Jackson, MS Pedestrians and Cyclists Hit by Trucks

In Hinds County, let’s say that you are walking through a crosswalk, for example, at the intersection of West Pearl Street and Dalton Street near Jackson State University, which is located at 1400 John R. Lynch Street, Jackson, Mississippi 39217. As you are walking through the crosswalk, a dump truck runs through one of the stop signs at the intersection and strikes you because the driver was distracted by his cell phone. As a result, you sustain a broken arm, head trauma, spinal cord injuries, and a gash to your head requiring 10 staples. In this example, the truck driver would likely be held liable for the accident for failing to yield the right of way.

When establishing liability for a trucking accident, you must prove the negligence of the truck driver since the State of Mississippi places the burden of proof on the party seeking damages. Establishing negligence can be accomplished by showing that you were owed a duty of reasonable care by the truck driver, but the defendant breached that duty due to his negligence, which caused you to sustain injuries. A skilled car accident lawyer in the Jackson, Mississippi, area can help you validate your claim and potentially hold the truck driver’s employer liable as well.

Once liability has been established, you can focus more on the damages aspect. Your injuries and losses may entitle you to economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are meant to compensate for monetary losses, including lost earning capacity, medical bills, and lost wages. Economic losses can compensate for medical devices such as wheelchairs, crutches, and future medical bills. Non-economic damages, on the other hand, can be awarded for the intangible losses that were caused by the accident, such as disfigurement, pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life.