watch for pedestrians and stop when appropriate is negligence, and you can hold the driver liable with a personal injury claim.
Negligent Security
The owners of a business are responsible for providing a safe environment for visitors, and negligent security is unacceptable. If you were injured because a hotel or bar was negligent about security and didn’t do anything to prevent a crime from happening to you, then you can hold the owners accountable under the principle of premises liability.
Crime on Spring Break
All kinds of crimes occur on spring break in Mississippi, from assaults to sexual assaults to shootings. If you were assaulted on spring break, the person who hurt you will face criminal charges. However, you can also hold them liable for your injuries with a civil lawsuit. Talk to a Mississippi personal injury lawyer as soon as possible to learn more.
Personal Injury Claims in Mississippi
If you’re a college student in Mississippi, filing a personal injury claim is fairly straightforward. Remember to file your lawsuit within three years of the accident as required by the Mississippi statute of limitations. A personal injury lawyer can help you pursue your claim, pursuing compensation for:
- Medical expenses
- Lost income
- Pain and suffering
- Punitive damages for malicious conduct or gross negligence
If you’re from out of state, the situation can be a little more complicated. You need a local lawyer familiar with Mississippi laws and Mississippi courts to represent you effectively. If you try to file a claim by yourself without the help of a local lawyer, you may find it too challenging to file everything on time and attend all your court dates.
Contact a Mississippi Spring Break Accidents Lawyer Today
Whatever the precise cause of your accident, you shouldn’t have to just live with the consequences of another person’s bad decisions. If you were hurt in a spring break accident in Mississippi, contact a local personal injury law firm like Chatham Gilder Howell Pittman. We help injured people in Southaven and Hernando, Mississippi, who want to pursue compensation for their injuries. If you were injured on spring break, contact us immediately.
