Getting injured in a car accident can be both medically and financially devastating. You may have pain and limitations from physical injuries, expenses for car repairs, and time and money lost to medical care and the recovery process.
Mississippi provides legal avenues for you to collect compensation from negligent drivers with help from an experienced car accident lawyer. The process becomes significantly more complicated if you were hurt in a hit-and-run. Board-certified personal injury attorney David E. Gordon can help you navigate this difficult process of bringing a lawsuit for hit-and-run car accidents in Olive Branch.
Consequences of a Hit and Run Crash
When a person is in a car crash, Mississippi Code. Annotated § 63-3-405 requires them to stop at the scene of the accident and provide information to the other parties involved, including their name, address, and vehicle registration information. They are also required to provide aid to anyone who was injured in the accident by calling for an ambulance and remaining at the scene until it arrives.
The penalties for drivers who leave the scene of an accident range from small fines to lengthy jail sentences, depending on the severity of the damages they caused. However, an injured person can file a civil claim against the driver, separate from any criminal action, which requests damages for their injuries. David E. Gordon can help an injured Olive Branch driver determine their next legal steps after a hit and run car accident.
Economic, Non-Economic, and Punitive Damages
The amount of money a person may be awarded in a civil lawsuit for a hit-and-run depends on the type of damages that apply to their situation.
The most common category of damages is called “economic damages.” These include easily measurable financial costs associated with the car accident, like medical bills and lost earnings. Mississippi generally does not have a cap on economic damages.
Non-economic damages are more subjective. These are the monetary values applied to conditions like pain, physical impairment, and emotional distress. Miss. Code Ann. § 11-1-60 caps non-economic damages for car accident claims at $1,000,000.
Punitive damages are far less common, because they only apply in specific circumstances. However, those circumstances may be present in a hit-and-run case. Per Miss. Code Ann. § 11-1-65, punitive damages are only awarded when a defendant has been grossly negligent or intentionally malicious, and displayed a reckless lack of concern for other people’s safety. The court may order the defendant to pay the injured client additional money for this behavior. The amounts are capped at varying levels, depending on factors like a defendant’s net worth. At the law office of David E. Gordon, an injured plaintiff can ask about punitive damages from a hit-and-run accident.
Consult an Olive Branch Attorney to Learn More After a Hit and Run Car Accident
Trying to build a case on your own after a hit-and-run accident can be overwhelming. A driver who flees the scene may be hard to find, evidence can be difficult to collect, and calculations for compensation that may be owed to you becomes complex. Contact an attorney who is experienced in hit-and-run car accidents in Olive Branch for a free consultation. David E. Gordon can help you navigate these complicated areas of law.
