Alabama Car Accident Attorneys
Across the nation and throughout the state of Alabama, car accidents continue to be the leading cause of injury and death. Sadly, nearly all car accidents that occur would never take place but for the irresponsible actions of drivers.
At the Carter Law Firm, PC, our Alabama car accident attorneys have more than five decades of combined legal experience, which means that we have handled more car accident cases over the years than should have ever taken place. It also means that we have fine-tuned our skills, including our abilities to investigate and build a case, prove fault and damages, negotiate and litigate.
If you are involved in a car accident in Alabama and need to file a claim in order to recoup the damages you have suffered, our attorneys can help. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation and learn more.
Top Causes of Car Accidents – Acts of Fault
The vast majority of car accidents occur because of acts of fault, meaning that most car accidents are preventable but for negligence, or the failure to act with a reasonable degree of care. Consider the following top causes of car accidents in Alabama:
- Speeding;
- Driving while distracted;
- Illegal lane change;
- Running a red light/stop sign;
- Failure to yield;
- Using a cellphone or texting while driving;
- Driving while fatigued;
- Driving while impaired;
- Following too closely; and
- Driving aggressively.
Of course, these are not the only causes of car accidents; road defects, hazards or objects in the road, the negligent actions of pedestrians or cyclists, and vehicle defects may all cause a serious crash.
Alabama Car Accident Fault Laws
When you are involved in a car accident and are harmed, you will need to determine and prove fault in order to recover compensation. This is because Alabama is an at-fault car accident state, where drivers are responsible for paying for damages they cause through acts of fault, typically through their car insurance (which all drivers are required to carry). When you are in an accident, you will file a claim with the insurance company, and insurance adjusters will review the evidence of your case, and determine whether or not they should offer you a settlement, and if so, how much.
Because Alabama is an at-fault state, if you cannot prove that the other driver was responsible for the accident, you will have a very difficult time recovering a compensation award. What’s more, Alabama maintains contributory negligence laws, which are both harsh and rare. Under the rule of contributory negligence, a claimant in a car accident (or other personal injury type) case cannot recover damages for their injuries if they contributed to their losses in the least.
This means that if you contributed to your accident in the slightest–i.e., you were going five miles per hour over the speed limit, and because of this, your damages were worse than they would have been had you been traveling the speed limit–you cannot recover compensation. This rule makes hiring an attorney who knows how to investigate your case and prove fault even more important.
The Statute of Limitations for Filing a Car Accident Lawsuit
Not only do you need to prove fault and prove that you in no way contributed to your accident in order to recover damages for your losses, but you will also need to make sure that you file your car accident suit no more than two years after the date of the accident. If you wait more than two years, you will be barred from bringing forth your case.
Damages Available in a Car Accident Lawsuit
While Alabama may maintain harsh fault and negligence laws, the state does allow injury victims to pursue the full extent of their losses suffered as a result of a serious car accident. This means that you can seek damages for both your economic damages–such as the costs of medical expenses, damage to your vehicle, or lost wages–as well as non-economic damages. Non-economic damages typically include pain, suffering, emotional anguish, disfigurement, and disability. You have the right to seek damages for present and future losses that are expected.
Will I Have to Go to Court?
Filing a claim following a car accident, especially a car accident where fault is disputed or damages are severe, is not always easy. While working with an attorney improves the chances of receiving a fair settlement that fully compensates you for your injuries, out-of-court settlement is not always possible. At the Carter Law Firm, PC, our attorneys are skilled negotiators who will advocate for you, but if a settlement cannot be reached with an insurance company, we may suggest litigation as the only option for getting every cent that you deserve.
If your case goes to court, we will be there to represent you throughout the entire process. While we always prepare cases for litigation, and have trial experience, our goal is to settle your case out of court to save you time and stress.
Begin the Process of Recovering Compensation After an Alabama Car Accident Today
The process of recovering compensation after a car accident in Alabama can start today. While you may have fears or questions about what your rights or options are, especially if you have been accused of contributing to the crash or your damages, our lawyers are confident in our ability to provide you with the legal advice you are looking for. Every case begins with a free consultation, where we review your case and provide you with our professional opinion. If all parties think that the fit is good and that pursuing a claim is something you should do, we take on your case on a contingency fee basis, which means you will not owe us any payment unless your case is successful.
To schedule your no-obligation, free case consultation with our law firm today, call us directly now at (844) 202-4050. We are also available online – just send us a message using the form found on our website.
