Thanks to modern technology, cars and trucks are safer than ever before. Many new vehicles come equipped with a backup camera, automatic emergency braking, forward collision warnings, and other safety features. Unfortunately, even with these new safety features, many people are still seriously injured in car accidents in Anniston, Alabama, every year.
Motor vehicle accidents occur frequently on I-20, a route that many Anniston residents use to commute to Birmingham throughout the week. According to statistics, a car accident happens every 3 minutes and 18 seconds in Alabama. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a car accident due to someone else’s negligence, you need a personal injury lawyer on your side who you can trust.
Norris Injury Lawyers has proudly been serving the residents of Alabama for over 40 years. Contact us today to schedule your free case consultation. We offer all our clients our No Fee Guarantee®. Call us 24/7 at (800) 477-7510, start a live chat with us, or fill out the online consultation form.
Why Hire a Personal Injury Attorney After Your Anniston, AL Car Accident
If you were seriously injured in a car accident, there are many benefits to having an experienced personal injury lawyer from our law firm on your side. You may feel that you can simply report the accident to the insurance company which will cover your medical bills and other expenses. However, this is not always the case – there are often obstacles along the way that affect the payout of your claim.
Insurance claims are often denied or delayed, or you may be offered a low settlement that is far less than what your claim is worth. The knowledgeable car accident attorneys at our law firm have the skills needed to settle your claim for the amount that you deserve.
Consider some of the following benefits of hiring a personal injury attorney:
- Calculate the value of your claim. There are many factors that come into play when calculating a settlement amount. Current and future medical costs, lost wages, loss of future earning potential, and emotional costs all need to be considered. If the driver was grossly negligent such as drinking while intoxicated, your Anniston, Alabama, personal injury lawyer may pursue punitive damages on your behalf.
- Prevent you from settling too early. Insurance adjusters will likely begin calling you almost immediately after your accident, trying to pressure you into accepting a quick settlement offer. The full extent of your injuries may not be apparent until days after your accident. If you accept a claim offer before speaking to an Anniston, AL, accident attorney, the amount you settle for may not even cover the complete cost of your medical bills.
- Determine fault. Alabama is an at-fault state, which means that damages are only paid out once it has been determined who caused the accident. If you are even found to be 1 percent to blame for the accident, you’ll be unable to file a claim or lawsuit against the other drivers involved. The legal team at Norris Injury Lawyers has the resources, experts, and knowledge needed to investigate your case and determine who is at fault for the accident.
- Negotiate with the insurance company. After being injured in a car accident, you may be coping with extreme physical pain and emotional trauma. Accident victims do not usually have the proper frame of mind to be able to negotiate with an insurance company. An Anniston, Michigan, car accident lawyer, though, can negotiate your claim, allowing you to focus on your recovery.
How Much Does an Anniston, Alabama Car Accident Lawyer Cost?
At Norris Injury Lawyers, we believe that everyone deserves excellent legal representation without having to worry about out-of-pocket costs. The personal injury attorneys at our law firm all work on a contingency fee basis. This means that you don’t pay anything until you’re awarded a settlement. Our service fees are taken out of the amount that we win on your behalf.
If we don’t win or settle your case, then you don’t owe us anything. We offer all our clients our No Fee Guarantee® . No upfront costs. No hidden fees.
Types of Anniston, Michigan Car Accidents Our Law Firm Handles
Driving might be the single most dangerous thing that we do on any given day. Every time that you get behind the wheel of a vehicle, you are accepting a risk. Even if you are a safe and cautious driver, you have to share the road with others who may be distracted or reckless.
The experienced legal team at Norris Injury Lawyers has decades of experience helping car accident victims in Alabama recover top compensation for their injuries. We have handled many different types of auto accident cases, including:
- Rear-end collisions
- Rollovers
- Front-end collisions
- Distracted driving accidents
- Side-impact collisions (T-bones)
- Multi-vehicle accidents
- Drunk driving accidents
- Hit-and-runs
- Pedestrian and bicycle accidents
- Uber, Lyft, and taxi accidents
- Fatal car accidents
These are just some of the many different types of accidents we have helped our clients recover compensation for. If you or a loved one has been severely harmed in an auto accident, the compassionate personal injury attorneys at our law firm want to help. Contact Norris Injury Lawyers today to schedule a free case consultation.
How is Liability Determined After an Alabama Car Accident?
After you’re involved in a car crash, it must be determined which driver is liable for the accident. Liability is the legal term for responsibility. Sometimes it’s fairly obvious who is at fault, but other times far from it.
The following parties may be involved in determining liability after an Anniston, Alabama, car accident.
Law enforcement
The authorities should always be notified after you’re in an Anniston, Alabama, motor vehicle accident. Failing to contact the local police or highway control can actually hurt your claim. A police accident report is an important piece of evidence. It summarizes all important details relating to the accident and will sometimes state the officer’s determination of who is at fault.
After ensuring that everyone receives medical attention, the police officer will usually interview all drivers and passengers involved in the accident. If there were witnesses of the incident, the officer will speak to them and take their statements.
After speaking to everyone involved and assessing the situation, the Alabama law enforcement officer will file an official accident report. If the officer feels that there is enough evidence to determine fault, he or she will include that determination in the report.
This is usually the first thing that an insurance adjuster looks at when evaluating an Anniston, AL, motor vehicle accident claim. However, just because a police officer gives his or her determination of fault, this doesn’t automatically mean that person will be held liable for damages.
Insurance companies
After the police officer leaves, the next step is usually for all involved drivers to contact their insurers and inform them of the accident. An Anniston, Alabama, claims adjuster then will be assigned to your accident case, and it will be his or her job to determine liability. The final decision will be the deciding factor in which party’s insurance company pays for the damages.
Be careful as to what you say when speaking with an insurance adjuster. Your conversation is likely being recorded, and anything you say could be used against you. Insurance adjusters will likely investigate the car accident, examine damage to the vehicles, read the police report, look at medical reports, and examine other evidence before determining liability.
A judge or jury
Most auto accident claims are settled outside of the Anniston, AL, court system. However, if you disagree with the insurance adjuster’s determination of who was at fault, or the amount that they are trying to get you to settle for, you will need to file a personal injury lawsuit or claim.
When your case is taken to court, both parties’ lawyers will present evidence before the judge and/or jury who will then make a determination as to who is liable for damages. The personal injury lawyers at our law firm have tried and have won many cases at trial, we are fully prepared to present your case before the court if necessary.
Contact an Anniston Car Accident Lawyer Today
The goal of the personal injury attorneys at our law firm is to ease the stress you are experiencing after your car accident, ensure you know your legal rights under Alabama state law, and help you obtain the maximum compensation you are owed.
Our car accident lawyers have won thousands of claims on behalf of Alabama car accident victims, and each year we continue to build on our successful track record. Don’t trust your car accident case with just any Alabama law firm – contact Norris Injury Lawyers, the law firm with over 40 years of experience.
Contact us today to schedule your free case consultation. We offer all our clients our No Fee Guarantee® . Call us 24/7 at (800) 477-7510, start a live chat with us, or fill out the online consultation form.
