Being involved in a car crash can be one of the most stressful events in a person’s life. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon. In 2019, the State of Alabama reported a traffic incident every 3 minutes and 18 seconds.
Not only are car accidents often traumatic, but they also raise many concerns for the individuals involved. When personal injury or extensive property damage results, these concerns only seem to grow.
After being involved in a crash, you may worry about your:
- your physical and emotional recovery
- mounting medical expenses
- serious vehicle damage, or;
- lost work and wages
While these are understandable anxieties you and your family may be experiencing, you do not have to face them alone.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a car accident in Jasper, AL, contact the law firm of Norris Injury Lawyers for a free consultation today. We can provide the legal advice and guidance you need to figure out your next steps.
Alabama Car Accident Statistics
According to Drive Safe Alabama, the State of Alabama reported some worrisome trends in 2019:
- 51 percent of fatal car crashes happened at night
- A person was injured in a crash every 11 minutes and 19 seconds
- Most crashes occur within 25 miles of the causal driver’s home
- Urban fatalities increased by 0.26 percent over 2018
As seen by these statistics, motor vehicle accidents continue to be a major problem on Alabama roads.
Various actions were also reported to frequently lead to car accidents:
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Failure to yield
- Alcohol or drug use
These dangerous or negligent actions can be investigated by car accident attorneys to determine fault after a crash. If a driver has caused a crash due to negligence, he or she should be held liable for the damages caused.
What To Do After a Jasper, Alabama Car Accident
Car accidents are a frightening experience. It can be hard to think clearly and remember everything you need to do after you’ve been hit.
After a car crash, here are some general steps you can follow:
- Make sure you’re okay. Check yourself and your passengers for injuries, and stay safe when exiting the vehicle at the scene of the accident. Call 911 to receive immediate assistance.
- Exchange information. Whether or not you believe there has been property damage or personal injury, it’s best to exchange contact and insurance information with the other driver. This includes getting information from any witnesses of the accident.
- Complete a car accident report. A report must be sent to the Alabama Department of Public Safety if the accident resulted in personal injury or death, or damages of more than $250. Make sure to file this report within 30 days of the accident.
- Receive medical attention. Even if you feel fine, you should see a doctor to receive any medical attention you need. You may have injuries you don’t notice right away, but the sooner you see a doctor, the sooner you can start your recovery. The resulting medical records will also do much to strengthen your legal claim.
- Contact a car accident attorney. When you arrange a free consultation with the team at Norris Injury Lawyers, you can receive helpful legal advice on the next legal steps.
Types of Fault Car Accident Laws
There are a few different ways state law determines whether a person is eligible to receive compensation after a motor vehicle accident:
- No-Fault: Some states, like Michigan, have a “No-Fault” law, meaning that people can receive compensation from their own insurance company no matter who was at fault for the accident.
- Pure comparative negligence: Other states follow a “pure comparative negligence” law. The amount of compensation you can receive corresponds to your percentage of fault in the accident. For example, if you were 25 percent at fault, you can receive 75 percent of the damages.
- Modified comparative negligence: The “modified comparative negligence” law sets a threshold for compensation. An individual must be less than 50 percent or 51 percent at fault for the accident in order to be eligible for compensation.
- Pure contributory negligence: Alabama is one of the few states that follow a “contributory negligence” rule. The insurance company of the at-fault driver is responsible to pay out the compensation. However, it is only available if you are determined to be not at fault for the accident.
Since Alabama is a “tort” or “fault” state (meaning the possibility of compensation is dependent on who was at fault for the crash), a thorough investigation is necessary to accurately determine fault after an accident before any damages can be awarded.
Damages That Can Be Claimed After a Motor Vehicle Accident
As you know, the negative effects of a car crash, including personal injury, can impact nearly every aspect of your life. While no dollar amount can completely erase the accident, the compensation you receive should adequately cover the damages you have suffered.
After a Jasper car accident, you may be eligible for the following compensation:
- Present and future medical expenses: If you have suffered personal injury after an accident, the cost of treatment and rehabilitation can quickly pile up. Some injuries can require ongoing medical treatment for years after the accident. You shouldn’t have to face these costs yourself. The at-fault driver can be held responsible for these expenses.
- Present and future lost wages: You may have missed work due to the accident and subsequent recovery or may even be unable to return to work at all. The wages you have lost as a cause of the accident can be calculated and included in your compensation.
- Pain and suffering: An accident does not only have economic impacts. While the emotional pain and suffering a crash can cause may not have a fixed monetary value, this can still be compensated for as damages.
- Wrongful death: Sadly, personal injury or property damage are not the only results of a crash. Many accidents end in death, causing untold suffering and grief. If the negligent actions of someone else caused the death of your loved one, you may be able to file a wrongful death claim for additional compensation.
Fixing an amount on the damages you have suffered is difficult. Often, car accident victims accept insufficient settlements because they do not fully understand their rights.
The attorneys at Norris Injury Lawyers have experience handling Jasper car accident cases. Contact our team today to learn how we can help you receive the compensation you deserve.
Car Accident Regulations in Alabama
There is a clearly defined set of laws surrounding claims and lawsuits following a car accident. Our local Jasper, Alabama, attorneys at Norris Injury Lawyers are familiar with these regulations and work within AL laws to help our clients.
Statute of limitations
The statute of limitations refers to the amount of time the law allows for a claim to be made after a crash. After a Jasper, Alabama, accident, you have a deadline of 2 years to start the process of filing your claim for personal injury or 6 years for personal property damage.
It’s easy to believe that you have plenty of time to get your claim started. In reality, though, the process can become long, drawn-out, and complex. By contacting the legal team at Norris Injury Lawyers right away, though, you can make sure your case gets handled without delay and within all necessary deadlines.
Contributory negligence
Due to the contributory negligence law in Alabama, if you are found to be even 1 percent at fault for the crash, you cannot receive any compensation.
A lawyer with experience handling car accident cases can carefully investigate your case and fight for your legal rights to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.
What a Car Accident Lawyer Does After a Jasper Car Accident
The process for filing a personal injury or property damage claim after an accident is complex. While you focus on your recovery and the needs of your family, your attorney takes care of the necessary legal steps and fights for your legal rights.
An investigation can be started to determine who was at fault for the accident. Your Jasper accident attorney can prove the negligent actions of the other driver, as well as the damages you have suffered as a result of the crash.
Soon after the accident, you will likely be contacted by the insurance company looking for information or offering a settlement. These insurance companies search for reasons to lower your settlement or cancel your claim entirely. You shouldn’t speak to them without first contacting your Norris attorney.
How Our Jasper, Alabama Personal Injury Lawyers Can Fight For You
While your insurance company uses its team of lawyers to undermine your case, when you work with the professionals at Norris Injury Lawyers, you can be confident that your interests are being considered. We can be there every step of the way, providing the legal support you need.
With over 40 years of experience helping victims of car accidents and other clients receive fair compensation, we are ready and able to do what it takes to win you fair compensation and justice. We work hard to maintain a strong attorney-client relationship, as our thousands of satisfied clients have experienced.
Make sure your Jasper, Alabama, case is handled right – call us today at (800) 477-7510 for a no-obligation consultation. Our No Fee GuaranteeⓇ means that you don’t owe our law firm anything until we get money for you.
