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Drunk Driving
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# Drunk Driving
# Skilled Mississippi Drunk Driving Accident Protecting the Rights of Victims
## The representation you need when injured by an intoxicated driver on the streets of Clarksdale, Tupelo, Jackson or throughout the state
Under Mississippi law, drivers with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher are classified as alcohol-impaired. These intoxicated vehicle operators were reportedly responsible for more than 2,500 deaths on the streets of Mississippi between the years of 2003 and 2012. Nationally, more than 1.9% of drivers report operating their vehicles after consuming alcohol. Within the state of Mississippi, 1.2% of drivers reported doing the same.
These numbers demonstrate the risk of harm that exists when individuals choose to drive while intoxicated. At the law firm of Merkel & Cocke, P.A., we hold drunk drivers accountable. Our team of knowledgeable Mississippi drunk driving accident attorneys uses our skills to fight for your best interests. When drunk driving results in a death, we work with the surviving family members to secure the compensation they need to move on with their lives.
## Making a drunk driving claim in Mississippi
Drunk driving is extremely dangerous, impeding a driver’s ability to properly operate their vehicle and respond to others on the roadway. When individuals choose to act in such a negligent and reckless manor, they place everyone on the roadway at risk of harm. When seeking compensation for resulting injuries or deaths, our experienced lawyers consider such aspects as:
* Medical bills and the costs of provided treatment, as well as future medical costs stemming from the accident
* Pain and suffering, including the impact on the victim’s quality of life
* Emotional distress and necessary psychological treatments
* Loss of income, including compensation for any future decrease in earning potential
In some cases, the court may also order a drunk driver to pay “punitive damages.” These damages are awarded in addition to compensatory damages and generally apply when the defendant’s behavior was extremely reckless.
## Reliable representation for all types of drunk driving injury claims
Drunk driving accident victims may have other available options when establishing liability and seeking compensation. Dram shop laws generally allow victims injured by drunk drivers to hold an establishment liable for providing alcohol to the driver. Under Mississippi law, a finding of liability requires that the establishment provided alcohol to a visibly intoxicated person.
For example, say a drunk man stumbles into one the many Gulf Coast bars. The waiter serves him alcohol even though he is obviously intoxicated. That man then leaves the bar and drives down Highway 59, where he slams into another car, severely injuring the driver and two passengers. Under a dram shop claim, the bar owner may be at least partially liable for those injuries. These cases can be difficult to prove without assistance from a skilled lawyer. At Merkel & Cocke, our legal team has the experience to successfully pursue a dram shop liability claim.
Inadequate insurance is also commonly associated with drunk driving accident injuries, particularly with incidents involving repeat offenders. These individuals are often unable to secure automobile insurance, instead choosing to operate their vehicles without it. When this occurs, an injured victim may have to rely upon their own uninsured motorist policy for compensation.
### More than 200 years of collective experience advocating for drunk driving injury victims in Mississippi
At Merkel & Cocke, we have spent decades helping victims of accidents caused by drunk drivers obtain the compensation they deserve. We provide client services from our home office in Clarksdale, assisting injured parties throughout Mississippi, including Tupelo, Jackson,  , and across the Gulf Coast region. We also handle drunk driving injury cases in Tennessee and Arkansas. Call us today at 662-627-9641 or complete our  to schedule a free consultation.
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### Find the best office near me OPEN 24/7
**Clarksdale Office**
30 Delta Avenue
Clarksdale, MS 38614
Phone: (662) 627-9641
**Jackson Office**
2630 Ridgewood Road
Suite D
Jackson, MS 39216
Phone: (601) 653-1103
**Oxford Office**
2084 Old Taylor Road,
Suite 110
Oxford, MS 38655
Phone: 662-236-0080
**Greenville Office**
540 Main Street
ICON Building, Suite 302
Greenville, MS 38701
Phone: (662) 592-3110
**Meridian Office**
406 22nd Avenue
Suite 205
Meridian, MS  39301
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Always fair, completely through with the work I have always given this firm. I have used this firm since 1996. Five star
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Distracted Driving
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# Distracted Driving
# Mississippi Distracted Driving Attorneys Fight for the Compensation You Deserve
## Holding negligent drivers responsible for the injuries they cause
Texting. Making phone calls. Eating, drinking, or brushing your hair. On their own, these activities are far from harmful but when you couple them with driving a car, they could be deadly. Thousands of people are injured every year by distracted driving and tragic accidents.
The lawyers of Merkel & Cocke, P.A. fight for the rights of car crash injury victims. For more than 35 years, our experienced Mississippi distracted driving injury attorneys have aggressively worked to obtain fair compensation for people injured in accidents caused by distracted drivers. Our proven track record of success makes us the law firm that other lawyers turn to for their most complex  injury referrals.
## Common causes of distracted driving
When a driver is operating a vehicle, his or her focus should be on safe navigation of the roadway. But sometimes, when stuck in traffic on I-55, or cruising along a relatively empty stretch of US 90 – or even stuck at the lights on Delta – drivers will pick up their phones, or start fiddling with the radio dials.  At Merkel & Cocke, our skilled lawyers believe that drivers should be held accountable when they fail to exercise a reasonable standard of care on the roadways. Unfortunately, far too many people find it acceptable to multitask while driving, engaging in such distracting activities as:
* **Talking on the phone.** There is no denying that cell phones add convenience to our lives, but they are also a risky distraction when used while operating a vehicle. Studies show that even hands-free phones can take a driver’s attention away from the road. According to the National Safety Council, cellphone use while driving results in more than .
* **Texting.** The average text takes your eye off the road for . As reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, this is enough time to travel the length of an entire football field at a speed of 55 mph.
* **Eating.** People eat in their cars every day, grabbing breakfast on the way to work or quickly eating a sandwich between meetings. Though this may seem like a harmless activity, it creates an increased for serious  and related injuries.
* **Using a GPS or navigation system.** GPS systems are designed to assist with your roadway navigation, but checking them or inputting information into them while driving increases the risk of a vehicle crash.
* **Day dreaming.** A wandering mind is not focused on the roadway or proper operation of the vehicle. Even a moment of daydreaming can end with a serious rear-end accident, collision or a crash into pedestrian.
If you or a loved one has suffered from injuries in an accident caused by a distracted driver, we can help. We also represent families in cases of .
### Fighting for car wreck victims injured by distracted drivers
If a distracted driver left you or a loved one injured, contact the lawyers with more than 200 years of collective experience. At Merkel & Cocke, we serve clients from our home office in Clarksdale, assisting injured parties throughout Mississippi, including Tupelo, ,  , and across the Gulf Coast region. We also handle distracted driving cases in Tennessee and Arkansas. Call us today at 662-627-9641 or complete our  to schedule your free consultation.
Fatal Crashes
 /  /  /  / Fatal Crashes
# Fatal Crashes
# Aggressive Car Accident Attorneys Advocating for Families of Victims Killed on Mississippi Roadways
## Representation your family can trust in the courtrooms of Tupelo, Jackson, and across the Gulf Coast region
According to the National Safety Council,  on U.S. roads in 2015. That same year, the *Clarion Ledger* reported that the rural roads and bridges of Mississippi are among . Each year, car crashes leave tens of thousands of families to deal with the tragedy of a loved one’s death and the significant challenges that follow. When you are facing the unexpected loss of a loved one, the financial ramifications can prove overwhelming.
The legal team of Merkel & Cocke, P.A. is ready and able to help you through this challenging time by aggressively advocating on your behalf and obtaining compensation from all responsible parties. We know that no amount of money will heal your pain and suffering, but our compassionate Mississippi fatal auto accident attorneys hope that we can alleviate some of the financial stress that often results from these tragic situations. Do not try to shoulder this responsibility alone. Let us help you hold the at-fault driver accountable for your incredible loss.
## Helping Mississippi families through the difficulty of losing a loved one
When families lose a loved one to someone’s negligence in a , they may have a claim for  liability. Under Mississippi law, the following relatives can bring a claim for compensation against the at-fault party:
* The personal representative of the deceased person’s estate
* The surviving spouse
* The surviving parent or child
* Any surviving siblings
We can help you determine if you have a claim and who might be at fault. These cases can be extremely complex, and it takes skilled representation from experienced lawyers to ensure that you and your children receive the maximum benefit allowed under the law. At Merkel & Cocke, our attorneys have been helping clients navigate wrongful death claims for decades. We do not shy away from a fight, and our lawyers know what it takes to secure the financial support you and your family need to get through this difficult experience.
## Obtaining high-value settlements for wrongful death claims
Many families do not realize the options that are available to them when a loved one is killed in an .  has helped families obtain a variety of damages in a wrongful death claim, including:
* Medical and funeral expenses
* Your loved one’s pain and suffering prior to death
* Mental anguish suffered by you or your children
* Loss of future earnings
* Loss of future pension benefits
* Loss of care, protection and companionship
For more than 30 years, the families of Mississippi have relied on our experienced legal team to secure the compensation they need to cover mounting expenses and begin the healing process.
### Guiding Mississippi families through complex wrongful death claims after a fatal car accident
The legal team of Merkel & Cocke is proud to have earned the trust and respect of our peers in the legal community. We are the law firm that other law firms turn to when referring their toughest cases. From our home office in Clarksdale, we provide injured parties throughout Mississippi, including Tupelo, ,  , and across the Gulf Coast region, with quality legal representation after an auto accident. We also represent families of deceased car crash victims in Tennessee and Arkansas. Call us today at 662-627-9641 or complete our  to schedule a free consultation.