Were you or a loved one injured in an accident in Birmingham, Alabama? A Birmingham personal injury attorney at Belt, Bruner & Barnett, P.C. can help you seek compensation from those responsible. Contact us at 205-973-6417 today to schedule a free consultation.
Our attorneys represent people injured in a wide range of cases, including auto accidents, dog bites, slip and fall accidents, and other incidents caused by negligence. We can leverage our experience and resources to build a strong case and protect your interests at every stage of the legal process.
Why Choose Belt, Bruner & Barnett, P.C. to Handle My Case?
Belt, Bruner & Barnett, P.C. has spent decades representing people injured in serious accidents. Our legal team brings extensive experience, proven results, and the resources needed to pursue claims against individuals, businesses, and insurance companies.
Here are reasons that people choose to work with us:
- More than 100 years of combined experience
- Over $400 million recovered for clients
- Extensive experience handling personal injury and wrongful death cases
- Attorneys who have been recognized by Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, The National Board of Trial Advocacy, and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum
Reach out to us today to schedule a free consultation.
Do I Have a Personal Injury Case?
You may have a case if another person, business, or entity is legally responsible for an accident or incident that caused you harm.
Many factors can affect whether you have a viable claim, including whether:
- Another party owed you a duty of care.
- That party failed to act with reasonable care.
- Their actions or inaction caused the accident.
- The accident caused your injuries.
- You can identify the person or entity responsible.
- Evidence is available to support your version of events.
- You suffered losses for which the law allows compensation.
Cases can arise from car accidents, dangerous property conditions, defective products, medical malpractice, and many other circumstances. The legal requirements vary based on the type of claim and how the injury occurred.
Why Should I Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?
Hiring a personal injury attorney can give you an advocate who understands the claims process and can protect your interests.
Some benefits of legal representation include:
- Level the playing field: Insurance companies have professionals protecting their interests. A lawyer can advocate for yours and push back against efforts to undervalue your claim.
- Provide access to experts: Your attorney can consult with medical professionals, accident reconstruction specialists, and other experts when their insight could strengthen your case.
- Challenge unfair allegations of fault: If an insurer tries to blame you for the accident, your lawyer can use available evidence to dispute those allegations.
- Reduce the burden on you: Having an attorney manage the legal process can give you more time to focus on your treatment and recovery.
Whether you need legal help depends on the circumstances of your case, including the seriousness of your injuries and whether liability or compensation is disputed.
How Much Is My Case Worth?
There is no standard amount that a case is worth. The value of a claim is based on the circumstances of the accident, the injuries you suffered, and the losses you can establish.
Factors that may affect how much compensation you can recover include:
- The strength of the evidence showing what caused the accident
- Whether another person or business was at fault
- Whether you share any responsibility for the accident
- The nature and severity of your injuries
- The medical treatment you received
- The amount of your financial losses
- Whether insurance coverage or other sources of recovery are available
- Whether your claim is filed within Alabama’s applicable deadline
No single factor on its own determines whether you have a strong case, so always consider speaking with an expert.
What Damages Are Available to Accident Victims?
If you were injured in an accident, you may be entitled to compensation for the financial and personal losses caused by your injuries. These damages generally fall into two categories: economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages compensate you for financial losses that can be documented, such as:
- Medical bills
- Future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Property damage
- Rehabilitation expenses
Non-economic damages compensate you for losses that do not have a specific dollar value, including:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Permanent disability or disfigurement
- Loss of consortium
The damages available in a case will vary based on the injuries and losses involved. Documentation such as medical bills, employment records, and other evidence can help establish the compensation you are seeking.
Alabama Laws That May Affect Your Case
Several Alabama laws can have a direct impact on a case. One of the most important is the statute of limitations. Under Ala. Code § 6-2-38, most lawsuits must be filed within two years. If the applicable deadline passes, you could lose your ability to pursue compensation in court.
Alabama also follows a strict contributory negligence rule. If you share responsibility for causing an accident, you may be barred from recovering damages. Insurance adjusters may argue that your actions contributed to the accident in an effort to avoid paying your claim.
Different deadlines can apply when a government entity is involved. For example, Ala. Code § 11-47-23 generally requires tort claims against an Alabama municipality to be presented within six months. This may apply if your injuries involve the City of Birmingham or one of its employees.
We Handle All Types of Personal Injury Cases
Belt, Bruner & Barnett, P.C. represent people injured in many types of accidents.
Our specialized attorneys handle many different types of claims, including:
Car Accidents
Car accidents can cause catastrophic injuries that require extensive medical care and time away from work. Our car accident lawyers represent people injured in crashes involving speeding, distracted driving, drunk driving, failure to yield, and other forms of negligent driving.
Truck Accidents
Commercial truck accidents often involve severe injuries and multiple potentially liable parties. Our truck accident attorneys handle claims involving truck drivers, trucking companies, and other parties whose actions contributed to a crash, including cases involving driver error, unsafe practices, and vehicle maintenance issues.
Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcyclists have little protection when they are struck by a larger vehicle. Our motorcycle accident lawyers represent riders injured in crashes caused by drivers who speed, fail to yield, make unsafe turns, change lanes improperly, or otherwise create dangerous conditions on the road.
Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrians can suffer catastrophic or fatal injuries when struck by a motor vehicle. Our pedestrian accident attorneys handle claims involving crosswalk collisions, distracted drivers, speeding, failure to yield, and other circumstances in which a driver’s actions cause serious injuries.
Slip & Fall Accidents
Property owners may be responsible for injuries caused by dangerous conditions on their premises. Our slip and fall lawyers handle cases involving wet floors, uneven walking surfaces, broken stairs, poor lighting, and other hazards that cause visitors to fall and suffer injuries.
Wrongful Death
When an accident or wrongful act results in a person’s death, Alabama law allows the decedent’s personal representative to pursue a wrongful death claim. Our wrongful death attorneys represent families in cases involving fatal motor vehicle accidents, dangerous property conditions, medical malpractice, and other wrongful conduct.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Personal Injury Attorney?
Most personal injury lawyers, including those at Belt, Bruner & Barnett, P.C., work on a contingency fee basis. Instead of paying attorney’s fees upfront, you must pay an agreed-upon percentage of the compensation recovered through a settlement or verdict.
This arrangement allows injured people to hire an attorney without paying hourly legal fees. If there is no financial recovery, you generally will not owe attorney’s fees. The exact percentage and responsibility for case expenses should be explained in the fee agreement before representation begins.
How Can a Personal Injury Lawyer Help Me?
A claim can involve medical records, insurance companies, witnesses, experts, legal deadlines, and negotiations over compensation. An attorney can handle these matters while you recover from your injuries.
Your attorney can:
- Investigate how the accident occurred
- Gather medical records, accident reports, photographs, and other evidence
- Interview witnesses
- Identify potentially liable parties
- Work with medical, financial, and accident reconstruction experts when needed
- Document your injuries and financial losses
- Handle communications with insurance companies
- Respond to allegations that you caused or contributed to the accident
- Negotiate for a settlement
- File a lawsuit when necessary
- Prepare your case for trial
Your lawyer can manage your claim from the initial investigation through settlement negotiations or litigation, allowing you to focus on your medical treatment and recovery.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After an Accident in Alabama?
In Alabama, most personal injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the date of the injury. If you wait too long to file, your case may be dismissed, leaving you unable to recover compensation in court.
Some cases are subject to different deadlines. Claims involving government entities, minors, medical malpractice, and other circumstances may be subject to separate rules.
Will My Injury Case Go to Trial?
Most personal injury cases settle without going to trial. However, whether your case settles or proceeds to court depends on the disputes between the parties and their ability to agree on fair compensation.
A case may be more likely to go to trial when:
- The parties disagree about who caused the accident.
- The insurance company disputes liability.
- The insurance company challenges the severity of your injuries.
- There is disagreement over the value of your damages.
- Multiple parties dispute liability.
- Settlement negotiations fail to produce a fair offer.
A settlement can occur before or after a lawsuit is filed. If the parties cannot reach an agreement, the case may proceed to trial, where a judge or jury will decide the disputed issues.
How Long Will My Injury Case Take?
There is no set timeline for resolving a case. Some claims settle within a matter of months, while cases involving serious injuries, disputed liability, or litigation can take much longer.
Several factors can affect the timeline, including:
- The severity of your injuries and the length of medical treatment
- The time needed to investigate the accident
- Whether liability is disputed
- The number of parties involved
- The willingness of the insurance company to negotiate
- Whether a lawsuit must be filed
- Whether the case proceeds to trial
Reaching a quick settlement is not always the best approach, particularly when the full extent of an injury or future medical needs is not yet known.
Why Accidents Happen on Birmingham’s Roads
Drivers travel on busy interstates, major highways, and heavily traveled city streets every day. Traffic volume, road design, and driver behavior can combine to increase the risk of serious crashes.
Some common causes of accidents on the city’s roads include:
- Speeding: Driving too fast reduces the time available to react to stopped traffic, changing road conditions, and other hazards.
- Distracted driving: Texting, using a phone, eating, and other distractions can take a driver’s attention away from traffic.
- Impaired driving: Alcohol and drugs can affect a driver’s judgment, coordination, and reaction time.
- Unsafe lane changes: Heavy traffic and frequent merging on interstates can lead to sideswipe and multi-vehicle crashes.
- Following too closely: Drivers who leave too little space may be unable to stop when traffic suddenly slows.
- Failure to yield: Drivers who disregard right-of-way rules can cause crashes at intersections, highway entrances, and other busy areas.
- Heavy traffic and congestion: Stop-and-go traffic can increase the risk of rear-end and lane-change collisions.
- Dangerous road conditions: Construction zones, poor visibility, and other roadway conditions can contribute to accidents.
A crash can have more than one cause, and several drivers or other parties may share responsibility. Identifying what led to the accident is an important part of establishing who may be liable for the resulting injuries and losses.
Contact Our Experienced Personal Injury Lawyers in Birmingham for Legal Help
Belt, Bruner & Barnett, P.C. represents people who have been injured in accidents caused by others. With more than 100 years of combined experience and over $400 million recovered for clients, our attorneys have the experience and resources to pursue complex claims.
If you were injured in Birmingham, AL, call our law firm today to schedule a free consultation. Our experienced attorneys are ready to discuss your case and fight for the compensation you deserve.