BILOXI, MS (April 1, 2025) – A car crashed into a Jimmy John’s in Biloxi on March 31.
According to the Biloxi Police Department, the accident occurred around 12:40 p.m. on Pass Road. The police believe the driver was having a medical issue at the time of the accident. There is no word on the driver’s injuries.
Although there was damage done to the restaurant, everyone inside Jimmy John’s at the time of the accident was fine.
Police are investigating the accident.
The Sudden Medical Emergency Defense in Mississippi Car Accidents
In Mississippi, drivers who cause accidents due to sudden medical emergencies may be protected from liability under the “sudden medical emergency defense.” This legal doctrine recognizes that drivers who suffer unforeseen medical crises like heart attacks, strokes, or seizures while driving shouldn’t be held negligent if they couldn’t reasonably predict or prevent the emergency.
For this defense to succeed, the driver must prove the medical emergency was genuine, truly sudden with no warning signs that would have allowed them to safely pull over, and completely unforeseeable based on their medical history. A driver with known heart problems who ignores doctor’s warnings not to drive cannot use this defense if they have a heart attack behind the wheel. Similarly, someone who feels symptoms developing but continues driving won’t be protected.
The burden falls entirely on the driver claiming the defense to provide substantial medical evidence beyond their own testimony. Courts apply this defense cautiously, requiring documentation that proves both the emergency’s existence and its unforeseeability.
When successfully established, victims may need to turn to their own insurance coverage for compensation, including personal injury protection, uninsured motorist coverage, or health insurance. This makes thorough investigation critical, focusing on the driver’s complete medical history, compliance with medications, previous similar episodes, and the precise timing between symptom onset and the accident.
If you were involved in a car accident in Biloxi, our Biloxi personal injury attorney can help. Contact Giddens Law Firm today to schedule a free consultation.
Note: Our team of writers uses secondary sources to produce this post, including local and state media and news sources, regional and state police incident reports, social media platforms, and eyewitness accounts about serious accidents in Mississippi. For that reason, if you find any information that is not correct, be sure to contact Giddens Law Firm as soon as possible so that we can update the post with the most exact information available. A post will be removed upon request. All information in this post is informational and not intended to be considered legal or medical advice. This post is not a solicitation for business.