Were you injured in a car accident in Birmingham, Alabama? An experienced Birmingham car accident lawyer at Belt, Bruner & Barnett Personal Injury Lawyers can help you maximize your financial recovery. Contact us today at (205) 973-6417.
Our team puts over 90 years of experience to work behind every case, and we’ve secured hundreds of millions for our clients.
Reach out to our law office to schedule a free consultation with a car accident attorney who will fight for you.
Why Choose Belt, Bruner & Barnett for Help After a Car Accident in Birmingham, Alabama?
You deserve to recover full compensation after an accident. However, that can be incredibly difficult if you’re focused on recovering from serious injuries.
Hiring our experienced team at Belt, Bruner & Barnett can give you a significant edge through the insurance claims process in Birmingham, AL.
Our Birmingham personal injury attorneys are trusted leaders in accident litigation. We’ve received over 165 five-star reviews from satisfied clients, and we’ve earned top ratings from various prestigious legal organizations. This type of recognition is important, but so are results. To date, our legal team has won over $1 million in 93 different cases.
It’s never too early to seek legal advice. Call our experienced attorneys today for more information about how we can fight for you.
Why Should I Hire a Car Accident Lawyer in Birmingham?
Hiring an experienced car accident lawyer carries many benefits. Here are just some reasons to hire an attorney:
- The insurance company has the time and resources to fight your personal injury claim, and an established law firm can even the playing field and force them to stop giving you the runaround.
- You lose your right to damages if you’re even 1% liable for the crash. An experienced lawyer will know how to protect you from unfair allegations.
- A skilled lawyer knows how to find the strong evidence you’ll need to prove your case.
- You’re recovering from an injury and deserve time to rest without worrying about jeopardizing your right to compensation.
All of these factors are the most important reasons to hire a lawyer. You’re likely to walk away with significantly more money when you hire a lawyer to help you fight the insurance companies. Your lawyer puts the risk of a trial on the table–and that can be a powerful motivation for insurance companies to play fair.
After an injury, contact a car accident lawyer as soon as possible. Most injury attorneys offer free consultations so you can learn about your legal options without risk.
What Is My Car Accident Claim Worth?
Every personal injury case’s value is determined by evaluating the unique circumstances of the accident, injury, and victim.
Factors that a lawyer considers when calculating a client’s case value include:
- How severe the injuries were
- How much the victim has spent on medical care, vehicle repairs, rehab, etc.
- Whether the injury is expected to have a long-term or permanent impact
- How the victim’s earnings were impacted during recovery
- How the injury impacted the victim’s future earnings, career prospects, and opportunities
- Intangible losses, including pain, suffering, trauma, and damage to quality of life
- Any legitimate evidence that can prove that the victim was partly responsible
If you’re like most people, your experience dealing with accident-related injury claims is limited. The insurance company expects that. On the other hand, insurance companies deal with car accident injuries every day. They know exactly how much your case is worth.
An experienced attorney will also have the tools to accurately assess your case value and prevent you from accepting a lowball deal.
What Types of Damages Can I Recover After a Car Accident?
Car wrecks can cause significant financial and personal losses. Under Alabama law, you can pursue compensation for all of these economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages are the financial losses you have suffered due to the accident and injury, including:
- Current medical bills
- Future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning potential
- Follow-up care, medications, and medical devices
- Nursing care
- In-home assistance
- Rehabilitation
- Home and vehicle modifications
- Property damage
Non-economic damages are much more difficult to calculate. These personal losses won’t have a price tag.
Some examples include:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental trauma
- Emotional distress and fear
- Anxiety
- Depression
- PTSD
- Reduced life expectancy
- Diminished quality of life
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Loss of consortium in wrongful death cases
Punitive damages are much rarer but may be available if your case goes to trial.
Courts will only award punitive damages if there is significant evidence showing that the defendant’s acts were intentional or extremely reckless. They don’t compensate for a specific loss but only serve to punish the defendant and deter future behaviors.
What Happens If I’m Partly At Fault for a Car Accident in Birmingham?
Alabama is one of just a handful of states that follow a contributory negligence law. The results are sometimes harsh. You lose your right to compensation entirely if the defendant can prove that you were even slightly responsible for your injuries. This law applies even if you were seriously injured and even if someone else was mostly responsible.
Fighting against allegations that you caused the crash is critical to recovering financial compensation. While it may seem unfair, you’ll likely need evidence to disprove the insurance company’s allegations. Otherwise, court intervention may be necessary.
You deserve a car accident attorney on your side to stop unfair accusations in their tracks. Our team has decades of experience doing just that. If someone is blaming you for getting hurt, don’t hesitate to reach out for legal assistance today.
We Handle All Types of Car Accident Cases
Our team at Belt, Bruner & Barnett has the skill and experience to handle any type of car accident claim.
Some of our primary practice areas include:
Speeding Accidents
Speeding is often a contributing factor in automobile accidents. High speeds make it less likely that a driver will be able to stop in time to prevent a crash. Speeding also tends to worsen the injuries sustained by victims.
Our Birmingham speeding accident lawyer can help you prove your case. You don’t have to rely on the police report alone.
Intersection Accidents
Intersections can be particularly dangerous. When someone fails to yield the right-of-way, the risk of accidents is significant. If you were injured because another driver raced through an intersection or ignored traffic signals, call our Birmingham intersection accident attorney today to explore your legal options.
Distracted Driving Accidents
Drivers often cause accidents because they’re distracted. In a recent year, 67 traffic fatalities in Alabama were associated with distracted drivers. While it’s a common occurrence, it can be incredibly difficult to prove. Our lawyers know how to locate evidence to establish liability in these cases. Call our Birmingham distracted driving accident lawyers today for a free case review.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end car accidents are extremely common. They typically happen when someone is speeding or isn’t paying attention, so they can’t stop in time. However, it’s a common misperception that the driver in the rear is automatically to blame. If you were hurt in a rear-end crash, we’re here to help you determine the cause.
Hit-and-Run Accidents
While it’s illegal to leave the scene of an accident in Alabama, hit-and-run crashes do happen. These car accident claims are particularly challenging because you don’t even know who to hold responsible.
Our lawyers have the tools to conduct an investigation and attempt to locate the responsible driver. We can also evaluate the situation and identify any additional sources of compensation.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to our attorneys at any time you’ve been injured in a car accident, including those involving:
- Vehicle rollovers
- Sideswipe accidents
- Head-on crashes
- T-bone accidents
- U-turn accidents
- Multiple vehicle crashes and pile-ups
- Single-vehicle accidents
- Highway accidents
- Trucking accidents involving semi-trucks and 18-wheelers
- Rideshare accidents
- Drunk driving accidents
- Accidents caused by uninsured or underinsured motorists
- Motorcycle accidents
- Accidents involving pedestrians and bicyclists
No two car accidents are exactly the same. However, each type of crash comes with its own set of challenges. You deserve to expect that your attorney is familiar with those complications.
Common Types of Car Accident Injuries
The types of injuries you suffer will depend on the unique circumstances of the car crash. Some victims are lucky enough to walk away with injuries that will heal fairly quickly. Others are left to struggle with life-changing and catastrophic injuries.
Our lawyers are prepared to help regardless of the nature of your injuries, and we regularly handle cases involving:
- Facial injuries
- Broken bones
- Nerve injuries
- Whiplash
- Soft tissue damage, including damage to muscles, ligaments, and tendons
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Compression injuries
- Severe lacerations
- Concussions
- Back injuries
- Organ damage
- Chest injuries
- Burns and road rash
- Amputations
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
Our car accident attorneys are here to help in any way we can. If you’re seriously injured, we can arrange a hospital or home visit if you can’t make it to the office. All you have to do is call us today to schedule your free case review.
What Should I Do After a Car Accident in Birmingham?
After a car crash, there are a few key steps you can take to protect yourself. Getting prompt medical attention should be your number one priority. If it’s an emergency, the 911 operator can send an ambulance to take you to the hospital.
When it’s not an emergency situation, here’s what you can do to strengthen your case and make life easier:
- Call 911 immediately and remain at the scene. Leaving the scene of a crash is a crime in Alabama. The officer will also prepare a police report with important details about the accident.
- Exchange contact details with the other driver and any eyewitnesses.
- Gather evidence, including the other driver’s insurance details. Take photos and videos of the accident scene, vehicle damage, and any obvious injuries.
- Do not admit fault. Any admission of fault can be used to prevent you from seeking compensation at a later date. Even if it seems natural to apologize, these statements can only hurt you when you go to file a claim for compensation.
- Don’t sign any insurance documents. Insurance adjusters sometimes visit accident victims in the hospital or at their home after the accident. Avoid signing any documents without a lawyer’s help because they may limit your financial recovery in the future.
- Contact an attorney. As soon as you can, call Belt, Bruner & Barnett for legal advice. We can take immediate steps to protect your right to compensation, especially if you were seriously injured.
Even if you don’t need emergency care, see a doctor before you do anything else. The longer you wait, the more likely it is that the at-fault driver will claim that something else happened to cause your injuries. You could also be suffering from serious injuries that aren’t immediately obvious.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Car Accidents?
Car accidents happen every day in Alabama. When you’re the victim, understanding why the accident happened is crucial to making a financial recovery.
While car wrecks can happen for many different reasons, some of the most commonly reported factors include:
- Failure to yield the right-of-way to other vehicles, pedestrians, or bicyclists
- Improper lane changes or lane usage
- Misjudging stopping distances
- Tailgating
- Speeding
- Fatigued drivers
- Aggressive driving
- Distracted driving
- Ignoring inspection laws
- Texting while driving and cell phone use
- Drunk driving
- Driving under the influence of drugs
- Unsafe passing
- Illegal or unsafe turns
- Ignoring red lights, stop signs, and other traffic signals
- Road hazards
- Poorly marked construction zones or curves
It’s always possible that more than one factor could have played a role in causing an accident. While the presence of multiple defendants can make things more complex, there is no reason to back down. An experienced attorney at Belt, Bruner & Barnett can help you navigate the legal process, stop the finger-pointing, and hold the at-fault parties liable.
Car Accident Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Car Accident Lawyer?
Like most personal injury law firms in Alabama, our lawyers charge contingency fees. The amount of attorneys’ fees you pay depends entirely on the amount of compensation we win for you. That way, you can hire an experienced lawyer without worrying about paying legal fees immediately.
How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Lawsuit in Alabama?
In Alabama, the statute of limitations for most personal injury cases is two years. Starting from the date of your accident, you have two years to file a lawsuit for damages. However, there could be exceptions. After the applicable deadline expires, you can’t sue for damages or recover compensation from the responsible party.
Will My Car Accident Case Go To Court?
Most car accident cases settle out of court. However, the threat of a lawsuit gives you important leverage during insurance negotiations.
If the insurance company knows that you and your attorney are willing to go to court, it will be more willing to negotiate in good faith. By working with an experienced trial attorney, you significantly increase your odds of a favorable settlement.
Who Can Be Held Liable for My Car Accident Injuries?
The identity of the responsible party will depend on how your accident happened. In the simplest case, the negligent driver who caused the crash will be held liable. However, not all cases are cut-and-dry.
Examples of the parties who could be liable for a car crash include:
- The employer of a negligent driver who was working when the crash happened
- Trucking companies, when a truck driver causes a wreck
- Manufacturers of defective vehicles or safety equipment
- Government transit agencies and authorities
- Construction companies
- Negligent passengers
- Pedestrians or bicyclists
Once our lawyers understand why your accident happened, we’ll be able to identify the parties who can be held legally liable for your damages.
How Do I Prove My Car Accident Case?
Most of the time, proving liability means establishing negligence. Negligence means that someone failed to exercise due caution under the circumstances.
Legally speaking, you must establish:
- A duty of care existed
- The at-fault party breached that duty
- Causation, meaning that the breach caused the accident
- Damages you suffered as a result
When your right to compensation is being challenged, you’ll need the strongest evidence possible. Our lawyers have helped countless car accident victims prove negligence claims. We’re more than ready to go to work for you.
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How Can a Car Accident Attorney Help Me?
If you hire our Birmingham law firm, you can expect us to fight for you by:
- Identifying all available paths for making a full financial recovery
- Conducting a comprehensive investigation to gain all available evidence
- Locating all parties who share financial responsibility for your damages
- Defending you if the insurance company blames you for the crash
- Working with leading experts while we assess your damages and build your case
Call today to learn more about our services.
Alabama Car Accident Statistics
According to data statistics published by the Alabama Department of Transportation, 143,487 car accidents were reported across the state in 2023. Those auto accidents caused 37,792 injuries and 975 fatalities.
That means someone was injured in a motor vehicle accident every 13 minutes and 28 seconds. A person was killed every nine hours in Alabama.
About 76% of the traffic accidents reported in 2023 occurred in urban areas.
Contact a Birmingham Car Accident Lawyer for a Free Initial Consultation Today
If you or a family member were injured in a crash, an experienced Birmingham car accident lawyer can help. Our team at Belt, Bruner & Barnett has decades of experience advocating on behalf of injury victims like you.
We’re standing by to provide you with top-rated legal services. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a car accident lawyer in Birmingham.
Our firm is located near you. We have an office in Birmingham at 880 Montclair Rd Ste 300, Birmingham, AL 35213, United States. Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 33.517474218172, -86.74681876016129