According to MS News Now, a two-vehicle collision that occurred on a Friday evening earlier this month sent one person to the hospital. A witness at the scene said a Dodge Dakota was heading south on Wells Road when it allegedly ran the stop sign at the intersection of Wells and Highway 18, striking a Ford Explorer.
Hinds County Sheriff’s Deputies claim the driver of the Ford suffered a broken leg and may have sustained other injuries. First responders transported him to a local hospital via ambulance.
The driver of the Dodge allegedly refused medical treatment and left the scene with family. Officers admit that several serious accidents have occurred at this particular intersection, which does not have a traffic light.
If you were injured in a collision with a reckless motorist, contact Ballard Law, PLLC. Attorney William E. Ballard will investigate your case to identify all potentially liable parties so you can hold them accountable.
Mr. Ballard will also help you fight for the maximum settlement, and if your case goes to court, he has the litigation experience and resources to represent your interests at trial. Call 769-572-5111 to schedule a free case evaluation with a Jackson car wreck attorney.
Can I Sue the Government for Dangerous Traffic Patterns?
In the case above, the driver of the Dodge failed to adhere to a stop sign, which ultimately resulted in a collision that injured one; however, officers acknowledge the accident occurred at a particularly dangerous intersection that already has a history of such crashes. If the local government does not attempt to reduce the risk of wrecks at this site, it could eventually be considered at least partially liable for any collisions that do occur.
In fact, states around the country have already set precedents regarding the government’s share of liability for collisions on roads where they repeatedly occur. In New York, for example, the Court of Appeals ruled that municipalities can be liable for failing to address design flaws on streets that have a history of serious accidents.
The precedents vary from state to state, and every accident case is different. In general, though, accident victims may be able to hold their local government at least partially liable for collisions that occurred as the result of:
- Insufficient guardrails;
- Inadequate shoulders;
- Inadequate lighting;
- Inadequate traffic signals;
- Roadside hazards like telephone poles and trees;
- Road hazards like potholes;
- Crumbling, cracked, or uneven concrete;
- Poor visibility as the result of overhanging vegetation;
- Faded centerlines or reflective markers;
- Unsafe crossings for pedestrians;
- Insufficient warning signals;
- Poorly deigned merging lanes; and
- Standing water on the freeway as the result of poorly designed drainage.
If you were recently in a car accident and you think the local government was partially liable, you have a limited amount of time in which to file a claim. Although the statute of limitations for personal injury claims in Mississippi is usually three years, you typically have just 90 days to notify the municipality of your case and one year to file your claim.
If you were hurt in a car crash in Mississippi and you’re not sure who is liable for the damages you incurred, contact Ballard Law, PLLC to discuss your case. Call 769-572-5111 to schedule a free consultation with an accident lawyer in Jackson. You can learn more about car accident claims in Mississippi by visiting USAttorneys.com.
