Hurt in a Big Rig Crash? Talk With an Ellisville Truck Accident Lawyer
A crash with a big rig can be different from a crash with another car. More than one company may share the blame, and each may have its own insurance. Many people find themselves wondering who may be responsible and what their injuries could cost over time.
If you need an Ellisville personal injury lawyer, attorney Daniel Waide has practiced in Mississippi since 2010 and has been a Super Lawyers Rising Stars honoree since 2018. His office is at 1300 Hardy Street in Hattiesburg.
If you’d like, we can talk through the trucking company’s role, the insurance policies, and your medical bills, so you have a clearer picture of where things stand.
If an insurer asks for a recorded statement, it is okay to take your time before answering. You are welcome to contact us first, and we can talk it over.
| Licensed in Mississippi Since 2010 | Super Lawyers Selection Since 2018 | J.D., Mississippi College School of Law |
Truck Crashes We Can Look Into for Ellisville Drivers and Families
Not every truck crash looks the same. Some happen with a tractor-trailer on the interstate. Others happen with a delivery truck on a side street. Here are the kinds of cases we can review:
- 18-wheelers and tractor-trailers: Large trucks that haul freight on highways and interstates, including routes like I-59 and US 11.
- Logging and dump trucks: Heavy trucks whose loads may shift, spill, or come loose.
- Delivery and box trucks: Commercial trucks that make stops all day.
- Tanker and flatbed trucks: Trucks that carry loads that must be sealed or tied down.
- Fatal truck crashes: Families who lost a loved one may have claims of their own.
If your crash involved any of these, we can talk about your options.
Why a Trucking Injury Attorney Matters After a Big Rig Crash
A loaded truck is much heavier than a car, so the people in the car often take the worst of it. Medical bills can pile up fast, and missed work adds to the strain.
A trucking company and its insurer may begin looking into the crash soon after it happens. They may also raise questions about how it happened, so it can help to have someone on your side early. Mississippi lets you recover even if you share some blame, but your payment drops by your share of fault. That makes every fact count.
Trucks carry driver logs, repair records, and cargo papers. Some of these records may be kept for only a limited time. An early call gives us more time to ask for them.
Two Rules That Shape Most Truck Crash Claims in Mississippi
Most truck cases turn on a few basic rules. These two come up often.
Driver time limits. Federal rules limit how long a truck driver may drive. After 10 hours off duty, a driver may drive up to 11 hours in total. The driver may not drive after the 14th hour since coming on duty (49 C.F.R. § 395.3). Tired drivers can cause crashes, so driver logs may show whether a driver stayed within these limits.
Filing deadline. Mississippi generally gives you 3 years to file a personal injury lawsuit (Miss. Code Ann. § 15-1-49). Some claims, such as ones involving a government vehicle, may have shorter deadlines. If a deadline passes, a court may refuse to hear your case. Contact us early so the clock does not become the problem.
What a Truck Crash Claim May Cover for Ellisville Families
Truck crash injuries often reach beyond the first hospital bill. Depending on your case, a claim may include:
- Medical care: ER visits, surgery, therapy, and follow-up treatment.
- Lost income: Pay you miss while you recover, and work you may not be able to do later.
- Vehicle and property damage: Repairs, or the value of a car that is not worth fixing.
- Pain and suffering: The physical pain and stress the crash caused.
- Future care: Treatment you may still need after the case ends.
We can go over these costs with you and talk about what your own claim could include.
Ellisville Roads and the Jones County Courthouse to Know
Ellisville sits along I-59, with US 11 running close beside it. Near the center of town, Exit 88 connects to MS 588 and Hill Street, also known as MS 29. Exit 85 meets MS 590 near Ellisville State School. Because MS 29 is a two-lane state highway, trucks traveling it often share narrow roads with local traffic.
If a lawsuit becomes necessary, it may be filed at the Jones County Courthouse at 101 North Court Street in Ellisville, depending on where the crash happened and who is being sued. Jones County also has a courthouse in Laurel. Our office is in Hattiesburg, connected to both cities by I-59 north. If driving there is difficult while you recover, ask us about other ways to meet.
First Steps After a Crash With a Commercial Truck
What you do in the first days can affect your health and your claim. These steps are a good place to start:
- Call 911 and get medical care, even if you feel fine at first.
- Take photos of the truck, the company name, the license plate, and the road.
- Write down the driver’s name, the trucking company’s name, and any witness contact details.
- Keep your medical records and bills in one folder.
- Wait on any recorded statement to an insurer until you have talked with a lawyer.
You can contact us at any of these steps, even before your treatment ends.
Ellisville Truck Accident Questions, Answered in Plain Words
Can a Hattiesburg firm handle my Ellisville truck accident case?
Yes, you may hire a Hattiesburg firm for a crash near Ellisville. Daniel Waide has practiced in Mississippi since 2010, and WaideLaw’s office is at 1300 Hardy St, Second Floor, Hattiesburg, MS 39401. If a trip there is hard right now, we can talk about other ways to meet.
Who may be responsible for a truck accident in Ellisville?
More than one party may share the blame. That can include the driver, the trucking company, a business that loaded the cargo, or a shop that repaired the truck. We can review the crash records to see who may be at fault.
How long do I have to file a truck accident claim in Mississippi?
Mississippi generally allows 3 years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit. Some claims, such as ones involving a government vehicle, may have shorter deadlines. Evidence can also fade sooner, so it helps to ask about your claim early.
How much does it cost to hire a truck accident lawyer?
WaideLaw handles injury cases on a contingency fee basis. That generally means you owe no attorney fees unless there is a recovery. Fee terms may vary, so we can go over the fee agreement with you at a free consultation, if you’d like.
If your question is not listed here, contact WaideLaw and we can talk it through.
Contact an Ellisville Truck Accident Lawyer at WaideLaw
A truck crash can change your work, your health, and your family’s plans. If you were hurt near Ellisville, fill out our contact form and tell us what happened. We can look at your options and talk about next steps.
The 3-year filing window generally starts on the day of the crash, so an early conversation may help.
