You’re walking in the crosswalk when an accident occurs that leaves you injured. Instead of stopping to see if you are hurt, the driver speeds away, leaving you there to deal with the police and paramedics all alone. Mississippi has the highest number of uninsured drivers (29.4%), and the person who flees the scene of an accident may be one of them. What to do if you’re a hit-and-run victim Should you be involved in an accident where the other party leaves the scene, follow these steps: Assess yourself for injuries. Call 9-1-1 and ask them to send help. Ask any witnesses to stay and tell the p ..read more

In Mississippi, assault charges fall into two categories—simple assault and aggravated assault. The specific offense a prosecutor chooses to charge defendants with depends on the circumstances of the incident. Those facing assault allegations need to understand how a conviction will impact their lives. Being informed about the charge and its possible penalties helps defendants create a sound defense strategy. The basics of simple assault Under state law, simple assault involves knowingly, purposely or recklessly causing bodily injury to another person. You could even face assault charges if yo ..read more

Most land and property owners are unfamiliar with the term adverse possession in real estate law. In simple language, it is a legal doctrine that could allow another to gain rights to or ownership of your property. It sounds like a story from the old west. A squatter sneakily takes residence on someone’s land, usually without permission, and remains until the landowner loses the right to remove them. Can it happen in 21st century America? It can, but it probably won’t resemble the above scenario. While someone can attempt to take over your land purposely, most of the time, it happens accidenta ..read more

Despite the dangers associated with drunk driving, thousands of motorists still make the decision to get behind the wheels while intoxicated. If you or someone you love is hurt in a DUI-related accident, you should consider pursuing a personal injury lawsuit against the responsible party.  While there is no clear-cut settlement method for DUI accidents, there are a variety of damages you can seek financial restitution for after the accident. To help you litigate your case, you need to start off by understanding how Mississippi negligence laws work.  Understanding Mississippi negligen ..read more

You may have seen reality shows about “flipping” houses and late-night TV ads featuring people offering to buy your home for cash. There are even house flipper video games. You may not have given it much thought until you needed to relocate and sell your home fairly quickly. Or maybe a loved one just passed away and left you their home, which you have no use for and no interest in fixing it up before you sell it. Should you sell it to a house flipper? It would save you the time and money involved in making repairs and upgrades necessary to get a good price, sifting through multiple offers (or ..read more

Mississippi summers bring free time and heat – two things that often aren’t conducive to good decision-making. This can lead to a charge of “malicious mischief.” That’s the term under Mississippi law. It’s often known as vandalism. Mississippi law states that a person engages in malicious mischief if they “maliciously or mischievously destroy, disfigure, or injure, or cause to be destroyed, disfigured, or injured, any property of another.” The consequences depend on the property damaged The offense can be charged as a misdemeanor or felony, based on the cost to repair or replace the property t ..read more

If you sustain injuries following someone else’s reckless or negligent actions, you may file a personal injury lawsuit against them. Depending on the severity of your injuries, the court will award you compensation for your treatment costs as well as other damages. However, to help recoup the damages you deserve, it helps to know the key points to remember and the missteps to avoid while filing your claim. Here are three important things you need to keep in mind when pursuing a personal injury lawsuit: Evidence is crucial Like with any legal matter, evidence plays a crucial role in determining ..read more

Those in the market for a new home are often interested in homes that have “fallen out of escrow.” That means something went wrong with the deal between the seller and their presumed buyer, and the deal didn’t go through.  Often, by the time that happens, the seller needs to move – maybe because they’ve already purchased a new home or need to relocate for their job. If the date by which they have to leave is fast approaching, that often means having to cut the price. What kinds of issues cause this to happen? You don’t want to be the seller dealing with a failed escrow. By knowing what ki ..read more

We’ve heard a lot about “stand your ground” laws in recent years. These are generally based on something called the castle doctrine. This basically says that a person has the right to use force, including deadly force if necessary, to protect themselves in their own home from an intruder. States have their own versions of stand your ground laws. Some expand on the castle doctrine of being able to protect yourself in your own home. Here in Mississippi, the stand your ground law is included under “justifiable homicide.” The law states that the “killing of a human being” is justifiable when “resi ..read more

Hopping on your bike and hitting the open road is fun and relaxing for many people. However, each time you ride your motorcycle, you are accepting the risk that you may be involved in an accident.  While not all accidents can be prevented, there are some steps you can take to help protect yourself and minimize your injuries if you happen to be in one.  Use the right protective gear Wearing the proper protective gear is essential if you want to protect yourself if you happen to be involved in a motorcycle accident. The most important piece of protective gear you should wear is a helme ..read more