1. ‘Maggio Law
Focus Area: Personal injury litigation with emphasis on fighting insurance companies
Practice Areas: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, wrongful death, premises liability, catastrophic injuries
Background: Attorney Mike Saltaformaggio brings more than 25 years of experience fighting for personal injury clients in Jackson, Mississippi. The firm is known for pursuing maximum compensation rather than quick settlements and takes a thorough approach to building cases against insurance companies.
Location: Jackson, Mississippi
Contact: Available through website | https://www.mtlawms.com
Consultation: Free case evaluation offered
2. Richard Schwartz & Associates Injury Lawyers, P.A.
Focus Area: Personal injury representation across Mississippi
Practice Areas: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, wrongful death, premises liability, medical malpractice, nursing home abuse, defective products, brain and spinal cord injuries
Background: Richard Schwartz & Associates has represented Mississippi personal injury clients for more than 40 years. The firm maintains offices in Jackson, Tupelo, Hattiesburg, Meridian, Columbus, and Greenville, providing statewide coverage. The firm operates on a no-fee-unless-recovery basis and offers pro bono services in certain cases.
Location: Jackson, Mississippi (with additional offices statewide)
Contact: Available through website | https://www.1call.ms
Consultation: Free consultation with no fees unless case is successful
3. Brown, Bass & Jeter, PLLC
Focus Area: Personal injury, vaccine injury, and civil rights litigation
Practice Areas: Car accidents, truck accidents, medical malpractice, nursing home abuse, premises liability, vaccine injuries, civil rights, securities fraud, wrongful death
Background: Brown, Bass & Jeter brings over 40 years of combined experience to personal injury cases in Jackson. The firm has been named among Mississippi’s Top Entrepreneurs by the Mississippi Business Journal and a Rising Star by the Women’s Business Enterprise Council. Attorneys Katrina S. Brown and LaToya T. Jeter lead the practice.
Location: Jackson, Mississippi
Contact: Available through website | https://bbjlawyers.com
Consultation: Free, confidential consultation offered
4. Germany Law Firm PLLC
Focus Area: High-stakes personal injury and catastrophic injury litigation
Practice Areas: Car accidents, truck accidents, medical malpractice, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, defective products, aviation accidents, insurance bad faith, wrongful death
Background: Attorney Bob Germany has been admitted to the Mississippi Bar since 1981 and has litigated numerous high-profile cases. The firm’s notable results include a $200 million jury verdict against a car manufacturer, $36.5 million settlement against a pharmaceutical company, $24.5 million jury verdict, and multiple settlements exceeding $4 million. The firm focuses on serious injury cases requiring substantial resources.
Location: Jackson, Mississippi
Contact: (601) 812-5524 | https://bobgermanylaw.com
Consultation: Free consultation to discuss case details
5. Mama Justice – MW Law Firm
Focus Area: Personal injury representation with holistic client support
Practice Areas: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, wrongful death, premises liability, catastrophic injuries
Background: Mama Justice – MW Law Firm emphasizes a comprehensive approach to client representation that extends beyond legal services, including assistance connecting clients with appropriate medical specialists. The firm has accumulated over 700 five-star client reviews and takes an assertive approach to negotiations with insurance companies.
Location: Jackson, Mississippi (with additional locations statewide)
Contact: (833) 626-2587 | https://www.mamajustice.com/jackson/
Consultation: Free consultation with no fees unless recovery is obtained
Personal Injury Laws in Mississippi
Statute of Limitations
Mississippi Code Section 15-1-49(1) establishes a three-year statute of limitations for most personal injury claims. Injured parties have three years from the date of the accident or injury to file a lawsuit in court.
Different deadlines apply to specific case types:
Intentional torts (assault, battery, false imprisonment) have a one-year statute of limitations under Mississippi Code Section 15-1-35.
Medical malpractice claims must be filed within two years from the date the negligence occurred. For minors under six years old, different rules may apply.
Claims against government entities must be filed within one year of the injury.
Wrongful death claims must be filed within three years of the date of death.
The discovery rule may extend deadlines in cases where injuries were not immediately apparent, though medical malpractice claims cannot be brought more than seven years after the negligent act regardless of when the injury was discovered.
Negligence Rules
Mississippi follows a pure comparative fault system under Mississippi Code Section 11-7-15. Under this rule, an injured party can recover damages even if they are found to be 99% at fault for the accident. Their recovery is reduced proportionally by their percentage of fault.
This pure comparative negligence approach is more favorable to plaintiffs than the modified comparative negligence systems used in most states. In those states, plaintiffs are barred from any recovery if their fault exceeds 50% or 51%. In Mississippi, even significantly at-fault plaintiffs retain the right to some compensation.
For example, if a jury finds a plaintiff 90% responsible for an accident and awards $100,000 in damages, the plaintiff would still recover $10,000.
Damage Caps
Mississippi law imposes caps on certain types of damages in personal injury cases under Mississippi Code Section 11-1-60:
Non-economic damages (pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of consortium) are capped at $1,000,000 in most personal injury cases.
Medical malpractice cases have a lower cap of $500,000 for non-economic damages.
Claims against the government are capped at $500,000 for all damages combined.
Punitive damages are capped based on the defendant’s net worth, with different percentages applying at different wealth levels. For defendants with net worth of $50 million or less, punitive damages are capped at 3% of net worth.
There is no cap on economic damages such as medical bills, lost wages, and future medical care.
Auto Insurance Requirements
Mississippi is an at-fault state where the driver who causes an accident is responsible for paying damages. Mississippi law requires all drivers to carry liability insurance with minimum limits of:
- $25,000 for bodily injury per person
- $50,000 for bodily injury per accident
- $25,000 for property damage per accident
These minimums have been in effect since January 1, 2006. Insurance companies must offer uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, though drivers are not required to purchase it. Mississippi has historically had one of the highest rates of uninsured drivers in the nation, with estimates around 29% in recent years.
Drivers must carry proof of insurance (paper or electronic) in their vehicles at all times, though law enforcement cannot stop drivers solely to verify insurance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Mississippi’s pure comparative negligence system different from other states?
Mississippi is one of only a few states that follow pure comparative negligence. In most states using modified comparative negligence, a plaintiff is completely barred from recovery if found 50% or 51% at fault. In Mississippi, you can recover something even if you are 99% responsible for your accident. While your recovery is reduced by your fault percentage, you are never completely barred from compensation as long as another party shares some blame. This system provides significant protection for accident victims, though insurance companies will aggressively argue plaintiff fault to reduce settlements.
How does Mississippi’s high uninsured motorist rate affect personal injury claims in Jackson?
Mississippi has one of the highest percentages of uninsured drivers in the country, with some estimates exceeding 29%. If you are injured by an uninsured driver, you cannot collect from their liability insurance because they have none. Your options include filing a claim under your own uninsured motorist coverage (if you have it), suing the driver personally (though collection may be difficult), or pursuing claims against other potentially liable parties such as employers or bar owners. Given these risks, purchasing uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is strongly recommended for Mississippi drivers.
What is the process for filing a personal injury claim against a Mississippi state agency or the City of Jackson?
Claims against the State of Mississippi or its agencies are governed by the Mississippi Tort Claims Act (MTCA). You must file a notice of claim with the appropriate agency within one year of the injury. Total damages are capped at $500,000 regardless of the severity of injuries. Jury trials are not available for claims against the state. Claims against local governments like the City of Jackson also fall under the MTCA with similar requirements. Sovereign immunity provides significant protections to government defendants, and certain claims may be barred entirely based on statutory exceptions.
What special considerations apply to truck accident cases on Interstate 55 or Interstate 20 near Jackson?
Jackson sits at the intersection of I-55 and I-20, two major commercial trucking routes. Truck accident cases involve federal regulations from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration that do not apply to regular car accidents. These include hours-of-service rules, mandatory drug testing, vehicle maintenance requirements, and electronic logging devices. Trucking companies often have teams of investigators who arrive at accident scenes quickly to preserve evidence favorable to them. Plaintiffs should document the scene, obtain the truck driver’s information, and contact an attorney immediately to issue spoliation letters preserving evidence before it disappears.
Are there caps on what I can recover for pain and suffering in a Mississippi personal injury case?
Yes, Mississippi caps non-economic damages at $1,000,000 in most personal injury cases and $500,000 in medical malpractice cases. Non-economic damages include compensation for pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and similar intangible losses. Economic damages such as medical expenses, lost wages, and future earning capacity have no cap. Juries are not informed of these caps during trial; instead, the court applies the cap to any award exceeding the limit after the verdict. Punitive damages, which are rare and require proof of malice or gross negligence, are separately capped based on the defendant’s net worth.