Introduction

Mississippi’s pure comparative fault rule is one of the most plaintiff-favorable in the country: an injured person can recover compensation even if they were 99 percent at fault for an accident, with their recovery reduced by their percentage of fault. Andrew Burrell, P.A. builds its personal injury and workers’ compensation practice on that legal framework, serving clients from the Mississippi Gulf Coast and across the state from an office at 1643 E Pass Rd. Suite A, Gulfport, MS 39507.

More than 30 years of practice, millions recovered for clients, and a coverage area that spans six coastal counties and extends statewide define the scope of what Burrell has built. His University of Arkansas School of Law connection remains active; Burrell is involved with his alma mater and the relationships he maintains there reflect a career built on sustained engagement with the legal profession rather than simple day-to-day practice.

The policy that distinguishes this firm from many personal injury practices in Mississippi is client access: clients speak directly with Andrew Burrell, not paralegals or secretaries. In a field where large firms often delegate client contact to support staff, direct attorney access matters when a client needs a straight answer about their case.

Consultations are free. Cases are handled on contingency. The phone number is (228) 896-4016. More information is at andrewburrell.com.

Practice Areas

Personal Injury: Automobile and Vehicle Accidents

The firm handles automobile accidents, trucking accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, hit-and-run cases, and commercial truck accidents. Each presents distinct legal issues depending on the type of vehicle, the identity of the at-fault party, and the insurance coverage available.

Automobile Accidents: Standard car accident claims involve establishing fault, documenting injuries, and negotiating with the at-fault driver’s insurance carrier or pursuing litigation when the carrier disputes liability or undervalues the claim. Mississippi follows the pure comparative fault rule, which means even a plaintiff who was partially at fault: turning without signaling, for example, when a distracted driver ran a light: can still recover for the portion of the damages attributable to the other party’s negligence.

Trucking Accidents: Commercial truck accident cases involve federal regulations that govern the trucking industry: hours-of-service rules, maintenance requirements, driver qualification standards, and cargo loading regulations. Violations of these regulations can establish negligence. Trucking companies and their insurance carriers are experienced at defending these claims, which means thorough preparation and preservation of evidence: including the truck’s electronic logging device data and the driver’s records: is essential early in the case.

Motorcycle Accidents: Motorcycle accident victims face particular challenges because juries sometimes hold negative assumptions about motorcycle riders. Building the factual record of what actually happened: the other vehicle’s maneuver, the failure to yield, the lane change without checking mirrors: is essential to overcoming those assumptions and demonstrating where the actual fault lies.

Pedestrian Accidents: Pedestrian accident cases typically involve serious injuries because pedestrians have no vehicle protection in a collision. The severity of the injuries, combined with clear questions of fault when a driver fails to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk or strikes a pedestrian on a sidewalk, often makes these cases significant in terms of damages.

Hit-and-Run: When the at-fault driver flees the scene and cannot be identified, the injured victim’s own uninsured motorist coverage may be the source of recovery. Burrell handles these cases, including the uninsured motorist claims process that applies when the at-fault party cannot be located.

Commercial Truck Accidents: Beyond the standard trucking regulations issues, commercial truck accident cases can involve multiple parties: the driver, the trucking company, the vehicle’s owner (which may be different from the operator), the freight broker, and the cargo shipper. Identifying all potentially liable parties and preserving evidence against each is a critical early step.

Wrongful Death

When a negligent act causes a death, Mississippi law provides a cause of action for the surviving family members. The damages available in a wrongful death case include the loss of financial support the deceased would have provided, loss of services, funeral and burial expenses, and damages for the grief and loss of companionship suffered by the survivors. In some cases, punitive damages may be available if the conduct was particularly egregious.

Workers’ Compensation

Workers’ compensation in Mississippi covers employees injured in the course and scope of employment. The Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Commission handles claims, and the process involves filing the claim, establishing that the injury arose from employment, documenting the medical treatment and its costs, and calculating the appropriate compensation for lost wages and permanent impairment.

The firm handles all stages of the workers’ compensation process: initial filing, disputes with the employer’s insurance carrier, administrative hearings before the Commission, and appeals of denied claims. Mississippi workers’ compensation cases require understanding both the medical evidence: what the injury is, what treatment is necessary, what permanent limitations result: and the procedural requirements of Commission practice.

Social Security Disability

Social Security disability claims arise when a medical condition prevents someone from performing substantial gainful activity. The Social Security Administration’s evaluation process involves multiple stages: initial application, reconsideration, administrative law judge hearing, and Appeals Council review. Most initial applications are denied, making the hearing stage the first genuine opportunity for many claimants to present their case to a decision-maker.

The firm’s social security disability work complements its personal injury practice: many accident victims who suffer permanent injuries eventually need to pursue disability benefits when their injuries prevent them from returning to work.

Nursing Home Negligence

Nursing facility negligence cases require understanding both the legal standard of care and the regulatory environment that governs Mississippi nursing homes. Failures to prevent or treat pressure ulcers, medication errors, falls resulting from inadequate supervision, malnutrition, and dehydration are among the most common types of harm. Mississippi nursing homes are licensed and regulated by the state, and federal standards also apply to facilities that accept Medicare or Medicaid patients.

Attorney Profiles

Andrew C. Burrell

Andrew C. Burrell has practiced law for more than 30 years, with a focus on personal injury, wrongful death, workers’ compensation, social security disability, and nursing home negligence. He graduated from the University of Arkansas School of Law and maintains an active connection with his alma mater.

His practice covers local, state, and federal courts. The Mississippi Gulf Coast is his primary geographic base, but his service area extends to six coastal counties and statewide. Millions of dollars have been recovered for his clients across the range of cases he handles.

The firm’s operating principle that clients speak directly with Burrell, not paralegals or secretaries, is a deliberate choice. Personal injury clients are often managing medical treatment, disability, financial pressure from lost income, and the stress of dealing with an insurance company simultaneously. Having consistent, direct access to the attorney handling their case is not a luxury; it is a practical necessity for clients who need accurate information about where their case stands.

Location & Service Area

Office: 1643 E Pass Rd. Suite A, Gulfport, MS 39507
Phone: (228) 896-4016

Service area covers six coastal counties and the entire state of Mississippi. The Mississippi Gulf Coast region: including Gulfport and Biloxi: is the firm’s primary base.

Mississippi’s three-year statute of limitations for car accident claims gives injured persons meaningful time to evaluate their options and pursue legal action, but waiting too long still creates risks: evidence degrades, witnesses’ memories fade, and insurance carriers become harder to deal with as time passes.

Client Focus

Over 30 years of Gulf Coast practice means Burrell has handled the types of accidents that are common in the region: highway accidents on I-10 and US-90, trucking accidents on the commercial corridors, accidents in and around Gulfport and Biloxi, and maritime-adjacent incidents in a region with significant port and coastal activity.

The pure comparative fault rule that Mississippi follows means that potential clients who believe they were partly at fault for their accident should not assume they have no case. The legal standard allows recovery even when the plaintiff was substantially responsible, as long as the defendant bears some share of the fault. Consulting with Burrell to get an accurate legal assessment of the situation is more reliable than making that determination alone.

Clients who need workers’ compensation representation often feel uncertain about whether they can pursue a claim without risking their job or their relationship with their employer. Mississippi’s workers’ compensation system is designed to provide a no-fault remedy for workplace injuries. The employer’s insurance carrier, not the employer directly, typically handles the claim.

FAQ

What does Mississippi’s pure comparative fault rule mean for someone who was partly at fault in an accident?

Mississippi’s pure comparative fault rule allows an injured person to recover even if they were substantially at fault. If the injured person was 40 percent at fault and the other party was 60 percent at fault, the injured person can recover 60 percent of their damages. Even if the injured person was 99 percent at fault, they could theoretically recover 1 percent of their damages. This is a more plaintiff-favorable standard than the modified comparative fault rules used in most other states, which bar recovery entirely once the plaintiff’s fault reaches a certain threshold.

What is the statute of limitations for car accident claims in Mississippi?

Mississippi has a three-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims arising from automobile accidents. A claim that is not filed within three years of the accident is typically barred. This means that while there is meaningful time to investigate and evaluate a claim, beginning the process early is advisable because evidence: including accident scene evidence, surveillance footage, and witness recollections: becomes harder to preserve as time passes.

Will I speak with Andrew Burrell directly, or will I be handled by staff?

Clients at Andrew Burrell, P.A. speak directly with Burrell, not paralegals or secretaries. This is a deliberate policy of the firm. For clients managing the stress of a serious injury claim alongside medical treatment and financial pressure, having direct access to the attorney handling their case provides clarity that intermediary communication cannot.

Does the firm handle trucking accident cases, and how are they different from car accident cases?

Yes, the firm handles commercial truck accident cases. Trucking cases differ from standard car accident claims in several important ways. Federal motor carrier regulations impose specific requirements on trucking companies and their drivers regarding hours of service, vehicle maintenance, driver qualifications, and cargo loading. Violations of these regulations can establish negligence. The electronic logging device data and driver records must be preserved early in the case before they are overwritten or discarded. And the parties involved may include the driver, the trucking company, the vehicle owner, and potentially the freight broker or cargo shipper.

Are workers’ compensation claims available for all workplace injuries in Mississippi?

Mississippi’s workers’ compensation system covers most employees injured in the course and scope of their employment. Some categories of workers are excluded: certain agricultural workers, domestic servants, and employees of small employers below the statutory employee threshold. For covered employees, the system provides medical benefits and wage replacement benefits without requiring proof of fault. The employer’s insurance carrier, not the employer personally, typically handles the claim.

Closing

Thirty-plus years of personal injury and workers’ compensation practice on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, millions recovered for clients, and a consistent policy of direct attorney access characterize Andrew Burrell, P.A. The firm’s coverage spans six coastal counties and extends statewide, serving clients from Gulfport and Biloxi to points across Mississippi. Free consultations and contingency fee handling make the firm accessible to clients who cannot afford upfront legal fees while managing the financial consequences of an injury. Contact the firm at (228) 896-4016 or visit andrewburrell.com. The office is at 1643 E Pass Rd. Suite A, Gulfport, MS 39507.