Have you been injured in a car accident in Huntsville, Alabama? Call Belt, Bruner & Barnett Personal Injury Lawyers. You may be entitled to compensation, and our top-rated Huntsville car accident lawyers are ready to help you maximize your recovery. Call us today at (256) 781-9242 for a free consultation.
For decades, car accident victims and families in Alabama have turned to our attorneys for support after life-changing wrecks. Backed by 93+ years of combined experience, our nationally acclaimed civil trial attorneys have successfully won hundreds of millions of dollars on behalf of clients just like you.
Contact our law office in Huntsville to get started.
How Belt, Bruner & Barnett Can Help You After a Car Accident in Huntsville, AL
What caused your car accident? Who’s liable? How can you know if an insurance adjuster’s settlement offer is fair?
You shouldn’t have to stress out about how to answer questions like these. You won’t have to if you hire the experienced Huntsville personal injury lawyers at Belt, Bruner & Barnett to represent you.
You’ll have the time you need to focus on your recovery while our top-rated team handles all aspects of your car accident claim; we will:
- Investigate the crash to fully understand causation and liability
- Gather critical evidence, such as accident reports, medical records, cell phone records, dash cam footage, and witness statements
- Determine the best strategy to defend against claims of contributory negligence
- Consult auto accident reconstructionists, forensic specialists, medical professionals, and other expert witnesses
- Assess your damages and calculate what your car accident claim is likely worth
- File your claim with the insurance company and/or local Madison County court clerk
- Seek the best possible settlement agreement on your behalf during negotiations with the defense
- Provide legal advice and help you make informed decisions about how to resolve your claim
- Bring your lawsuit to trial if settlement offers fall short of making you whole
We’re consistently recognized for excellence in auto accident litigation by The National Trial Lawyers, Super Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell, Best Attorneys of America, the National Association of Distinguished Attorneys, and other respected organizations.
Don’t hesitate to contact our car accident attorneys for help. Our legal team is here to take your call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Why Should I Hire a Car Accident Attorney?
Few things in life are more stressful than a car accident. Fortunately, the aftermath isn’t something you have to navigate on your own. In fact, you shouldn’t – especially if you want to maximize your financial recovery.
Insurance companies know all too well that claimants who hire attorneys win their cases more often and get better case results.
Here’s why:
- Insurance adjusters lose any advantage they might have had and must consider your claim in good faith
- You’ll be prepared to make informed decisions when offered a settlement because you’ll know what your damages are worth
- Attempts to blame you for the car wreck will be much less successful, especially when made without any evidence to back them up
You’ll also have time to concentrate on recovering from your debilitating injuries while your attorney handles your legal claim from start to finish.
The law firm you choose to represent you can make a huge difference in the case results you achieve. We have helped clients win hundreds of millions in damages. Now, you can benefit from our 93+ years of collective experience and proven track record, too. Contact us to schedule a time for a free case review.
How Much Money Can I Get From a Car Accident Case?
A lot of different things can potentially impact how much money you might be able to recover after a car accident in Huntsville, Alabama.
The most influential factor will be the types of injuries you’ve sustained and how serious they are. According to the National Safety Council, the average cost of a car wreck when no injury is observed is about $17,500, while the cost of a collision where injuries are evident averages $232,000.
When an injury is disabling, a victim’s lifetime costs can exceed one million dollars. That’s because the more serious the injury, the more of an impact it can have on a person’s life.
Injuries can affect:
- The type of medical treatment you’ll need and the duration of that treatment
- Your ability to return to work and earn a living
- Your quality of life
Other important factors that can affect the potential value of your claim can include:
- Shared responsibility for the car crash
- Steps taken to mitigate your damages
- Available insurance benefits and policy limits
- Your age and life expectancy
You’re more likely to walk away with a settlement or jury award that reflects what your case is worth if you hire an attorney to represent you. Call us to learn about the benefits of having our top-rated legal team in your corner today.
What Damages Are Available to Car Accident Victims?
Accident victims in Huntsville may have the opportunity to pursue two types of damages: economic and non-economic. Each is designed to help you navigate different consequences of your wreck.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are designed to help you navigate the financial complications of your car accident, such as:
- Current medical bills for hospitalization, surgery, medical devices, diagnostic tests, medication, and other care
- Future medical expenses
- Rehabilitation and therapy
- Lost wages and income
- Diminished earning capacity
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Nursing care
- Property damage
Damages can be paid for verified expenses, as well as reasonably calculated future losses, as supported by evidence.
Non-Economic Damages
Some consequences of being in a car accident don’t come with a price tag. It doesn’t mean they have any less of an impact on your life. Non-economic damages are designed to help you cope with harder-to-value experiences.
Non-economic damages are often awarded for:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Disability
- Reduced quality of life
- Loss of consortium
- Physical disfigurement
- Chronic physical pain
These types of consequences can be very subjective and, in turn, difficult to value. Our Alabama car accident attorneys will bring in experts to help us demonstrate the extent to which your life has changed so that you can focus on your recovery.
Can I Still Get Compensation If I’m Partly to Blame For My Alabama Car Accident?
No. Alabama is one of a handful of states that have adopted a very strict system of contributory negligence. Sharing any degree of responsibility for your car accident will generally be a total bar to recovery.
So, it’s not unusual for insurance adjusters and defense attorneys to point fingers and attempt to blame crash victims for their injuries. If you don’t dispute these allegations head-on, you can lose the ability to recover much-needed compensation for your medical care, lost wages, vehicle repairs, and suffering.
We will anticipate these tactics and work hard to find the best way to disprove them. This might involve highlighting contradictory evidence, challenging the validity or reliability of witness testimony, or taking other steps to show that you bear no responsibility for your wreck.
How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Claim in Alabama?
Once you’ve been involved in a car accident in Huntsville, Alabama, you’ll typically have two years to seek compensation for your injuries (with some exceptions).
The two-year statute of limitations starts on the date of the accident, or, in the case of a fatal crash, on the date the victim passes away.
If you miss the applicable filing deadline, you’ll lose the ability to hold a negligent motorist, insurance company, vehicle manufacturer, or another liable party accountable for the suffering and costs you’ve endured.
Types of Car Accident Claims We Handle
At Belt, Bruner & Barnett, our team has decades of collective experience litigating all types of car accident claims.
We represent clients who’ve been injured or lost close family members in:
Rollovers
Rollover car accidents tend to happen when a vehicle with a high center of gravity – like an SUV or pickup truck – makes a turn or takes a curve without slowing down. The shift in momentum and lateral pressure on the vehicle causes it to tip on its side, flip onto its roof, or roll over entirely.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions are seen frequently at Huntsville intersections or while vehicles are moving in stop-and-go traffic. Many times, driver distraction, fatigue, and aggression play a part in these crashes. Call our Huntsville rear-end crash lawyers to schedule a free consultation.
Head-On Collisions
Many head-on crashes involve aggressive motorists who drive on the wrong side of the road while attempting to pass a slow-moving vehicle. Unfortunately, these acts of road rage can be catastrophic, as the force of impact of a head-on collision can be twice that of a single-vehicle wreck. Reach out to our Huntsville head-on collision attorneys to talk about your legal options after a car accident.
Side Impact Collisions
Side impact collisions, including sideswipes and broadside crashes, can be catastrophic. The sides of a vehicle aren’t really designed to offer much protection to vehicle occupants. They are often seen at intersections, especially when a motorist makes an unsafe left-hand turn or runs a red light.
Accidents With Uninsured Motorists
Alabama’s fault-based insurance system means that it’s important for drivers to comply with the state’s mandatory car insurance coverage requirements. Unfortunately, an estimated 14.2 percent of drivers in the state are uninsured. This can complicate matters after a crash. In these situations, having an experienced car accident attorney involved in your legal claim can be critical to success.
Common Types of Car Accident Injuries
Belt, Bruner & Barnett can help you seek compensation for any injuries you’ve suffered, including:
- Soft tissue injuries
- Nerve damage
- Chest injuries
- Burn injuries
- Leg injuries
- Knee injuries
- Concussions
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Back injuries
- Herniated discs
- Paralysis
- Neck injuries
- Whiplash
- Crushing injuries
- Amputation injuries
- Degloving injuries
- Eye injuries
- Dental injuries
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a close family member
Get checked out by a medical professional as soon as you can after your crash, even if you don’t think you’ve been injured. There are times when injuries might not be symptomatic right away or when the stress of a collision masks critical signs of trauma.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Car Accidents?
Car accidents can happen for a lot of different reasons. Most often, it’s because someone makes a poor decision or suffers from road rage while navigating Huntsville’s busy roads.
Consequently, some of the most commonly cited causes include:
- Distracted driving
- Drunk driving
- Drugged driving
- Unsafe lane changes
- Illegal turns
- Running red lights or stop signs
- Tailgating
- Speeding
- Driver fatigue
- Blind spot errors
- Braking errors
- Failing to yield the right of way
Some accidents aren’t entirely – or even partially – the result of driver negligence. Some collisions are the result of auto defects, road defects, or bad weather conditions.
Huntsville Car Accident Statistics
According to the Alabama Department of Transportation, 143,487 car accidents were reported across the state in 2023. More than 75 percent of the state’s accidents occurred in urban settings, including cities like Huntsville.
In total, 37,792 people were injured in Alabama traffic accidents in 2023. Another 897 crashes were fatal, including 35 that took place in Huntsville and surrounding towns in Madison County.
Car Accident FAQ
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Car Accident Lawyer?
Belt, Bruner & Barnett represents car accident victims on a contingency fee basis. You’ll pay absolutely nothing to hire our law firm unless we recover compensation for your claim.
Once we’ve secured a settlement or jury verdict on your behalf, we’ll recover a pre-agreed-upon percentage of your financial award.
While it can vary, you can usually expect experienced accident attorneys to receive between one-third and 40 percent of damages recovered. Car accidents can be expensive. Hiring a car accident attorney to help you seek compensation shouldn’t add stress to an already overwhelming situation.
Call our law office today to learn more about our fees and how we can fight for you. There’s absolutely no charge for your initial case review.
What Should I Do After a Car Accident?
The decisions you make in the aftermath of an auto accident can have a big impact on your ability to recover compensation in the future.
Here’s what you should (and shouldn’t) do after a crash:
- Call 911 and report the auto accident to the Huntsville Police Department
- Stay as close to the crash scene as you can while remaining safe
- Exchange insurance information with other parties
- Document the scene of the accident
- Refuse to accept blame or apologize for the wreck
- Provide short, to-the-point answers to officers
- Find the closest emergency room and obtain prompt medical care if you’re not transported from the scene in an ambulance
- Resist the urge to take an early settlement since you’ll waive the right to receive additional compensation in the future once you’ve accepted an offer
- Direct any requests to talk about your case or negotiate your claim to your car accident attorney
The insurance adjuster won’t be on your side. You have the power to put an experienced legal advocate in your corner. Belt, Bruner & Barnett is available to help you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Contact us to discuss your car accident today.
Who Could Be Liable For My Car Accident?
Under Alabama state law, anyone whose negligence contributes to an auto accident can potentially be liable if an injury, property damage, or death results.
This might include the following:
- Vehicle motorist
- Truck driver
- Bus driver
- Pedestrian
- Bicyclist
- Property owner
- Government agency
- Negligent party’s employer
- Vehicle manufacturer, which could also be strictly liable for a crash
Our car accident lawyers will thoroughly investigate your collision and work to understand precisely why it happened. Once we’ve identified the cause, we’ll determine who’s at fault and work to hold them fully accountable for the harm they’ve caused.
Will My Car Accident Case Go to Trial?
Most car accident cases are settled privately. However, you never know if your claim will be one of the few that goes to trial. That’s why we strategize and build claims as if they’re destined to go to trial.
Not only does this help us build the strongest claims possible, but it shows the defense that we’re invested in our clients’ futures. If they offer anything less than a client’s case is worth, we’re ready to escalate matters and go to court.
At Belt, Bruner & Barnett, we’re highly respected civil litigators with a proven ability to win tough disputes at trial. We’re the last thing the insurance company wants to see on the other side of a case – which is exactly why you shouldn’t hesitate to ask for our help.
We’ll do everything we can to get you swift case results, but we won’t sacrifice the quality of your representation in the process. If we think we can do better at trial, we’ll be your most passionate advocate and tell your story to a jury, convincing them that you deserve a life-changing monetary award.
Call Our Huntsville Car Accident Lawyers Today
You shouldn’t have to struggle with the consequences of a car accident – not when someone else is at fault. However, getting compensation can be anything but easy. You can increase the odds of getting a sizable financial award by hiring an experienced Huntsville car accident attorney to represent you.
Choosing Belt, Bruner & Barnett Personal Injury Lawyers as your legal representation puts over 93 years of collective legal experience and an undisputed multi-million-dollar track record of success in your corner.
There’s no charge for an initial case review. Let us be your legal support. Call us today at 256-666-4660 to discuss the details of your case.
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 Huntsville. Our firm is located near you. We have an office in Huntsville at 116 Jefferson St S Suite 207, Huntsville, AL 35801. Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 34.730669617371085, -86.58644532846664
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