The ranking that no state wants to find itself on is the highest fatality rate per 100,000 people. Unfortunately, with a rate of 23.9, Mississippi is the leading state in this ranking. That is according to data compiled by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Even though nationally, the fatality numbers are coming down, it is still a problem for Mississippi drivers.

To reduce those numbers, every driver needs to be aware of why car accidents are often fatal. All drivers owe a duty of care to everyone on the road. That means being responsible and following the rules of the road. It will help to avoid the most common reasons why fatal crashes occur.

One of the leading causes of traffic congestion is rubbernecking. Rubbernecking is the term for when a driver takes their eyes off the road to look at a passing distraction, such as a police officer stop or car accident.

Ironically, the act of rubbernecking to look at a car accident can cause another accident.

What should you do if you drive past an accident scene?

Letting someone borrow your vehicle can seem like an innocuous action. If you trust them enough to invite them into your home, why wouldn’t you trust them to use your car?

Unfortunately, there can be unintended consequences to lending someone your keys.

Accidents that happen between cars and motorcycles often have devastating consequences, leaving motorcycle riders with severe injuries and trauma that can last a lifetime. Understanding the most common type of collision helps highlight the risks motorcyclists face and emphasizes the importance of safety measures for both drivers and motorcyclists.

Learning to drive is one of the most exciting moments in any young person’s life. Newfound freedom and access to spaces previously out of reach, along with the exhilaration that comes from taking control of a motor vehicle for the first time combine for what should be an important milestone for newly licensed drivers. However, there are still restrictions that teenagers are held to in order to keep them off the road at the most dangerous times.

Mississippi Code § 63-1-21 states that any driver under the age of 18, for the first 6 months that they hold their full licenses, is only allowed to drive unsupervised between the hours of 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 6:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday unless traveling directly to or from work or other educational or extracurricular activity. During those restricted hours, the new driver must be accompanied by a parent, guardian, or other licensed driver 21-year-old or above in the passenger’s seat.

A car crash is a jarring experience. It happens in an instant. Unfortunately, the effects can linger for days, weeks, or even longer.

In the aftermath of an accident, chest pain is one of the most alarming symptoms you might encounter.

What does chest pain after a car crash mean?

There are a number of reasons why this pain might be happening. Let’s look at a few reasons.

When you apply for a driver’s license in Mississippi, you enter into a type of contract between you and the state. The rules of that contract can be found in the driver’s manual published by the Mississippi Department of Public Safety Driver Service Bureau (DPS). These are the rules you need to follow in order to keep you and other motorists safe. Failure to obey these rules can result in citations, fines, jail time, and license suspension.

What if you are in an accident and have a suspended license? Depending on the circumstances, you might be able to see a remedy. It will help if you get the support of an experienced car accident attorney who understands the traffic laws and has the necessary skills to negotiate with insurance carriers. It will also help to understand how your license can be suspended.

Mississippi’s roads and highways are essential for transportation, commerce, and daily life.

Whether it’s a major highway or a backcountry avenue, the upkeep of these roads is critical to ensuring safety, reducing vehicle accidents, and offering accessibility for drivers.

Road maintenance responsibilities, however, are not assigned to a single entity. Instead, each party plays a unique role in maintaining our state’s extensive roadway network. Below, we address who is responsible for maintaining Mississippi.

The United States Department of Transportation released a crash statistics report in 2021 that is not good news for Mississippi. According to it, Mississippi leads the nation in the percentage of fatalities per 100,000 licensed drivers at 37.98%.

Each of those accidents comes as a surprise for those involved. In the immediate aftermath of a Jackson auto collision, assessments are made as to what happened and who might be liable, especially when catastrophic injuries occur. That is when the issue of the sudden emergency doctrine can be a factor.

Every road trip is a choice. You can choose to take a direct or scenic route. You make the same choices when planning your work commute or running errands. What roads you drive on not only determines how fast you arrive at your destination but also how safe you might be. Which are more dangerous: city or rural roads?

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration(NHTSA), of the 42,939 motor vehicle accidents that involved a fatality nationally, 40% occurred in rural areas, while 60% happened in city areas. However, in Mississippi, those numbers are flipped. Data collected by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) finds that 67% of fatal accidents occur on rural roads, and 29% occur on city roads.