Any car crash in the state of Mississippi that results in a personal injury, death, or property damage in excess of $500 must be reported to the local police department. The time limit for filing a lawsuit for a Mississippi vehicle accident is called the statute of limitations.
According to Mississippi Code Section 15-1-49, an injury victim has three years to file a case in the state’s civil court system seeking remedy for any injuries sustained in an auto accident. The starting point of this three year period begins on the accident date.
The statute of limitations is in place to limit the number of fraudulent or stale injury claims by instituting a reasonable time period in which a legal claim may be filed. Witnesses and their memories fade with the passing of time. This statute of limitations serves to preserve important evidence in these cases, such as the testimony of witnesses, for purposes of effective litigation.
Statute of limitations on wrongful death lawsuits
The same statute of limitations deadline applies to wrongful death cases in Mississippi. If one of your family members is killed in a car crash, the family of the victim has three years to file a wrongful death claim. The clock on the statute of limitations starts ticking on the date of the victim’s passing and not the accident date. It is important to remain aware of the statute of limitations and give yourself plenty of time to file a lawsuit if necessary. If you attempt to file once the established time period for filing as passed, the defendant can summarily ask the court to dismiss your case, which is very likely to happen.
The majority car accident victims attempt to achieve a settlement through negotiations with the insurance company. Even if your goal is to arrive at a settlement through effective negotiations conducted with the help of your Southaven car accident attorney, it is still important to allow enough time to file a lawsuit if that becomes necessary. It is better to begin the process of securing the compensation you deserve for your injuries as early as possible. If your deadline for filing is approaching fast, it is vital to speak with an experienced attorney.
At Taylor Jones Taylor, our dedicated Southaven accident attorneys are highly adept and experienced at handling complex car crash injury cases. We understand the legal hurdles and how to navigate your claim successfully to a successful outcome. Our team has be pursuing compensation for injury victims and obtaining great results for clients for more than 50 years. We offer our services to clients in Olive Branch, Hernando, Southaven, and throughout the state. To schedule a consultation about your case, give us a call today at 662.253.5193 or send us a message through our contact form.
Benjamin L. Taylor is a lifelong resident of DeSoto County and has distinguished himself in the area of products liability and personal injury law. He has a reputation as a fierce advocate for his clients and has obtained millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements over his career. He has been listed in the publication Super Lawyers of the Mid-South in the area of product liability. To learn more about Mr. Taylor, please refer to his biography page.
