According to Drive Safe Alabama, in 2022, a traffic crash was reported in Alabama every three minutes and 38 seconds, and 907 people were killed in fatal crashes. At Moore Law Firm, our legal team has recovered compensation for hundreds of injured victims and families who have lost loved ones in motor vehicle accidents in the Mobile, AL, area. Our car accident lawyers understand the devastating aftermath of being hurt in a crash. We’re dedicated to fighting for your rights and helping you recover maximum compensation for your damages.
- What To Do If You’re Involved In An Auto Accident
- Accidents Caused By Driver Fatigue
- Accidents Caused By Poor Road Conditions In Alabama
- Rear-End Collisions In Alabama
- Rollover Accidents In Alabama
- Texting And Driving Accidents In Alabama
- Side Impact Accidents In Alabama
- Construction Zone Accidents In Alabama
- Hit And Run Accidents In Alabama
- Common Causes Of Car Wrecks
- Head-on Collision Accidents
- Common Car Accident Injuries
- Speeding Accidents In Alabama
- Rideshare Accidents
Common Types of Car Accidents
From distracted driving to speeding, there are many different types and causes of motor vehicle crashes on Alabama roads and highways every day. Types of accidents that can cause serious injury include:
- Rear-end collisions — These types of accidents often happen when drivers follow too closely behind other vehicles or stop suddenly. Neck or back injuries such as whiplash often are sustained by drivers and passengers in rear-end crashes.
- Side impact crashes — T-bone collisions often cause serious injuries and fatalities. They occur when the side of a motor vehicle is hit by another car or truck. Drivers and passengers on the impacted side of a vehicle usually sustain grave injuries or lose their lives.
- Head-on collisions — When two vehicles collide head-on, the results often are fatal.
- Rollover accidents — These crashes occur when a vehicle flips onto its roof or side or overturns several times before coming to rest. SUVs are particularly prone to this type of accident, but any vehicle can flip over when taking sharp turns at high speed. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and spinal cord injuries often are sustained in rollover accidents.
- Pileup accidents — Multiple vehicle collisions usually occur on busy highways and often involve large commercial trucks such as tractor-trailers. Pileup collisions can be catastrophic, and vehicles may be impacted multiple times. It can be difficult to determine fault in these cases, so contacting a car accident lawyer is a must if you’ve been injured.
- Single-car accidents— These collisions happen when a vehicle runs into a stationary object such as a pole, tree, or wall. In some cases, single-car accidents may involve pedestrians or other bystanders. Single-car collisions often result in extensive property damage and serious injury.
- DUI accidents — Motorists driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs cause thousands of injuries and deaths each year. You may be able to take civil action and pursue compensatory and punitive damages against a DUI driver who injures you or kills someone you love.
- Sideswipe collisions — In many cases, injuries and damage in sideswipe collisions are minimal unless one of the drivers loses control or a large truck is involved.
- Hit-and-run accidents— When a driver leaves the scene of a crash after hitting another vehicle or person, it can be challenging to find them. Our car accident attorneys can investigate your case and help you understand how to recover compensation from your own insurance company.
- Motorcycle accidents — Due to the lack of protection surrounding them, motorcyclists often suffer severe injuries when involved in an accident. They may also cause motorcycle crashes when weaving in and out of traffic and traveling at excessive speeds.
- Truck accidents —Due to their large weight and size, 18-wheelers, buses, and other commercial vehicles can cause grave injuries and fatalities when involved in crashes. Our traffic accident lawyers have a track record of success in taking on big trucking companies and their insurers.
Common Car Accident Injuries
Injuries sustained in motor vehicle crashes can have a significant impact on your quality of life. Whether you suffer a painful injury such as whiplash or need long-term nursing care due to a catastrophic injury, you deserve compensation for your medical bills and other damages.
Common types of car accident injuries include:
- Neck, back, and spinal cord injuries
- Head and brain injuries
- Paralysis
- Broken or crushed bones
- Amputation
- Psychological trauma such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression
Our motor vehicle accident lawyers know the cost of medical treatment and long-term care for serious injuries can reach into the millions of dollars. Our personal injury lawyers have decades of experience valuing car accident claims and fighting to recover the maximum compensation to protect your health and financial future.
What Should I Do If I Am Hurt in a Car Accident?
After a motor vehicle accident, it’s vital to seek medical attention as soon as possible. A medical professional can assess your condition and help you get the treatment you need. Medical records also provide valuable documentation of your injuries and the accident.
Call 911 and take photos of the scene, your injuries, and damage to vehicles. If you’re hurt and unable to take pictures, ask a bystander for help. You also should collect the other driver’s insurance, license, and vehicle information, and contact information from any witnesses. If possible, get a copy of the police report at the scene. Do not give a statement to an insurance adjuster or sign anything before contacting a car accident lawyer.
How Long Do I Have to Seek Compensation?
In Alabama, you typically have two years from the day of the accident or discovery of your injury to make a personal injury claim. However, the sooner you contact a motor vehicle accident lawyer, the better. Taking action promptly can help preserve valuable evidence and make it easier for your personal injury attorney to prove your case.
Determining Fault in Car Accidents
It can be challenging to determine who was at fault for an auto accident. Photos, camera footage, police reports, and witness statements can help put the pieces of the puzzle together. Our car accident lawyers may hire expert accident reconstructionists to help determine how a crash happened. Cases involving multiple vehicles or large trucks often require extensive investigation to determine liability. If defective parts or vehicle malfunction caused a crash, the manufacturer, designer, or other parties may be at fault.
Accidents involving rideshare services such as Uber or Lyft may involve multiple insurance companies. Depending on the circumstances, you may be able to recover compensation from the rideshare company, the driver’s personal insurer, or the insurers of other motorists involved in a collision.
Identifying who is at fault is vital in any motor vehicle accident claim. Although Alabama is an “at-fault” state, the contributory negligence standard is applied when fault is shared among the parties. This means you can’t recover any damages if you contributed to the accident in any way. Our car accident lawyers are well-versed in investigating all types of motor vehicle crashes and discerning who may be liable for damages.
What Kind of Compensation Can Be Sought?
In Alabama, you can recover both economic and non-economic damages in personal injury claims. Economic damages may include past and future medical bills, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, property damage, and other accident-related expenses.
It can be more challenging to put a price tag on non-economic damages such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of consortium. Our motor vehicle accident lawyers in Mobile, AL, understand how to put an accurate value on your claim and pursue the full amount of damages to which you may be entitled.
What If the Liable Party is Uninsured, or Underinsured?
Unfortunately, there are thousands of uninsured drivers on Alabama roadways. That’s why it’s important to carry uninsured/underinsured motorist (UI/UM) and MedPay coverage on your auto insurance policy. Although this type of insurance is not required in Alabama, it is well worth having. If you have this coverage and you’re hurt in an accident with an uninsured, underinsured, or hit-and-run driver, your insurance company will cover medical bills and property damage. However, this type of insurance does not cover damages such as pain and suffering. Our car accident lawyers can review your policy and advise you on all your options for recovering compensation.
Dealing With Insurance Companies
If you’ve been seriously injured or have lost a loved one in a crash, trying to handle a car accident claim on your own is stressful. Insurance companies are not looking out for your best interests. They are in the business of making money and try to pay as little compensation as possible or even deny valid claims. Even your own insurance company may try to offer an inadequate payout. Without a personal injury lawyer to protect your interests, any settlement you receive could be minimal. Our car accident attorneys act in your best interest and fight to protect your rights to ensure you get the compensation you deserve. We investigate the facts of your case, understand how to accurately value your claim, and handle often contentious negotiations with insurance adjusters and attorneys.
Will My Case Likely Go to Settlement?
Most auto accident claims are settled out of court. When you’re hurt, unable to work, and bills start piling up, it can be tempting to accept the first settlement the insurance company offers. Unfortunately, it may not even be enough to cover your medical bills and may leave you in a precarious financial situation. Hiring a personal injury lawyer experienced in handling car accident injury cases gives you the best possible chance at recovering maximum compensation for your damages.
How Does a Civil Lawsuit Work?
If a reasonable settlement can’t be reached, our car accident lawyers may recommend filing a personal injury lawsuit. Unlike a criminal case in which the government seeks to punish a wrongdoer for a crime, a civil lawsuit is the court-based process through which a plaintiff can take action and request compensation from a defendant who may be liable for some type of wrong. Most personal injury cases fall under the area of tort law. Car accidents typically are considered negligent tort cases, which means the injuries and damages were the result of another’s unintentional negligence.
To initiate a civil lawsuit, the plaintiff must file a complaint in the appropriate court. It must state the cause of action for the complaint, include legal and factual reasons you believe the defendant is liable, and outline the compensation or damages you’re requesting.
The court then issues a summons to the defendant, which provides the defendant notice of the lawsuit and a copy of the complaint. A summons also sets a specified time limit in which the defendant must file an answer or seek to have the case dismissed. During pre-trial discovery, parties exchange information and documents related to the claim, which may include depositions, motions to exclude certain evidence, and pre-trial conferences with the judge. In some situations, possible settlements may be discussed, with the judge aiding negotiations. If a settlement agreement is not reached, the matter is ready to go to trial once discovery is complete.
At trial, both sides present their cases. The burden of proof rests on the plaintiff, but the standard of evidence is lower than the criminal standard of beyond a reasonable doubt. The judge or jury then decides whether the evidence presented shows the defendant is liable for the plaintiff’s damages.
If the judge or jury finds against the plaintiff, the defendant is released from liability for the plaintiff’s claims. If the verdict is for the plaintiff, the defendant is found to be liable and a judgment is entered for the plaintiff. The court then awards damages. The losing party may file an appeal if they believe the outcome was improper.
Car accident lawsuits are complex. Motions to dismiss, counterclaims, cross-claims, and third-party claims all can throw a wrench in the legal process. Without a personal injury attorney who has trial experience, you may lose your case if you fail to follow the legal process correctly.
How Long Does It Take to Resolve a Car Accident Injury Claim?
Various factors can impact the amount of time it takes to resolve a car accident injury claim. Complex cases involving multiple drivers usually take longer than simpler claims. The severity of your injuries and whether the insurer is amenable to negotiating a satisfactory settlement in a reasonable amount of time also affect how long it can take to resolve a personal injury claim. Some cases may take only a couple of months, while claims that go to trial can take years. Our traffic accident lawyers do our best to help you recover compensation in a timely manner. However, sometimes going to court is the only way to obtain an award that covers all your damages.
What If I Lose a Loved One in a Car Accident?
Losing someone you love in a car accident is devastating. If you believe your loved one’s death was caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be able to file a wrongful death claim against any liable parties. Typically, only the personal representative of a deceased person’s estate can file a wrongful death claim in Alabama. However, each case is unique, and those involving the death of a minor child or claims against the government can be particularly complex. It’s important to act as soon as possible.
The only recoverable damages in a wrongful death suit in Alabama are punitive damages. There is no cap on punitive damages in the state, but how much you may be entitled to recover will depend on the specifics of your claim. A wrongful death lawyer can evaluate your case and advise you of your options for recovering compensation.
Can I Afford to Hire a Car Accident Lawyer?
Our personal injury lawyers work on a contingency basis. This means there are no up-front costs to pursue your case and we get paid only if we recover compensation for you. If you have any questions about other costs such as the services of expert witnesses or medical records fees, our personal injury lawyers are happy to answer them. Your initial consultation is always free, so if you’ve been hurt in a crash, you have nothing to lose by having a car accident attorney at our personal injury law firm evaluate your case.
Find a Car Accident Lawyer in Mobile, AL
Being injured or losing someone in a car accident can result in life-changing physical, emotional, and financial repercussions. At Moore Law Firm, our personal injury attorneys have a proven track record of success and have helped more than 15,000 clients pursue compensation for damages. Call us at 251-445-7602, use the convenient chat feature on our website, or contact us online to schedule a free case evaluation. Our auto accident lawyers have served clients throughout the Mobile, AL area since 1985.