Jackson Car Accident Lawyer
Most people hurt in a crash on I-55 or I-20 expect one insurance claim. In reality, a wreck can open two or three separate claims, and the order in which you handle them matters. That is especially true when you were driving for work. Lunsford, Baskin & Priebe PLLC handles car and truck accident claims alongside workers’ compensation for injured people across Mississippi and Louisiana, which means a Jackson car accident lawyer from our team looks at the whole picture instead of one claim at a time.
Jackson sits at a crossroads of heavy traffic. Interstate 55 and Interstate 20 meet downtown, Lakeland Drive and County Line Road carry commuters and delivery vehicles all day, and Highway 80 and State Street run through dense commercial stretches. Add the trucks moving freight through the capital region, and a serious collision is rarely simple. Fault gets disputed, adjusters call early, and the bills start before anyone knows how long recovery will take.
Below, we cover how Mississippi fault rules work, what kinds of crashes we see, what to do in the first days, and how a car wreck claim fits together with a workers’ compensation claim when the crash happened on the clock.
Why Choose Lunsford, Baskin & Priebe for a Jackson Crash Claim
Lunsford, Baskin & Priebe PLLC represents injured people in Jackson, Hinds County, Madison, and communities across Mississippi and South Louisiana. We have recovered more than $100 million in settlements for clients. We handle car and truck accidents, premises liability, and wrongful death claims in addition to work injuries, we speak Spanish with clients from the first call, and our phones are answered 24 hours a day.
That background matters in a crash case because so many collisions involve someone who was working. Our results include a $385,000 settlement for a project manager who suffered back injuries after being struck in his work vehicle, and a $190,000 settlement for a truck driver who hurt his lower back in a wreck while on the job. Back, neck, and spine injuries are among the most common outcomes of a collision, and we have handled them at every level, including a $685,000 settlement for a surgical tech with a lower back injury and $600,000 for a construction worker with a complex back injury.
Our attorneys include Rob Lunsford, Founding Partner, who has spent his entire legal career representing injured workers; Brad Baskin, Partner; and Jennifer Priebe, Partner. Brad and Jennifer have been recognized by Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, and The National Trial Lawyers, and the firm was ranked by Best Law Firms in 2026 for Workers’ Compensation Law, Claimants, in Jackson. Andrew Rueff has successfully tried dozens of jury and bench trials to verdict and has argued personal injury and insurance cases before state appellate courts. Clients consistently describe a team that listens, communicates, and fights the insurance company on their behalf.
Consultations are free, we advance the costs of the case, and you pay no fee unless we recover for you.
Types of Collisions We Handle in the Jackson Area
- Interstate and Highway Crashes: High-speed rear-end and merge collisions on I-55, I-20, and I-220 often cause herniated discs, whiplash, and fractures that need specialist care and sometimes surgery.
- Commercial Truck Wrecks: Freight traffic through the capital region puts tractor-trailers next to passenger cars daily. These claims can reach the driver, the trucking company, and a loading or maintenance contractor.
- Work Vehicle Collisions: Delivery drivers, sales reps, project managers, and field technicians are hurt while driving for an employer. These cases usually involve both a workers’ compensation claim and a claim against the at-fault driver.
- Intersection and Commercial Corridor Crashes: Left-turn and red-light collisions along Lakeland Drive, County Line Road, State Street, and Highway 80 are common, and fault is frequently contested.
- Rideshare and Delivery Driver Accidents: Drivers moving passengers or packages raise questions about whose insurance applies and whether the driver was on a job at the time.
- Collisions Involving Government Vehicles: Crashes with city, county, or other public vehicles carry special notice rules and a short filing window, covered below.
- Wrongful Death After a Crash: When a collision kills a family member, the survivors may pursue a claim for losses and for the harm the death caused.
What to Do After a Wreck in Jackson
Start with medical care. Call 911, accept the ambulance if offered, and get checked even if you feel stable. Adrenaline hides injuries, and herniated discs and torn shoulders often show up days later. A gap between the crash and your first treatment is exactly what an adjuster will point to.
Get a police report. Depending on where you were hurt, that may come from the Jackson Police Department, the Hinds County Sheriff’s Office, or the Mississippi Highway Patrol on the interstates. Photograph the vehicles, the road, the signals, and your injuries. Collect names and insurance information from every driver and get contact details for witnesses before they leave.
Be careful with insurers. The other driver’s adjuster may call within hours and ask for a recorded statement. You are not required to give one, and early statements about how you feel or what happened tend to get used against you. Do not sign a release or accept a quick check until you know the full extent of your injuries.
If you were driving for work, tell your employer about the injury right away. In Mississippi you must report a work injury within 30 days, and in Louisiana the same 30-day notice rule applies. Waiting can put your comp benefits at risk even when the crash itself was obviously not your fault.
Lawsuits over a Jackson crash that are filed in state court go to the Hinds County Circuit Court, which sits in Jackson for the First Judicial District. Federal cases that qualify go to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, which holds court in Jackson. Most claims settle well before a courtroom, but the preparation for a trial is what gives a settlement demand weight.
How Fault and Deadlines Work in Mississippi
Mississippi uses pure comparative negligence. If a jury finds you partly at fault, your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault rather than eliminated. A driver who was 20 percent responsible still recovers 80 percent of the damages. That is why insurers work so hard to shift blame, and why evidence like scene photos, vehicle data, and witness accounts matters.
Most Mississippi injury claims that have no special limitation period must be filed within three years of the date the claim arose. A wrongful death claim based on negligence also carries a three-year window, while one based on an intentional act carries one year. If a county or other governmental agency is involved, the limit drops to one year and written notice is required under the Mississippi Tort Claims Act. Those short windows are easy to miss, which is a good reason to talk to a lawyer early.
Mississippi also caps noneconomic damages in certain cases, such as most wrongful death claims and medical malpractice claims. The caps do not apply to economic damages like medical bills and lost income.
When the Crash Happened on the Job
A work-related collision can produce two recoveries from two different sources. Workers’ compensation pays medical treatment and wage-loss benefits regardless of who caused the crash. Mississippi covers workers from the first day of employment, and wage replacement generally runs at two-thirds of your average weekly wage up to a statutory maximum. A separate claim against the at-fault driver can cover losses that comp does not, such as pain and suffering.
The two claims affect each other. The comp insurer may have a right to be repaid from a third-party recovery, and a settlement signed carelessly in one claim can damage the other. Because our firm lives in workers’ compensation every day, we coordinate both so they work together rather than against each other.
In Mississippi, a comp claim is heard by the Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Commission. If no disability benefits have been paid, you generally have two years from the injury to file with the Commission. Louisiana workers hurt in a crash generally have one year to file a formal claim, with the possibility of extension if benefits were paid.
Questions About Jackson Car Accident Claims
How long do I have to file a car accident lawsuit in Mississippi?
Most negligence claims must be filed within three years of the date the cause of action arose. Claims against a county or governmental agency must be brought within one year and require notice under the Mississippi Tort Claims Act.
What if I was partly at fault for the crash?
Mississippi follows pure comparative negligence, so your recovery is reduced by your share of fault but not barred. Even a significant share of blame does not automatically end a claim.
How much does it cost to hire your firm?
Nothing up front. Consultations are free, we advance the case costs, and we are paid only if we recover benefits or a settlement for you.
Should I talk to the other driver’s insurance company?
You can exchange basic information, but you do not have to give a recorded statement. Adjusters are gathering material to limit what they pay, so it is usually wise to speak with a lawyer first.
What if the crash happened while I was working?
You may have both a workers’ compensation claim and a claim against the at-fault driver. Report the injury to your employer within 30 days, and make sure the two claims are handled together.
Do I need a lawyer for a minor fender bender?
Not always. But if you have ongoing pain, missed work, or an insurer that is disputing fault, a consultation costs nothing and can tell you whether the claim is worth more than the first offer suggests.
Will my health insurance cover treatment while my claim is pending?
Often yes, and using it is usually better than going untreated. Your health insurer may seek repayment from any settlement, so keep records of everything it pays. If the crash was work-related, workers’ compensation should cover authorized treatment instead.
What if the at-fault driver has no insurance or too little?
Your own policy may include uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. Check your declarations page, and do not assume the other driver’s limits are the ceiling on what you can recover.
Can I still bring a claim if my symptoms showed up days later?
Yes. Disc injuries, shoulder tears, and concussions often surface after the adrenaline fades. Get evaluated promptly and tell the provider about the crash so the connection is documented.
What if a family member died in the collision?
Survivors may bring a wrongful death claim. In Mississippi, a negligence-based wrongful death claim generally has a three-year window, while one based on an intentional act has one year.
How long does a car accident case usually take?
It depends on how long medical treatment lasts and whether liability is disputed. Settling before you reach maximum medical improvement can leave future care uncovered, so we do not rush a claim just to close it.
Do you work with Spanish-speaking clients?
Yes. Hablamos español, and Spanish-speaking clients can work with our team in their own language from the first call to the end of the case.
Serving Crash Victims Across Jackson and Central Mississippi
We represent people injured in collisions throughout Jackson and Hinds County, from downtown and Fondren to Belhaven, Eastover, and the neighborhoods along Lakeland Drive and Highway 80. Hinds County also includes Clinton, Byram, Terry, Raymond, Bolton, Utica, and Edwards, and we handle claims from each. Neighboring Madison and Rankin counties are part of our regular work too, including Madison, Ridgeland, Flowood, Pearl, and Brandon.
Our reach extends across the state to the Gulf Coast, Hattiesburg, Southaven, north Mississippi, and the Delta. We also represent injured people across South Louisiana and north Louisiana, including Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles, and Shreveport. Wherever the collision happened, the same attention goes into the claim.
Talk With a Jackson Car Accident Attorney Today
If a crash has left you hurt, behind on bills, or fielding calls from an insurance adjuster, a Jackson car accident attorney at Lunsford, Baskin & Priebe can review what happened and explain your options. Consultations are free, you owe no fee unless we recover for you, and our phones are answered 24 hours a day. Call us today or send your case details and let us deal with the insurance company while you focus on getting better.
