Skilled Mississippi Drunk Driving Accident Protecting the Rights of Victims

The representation you need when injured by an intoxicated driver on the streets of Clarksdale, Tupelo, Jackson or throughout the state

Under Mississippi law, drivers with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher are classified as alcohol-impaired. These intoxicated vehicle operators were reportedly responsible for more than 2,500 deaths on the streets of Mississippi between the years of 2003 and 2012. Nationally, more than 1.9% of drivers report operating their vehicles after consuming alcohol. Within the state of Mississippi, 1.2% of drivers reported doing the same.

These numbers demonstrate the risk of harm that exists when individuals choose to drive while intoxicated. At the law firm of Merkel & Cocke, P.A., we hold drunk drivers accountable. Our team of knowledgeable Mississippi drunk driving accident attorneys uses our skills to fight for your best interests. When drunk driving results in a death, we work with the surviving family members to secure the compensation they need to move on with their lives.

Making a drunk driving claim in Mississippi

Drunk driving is extremely dangerous, impeding a driver’s ability to properly operate their vehicle and respond to others on the roadway. When individuals choose to act in such a negligent and reckless manor, they place everyone on the roadway at risk of harm. When seeking compensation for resulting injuries or deaths, our experienced lawyers consider such aspects as:

• Medical bills and the costs of provided treatment, as well as future medical costs stemming from the accident
• Pain and suffering, including the impact on the victim’s quality of life
• Emotional distress and necessary psychological treatments
• Loss of income, including compensation for any future decrease in earning potential

In some cases, the court may also order a drunk driver to pay “punitive damages.” These damages are awarded in addition to compensatory damages and generally apply when the defendant’s behavior was extremely reckless.

Reliable representation for all types of drunk driving injury claims

Drunk driving accident victims may have other available options when establishing liability and seeking compensation. Dram shop laws generally allow victims injured by drunk drivers to hold an establishment liable for providing alcohol to the driver. Under Mississippi law, a finding of liability requires that the establishment provided alcohol to a visibly intoxicated person.

For example, say a drunk man stumbles into one the many Gulf Coast bars. The waiter serves him alcohol even though he is obviously intoxicated. That man then leaves the bar and drives down Highway 59, where he slams into another car, severely injuring the driver and two passengers. Under a dram shop claim, the bar owner may be at least partially liable for those injuries. These cases can be difficult to prove without assistance from a skilled lawyer. At Merkel & Cocke, our legal team has the experience to successfully pursue a dram shop liability claim.

Inadequate insurance is also commonly associated with drunk driving accident injuries, particularly with incidents involving repeat offenders. These individuals are often unable to secure automobile insurance, instead choosing to operate their vehicles without it. When this occurs, an injured victim may have to rely upon their own uninsured motorist policy for compensation.

More than 200 years of collective experience advocating for drunk driving injury victims in Mississippi

At Merkel & Cocke, we have spent decades helping victims of accidents caused by drunk drivers obtain the compensation they deserve. We provide client services from our home office in Clarksdale, assisting injured parties throughout Mississippi, including Tupelo, Jackson, Cleveland, Indianola, and across the Gulf Coast region. We also handle drunk driving injury cases in Tennessee and Arkansas. Call us today at 662-627-9641 or complete our contact form to schedule a free consultation.