As the weather turns warm and kids are off school for the summer, families are often eager to escape their homes and visit somewhere new. The summer holiday vacation is practically a rite of passage in America. In 2021, 82% of Americans traveled over the summer. Of those, 73% went on a road trip. 

The lawyers at Pittman Roberts & Welsh, PLLC know that road trips can create memories that last a lifetime, but they also know that they can be dangerous. We want everyone in Mississippi to stay safe this summer, so we’ve compiled our top five summer driving safety tips. 

By now, most—if not all—drivers in Mississippi should know how dangerous it is to physically manipulate your phone while driving. Whether tapping out a text, scrolling through your latest social media feed, or trying to take a video from behind the wheel, driving while holding a phone is never safe.

For a problem created by technology, technology might also have a solution. Hands-free devices and settings are advertised as alternatives to traditional phone use behind the wheel, allowing drivers to keep their hands and eyes on the road. How often, in reality, do these devices and settings work to stop accidents from occurring? Have accident rates declined since these devices were made mainstream? Below, we’ll attempt to answer these important questions and more.

Wrong-way accidents, which may also fall into the category of head-on or frontal impact crashes, happen frequently. These collisions perhaps occur most often when a motorist turns down a one-way road or misses signs warning them that an interstate ramp is an off-bound instead of an inbound one. 

Much like any other front-impact crash, wrong-way accidents can cause motorists involved to suffer serious injuries or die. It can be helpful to learn more about this collision type and how your lawyer will determine fault in a wrong-way accident if you or a loved one has become entangled in one of them. 

Proving liability after an auto accident can be difficult. It’s not enough to simply state your account of the incident to the insurance company and trust they will provide full and fair compensation. Strong evidence to support your claim is often required after an auto accident. 

A dashboard camera (or “dashcam”) can be a valuable tool to help prove liability after a collision. The recording device mounted to your car’s dashboard or windshield can capture the events that unfold on the road, acting as a witness to the circumstances leading to your accident. However, there could be situations in which dashcam footage actually works against you. We’ll discuss those situations below.   

You cannot rely on other drivers when you are hoping to arrive safely at your destination. While you might do your best to follow the rules of the road, others are not so careful when they are behind the wheel of a motor vehicle.

The time immediately following a car accident can be confusing and overwhelming. Your first instinct might be to check on your passengers or any other vehicle occupants. Depending on where the accident occurred and the condition of the vehicles, you might also need to safely move your car over to the side of the road.

Have you ever noticed how cautious you or others are when backing out of a parking space or driveway? You probably apply your brakes frequently when doing so.

You likely know why motorists do this. They are tentative in backing out because they know of the dangers that could be lurking behind them that they can’t clearly see. These might include pedestrians such as kids, individuals who use wheelchairs, or other vehicles and stationary objects.

Knowing when to yield the right-of-way to another vehicle is one of the first things a new driver in Mississippi needs to know. Understanding right-of-way laws can prevent countless car accidents. The following information will help drivers (both new and experienced) have a better understanding of how right-of-way laws work in our state.

The car rental counter is one of the first places you visit when you go on vacation or when your car is in the shop. You may not put much thought into the contract when you rent a car, but once you sign your name you agree to return the rental vehicle in the same condition in which you received it.

This involves more than just topping off the gas before you bring it back. A lot can happen out on the road, including car accidents. So how do you determine who is responsible for damages involving a rental car? While insurance coverage is a significant factor, our Mississippi personal injury attorneys can help provide further insight into your particular case.

Rare injuries are some of the most complicated, severe, and difficult to manage after a motor vehicle collision. Unusual car accident injuries often require more unconventional treatments, longer recovery periods, and the care of specialists who know how to handle these conditions. From your perspective, this can mean towering medical bills and months of missed work and lost wages—on top of the pain and suffering you are experiencing.