Being involved in a car accident can be one of the most overwhelming experiences you’ll face. In those critical moments after a collision, your mind races, your heart pounds, and it’s easy to forget important steps that could protect your health and your legal rights.
In Mississippi, specific laws and insurance regulations make it crucial to act quickly and correctly following an accident. The decisions you make in the first hours and days after a crash can significantly impact any future insurance claim or legal case. This guide provides Jackson residents with a clear, step-by-step roadmap for navigating the aftermath of a car accident while protecting their interests under Mississippi law.
Ensure Everyone Is Safe and Call 911
Your first priority after any accident is safety. If your vehicle is drivable and you’re blocking traffic, carefully move to the shoulder or a nearby parking lot. However, never leave the scene of an accident, as this constitutes a hit-and-run under Mississippi law, regardless of who was at fault.
Call 911 immediately, even for seemingly minor accidents. The Jackson Police Department will typically respond to accident calls within the city limits. When you call, provide your exact location, describe any injuries, and let the dispatcher know if the roadway is blocked.
Mississippi law requires you to report any accident that results in injury, death, or property damage exceeding $500. Even if the damage appears minimal at first glance, it’s better to have an official police response than to discover later that you failed to meet your legal obligations.
While waiting for help to arrive, turn on your hazard lights and set up flares or reflective triangles if you have them. This helps protect you and other drivers from additional accidents.
Seek Medical Attention — Even If You Feel Fine
One of the biggest mistakes accident victims make is declining medical attention because they feel okay immediately after the crash. Adrenaline is powerful—it can mask serious injuries for hours or even days. What feels like minor soreness today could be a herniated disc or traumatic brain injury that doesn’t show symptoms until later.
If paramedics are on scene, allow them to evaluate you. If they recommend transport to a hospital, don’t refuse based on cost concerns or inconvenience. Jackson residents have access to excellent medical facilities, including:
- University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) – Mississippi’s only Level I trauma center
- Merit Health Central – A full-service hospital with emergency care
Even if you’re not transported by ambulance, consider visiting an urgent care center or your primary care physician within 24-48 hours of the accident. This creates important medical documentation linking any injuries to the accident, which insurance companies and courts require as evidence.
Keep all medical records, bills, and receipts for your accident injuries. These documents will be essential for filing an insurance claim or pursuing legal action.
Document the Scene Thoroughly
Your smartphone can be your best tool for protecting your legal rights after an accident. Take photographs from multiple angles, capturing:
- All vehicle damage – Don’t just photograph your car; document damage to all vehicles involved
- The overall accident scene – Show the positions of cars, traffic signs, and road conditions
- License plates – Get clear shots of all vehicles’ plates
- Street signs and traffic signals – These help establish the right-of-way and traffic flow
- Skid marks, debris, or fluid spills – Evidence that shows what happened
- Any visible injuries – Document cuts, bruises, or other immediate injuries
If there are witnesses, politely ask for their contact information. Independent witnesses can provide crucial testimony if there’s a dispute about how the accident occurred. Get their full names, phone numbers, and a brief statement about what they saw.
Make notes about conditions that photos can’t capture: the time of day, weather conditions, whether headlights were on, and any unusual circumstances. These details may seem unimportant now, but could be vital later.
Exchange Information with the Other Driver
You’ll need to exchange certain information with the other driver, but approach this step carefully. Collect:
- Full name, address, and phone number
- Insurance company name and policy number
- Driver’s license number
- License plate number
- Make, model, year, and color of their vehicle
Provide the same information to them. However, limit your conversation to exchanging this necessary information. Do not admit fault or apologize, even if you believe you may have contributed to the accident. Statements like “I’m sorry” or “I didn’t see you” can be used against you later, even if you were just being polite.
If the other driver becomes aggressive or refuses to provide information, don’t escalate the situation. The police report will document their information, and your attorney can help you obtain what you need through legal channels.
File a Police Report
Even if police officers don’t respond to the scene, Mississippi law requires you to file an accident report if the crash resulted in injury, death, or property damage exceeding $500. In Jackson, you can file this report with the Jackson Police Department.
If officers do respond, they’ll create an official police report. Ensure you get the report number and ask the responding officer how you can obtain a copy once it’s completed. This report will contain important information about the accident, including the officer’s assessment of what happened and any citations issued.
When speaking with the police, stick to the facts about what you observed. Avoid speculating about causes or admitting fault. Answer their questions honestly, but don’t volunteer additional information that wasn’t asked.
Notify Your Insurance Company
Contact your insurance company immediately after the accident, ideally within 24 hours. Most insurers have 24-hour claim reporting hotlines, so don’t wait until business hours. When you call:
- Provide basic facts about when, where, and how the accident occurred
- Give them the other driver’s insurance information
- Mention if there were any injuries
- Stick to factual observations rather than opinions about fault
Your insurance policy likely requires prompt notification of accidents, and delaying this call could affect your coverage. However, you don’t need to give a detailed recorded statement immediately. You can tell them you prefer to provide a comprehensive statement after you’ve consulted with an attorney.
Contact a Jackson Car Accident Lawyer
Mississippi follows a “comparative fault” rule, meaning your compensation can be reduced by your percentage of fault in the accident. It is essential to have experienced legal representation early to protect your rights and ensure you receive fair compensation.
A Jackson car accident lawyer can help you by:
- Handling insurance communications – Insurance adjusters are trained to minimize payouts. Your lawyer can handle these conversations to prevent you from inadvertently saying something that hurts your case.
- Preserving critical evidence – Evidence can disappear quickly. Security camera footage gets erased, witnesses move away, and physical evidence at the scene gets cleaned up. An attorney can take immediate steps to preserve this evidence.
- Accurately valuing your claim – The actual cost of an accident often extends far beyond immediate medical bills and car repairs. An experienced lawyer can help calculate future medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages you may not have considered.
- Navigating Mississippi’s legal requirements – From filing deadlines to insurance regulations, Mississippi has specific laws that affect your case. Local legal expertise ensures you don’t miss important deadlines or requirements.
Don’t Face Insurance Companies Alone
The aftermath of a car accident can be physically, emotionally, and financially overwhelming. While insurance companies may seem helpful initially, remember that they aim to settle claims for as little as possible. Having experienced legal representation levels the playing field and ensures your rights are protected.
If you’ve been injured in a car accident in Jackson, Mississippi, the team at Giddens Law Firm, PA is here to help. We understand the unique challenges accident victims face and are committed to fighting for the compensation you deserve.
Don’t wait—Mississippi law limits the time to file a claim, and evidence is most accessible immediately after an accident. Let us handle the legal complexities while you focus on your recovery.