Do you know how to legally use your cellphone while driving in Mississippi? Do you know the penalties for illegal use of your handheld device while driving? Distracted driving can lead to life-altering consequences in Jackson, Mississippi. Keep reading to understand Mississippi’s distracted driving laws, and what you can do if you are injured because of a distracted driver.
What Does Mississippi Law Say About Using Cellphones While Driving?
Mississippi’s distracted driving law prohibits all motorists from text messaging while operating a vehicle, according to DrivingLaws. For the purpose of distracted driving law in Mississippi, a “text message” includes instant messages, email, and regular text messages. Mississippi’s distracted driving law also prohibits all motorists from driving while using a handheld mobile telephone or portable electronic device to write, send, or read a text message. In addition, state law prohibits motorists from accessing, reading, or posting to a social network site while driving.
You can, however, use a handheld device to talk on the phone. Mississippi currently has no restrictions on making or receiving calls or talking on a phone while driving.
In addition to being able to use your handheld device to make phone calls, there are exceptions to Mississippi’s texting-while-driving ban. According to DrivingLaws, restrictions against texting and driving don’t apply to:
- hands-free or voice-operated device use
- emergency, traffic, and weather alerts, or
- messages related to the operation or navigation of the vehicle.
Penalties for Breaking Distracted Driving Laws in Mississippi
A texting while driving ticket carries a $100 fine in Mississippi. And this base fine can increase if you are charged with other violations. Depending on the circumstances, a texting violation could also lead to a reckless driving conviction. And if a texting offense results in the death of another person, vehicular manslaughter or murder charges are a possibility, according to DrivingLaws.
If you kill or injure someone because you were using a handheld device illegally, you could face much higher fines, years of jail time, and years of license suspension. Distracted driving can result in far worse penalties than even high fines or prolonged jail time. You could have to live the rest of your life knowing you killed or seriously injured someone because of a text or social media post.
Who Pays for Injuries and Damages Resulting from Distracted Driving? Insurance and liability cover some court-awarded damages. But if you injure or kill someone (or damage property) because of distracted driving, you could face a lawsuit from the victim or the victim’s family. Injury victims can sue distracted drivers for additional compensation to account for medical bills, repairs, and pain and suffering.
While distracted driving laws regarding texting and cellphone use exist to decrease the number of roadway injuries and wrongful deaths, self-discipline can be one of the most guaranteed ways to avoid the negative consequences of driving while distracted.
In the event of an accident, personal injury attorneys are necessary to navigate through the many court actions involving car accidents and distracted driving to measure the degree of carelessness or negligence that contributed to a car accident. Whether you are seeking compensation for an injury or trying to defend your actions in a personal injury case, negligence will be the topic of discussion.
What is Considered Negligence in Mississippi?
Mississippi operates under the “pure comparative negligence” law. Under Mississippi law, everyone is responsible, not only for the result of his or her willful acts but also for injury or damage done to another person through the neglect of ordinary care or skill in the management of his or her property or person. If a driver is responsible for any part of the activities that led to injury, the compensation will be adjusted in accordance with a percentage of fault assigned to each driver. If the accident was caused due to breaking distracted driving laws, the percentage of fault may be reflected in the compensation for the automobile accident case, including property and bodily injuries.
Your Rights if You Are Injured Because of Illegal Cellphone Use
While Mississippi laws do help decrease car accidents and pedestrian/cyclist injuries, many accidents still happen as a result of distracted drivers using cellphones and other devices illegally while driving. If you have been injured or your loved one has been injured because of careless, distracted, or reckless driving, it’s time to get the justice you deserve! Injuries from car accidents can lead to a lifetime of medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. You need an aggressive personal injury attorney to help you get the compensation you are rightfully owed.
Were you injured because of a negligent or careless driver in Jackson, Mississippi? Contact us online or at 601-914-1025.
4266 I-55 North, Suite 106
Jackson, Mississippi 39211
Phone: 601-914-1025
Fax: 601-960-4200
