BirminghamCar Accident Lawyer

Car accidents can result in significant injuries as well as death and are often caused by driver negligence. If you or someone you know has suffered injuries from a motor vehicle collision, you should reach out to a Birmingham car accident lawyer.

An experienced injury attorney can represent you in every aspect of your auto wreck case, from helping to assess your damages (including pain and suffering), negotiating with insurance companies, and trying your case to court. En Español.

Common Causes of Auto Accidents in Birmingham

Though auto accidents come in many forms, they are often caused by another driver’s negligence. A driver may be negligent if they speed, run a stop sign, text while driving, tailgate, drive while intoxicated, or otherwise engage in careless or reckless driving. In some cases, there may be more than one party responsible for the motor vehicle accident. Things can become complicated.

In any car accident, there is a high likelihood for both minor and severe bodily injuries, including:

• Whiplash
• Contusions and lacerations
• Broken bones
• Torn ligaments
• Internal injuries
• Concussions
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal injuries

Sometimes these injuries are not apparent at the time of the car crash. A Birmingham attorney could help identify the individual or entity responsible for the car accident and pursue a claim or case for damages on the injured person’s behalf.

What is the Role of Contributory Negligence in a Car Accident Case?

Like many states, Alabama is an at fault system for insurance claims. The law requires anyone seeking compensation from a car accident to show fault on the part of the responsible party in order for their claim to be successful.

Unlike most states, however, Alabama follows a rule known as contributory negligence. This rule states that if the claimant contributed in any way to causing the motor vehicle accident – even if they are just one percent at fault – they cannot recover any damages from the other driver. In other words, the claimant must show they did nothing to contribute to causing the accident, and the other party was 100 percent at fault.

An experienced local attorney knows the complications of Alabama’s contributory negligence law and how to navigate it. This experience makes a Birmingham attorney particularly valuable when filing a car accident claim.

Types of Damages Recoverable in Alabama

A local car crash attorney could significantly improve the likelihood of the injured party recovering compensation for their losses by pursuing every form of payment that might be available. These recoverable compensatory damages could include:

• Medical expenses
• Lost income
• Car repairs or replacement
• Rehabilitation costs
• Pain and suffering

Additional compensation may be available for the claimant’s mental distress, disability, scarring or disfigurement, and lost enjoyment of life. A Birmingham lawyer could work with the injured party to carefully identify and document any injury or loss that resulted from the auto accident.