Mississippi Accident Lawyer Blog

Two people were killed and one person was seriously injured when the driver of a BMW caused the accident and is being charged with two counts of felony DUI causing death. Orlando Pereira Martinez was charged with the DUI's. Hernandez Martin and Angel Quintana died in the crash on Hwy. 90. A back seat passenger,Jossue Figueroa suffered serious injuries and was taken to Singing River Hospital.

Who can sue whom and why? The driver and passengers of the innocent vehicle can sue the driver of the BMW for causing the accident. Can anyone else be sued? Yes, if the drunk driver were served alcohol after he became intoxicated, then the bar that sold the alcohol can also be sued for serving an intoxicated customer. The bar contributed to this accident, just as much, if not more than the driver of the car. Bartenders are trained professionals who should know when to stop serving a customer who has had too much to drink. The customer looses good judgement after so many drinks and is not in the best  position to know when he has had too much to drink. For example, how can you tell if you are slurring your words, if you are the one doing the slurring? You can't, but the bartender can because he was trained to look for that and other signs that show that the customer has had too much to drink. The phrase that alcohol companies like to use is "drink responsibly", I think the phrase should be "serve responsibly"; how about "friends don't let friends drive drunk"? who do you think came up with that one? The alcohol industry did. They always try to blame the driver and not their bartender. The phrase should read: "bartenders should not let customers get drunk in the first place".  But, who is in the business to make money selling alcohol? Who should bear the responsibility for contributing to an accident. If you are going to over serve a customer, then you should have to pay the price for contributing to the accident.

Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) do not put up with this bull and neither should we. When the time comes for the jury to set the amount of damages against the bar, they should make them pay for what they caused.

Jackson, MS auto accident lawyer Paul Snow has handled a number of cases against bars and other alcohol providers. If you have any questions about a case involving alcohol, call Paul Snow now to discuss your case at 601-969-1977 or contact us online. We represent clients all over Mississippi including Pascagoula, Clinton, Pearl, Starkville, Olive Branch, and Clarksdale. We help people who have been injured or killed in auto accidents, 18 wheeler accidents, motorcycle accidents, drunk driving accidents and accidents involving defective products.

The driver of a stolen Toyota pickup truck was stopped by Columbus Police for speeding. While being checked, the driver tried to get away but was stopped again when a collision occurred with a Cadillac on Hwy. 45 North in Columbus, Mississippi. Jerry Sharp was arrested after the accident.

Three people were taken to the local hospital for treatment.

Who can sue whom and why? Anyone injured in this accident has a claim against the driver of the Toyota. But, they also may make a claim against the Columbus Police Department if they can prove that the officer did not follow their usual procedures in trying to apprehend a suspect.

Paul Snow is a Jackson, MS car accident lawyer who has many years of experience in handling all types of accidents. We represent clients all over Mississippi including Columbus, Meridian, Tupelo, Southaven, Vicksburg, and Pascagoula. We handle cases involving car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, 18 wheeler accidents and drunk driving accidents. If you have any questions about making a claim against a city, county, or state agency, call us at 601-969-1977 or contact us online.

Information provided by Mississippi Accident Lawyer Paul Snow.

A Mississippi and Georgia man were killed in an accident on I-59 near Slidell, La. in a three car collision. Homer Phillips was heading north in the southbound lanes of traffic when his Ford pickup truck collided head-on with a southbound Ford pickup truck. Phillips vehicle then struck a Nissan Altima. Phillips and James Chapman from Atlanta, were pronounced dead at the scene.

Who can sue whom and why? Anyone injured or killed by the at fault driver may make a claim against that drivers insurance company. If the at fault driver did not have any insurance, then claims can be made against the injured victims own insurance company for uninsured motorist benefits.

The Paul Snow Law Offices handles all types of accident cases involving serious injury and death including car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, 18 wheeler accidents and accidents involving bad products. We represent clients from all over Mississippi including Jackson, Gulfport, Biloxi, Hattiesburg, and Greenville. If you have any questions, call us at 601-969-1977 or contact us online.

Information provided by Mississippi Accident Lawyer Paul Snow.

The Mississippi Department of Transportation is warning everyone to buckle their seat belt. MDOT hosted its first safety fair in Jackson, MS. Children were taught how to escape from a fire by the use of a fire safety house. A crash dummy demonstrated how important seat belts are in rollover accidents. Instructions on how to install a car seat were also given. Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of injury and death in small children.

Safety Programs Coordinator for MDOT, Cristy Milbourne, said "we are helping to show people how to keep their families safe. There are too many injuries and fatalities that are preventable. We lose too many children every year."

Each year there are a number of accidents involving infant and child safety seats. A number of them have been recalled by the Consumer Products Safety Commission. There are numerous defects in the design of the car seats. If you know of someone who was injured or killed when their baby came out of the car seat, call Mississippi Accident Lawyer Paul Snow to discuss your legal rights. You may have a case against the car seat manufacturer. Call now for your free confidential consultation, 601-969-1977 or contact us online.

A wreck involving four cars and an 18 wheeler took the life of a 6 year old girl who was ejected from the car. The accident started when John Henry Brown attempted to pass an 18 wheeler on the right shoulder of the road in the southbound lanes of I-55 at the Horn Lake Creek bridge. Brown pulled in front of the truck and then the driver of the tractor-trailer rig swerved to miss Brown and collided with another car knocking it into the guard rail.

Four vehicles were involved and the tractor-trailer. Five people were injured and taken to the local hospital.

Who can sue whom and why? Anyone hurt or killed in the accident can sue the driver of the car who tried to pass the 18 wheeler on the right shoulder of the road; this includes the driver of the 18 wheeler and any drivers or passengers of the other vehicles involved in the accident.  If the driver of the 18 wheeler could have driven straight forward without swerving and knocking the second car into the guard rail, then the 18 wheeler company can be sued for contributing to the accident and resulting injuries and death of the 6 yr. old. The driver of a big rig should not just blindly pull over into someone else's lane of travel without first making sure that it could be done safely.

If you know of someone who has been involved in an accident with an 18 wheeler and have some questions, call Mississippi Accident Lawyer, Paul Snow at 601-969-1977 or contact us online. We represent clients from all over Mississippi including, Southaven,Columbus, Clinton, Pearl, Starkville, Olive Branch, Clarksdale, Ridgeland, Natchez, Greenwood and Laurel.

Pamela Gobble, 44, from Marshall, Texas was hit and killed while trying to cross the northbound lanes of Hwy. 49 in Hattiesburg, MS. The accident happened near Hwy. 42 around midnight. Her body was sent to Jackson, MS for an autopsy.

If you know of someone who was involved in an accident as a pedestrian and have some questions, call the Mississippi Accident Lawyer Paul Snow at 601-969-1977 or contact us online. We represent clients all over Mississippi including Jackson, Gulfport, Biloxi, Greenville, Meridian, Tupelo, Southaven, Vicksburg, and Pascagoula, MS.

The driver of an Oldsmobile Alero was going North on Hwy. 11 in Moselle when he crossed over into the opposite lane trying to pass a vehicle in front of him and hit a Chevrolet Blazer going South causing the collision.  Three passengers from the Blazer were taken to Forrest General Hospital with personal injuries. The driver of the Alero was killed in the accident.

Mississippi Accident Lawyer Paul Snow handles all types of accident cases including car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, 18 wheeler accidents, drunk driving accidents and accidents involving defective products. If you have any questions, call us at 601-969-1977 or contact us online.

May is the National Trauma Awareness Month and is a good opportunity to take a few extra steps to be mindful of safety, like making sure everyone in your vehicle fastens his/her seat belt. Motor vehicle crashes are the number one cause of trauma related injuries, followed by falls, ATV crashes, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian injuries, and burns.

When it comes to car accidents, or other traumatic incidents, many people say: "that will never happen to me". However, accidents do happen. Most trauma patients usually go to the Emergency Room and then the Trauma team is notified.

In 2008, Forrest General Hospital Trauma Services saw about 2,800 trauma patients from the Hattiesburg area. Having a trauma center in Hattiesburg is important because patients can receive emergency care after a traumatic event instead of being transported to Jackson, MS.

The facility has Level II standing which means that the hospital must have board-certified physicians on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. There are over then categories of specialties that are represented in the trauma team: anesthesia, emergency medicine, radiology, general/trauma surgeons, orthopedic, neurologic, obstetric/gynecologic, and oral/maxillofacial surgery.

If you know of someone who was involved in a traumatic accident and have questions about how to proceed, call Paul Snow 601-969-1977 with any questions that you may have or contact us online.

Information provided by Mississippi Accident Lawyer Paul Snow.

A 67 year man from Florence, MS was injured in an accident when his vehicle was hit by a Mercedes-Benz which was going about 75 mph and ran a red light. The truck flipped so high in the air that it almost hit the traffic light according to eyewitnesses.  A Pearl Police patrolman ran the car's tag and discovered it was stolen. When the driver refused to pull over, the chase began. It ended when this accident happened on Gallitin Street in Jackson, MS.

Two suspects fled the scene and one was taken into custody. Officials stated that there is a lot of liability associated with these type of cases. This accident is similar to one involving a Raymond police officer when an SUV was being chased and ultimately caused the death of Alice Clausell. The chase started as a result of reckless driving of Alice Marie Wilson.

Who can sue whom and why? Well, you would think that the driver of the pick-up truck may have a claim against the driver of the car, but since the car was stolen, the insurance company will probably deny the claim; therefore, the injured party, then could make a claim against his own insurance company for uninsured motorist benefits. Also, a claim may be made against the Pearl Police Department for negligent pursuit.

If you know of someone who was injured or killed during a police pursuit, call Paul Snow to discuss your legal rights, 601-969-1977 or contact us online.

Information provided by Mississippi Accident Lawyer Paul Snow.

The driver of a 1990 Jeep Wrangler left the road, struck a culvert, and then the vehicle overturned, throwing the two passengers out and partially ejecting the driver who died on the scene. Casimir Burras or Bogalusa and Corey Dillon of Franklinton were severely injured and taken to Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg, MS.

Who can sue whom and why? Either passenger can make a claim against the driver's insurance company for the driver's negligence. If that insurance is not enough to cover all of the damages, then a claim can be made against the passenger's own insurance company for uninsured motorist benefits. If the driver were drunk, a claim may be made against the business that sold the alcohol to the driver especially if he were a minor. This is what is commonly referred to as "liquor liability". Sometimes, punitive damages are involved if the conduct of the bartender was grossly negligent.

If you know of someone who has received severe injuries in an accident, call Paul Snow to discuss your legal rights, 601-969-1977 or contact us online. We represent people in all types of accidents.

Four people received personal injuries when a van struck a Toyota Camry at the intersection of Highway 84 and Magnolia Road near Lake Bogua Homa in Jones County. There have been 80 wrecks at this intersection since 2003, four have been fatal. Local emergency workers said the vast majority of accidents are high speed T-bones which is what happened in this accident. It was voted the most dangerous intersection in Jones County.

MDOT installed flashing lights in April, 2008, but accidents continue to happen.

If you know of someone who was injured in a broadside accident, call Paul Snow to discuss your legal rights, 601-969-1977 or contact us online.

Information provided by Mississippi Accident Lawyer Paul Snow.

A couple from Clinton, Mississippi were killed in a one vehicle accident in Jackson, MS when the driver, James Gaughf lost control of his vehicle and hit a tree. Mr. Gaughf was driving his green Honda north on Belvedere Drive near McDowell Road when the accident happened. Both were taken to UMC where his wife died in the emergency room and the husband died on the operating table.

If you know of someone who was killed in an accident and have some questions, call Mississippi Accident Lawyer Paul Snow at 601-969-1977 or contact us online. We handle all type of  accidents involving car, truck, motorcycle, 18 wheeler, drunk driving, or defective products.

A head-on collision caused the death of a 37 year old Picayune, Mississippi woman on Highway 51 when her 2002 Cadillac crossed the center-line and hit a 1990 Nissan pickup truck. Classie Spann was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.

The other driver was taken to the local hospital with injuries.

If you know of someone who has been involved in a head-on accident or any other type of accident, call Paul Snow with any questions that you may have, 601-969-1977 or contact us online.

Information provided by Mississippi Accident Lawyer Paul Snow.

 A woman from Philadelphia, Mississippi was killed in a wreck when the vehicle she was riding in as a passenger left the road, struck a concrete drainage ditch and then hit a dirt embankment. Esterline Isaac was thrown from the car when Victor Isaac fell asleep and lost control of the vehicle.

Who can sue whom and why? Even though the husband may be driving a car that results in the death of his wife, the estate of the wife has a claim against the husband's insurance company. These are what are called friendly lawsuits and are usually settled without any lawsuit being filed. A Mississippi Accident Lawyer knows how to get the claim settled quickly and without much hassle.


If you or a loved one was involved in an accident with a family member and have some questions, call Paul Snow 601-969-1977 or contact us online.

The conviction of Jaison Harness was affirmed by the MS Court of Appeals recently. Harness was sentenced to 25 years for causing the death of Clyde Hampton while driving drunk in a two vehicle accident in Jackson, MS. The blood alcohol content was .11% four hours after the crash which means that the driver was .19% at the time of the accident. One looses .02% for each hour that the test is not given.

Alcohol is a factor in about 50% of the accidents in MS. That's a lot; Make sure that you are aware of other vehicles around you to try to steer clear of an accident if the unexpected occurs. If the other driver has been drinking, no telling what actions they make take; sometimes they pass-out behind the steering wheel.

The laws need to be tougher against the bars and other alcohol providers to make sure that they don't sell or give alcohol to a visibly intoxicated customer and never serve a minor. The bartender is in a better position to know when a customer has had too much to drink, not the customer because the customer's judgment has been impaired by the alcohol.

If you know of someone who has been injured or killed by a drunk driver, or anyother kind of accident where alcolol was involved, call Paul Snow to discuss your legal rights, 601-969-1977 or 800-640-4478 or contact us online.

A six year old girl was killed in a fatal car crash in Southaven, Mississippi when John Henry Brown while speeding hit an 18 wheeler and then the 18 wheeler hit a 2002 Ford Taurus driven by the child's mother, Patricia Sledge. The at-fault driver was charged with leaving the scene of an accident and depraved heart murder which means a disregard for human life which results in a death.

The Mississippi Crime Lab performed an autopsy shortly after the accident. It was concluded that the girl died from personal injuries in the crash and not from being ejected from the vehicle. All the children in the car had their seat belt on.

Who can sue whom and why?  Anyone injured by the at-fault driver may sue his insurance company for damages that he caused including the family members of the six year old girl who have a claim for wrongful death. Also, the actions of the 18 wheeler driver must be looked into to see if he could have avoided the accident with the Taurus. Vehicles pull out in front of 18 wheeler drivers all the time; sometimes vehicles come in contact with the 18 wheeler. But the question is, did the 18 wheeler driver act reasonably under the circumstances?  It's not feasible for a car to physically knock a heavy 18 wheeler into another car. So, did the truck driver swerve over onto the Taurus when he didn't really have to? What if he never swerved over at all? Then we know that the six year girl would still be alive today. The only injury would be to the speeding motorist who left the scene of the accident. You read and hear about an 18 wheeler truck driver saying that he swerved over and saved some lives, or that he went into the median in order to avoid hitting a car. More facts need to be determined to see if this driver did everything that he could have done before he made the decision to totally demolish the Ford Taurus full of young children.

If the truck driver did not have to pull over into the Ford Taurus, then his insurance company may be liable for damages to those injured and killed by his actions. In other words, both of these drivers can be at fault for causing this little girl's death.

Our prayers go out to the family of the little girl.

If you or a loved one have been injured or killed in an accident, you should consult with an experienced Mississippi Accident Lawyer. Paul Snow handles all types of accident cases, one case at a time. We handle cases involving car, truck, motorcycle accidents and injuries from defective products. If you have any questions, call us at 601-969-1977 or contact us online now.

Information provided by Mississippi Accident Lawyer Paul Snow.

A 15 year old student and another child were hit while exiting a stopped school bus with its stop arm extended. The driver went around a number of stopped cars who were waiting for the children to get off of the bus, then hit two of them when they tried to cross the street.

Mitchell Cearley is due for follow-up surgery and a fund-raiser has set up to help pay for the medical bills. Also, a new campaign has been started to try to get motorist to stop for school buses. It's called "STOP means STOP".

We wish the best for the victim and his family and hope a lot of money is raised to help them out.

If you know of someone who was involved in an accident and have some questions, call Mississippi Accident Lawyer Paul Snow 601-969-1977 or contact us online. We help people who have been involved in any type of accident.

Information provided by Mississippi Accident Lawyer Paul Snow.