Jackson Mississippi Injury Lawyers

Jackson, Mississippi Personal Injury Lawyers

Holding drivers, doctors, property owners, manufacturers, and others accountable for the injuries and deaths they have caused since 1982

A vehicle accident, a slip and fall, incompetent medical care, and other conduct can change your life in an instant. Tragically, some acts of negligence are fatal. At Merkel & Cocke, P.A., we’ve been fighting for accident victims and families for more than 40 years. We have the experience and working relationships with liability and medical professionals to show how accidents occur and who is responsible. We work with your doctors and our own network of medical professionals, life planners, employers, and others to demand compensation for all your medical bills, pain and suffering, lost income, and property damage.

Our record of recoveries includes many verdicts and settlements for millions and hundreds of thousands of dollars. Some of our highest results include:

  • A $23.6 million jury award in a medical malpractice case against health care providers who failed to properly diagnose breast cancer.
  • A $20 million jury award for the victim of a construction zone accident.
  • A $12.9 million settlement for our client who suffered neck injuries and paralysis due to the failure of a vehicle to meet crashworthiness standards in a rollover accident.
  • A $9.9 million settlement for our client who suffered injuries due to a construction site accident.

 

How can we help?

What types of claims do your Jackson personal injury lawyers handle?

Combined, our Jackson personal injury attorneys have more than 200 years of personal injury litigation experience. We represent drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and bicycle riders. We represent patients, workers, and users of defective products. Our lawyers represent infants, teens, adults, seniors, and the families of loved ones.

Merkel & Cocke, P.A., handles the following types of injury claims:

Vehicle accidents

Our lawyers handle all types of vehicle accidents on all types of roads. Call us if you are hurt or a loved one dies in the following types of vehicle accidents:

  • Car accidents
  • Truck accidents
  • Motorcycle accidents
  • Pedestrian and bicycle accidents
  • Uber and Lyft accidents
  • Accidents involving boats, common carriers (like buses), and recreational vehicles
  • Uninsured/underinsured claims
  • Hit-and-run accidents

Medical malpractice

Healthcare providers owe their patients a duty of competent medical care. Our Jackson personal injury lawyers file medical malpractice claims when the healthcare providers you trust to improve your health or keep your health stable make your health worse or prevent treatments that could have helped you. At Merkel & Cocke, P.A., we hold surgeons, OB/GYNs, family doctors, ER doctors, elder care doctors, pharmacists, anesthesiologists, and all other healthcare providers accountable when their negligence causes harm or death.

Our firm has a registered nurse on staff to help review the medical competence of your health providers. We also work with a network of physicians who advise us on medical malpractice liability issues and on the medical care you’ll now need.

Our Jackson medical malpractice lawyers handle the following types of claims, among others:

  • Birth injuries
  • Medication mistakes
  • Surgical errors
  • Emergency medical errors
  • Misdiagnosis/failure to diagnose
  • Chiropractor litigation
  • The lack of informed consent

Other personal injury practice areas

Our team of personal injury attorneys also handles these types of accident cases:

  • Product liability claims, including defective drugs and medical devices
  • Premises liability claims
  • Casino accidents
  • Workers' compensation
  • Hunting accidents
  • Farm accidents
  • Personal and catastrophic injuries
  • Wrongful death

Our lawyers also advise clients about contract disputes and commercial litigation, legal malpractice, and mass torts.

What should I do immediately after an accident happens in Jackson, Mississippi?

Medical attention

Your top priority is your health. You should see a doctor (usually an ER doctor) as soon as possible after an accident. If you’re too injured, the police or someone with you should arrange for emergency medical transport. An early medical review can help you obtain a diagnosis and a treatment plan. An early diagnosis also helps establish the seriousness of your injuries. Some insurance companies may argue you can’t be that hurt if you didn’t seek immediate medical attention.

If your health disorder (or someone you love) is due to medical malpractice, our Jackson personal injury lawyers will recommend physicians who can help confirm that medical malpractice occurred, give you a proper diagnosis, and prescribe a treatment plan.

If you or someone with you is able, you should take photos of your injuries, including any bleeding and bruises.

Notice requirements

For vehicle accidents, you’ll need to exchange your contact, insurance, and driver’s information with the police and/or the other drivers. You should also notify your own insurance company. In other cases, such as slip and fall accidents, you should notify a manager or supervisor.

Legal counsel

You should contact our Jackson personal injury lawyers. We can explain what other steps you should take. Our team is here to investigate your claim, notify the insurance carriers for the defendants, question everyone involved, review your medical care, determine your damage claim, negotiate with the insurance companies, and, if necessary, argue your case in court.

Who is responsible for my personal injuries or the death of my loved one when accidents happen?

At Merkel & Cocke, P.A., we file claims against everyone responsible for your injuries or the death of a loved one. The defendants, depending on the type of your accident claim, usually include one or more of the following:

  • Vehicle accidents.
    • The negligent driver
    • The employer of the negligent driver
    • The owner of the vehicle, if different than the driver or employer
    • A seller of alcohol, if a driver’s intoxication caused your accident, and the driver was visibly intoxicated when served an alcoholic drink
    • The Mississippi Department of Transportation, or any state, county, or Jackson agencies or entities
  • Medical malpractice claims. The defendants may include the following:
    • An ER doctor
    • A surgeon
    • A birth doctor
    • A family doctor
    • Other doctors
    • A hospital
    • A nurse
    • An anesthesiologist
    • A pharmacist
    • Other medical providers
  • Other personal injury claims. Other defendants may include:
    • The owners of property
    • Maintenance and repair companies
    • Casino owners
    • Construction site owners
    • Farming companies
    • Hunters
    • Other defendants

How do your lawyers fight for personal injury victims?

At Merkel & Cocke, P.A., we work step-by-step to build the strongest case possible. Our Jackson personal injury lawyers prepare and argue your case as follows:

  • The initial consultation.We take the time to know you personally so we can understand all your concerns and every way your injuries have changed your life. Our team can review what happened, explain your rights, and discuss how the personal injury claims process works.
  • The investigation.Our personal injury lawyers work with many different experts (such as investigators, traffic reconstruction experts, doctors (in medical malpractice cases), and product safety experts) to help show how your accident happened and who is responsible. We question the defendants in writing and question everyone with relevant information in person. Our lawyers also review additional evidence, such as phone records to show a driver was distracted or complaints by other customers to show a property owner should have known of a dangerous condition.
  • Determining the amount of damages. At Merkel & Cocke, P.A., we work with your doctors, employers, car mechanics, life planners, and others to show the full scope of your financial and personal damages.
  • Negotiation and trial. Our lawyers make formal demands to the insurance companies explaining why their client is liable and the amount of damages they should pay. We then work to negotiate a fair and just settlement. Many personal injury cases do settle. We’re always ready to try your case before a judge and jury if your case does not settle.

Do you handle all types of personal injuries?

We handle all types of serious injuries, including catastrophic injuries, chronic injuries, permanent injuries, and injuries that heal with the proper medical care. The injuries we handle include the following:

What’s the value of my personal injury claim in Mississippi?

You have the right to live your life as close to the way it was before the accident or malpractice. At Merkel & Cocke, P.A., we demand that the insurance companies and defendants pay for all your current and future damages, including:

  • Medical bills. These include emergency transport, ER care, hospitalizations, surgeries, visits with your physicians, rehabilitative therapy, psychological counseling, medications, and assistive devices/technology.
  • Income loss. This amount includes your lost wages, overtime, bonuses, salary, and/or long-term disability compensation.
  • Physical pain and emotional suffering. We demand compensation for every moment you have pain, discomfort, an itch, cry, worry, anxiety, or any other physical or emotional trauma.
  • The damage to your vehicle and any other property damage.
  • Scarring and disfigurement.
  • Loss of bodily function.
  • Loss of life’s pleasures.
  • Loss of consortium (marital comfort and relations).

We file wrongful death claims for the appropriate beneficiaries if an accident or malpractice is fatal. Wrongful death damages include the funeral and burial expenses; the financial damages because your loved one cannot support you; and the loss of love, comfort, society, and guidance that your loved one would have provided.

What is the deadline for filing a personal injury claim in Mississippi?

You should contact us immediately so that we can investigate your claim as quickly as possible and review your medical care. Generally, in Mississippi, you have two years to file medical malpractice claims and three years to file most other personal injury claims. Some exceptions may apply, such as the very short notice and formal claim requirement when you file a claim against the state.

Local Jackson/Hinds County resources

Our lawyers are your advocates with the insurance companies and defense lawyers. We also help clients in many practical ways, including helping them with many day-to-day issues. We’re ready to help you with any emergencies or complications that arise.

This practice advice includes helping you contact local resources, such as:

Do you have a Jackson personal injury lawyer near me?

Yes. We meet clients at 2630 Ridgewood Road, Suite D, Jackson, MS 39216. Our personal injury lawyers speak with clients by phone and through online video platforms like Zoom. If you’re not healthy enough to travel, we can make arrangements to see you at your home or a nearby healthcare facility.

We’re available to answer your questions and prepare you for each step of your claim. We’ve helped many accident victims like you obtain strong recoveries.

Contact Merkel & Cocke, P.A., now to speak with our accomplished PI lawyers

We understand how upsetting accidents are. It’s natural to worry about your health, your family, your job, and your bills. At Merkel & Cocke, P.A., we understand your concerns. Our lawyers are ready to fight the insurance companies and defense lawyers, so you can focus on your recovery. Please call us or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation. We represent personal injury clients on a contingency fee basis. This means there are no upfront costs. Our success depends on your success. We also have offices in Greenville, Clarksdale, Oxford, and Meridian.

How much does a personal injury lawyer cost in Mississippi?

Personal injury lawyers typically use a contingency fee arrangement. With a contingency fee, your attorney doesn’t get paid unless your case is successful. If your claim is successful, your lawyer will take a percentage of your settlement or verdict as their payment. You can discuss the percentage and the details of this arrangement in your consultation. Some of the benefits of a contingency fee include that your lawyer is motivated to recover a high amount in your case, and that you don’t have to risk paying up front fees and then losing your case.

What is the average settlement for a car accident?

Car accident cases range from minor fender benders to catastrophic life-altering collisions. There is no real way to give an average settlement amount because factors like the severity of your injuries, the cost of your care, and the culpability of the defendant will all influence the outcome.

What compensation can I recover?

In Mississippi personal injury claims you can recover several types of damages, including:

  • Economic damages: Accidents often lead to financial losses. Whether it’s medical bills or lost income, you might be able to recover compensation that covers those amounts.
  • Noneconomic damages: Mississippi also lets injury victims recover compensation for things like their pain and suffering, which are impossible to quantify.
  • Punitive damages: Although rare, Mississippi does allow injury victims to recover punitive damages, which are not a form of compensation. Instead, punitive damages punish the defendant for their wrongful actions. The liable party must have engaged in particularly egregious or malicious acts to have a court impose such damages, however.

Get help from our Jackson, Mississippi personal injury lawyers now

At Merkel & Cocke, P.A., we commit ourselves to championing our clients’ rights. Our team of talented Jackson attorneys understands the challenges of pursuing a legal claim. We make each client a top priority. Our lawyers have earned the trust of former clients, the respect of insurance companies, and the high recognition of the legal community; including recognition by Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers in America. We represent clients throughout Mississippi and the Gulf Coast.

Call us or complete our contact form to schedule a free consultation. We also have offices in Clarksdale, Greenville, Oxford, and Meridian.

 

Jackson Office

622 Duling Avenue
Suite 221
Jackson, MS 39216
Phone: (601) 653-1103