Driving through Mississippi is a real pleasure; the striking landscape and the historic cities make it a remarkable place to be. But that pleasure can be cut short if a driver is careless about following Mississippi’s driving laws.
If you’ve gotten into a car accident in Mississippi and you suspect that the other driver was breaking Mississippi’s driving laws, you should consider getting legal help.
And if you were hurt in that accident, then finding a personal injury attorney should be your next step.
Specific Rules in Mississippi
These are just a few of the rules that you’ll need to keep in mind when driving in Mississippi. Use common sense, and when in doubt, err on the side of caution.
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Seatbelts: As of early July 2017, drivers and passengers in Mississippi all have to wear a seatbelt in the car, no matter what seat they may be in.
Children from ages 4 to 7 who are under 57” tall and/or 65 lbs have to be placed in a booster seat. Children under four must be in a child safety restraint system.
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Drunk driving: When driving in Mississippi, you cannot have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or more. If you do, you will be arrested, and if convicted, you will have to put an ignition interlock device (IID) in your car. This rule applies even if it’s a first-time conviction.
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Open container laws: Unlike other states, Mississippi doesn’t have open container laws, which means that the driver and passengers can all be drinking and handling open containers of alcohol. However, that does not mean that the driver is allowed to be drunk (i.e., have a BAC of 0.08 or more).
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Distracted driving: Any activity that takes your attention off of the road can be considered distracted driving. Texting while driving can be a particularly common form of distracted driving.
To address that, drivers in Mississippi are not allowed to text while driving at all, though licensed, non-commercial drivers are allowed to use a handheld device (such as a cell phone) to make phone calls.
Distracted Driving Laws and Your Mississippi Auto Accident
Mississippi’s driving laws are meant to keep you safe, and when people break them, the results can be catastrophic. If someone were to text while driving, he could hit you and you may break your ribs in the accident.
Neglecting to follow the law put him in danger and caused you long-term suffering.
Mississippi is an at-fault state, which means that the driver who caused the accident is the one who would end up paying for damage from the accident.
Getting those financial benefits for your injury is impossible if you don’t prove that the other driver was liable, which is why having a personal injury attorney on your side is so helpful.
Your lawyer will be able to construct and argue your case so that you can focus on yourself and your recovery.
Hiring a Personal injury Lawyer
Dealing with the aftermath of a serious accident is exhausting, and there’s no reason that you should also try to spearhead a personal injury claim on top of that.
An experienced personal injury lawyer will be in a better position to help you, and having professional counsel can boost your chances of having a successful claim.
Spend time focusing on your health, and let an attorney take care of the rest.
