Trucking Accidents

Mississippi Truck Accident Attorneys Helping Victims Pursue Compensation

Commercial trucks are a common sight on Mississippi’s highways, especially on the heavily trafficked corridors along the Gulf Coast. Due to their massive size and weight, these vehicles pose a significant risk to others on the road. As such, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has enacted regulations that truck drivers and trucking companies must follow to reduce the risk of catastrophic accidents. Unfortunately, when drivers or companies disregard these rules, it frequently leads to devastating collisions that cause life-altering injuries. If you were hurt in a truck accident in Mississippi, you may be entitled to compensation, and you should speak to an attorney regarding your possible claims. J. Michael Parsons of Parsons Law Group is an experienced Mississippi trucking accident lawyer, and if you engage his services, he can advise you of your rights and help you pursue the full amount of compensation the law allows. Mr. Parsons regularly represents clients injured in trucking accidents throughout Gulfport, Biloxi, Pascagoula, and Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, and New Orleans, Louisiana.

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Regulations

FMCSA Regulations apply to all non-exempt commercial trucks that travel over state lines. The regulations not only impose duties on the drivers of commercial trucks, but also on anyone who hires or supervises the drivers, and the companies that own the trucks. Specifically, the FMCSA Regulations dictate the hours per day a driver is permitted to operate a truck without taking a break, and the maximum hours per week a driver can operate a truck. The FMCSA Regulations also set forth requirements regarding a person’s fitness to drive, such as licensing and medical requirements, and prohibit drivers from engaging in unsafe driving, like failing to adhere to state motor vehicle laws or driving while under the influence of drugs and alcohol. When truck drivers and trucking companies fail to abide by the FMCSA Regulations, it can lead to collisions. For example, if a driver fails to abide by the hours-of-service rules and continues driving while fatigued, their diminished reaction time and impaired judgment can significantly increase the risk of a crash. Similarly, if a trucking company neglects to properly screen drivers for medical fitness or fails to maintain vehicles in safe operating condition, it may create dangerous conditions on the road. 

Recovering Damages Following a Mississippi Trucking Accident

In Mississippi, a plaintiff seeking damages following a truck accident generally must prove that the truck driver was negligent. Proving negligence requires a plaintiff to show that a defendant had a duty to comply with a standard of care, a breach of the duty, and harm that arose from the breach. The duty that applies in a truck accident case may be the duty to operate a vehicle in a safe manner under the given circumstances, which is imposed on all Mississippi drivers, or a duty specifically set forth in the FMCSA Regulations. In many cases, a truck driver involved in an accident will be driving the truck as part of an employment arrangement with a trucking company. In such instances, a plaintiff may also be able to pursue claims against the truck driver’s employer. 

Damages You May Be Awarded for a Mississippi Truck Accident

Accidents involving commercial trucks often cause severe injuries, such as burns, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, fractures, hemorrhages, and organ failure. Additionally, people injured in trucking accidents are often unable to work due to their injuries. As such, a plaintiff who successfully establishes liability in a truck accident may be awarded the cost of any medical treatment needed for the injuries caused by the accident, or that will be needed in the future. A plaintiff must also be awarded compensation for out-of-pocket costs and lost wages. Additionally, a plaintiff may be granted damages for the intangible harm caused by the accident, such as the mental and emotional distress, pain, and suffering he or she endured.  

Confer With a Zealous Mississippi Truck Accident Attorney

Truck accidents are a common occurrence in Mississippi, and unfortunately, most truck accidents cause significant harm, and the parties who cause such losses should be held accountable. If you sustained damages in a truck accident in Mississippi, it is prudent to talk to an attorney about your rights. J. Michael Parsons of Parsons Law Group is a zealous Mississippi truck accident attorney who can craft persuasive arguments on your behalf to help you strive for a just outcome. We have an office in Gulfport, and we regularly represent clients in Gulfport, Biloxi, Pascagoula, and Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, and the greater New Orleans area. To schedule a free and confidential consultation, call our office at (228) 687-0011 or contact us through our website.