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Your Meridian Personal Injury Attorney
The short answer. In Mississippi most injury claims must be filed within three years (Miss. Code Ann. 15-1-49(1)). The trial court for Lauderdale County sits in Meridian, at 2600 Courthouse Blvd., Meridian, MS 39301. To talk it through, send the form on this page and we will work to connect you with an attorney in our network.
Recovering from an injury is hard enough without legal confusion on top of it. If someone else’s carelessness hurt you in Meridian, you are allowed to take your time understanding your options before you sign or say anything.
This page is general information, not legal advice. NeedAnAttorney.net matches people with attorneys and does not represent anyone. The legal points below come from Mississippi’s statutes, and the form at the top of the page is how you reach an attorney.
Questions Worth Asking In Meridian
Whoever you speak to, a few answers tell you a lot:
- Your share of fault. Ask how a finding that you were partly responsible would change the numbers (Miss. Code Ann. 11-7-15).
- The date. Ask for the specific last day to file in your case. The general rule is three years (Miss. Code Ann. 15-1-49(1)).
- Limits on damages. Ask whether the limit on pain and suffering applies to your claim (Miss. Code Ann. 11-1-60(2)(b)).
- The money terms. Ask how fees are calculated and which costs come out of a recovery.
- Who will work on it. Ask who handles your file day to day and how fast messages are answered.
Personal Injury Types of Cases
Premises Liability
Many premises liability claims are from a property owner’s duty to maintain a property in the way that does not endanger others. There are may ways a property owner can violate this duty.
- Broken Stairs
- Unlit alleyways
- Slippery Floors
- Surfaces that are uneven
- Places to receive burns
- Places to receive chemical exposure
- Dog bites
- and other dangerous conditions
Wrongful Death
When negligence leads to fatal injuries, a wrongful death suit can help the surviving family members hold the negligent company, persons, and or person accountable for what was done. A wrongful death case can involve different types of compensation from other personal injury claims. After a fatal accident, family members can ask an attorney to review what compensation the surviving loved ones may have a right to. These types of accidents can include.
- Auto Accident
- Maritime Accident
- Drowning
- Electrocution
- Falls
- Helicopter Accident
- Fire
- Firearm
- and other types of wrongful deaths
Motor Vehicle Accidents
As long as the person that was operating the vehicle that injured you was negligent in some way, you can could have a claim for compensation. This can include.
- Car Accidents
- Truck Accidents
- Bicycle Accidents
- 18 wheeler Accidents
- Motorcycle crashes
- Drunk Driving
- Distracted Driving
- Aggressive Driving
- and other types of motor vehicle accidents
Work Place Accidents
These types of personal injury lawsuits involve more that just a employee and employer. If you feel like your place of employment was negligent in some way, you might have a claim for compensation. These types of accidents can include.
- Slip and Fall
- Unsafe working conditions
- Unmaintained equipment
- Auto Accidents
- Death
- Electrical Hazards
- Occupational illnesses like COPD, contagious diseases, and asbestosis
- personal injuries at work
Injured in Meridian? Get matched with an attorney now.
Sharing Blame And Your Claim
Being partly at fault is common, and in Mississippi it changes the amount rather than ending the claim. Miss. Code Ann. 11-7-15 sets the rule.
Your own share of the fault reduces your award in proportion to that share, and no fixed percentage ends the claim by itself (Miss. Code Ann. 11-7-15). Photographs, witness names and medical records help show where the fault lies.
Time Limits To Know
Most injury claims in Mississippi must be filed within three years (Miss. Code Ann. 15-1-49(1)). A child may have more time, and a few other limited situations extend the period too (Miss. Code Ann. 15-1-59).
A wrongful death claim follows its own rules, so ask which date applies (Miss. Code Ann. 11-7-13). If a government body may be responsible, the steps can differ (Miss. Code Ann. 11-46-11). Write down the date of the injury now so the count is never in doubt.
The Court and Hospitals Behind a Meridian Claim
Meridian lies in Lauderdale County, according to Census Bureau place and county names. Lauderdale County’s circuit court (10th Circuit Court District) is listed in Meridian, at 2600 Courthouse Blvd., Meridian, MS 39301. In Meridian, the state list of trauma centers names Baptist Anderson Regional Medical Center as a Level III trauma center. In Meridian, that list names Ochsner Rush Foundation Hospital as a Level III trauma center.
Measured in a straight line from Meridian, the two nearest Mississippi acute care and critical access hospitals in the federal Hospital General Information file, Anderson Regional Medical Center in Meridian and Ochsner Rush Hospital in Meridian, are about equally close, both 1.1 miles away. Third is Anderson Regional Medical Center South Campus in Meridian, 1.3 miles, an acute care hospital. Anderson Regional Medical Center is at 2124 14th Street, Meridian, MS 39301.
Road distance from Meridian is longer than a straight line. Wherever you were treated, ask for the full records and an itemized bill, and keep a list of every visit.
The file also lists Alliance Health Center in Meridian at 1.9 miles and Ochsner Watkins Hospital in Quitman at 24.5 miles. Counting Mississippi acute care and critical access hospitals in a straight line from Meridian: 4 within 10 miles, 5 within 25 miles, 13 within 50 miles.
Closest to Meridian among the places this site covers are Forest, 45.9 miles west; Laurel, 54.6 miles southwest; and Kosciusko, 70.0 miles northwest. From Meridian, Gulfport lies 138 miles south and Jackson 89 miles west.
How To Begin Your Meridian Claim
The form at the top of this page is the starting point. NeedAnAttorney.net reviews your details and works to match you with an attorney in our network who may handle cases in Mississippi. It costs nothing to use and does not commit you to anything.
Until someone calls, make a simple record: what happened, the date and time, names of anyone who saw it, the treatment you have had, and the days you missed from work. Keep every bill and letter in one place.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does it matter that I was partly to blame?
The rule: your own share of the fault reduces your award in proportion to that share, and no fixed percentage ends the claim by itself (Miss. Code Ann. 11-7-15). Photographs and witness names help show where the fault lies. Do not guess about fault when you talk to an insurer.
Is there a ceiling on what I can recover for pain and suffering?
Some damages are limited: the amount is set by the statute and can change (Miss. Code Ann. 11-1-60(2)(b)). How fault is assigned can also change the amount. Lasting effects and missed work are part of what is proved.
Does Mississippi require drivers to carry liability insurance?
Liability coverage of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for injuries (Miss. Code Ann. 63-15-3(j)). Those figures are floors, not a measure of what a claim is worth. Ask an attorney to check every policy that may apply.
What is the nearest hospital to Meridian?
Among the Mississippi acute care and critical access hospitals on the federal hospital list, Anderson Regional Medical Center in Meridian and Ochsner Rush Hospital in Meridian are about equally close, both 1.1 miles away in a straight line. Anderson Regional Medical Center South Campus in Meridian is 1.3 miles away. In an emergency call 911 first; not every hospital has an emergency room.
What other places near Meridian have their own page here?
Forest is 45.9 miles west of Meridian, Laurel is 54.6 miles southwest and Kosciusko is 70.0 miles northwest, by straight line from the Census coordinates.
What if a public vehicle hit me?
Often with special steps. Special claim or notice steps can apply (Miss. Code Ann. 11-46-11). The rules for public bodies differ from the rules for private parties. Do not wait to ask.
What should I ask an attorney who handles cases near Meridian?
Ask each attorney you consider whether they handle cases where you live, how you would meet and how the fee works. Compare more than one before you decide.
Is there a time limit for an injury claim in Mississippi?
Three years for most injury claims (Miss. Code Ann. 15-1-49(1)). The period can be longer for a child, and a few other situations extend it too (Miss. Code Ann. 15-1-59). An early start protects the evidence.
If You Were Hurt Somewhere Else In Mississippi
People are hurt in every part of Mississippi. These pages cover other communities.
