Hiring a Personal Injury or Car Accident Lawyer in Mississippi
What an injury lawyer costs in Mississippi and how they usually charge, the deadlines and fault rules to know before you call, how to check a lawyer's license, and free help. We do not recommend or rank lawyers.
What a lawyer costs in Mississippi: fee rules
| Rules on contingency fees | Contingent fees are allowed except where Rule 1.5(d) or other law prohibits them. The agreement must be in writing and state how the fee is figured, including percentages on settlement, trial or appeal, the litigation and other expenses deducted from the recovery, and whether expenses come out before or after the fee is calculated. At the end, the lawyer must give a written statement of the outcome and the client's share. Contingent fees are banned for criminal defendants and for domestic relations fees contingent on a divorce or the amount of alimony, support or property settlement. |
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| If you disagree with a lawyer's bill | The Mississippi Bar's Fee Dispute Resolution Committee offers free mediation or arbitration of fee disagreements between clients and lawyers (and between lawyers). It is voluntary: each side must separately agree, and the consent form must be returned within 15 days or the matter is closed. Mediation is non-binding unless the parties sign an agreement (enforceable in court); arbitration produces a decision binding on both sides. Fee disputes involving a rule violation go through the grievance process instead. |
Mississippi rules to know first
| Deadline to sue for an injury | Three years. Actions with no other specific limitation period, which includes most negligence personal injury claims, must be filed within three years after the cause of action accrues. For latent injuries or diseases, the time starts when the injury is discovered or reasonably should have been discovered. Source: Miss. Code Ann. § 15-1-49 |
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| Fault rule | Pure comparative negligence. In actions for personal injury, death or property damage, the injured person's contributory negligence does not bar recovery; the jury reduces damages in proportion to that person's share of negligence. Source: Miss. Code Ann. § 11-7-15 |
| Damage caps | Yes. In civil actions filed on or after September 1, 2004 (other than medical malpractice), noneconomic damages (pain, suffering, emotional distress, loss of consortium, disfigurement and similar losses) may not exceed $1,000,000. The jury is not told about the cap; the judge reduces any award above it. Economic damages are not capped. |
Find and check a lawyer
| Lawyer referral service | The Mississippi Bar does not run a lawyer referral service; its Consumer Assistance Program "does not maintain referral lists of Mississippi attorneys" and cannot recommend a specific attorney. The Bar offers an online Find a Lawyer directory of Mississippi attorneys (msbar.reliaguide.com) and a How to Select a Lawyer guide; the Consumer Assistance Program, (601) 948-2344, can suggest websites for locating an attorney. |
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| Check that the lawyer is licensed | The Mississippi Bar's Office of General Counsel, at (601) 948-0568, can confirm a Mississippi lawyer's current status and whether the lawyer has received public discipline (public reprimand, suspension or disbarment). Other information cannot be released without the lawyer's signed release. |
| Check discipline history or file a complaint | To file a grievance against a Mississippi lawyer, first contact the Mississippi Bar's Consumer Assistance Program at (601) 948-2344 (weekdays 8 a.m.-5 p.m.) or PO Box 2168, Jackson, MS 39225-2168. If warranted, CAP sends a grievance form to complete and return to the Bar's Office of General Counsel. Grievances generally must be filed within three years after discovering the misconduct, except those involving dishonesty or mishandling of funds. The Committee on Professional Responsibility meets four times a year and notifies you in writing within a month of its decision; outcomes include informal admonition, private or public reprimand, or a formal complaint to the Supreme Court. Complainants cannot appeal or withdraw a grievance. Public discipline can be confirmed by calling the Office of General Counsel at (601) 948-0568. |
Free legal help
| Free legal aid | Mississippi's LSC-funded legal aid organizations give free civil legal help to eligible low-income people: Mississippi Center for Legal Services (43 counties in South Mississippi) and North Mississippi Rural Legal Services (39 counties in North Mississippi), both reachable at 1-800-498-1804; most programs require income below 125% of the federal poverty level. The Mississippi Volunteer Lawyers Project (601-960-9577) offers volunteer attorney referrals and clinics, and Mission First Legal Aid Office (601-608-0056) serves Hinds, Madison and Rankin counties. LSC grantee list: https://www.lsc.gov/about-lsc/our-grantees |
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General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.