Car accidents in Mississippi: what to do and who pays

At the scene and reporting a crash in Mississippi

Always stop and help anyone who is hurt. Leaving the scene of a crash is a crime in every state.

When to call the police

Stop and help anyone hurt; call 911 if needed. Report the crash right away to the proper law enforcement agency if anyone is hurt or killed or property damage looks like more than $500. This applies whether or not you were at fault. If you are too badly hurt, a passenger may report. Give the other parties your name, address, plate number and insurance information, and show proof of insurance and your policy number to the officer.

Damage amount

$500

Report to the state

No separate driver report is described in the official manual.

Law

Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Driver's Manual (rev. Jan. 2025), 'In case of an accident'

Official text

Read the official text

First 24 hours after a crash in Mississippi

Tick the boxes as you go, or print the list and keep it in your glove box.

Insurance system in Mississippi

Mississippi is a fault (tort) state: the driver who caused the crash, through their liability insurance, pays for the other people's injuries and damage.

System

Fault (tort)

PIP, benefits and when you can sue

No PIP is required. Mississippi has no no-fault law: liability coverage of the driver at fault pays for damage they cause to other people and their property. Your own insurer pays your medical bills or car repairs only if you bought medical payments or collision coverage (Mississippi Insurance Department).

Law

Mississippi Insurance Department, Auto Insurance; MDPS Driver's Manual, Safety Responsibility Act

Official text

Read the official text

Compare every state in the no-fault states table.

Who pays: comparative fault in Mississippi

Rule

Check your state

Compare every state's rule in the comparative negligence table.

Who pays in Mississippi: fault and payout explainer

If both drivers share the blame, your state's comparative-fault rule decides whether you can recover and how much. Enter your share of the fault and your total damages to see what the rule means. This is an illustration, not a prediction: insurers, juries and judges decide the percentages.

Minimum insurance in Mississippi

Liability minimum

25/50/25

Uninsured / underinsured motorist (UM/UIM)

Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage lets you claim through your own insurer if an uninsured driver hits you; the Insurance Department describes it as coverage you can purchase.

Official text

Read the official text

Numbers like 25/50/25 mean $25,000 for injury to one person, $50,000 for all injuries in one crash and $25,000 for property damage. Compare every state in the minimum insurance table.

Getting the police report in Mississippi

For a Mississippi Highway Patrol crash, buy a copy of the Mississippi Uniform Crash Report: $15 per copy from the Department of Public Safety, or $20 online through ReportBeam (www.reportbeam.com, 'Purchase a Report' under 'Public Access'), the site DPS links to. Only legally eligible persons can buy it. For city police or sheriff crashes, ask that agency.

You can also ask by mail with our free police report request letter.

Filing a claim and insurer deadlines in Mississippi

Put your claim in writing. Our free insurance claim letter lists your damages and asks for a written answer.

If the other driver has no insurance in Mississippi

If an uninsured driver hits you, you may not be able to collect from them; uninsured motorist coverage on your own policy lets you claim through your own insurer (Mississippi Insurance Department). The first penalty for not having an insurance card is $1,000 and suspension of driving privileges for one year or until the owner shows proof of insurance. A driver who can't show insurance after a crash can have their license suspended unless they show they were insured, post security, or show a release or payment of the damages. An uninsured at-fault driver must buy insurance and file proof for 3 years (MDPS Driver's Manual).

Read what to do if you are hit by an uninsured driver.

Deadlines to sue in Mississippi

Property damage (your car)

3 years

Injury

3 years

Law

Miss. Code Ann. § 15-1-49 (general 3-year deadline)

The deadline is the statute of limitations. Insurance claims and talks with an adjuster don't stop it. Compare every state in the deadlines table.

Deadline to sue in Mississippi

Every state limits how long you have to file a lawsuit after a car crash. This is the statute of limitations. Choose your state, the type of claim and the date of the crash to see the usual deadline and the last day to file. Nothing you type here is sent anywhere.

Small claims for property damage in Mississippi

Small claims limit

$3,500 in Justice Court (unchanged since 2008; 2026 bills to raise it did not pass).

Mississippi small claims guide on Small Claims Map

Small claims court can be a way to recover the cost of repairs from the driver who caused the crash. Read how to use small claims for car damage.

Insurance complaints in Mississippi

If an insurer delays, underpays or denies a claim without a good reason, you can file a complaint with the state insurance regulator:

• Mississippi Insurance Department, Consumer Services · 1-800-562-2957 or (601) 359-2453

Free help in Mississippi

• Mississippi Insurance Department Consumer Help Line · 1-800-562-2957
• Mississippi Department of Public Safety
• MDPS Accident Investigation (crash reports)

Good to know in Mississippi

• You can be cited for not having proof of insurance at a crash even if you weren't at fault (MDPS Driver's Manual).
• The officer can't stop you only to check for an insurance card, but can ask for it during a stop for another violation (Mississippi Insurance Department).

Free letters

Questions about car accidents in Mississippi

Other states