Ridgeland Personal Injury Lawyer

Let’s face it, accidents aren’t planned, and neither are accidents that lead to personal injury. Although injuries and accidents are never planned or predicted, they still occur every day. According to the most recent data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in the United States nearly 6 million accidents are reported by law enforcement agencies every year.

By taking the right safety measures, many of these accidents are preventable, while some are purely unavoidable. Usually, personal injuries in Ridgeland are caused by:

• Car Accidents: Among the many causes of injury, car accidents contribute to a large percentage. As previously stated, there are nearly 6 million or more car accidents that get reported yearly by police and other law enforcement agencies. Now the reasons for how car accidents occur are various. Driver errors like speeding, disobeying traffic signals, tailgating, and distracted driving are how many accidents occur. However, there are other factors like manufacturer defects, road conditions, and adverse weather that can cause car accidents, as well. When you find yourself in a situation such as a car accident, it’s important to stay calm and evaluate the situation as best as possible. If anyone is injured, it’s best to call 911 for emergency assistance and wait for help to arrive.
• Slip and Fall Accidents: Accidents such as these can happen to anyone anywhere and anytime. This means they can occur at home, at work, at a store, or even outdoors. What sets slip and falls apart is their nature. These accidents are extremely dangerous and shouldn’t be shrugged off. What makes them so dangerous is their unpredictability and a person’s lack of ability to brace themselves before the fall. Usually, these types of accidents result in severe injuries like head trauma, broken bones, and spinal cord injuries.
• Truck Accidents: Truck accidents are what some label as commercial vehicle accidents. There are numerous causes for truck accidents, such as reckless driving, distracted driving, or driving fatigue. Many of these accidents are highly destructive due to the size and weight of commercial vehicles, like semi-trucks, for example. The injuries that result from these accidents are commonly severe. Traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, and spinal cord injuries are just some of the injuries a victim could suffer. It is critical to pursue legal assistance if you’ve been injured in a truck accident. With years of experience of handling personal injury cases involving victims of truck accidents, Pepper and Odom’s lawyers can help fight for a victim’s right to fair compensation.
• Dog Bite Cases: Ridgeland’s most common cause of personal injury cases is none other than dog bites. Dog bites are intensely painful, often leaving wounds that are jagged and prone to infection, which is why it is important to seek medical help immediately. To avoid infection, clean the wound with warm water and antibacterial soap and seek medical help as soon as possible.
• Motorcycle Accidents: Motorcyclists face more risk when it comes to collisions with other types of vehicles on the road. With little to no protection, drivers of motorcycles are at a higher risk of injury or death from accidents involving other types of vehicles. Motorcycles have less visibility, creating issues for other drivers on the road and increasing the chance of accidents. Low visibility, high speeds, and little protection creates higher chances of accidents that lead to severe injuries, making motorcycle accidents the leading cause of personal injury in the United States.

It's vital to speak with an experienced Ridgeland personal injury lawyer as soon as possible after being injured due to someone else’s negligence. If an accident injured you, you may have the right to seek compensation for your injuries. To find out if you have a case, contact our experienced Ridgeland personal injury lawyer at Pepper and Odom.

You may be able to seek compensation for damages because of being injured in an accident that was caused by no fault of your own. Circumstances of an incident and the nature of your injuries will determine the amount and type of compensation that you can recover. Our Ridgeland personal injury lawyer can go over the types of damages that are claimable such as:

• Lost Income: Some injuries may leave you without the ability to function at your job, which would cause you to lose your primary income. It is possible for a victim of injury to seek compensation for the loss of income. If you can’t work, you can’t effectively cover your living expenses; this is what compensation for lost income can help you with. Of course, this doesn’t just include earned income but future earnings, as well. However, you will need to provide documentation that shows your loss of income and your injuries to qualify for the recovery of lost income. After reviewing your claim, an insurance company may offer a settlement to you. You can always take legal action against any offer you deem unsatisfactory.
• Pain and Suffering: Injuries can cause a person to bear through physical pain and emotional distress. Many people don’t think about the mental and emotional trauma that comes along with the physical pain of an injury. Luckily, victims of injury may be able to seek compensation for both physical and mental pain. There aren’t any set guidelines or rules to qualify for emotional, mental, and physical pain. Since these types of damages vary widely from case to case, we must go by a case-by-case basis.
• Medical Costs: In personal injury cases, one of the most common recoverable forms of compensation are medical expenses, including both past and future costs associated with the injury. You may be wondering if it’s okay for you to receive medical treatment before settling your case. The answer is yes, you can. All you must do is provide your medical bills as evidence to the insurance company. Don’t hesitate to talk to your lawyer about payment options if you can’t afford your treatment.
• Wrongful Death: Families can pursue compensation for funeral expenses, loss of association, and pain and suffering if a loved ones dies due to an intentional act or another person’s negligence. Processing these types of cases are much more challenging, which is why it’s important to have the help of an experienced legal professional. Our personal injury lawyers at Pepper and Odom can help families get the justice their loved one deserves following a wrongful death.
• Punitive Damages: Punitive damages are a form of punishment for the at-fault party involved in an accident. When you or a loved one is injured in an accident due to another person’s reckless behavior, you could qualify for compensation for punitive damages. These types of damages are typically rewarded to the victim for the at-fault party’s harmful or reckless conduct. Not every personal injury case involves punitive damages, as these damages are not awarded for a victim’s injuries. Usually, punitive damages are a means of showing the at-fault party that reckless behavior is not tolerated.

Helping accident victims receive a fair chance at recovery they deserve is why personal injury law exists. Therefore there are multiple forms of compensation for those injured in an accident. At Pepper and Odom, you can speak with a Ridgeland personal injury lawyer to find out more about your legal rights and options available to you.

One of the most difficult parts of a personal injury case is determining liability. If the other person denies responsibility, it can make determining who’s liable for the accident. In a personal injury case, establishing liability requires meeting several conditions. Our Ridgeland personal injury lawyer will explain those conditions to you which include:

• Duty of Care: It is a legal responsibility to use acceptable care to avoid causing harm to other people. Establishing duty of care is one of the first conditions of determining liability in personal injury cases.
• Breach of Duty: Proving fault requires evidence that shows the other person failed in their duty of care.
• Causation: Causation is established by proving there were negligent actions by the at-fault party. Showing a failure to meet the standard of care necessary in a situation is useful for proving their negligence. Not taking the proper precautions to avoid injuring others is proof of that failure to meet the standard of care. By proving the direct correlation of the at fault party’s actions to the victim’s injuries, you establish their negligence. However, because of the challenging nature of proving causation it is important to work with a seasoned personal injury lawyer while building your claim.
• Damages: It’s difficult to prove liability, but it’s necessary to for seeking compensation for damages resulting from an accident. Whether those damages are emotional, physical, or financial, you must prove a person’s actions caused your damages.

When you have an experienced Ridgeland personal injury lawyer, you get the guidance you need to prove those liabilities of the at-fault parties. Here at Pepper and Odom, we pride ourselves in going above and beyond to help our clients maximize their compensation. We believe that by working with our clients, we can fight for them every step of the way. This allows us to help you build your case by gathering evidence and providing a strong argument against the negligent parties. Ready to get the justice you deserve? Contact a Ridgeland personal injury lawyer at Pepper and Odom Law Firm today for a free initial consultation.

Feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, or hopeless while searching for a Ridgeland personal injury lawyer? You don't have to feel that way anymore now that you're here. At Pepper and Odom, we treat our clients like family. If you feel like you're in this by yourself, you don't have to feel alone anymore. Take the next step with Pepper and Odom at your side and let us handle the rest. While you focus on recovering, we will handle your case and help you get the compensation you deserve.

Call today or use our contact form to get your first initial consultation with a Jackson personal injury lawyer for free.