The size of an automobile and the speed involved in most motor vehicle crashes makes it almost definite you will suffer some type of damages if you are in one. You may face expensive medical bills that will continue to mount if you need rehabilitation. You may be unable to work, which will threaten your financial stability as you recover without a paycheck. On top of all that, your car will likely need repairs.
Car crashes caused by intoxicated drivers are especially frustrating because the drivers know they should not be behind the wheel but do it anyway. Our auto collision attorneys are well-versed in handling drunk driving car accidents in Jackson. The team of skilled legal professionals at Reaves Law Firm, PLLC could fight to get you the compensation you need to fully recover and move forward with your life.
Mississippi state law does not stop a driver from drinking but does levy penalties, fines, and possibly jail time if a driver drinks too much. Mississippi Code Annotated § 63-11-30 does not allow adults to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 percent or greater—or .04 percent or greater if the driver is a commercial trucker. Drivers younger than 21 must produce a BAC under .02 percent. Penalties for DUI offenses in Jackson include:
Mississippi is serious about cracking down on drunk driving since about one-third of vehicular accident fatalities involve alcohol or drugs. People hurt in accidents where the other driver is impaired are eligible for compensation under the state’s negligence statutes. A seasoned injury attorney can explain how negligence works in drunk driving automobile accidents in Jackson.
Generally, plaintiffs in personal injury cases must prove the four elements of negligence. The defendant had a duty to act like a prudent driver to keep everyone sharing the road safe. By acting less than responsibly, the duty was breached, causing an accident that injured the plaintiff.
In DUI cases, the courts permit the plaintiff to utilize the doctrine of negligence per se, in which the rebuttable presumption of guilt is made because the defendant committed a documented criminal act. All that remains for a plaintiff to prove is that the defendant’s actions while intoxicated caused the injuries. Experienced lawyers investigating DUI car accidents in Jackson usually rely on police and arrest reports—including field sobriety tests and breathalyzer results—to prove the defendant violated a criminal law.
It is bad enough if you are involved in a motor vehicle smashup and are injured, but bad goes to worse if the culprit is a drunk driver. Intoxicated drivers know they are breaking the law and putting others in danger, but they drive anyway. DUIs are criminal offenses, and your lawyer can use them wisely to prove negligence in civil court.
Contact Reaves Law Firm, LLC if you were injured in an accident caused by a driver under the influence of alcohol or other mind-altering substances. We understand you want to put your life back together and need money to do it. The reckless drunk driver should pay for what you have lost. Our dedicated team of attorneys help those injured in drunk driving car accidents in Jackson recover for the full-extent of their losses. Call now.
