Biloxi Personal Injury and Criminal Defense Lawyer

Car Accidents

Mississippi follows the traditional at-fault rules with regard to car accident lawsuits. Immediately after an accident that causes injuries, you should report the accident to the local police department. The police will investigate and create a report. If the defendant violated a law, such as failing to yield when required, the violation may be used as evidence of negligence. Afterward, you will have the opportunity to file a claim with your own insurer, file a claim with the other driver’s insurer, or sue for damages.

You should consult an experienced Biloxi personal injury attorney if you were injured. If you sue for damages, the defendant’s insurer may provide any statements against interest or admissions that you made to the adjuster when you believed that the case would settle. This could reduce your damages award or even bar you from recovering compensation, so you should be careful in your communications with insurance adjusters. Damages that you may be able to recover include medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Criminal Defense

Crimes must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. They can be classified as misdemeanors or felonies. Felony convictions are more serious than misdemeanor convictions, and they can result in a term of one year or more in prison. If you are convicted of a felony, it becomes a prior conviction in case you are convicted of another felony later. Some examples of felonies include murder, sexual battery, robbery, kidnapping, aggravated assault, and grand larceny. Felonies carry a significant stigma and can adversely affect you if you are searching for a job or a home. You may lose the right to carry firearms, the right to vote, and the right to get certain professional licenses.

The state criminal laws set forth the potential penalties for various felonies. The potential penalty for sexual battery when the defendant is at least 21, for example, is a maximum of 30 years of imprisonment or up to $10,000 in fines, or both. The potential sentence for robbery is up to 15 years of imprisonment. Drug crimes are sentenced based on the type of substance, how much of it was found with you, and the sort of activity that is alleged, which may be possession or a more serious activity like trafficking. An important issue to be evaluated in drug crimes are probable cause for the search and seizure of the drugs found. Mr. Farrior has extensive experience in both state and federal courts with search and seizure issues and can ensure your rights are protected.

Family Law

Family law matters can be very stressful for all members of a family. Emotions are likely to run high. Generally, in order to file for a divorce in Mississippi you must have been a resident of Mississippi for six months. There are multiple fault grounds for divorce, including habitual cruelty, adultery, willful desertion, habitual drug or alcohol abuse and incurable insanity. You can also file for a no-fault divorce on the basis of irreconcilable differences. This means that you will not need to allege or prove any particular wrongdoing on the part of your spouse in order to obtain a divorce. You need only show the court that your spouse and you have irreconcilable differences and will not be able to fix these problems.

During divorces involving young children, issues of child custody and child support will arise. Courts can consider factors that affect the child’s best interests, wellbeing, and safety, including maintaining continuity in their current living environment and community.

Casino Claims

Tourists come to casinos in Mississippi from all over the world. Recreational activities at casinos can be marred by slip and fall accidents or disputes over winnings. Casinos can be dangerous places to visit, since they are dimly lit, are designed with tables and machines in the middle of paths, and serve alcohol. If you slip on a puddle of spilled liquor or get assaulted in a dimly lit parking lot, for example, a Biloxi personal injury lawyer may be able to help you bring a premises liability lawsuit against the casino.

In Mississippi premises liability cases, a victim will need to show that the defendant owed a duty of care that was breached and that the breach caused injuries. However, different types of visitors are owed different duties, depending on whether they are invitees, licensees, or trespassers. A trespasser is somebody on the property without permission, invitation, or another right. A licensee is somebody who enters the property for their own pleasure, convenience, or benefit, based on the license or implied permission of the owner. An invitee is someone who goes onto the property of someone else following an express or implied invitation for mutual advantage. Most often, a customer at a casino would be viewed as an invitee, and they would be owed the highest level of care under premises liability law.

Consult a Personal Injury Lawyer in Biloxi or Seek Assistance With a Criminal or Divorce Matter

Whether you are injured, facing a criminal charge, or going through a divorce, it is crucial to get advice and representation from an experienced attorney. James L. Farrior, III, has represented residents of the Mississippi Gulf Coast region since 1987, including people in Biloxi, Gautier, Bay Saint Louis, Lucedale, Wiggins, Poplarville, and other areas of Harrison, Jackson, Hancock, George, Stone, and Pearl River Counties. He maintains a strong level of ethics and has accumulated a consistent record of success over a 30-year period. Call us today at (228) 388-1924 or contact us online to schedule an initial consultation.