You’re scared, sore, and probably angry, and a crash near Ellisville has left you with a damaged car and a lot of questions.
After a car accident on Highway 11 or I-59, get to safety, call 911, see a doctor, take photos, and report the crash to the agency that covers that road. Mississippi law asks for a quick report when anyone is hurt. The steps below cover each one, plus a few things people tend to miss.
If you’re searching for an Ellisville car accident attorney, WaideLaw is a Hattiesburg firm that serves the Pine Belt, and a first consultation is free.
What should you do right after a car accident on Highway 11 or I-59?
Your first job after a crash on Highway 11 or I-59 is to get safe and call 911. Highway 11 runs alongside I-59 through Jones County. Both roads carry fast traffic and plenty of trucks, so staying in a travel lane puts you at risk of a second crash. Then work through this list as far as your injuries allow.
- Move your car to the shoulder or an exit ramp if it still drives.
- Call 911 and tell the dispatcher about any injuries, even small ones.
- Take photos of the vehicles, the road, and your injuries.
- Get the other driver’s name, phone number, and insurance details, along with contact information for any witnesses.
- If a commercial truck was involved, write down the company name and the U.S. DOT number on the door, which you can look up through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
- Keep your comments to facts, and leave out guesses about who caused the crash.
Once the scene is handled, the next thing to sort out is which agency took your report.
Which agency responds to a crash near Ellisville?
The agency that responds depends on where the crash happened. Inside Ellisville, city police generally take it. Outside city limits, the Jones County Sheriff’s Department or the Mississippi Highway Patrol (MHP) does, under Mississippi Code § 63-3-411. That law also says to report any crash with an injury or $500 in apparent damage right away. Interstate crashes can draw several agencies. Ask the officer which agency wrote your report, and get the report number. You’ll request a copy from that agency or from the Mississippi Department of Public Safety.
Should you see a doctor even if you feel fine?
Yes, it can be a good idea. Pain from a crash sometimes shows up hours or days later, and adrenaline may hide soreness at first. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says some concussion symptoms may not appear right away. A medical visit also creates a written record of how you felt after the crash. If you hit your head, passed out, or feel numbness or weakness, go to an emergency room. Keeping your visit summaries and bills in one folder can also help later.
What should you say to the insurance companies?
Tell your own insurer about the crash soon, and keep what you say to the facts. The Mississippi Bar’s public guide for drivers makes the same point, since most policies require prompt notice.
Your own insurer
Share the date, the place, and the vehicles involved. Leave out guesses about fault or injuries, because you may not know the full picture yet.
The other driver’s insurer
An adjuster from the other side may call soon after the crash and ask for a recorded statement. You’re generally not required to give one, and it may be smart to talk with a lawyer first.
If the other driver has no insurance
Look at your own policy for uninsured motorist coverage, which Mississippi auto policies often include unless it was turned down in writing.
What if you were partly at fault, and how long do you have to file?
Mississippi lets you recover money even when you share some of the blame. Under Mississippi Code § 11-7-15, your recovery is reduced by your share of fault. Someone found 20% at fault can still recover 80% of the damages. Most car accident lawsuits must be filed within three years under Mississippi Code § 15-1-49. Claims against a city, county, or state agency often have much shorter deadlines. Even a few weeks can matter once evidence starts to disappear, so mark your calendar early and ask a lawyer which deadline applies to you.
When should you call a lawyer after a crash near Ellisville?
It can help to call early, ideally before you sign a medical release or accept a first offer. Talking with an Ellisville car accident attorney sooner gives you someone to ask while details are still easy to find. Skid marks fade, cars get repaired, and memories may blur over time.
A short call can help you decide what to gather first, such as crash reports, medical records, and repair estimates. WaideLaw generally offers free consultations, if you’d like to talk through your next step.
FAQs
How do I get a copy of my crash report in Mississippi?
Request it through the agency that wrote it or through the Mississippi Department of Public Safety’s online portal. Only people tied to the crash can get one, such as drivers, their families, their lawyers, and their insurers, and a purchased report stays available for just 24 hours after it’s emailed. Save it the minute it lands, and ask the agency how to request a fix if something in it looks wrong.
What if the other driver left the scene?
Report it to police right away and check your own policy, because uninsured motorist coverage may apply to a hit-and-run. The Mississippi Driver’s Manual tells every driver in a crash to stop and help anyone who’s hurt, so leaving is against the rules. Write down anything you remember, like the car’s color, a partial plate, and which way it went.
Can a trucking company be responsible for a crash?
It can be, and that may bring more insurance and more records into the claim. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration lists safety data for carriers by DOT number, so the number you wrote down can lead to useful details. Ask a lawyer soon about preserving the truck’s records, since some data may be overwritten.
Does it cost anything to talk with a lawyer?
WaideLaw’s site says consultations are free and injury cases are handled on a contingency basis, so there are no attorney fees unless the firm recovers compensation. Mississippi’s ethics rules for lawyers require contingency agreements to be in writing, so you’ll see the terms before you sign. Ask about case costs too, since those can be separate from the fee.
WaideLaw: Your Car Accident Law Firm
If a crash on US 11 or I-59 has left you with questions, that is a lot to take in at once. The first few weeks of a claim often involve paperwork, such as the crash report, medical bills, and repair estimates, and keeping those together may make things easier later on.
WaideLaw is a Hattiesburg firm, and if you’d like to talk through where things stand, you are welcome to contact our firm. Feel free to ask whatever is on your mind, even the small things, and take all the time you need.
