Car accidents can turn your life upside down in an instant, resulting in devastating injuries, mounting medical bills, and time off from work. If you have been injured in a car accident in Alabama that was caused by another driver’s negligent or reckless conduct, the car accident lawyers at Belt, Bruner, & Barnett P.C. can help. We have more than 65 years of combined experience handling car accident cases and we will fight to get you the compensation you deserve for your injuries.
No matter how cautious of a driver you are, the possibility of being involved in an accident over your lifetime is very high. In fact, there is more than a 98 percent chance that you will be involved in a crash during your lifetime. Alabama drivers, in particular, have a greater than a one-in-three chance of being involved in a motor vehicle accident that results in injury or death over their lifetime.
Alabama Auto Accident Statistics
Based on the most recent data from the Alabama Department of Transportation, there were 126,862 reported traffic crashes in 2013. Of those accidents, 852 people were killed and another 37,559 were injured. While most car accidents occur in urban business or residential areas, the majority of fatalities occur in rural areas.
Alabama is home to one of the nation’s most dangerous roads, U.S. 431, which has been nicknamed “Highway to Hell” for good reason. Despite the state’s best efforts to improve safety and reduce the number of crashes, the fatality rate in Alabama continues to be above the national average. Much like the rest of the country, human error is the cause of up to 90 percent of motor vehicle crashes.
Common Causes of Car Accidents
Distracted Driving
According to the Centers for Disease control and Prevention (CDC), 8 people are killed and 1,161 are injured each day in crashes caused by distracted driving. Distracted driving includes any activity that diverts the driver’s attention away from navigating the vehicle even momentarily. This includes things like texting, eating, talking on a phone, reading, or grooming. Using a cell phone while driving makes it four times more likely that you’ll be involved in an accident.
Impaired Driving
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs was a factor in 4,603 car accidents in Alabama in 2013. Drunk driving, which is the most prevalent form of impaired driving, can adversely impact reaction time, judgment, motor skills, coordination, concentration, and depth perception.
Reckless Driving
- Speeding
- Tailgating
- Failure to obey traffic laws/signs (e.g. running through stop signs or red lights)
- Failure to yield right of way
- Unsafe lane changes
- Failure to use turn signals
- Driver not in control of vehicle
- Driving on the wrong side of the road
Drowsy Driving
This includes falling asleep at the wheel or driving while fatigued. Drowsy driving can increase your chances of being involved in an accident by making you less alert, slowing down your reaction time, and negatively impacting your decision-making abilities. According to the NHTSA, drowsy drivers are twice as likely to commit errors than non-fatigued drivers.
How Our Alabama Car Accident Attorneys Can Help You
If you’ve suffered injuries in a car accident because of another driver’s negligence, you may be able to recover compensation through a personal injury claim. At Belt, Bruner, & Barnett P.C., our personal injury lawyers can explain your options, help you understand what your case may be worth, and investigate your accident to determine liability. We know how devastating a serious car accident can be, which is why we will fight to obtain the maximum compensation possible for your injuries.
In the past, we have helped countless accident victims across Alabama recover compensation for:
- Medical costs
- Loss of earning potential
- Physical pain
- Mental anguish
- Physical impairment
- Disfigurement
- Loss of quality of life
- Property loss or damage
If you’d like to review how we’ve helped car accident victims in Alabama, visit our results page in the previous link to see just a few examples of what we’ve achieved on behalf of our clients.
Contact a car accident lawyer today at 205-933-1500 to get your free consultation. With offices in Birmingham, Mobile, Huntsville, and Montgomery, our attorneys will travel to virtually any location in the state.
