On average, injury victims with a lawyer get 3x more money than those without one.
– Insurance Research Council
Our Legal Team Fights for Car Accident Victims
The injuries you suffer in a Birmingham car accident can be severe and costly. We understand that you can’t focus on healing until you have the compensation you need to move forward with your life.
Getting the money you deserve is possible in car accident cases. If you have been injured in an auto accident you need an experienced Alabama auto accident attorney on your side to help you each step of the way.
The Birmingham car accident attorneys at Norris Injury Lawyers are concentrated on getting results and will stand up for your rights both in and out of the courtroom.
Our Birmingham car accident attorneys have helped thousands of victims get the settlements they deserve, and we can help you too.
Let Us Help You
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After a motor vehicle accident you can recover compensation for:
Medical Bills
Lost Wages
Other Accident
Related Expenses
Steps to Winning Your Compensation
Being involved in a Birmingham car accident is a disorienting experience. Your heart may be pounding and you may feel lost as to where to begin. But there is no better time to start building evidence to show you are not responsible for the accident.
In addition to obtaining the contact and insurance information for the other driver, you need to:
- Collect names and contact information of any witnesses
- Note the locations and license plates of any vehicles involved
- Take photos of any physical damage to your vehicle or visible injuries you have sustained
- File a report with the police
If you suspect the other driver was distracted, texting while driving or under the influence, you need to make your concerns known to the police. The officers on the scene can collect witness statements and conduct a breathalyzer test, building evidence that will strengthen your car accident claim.
Step 1: Documenting Medical Expenses
It’s important to see a doctor as soon as possible after your accident. If you put off seeking medical attention, the insurance company may try to argue that your injuries were caused by something other than the accident.
Documents you may collect include, but are not limited to the following:
- Medical bills
- Photos of your injuries
- X-ray and MRI results
- Prescriptions
Step 2: Proving Lost Wages
In order to be compensated for lost wages during your recovery time, the evidence must show a direct connection to your car accident. You must prove that your injuries caused you to lose wages and even tips or the other non-salary benefits.
Doctor’s Notes
When you lost time from work, due to your pain and suffering, you most likely had to submit a doctor’s note to your employer. Proving an injury claim follows the same principle. Submit any relevant doctor’s notes to your lawyer.
Medical Records or Disability Slip
These documents must indicate your injury and make a clear connection to the car accidents.
Paystubs
Submitting records of your most recent paychecks will go a long way toward proving your lost wages. You might also submit W2 forms or tax filings.
Employee’s Letter
This letter should describe the nature of your employment, enumerate your pay level and usual working hours, and indicate how many workdays you missed.
Step 3: Earning Additional Compensation
Out-of-pocket includes any expenses you incurred in connection to your wreck. For example, maybe you took a taxi ride home from the accident scene or had to rent a car while your car was in the shop.
Personal property damages can go beyond the damage to your vehicle. If valuable property inside your car, such as a computer, was damaged in the accident, you could be compensated for the repair or replacement cost.
If there were factors such as negligence involved, you could be entitled to punitive damages as well. Car accidents are stressful enough, get the peace of mind you deserve by speaking to one of our car accident lawyers at our Birmingham Alabama law firm for a free consultation.
WHAT IF YOU’RE SELF-EMPLOYED?
To get compensated for lost wages as a self-employed individual, you need to prove what you would usually earn within the same time frame. Submit a copy of your previous year’s accounting books or invoices for the same period.
How Safe is Your Car?
If you have been injured in a car accident in Alabama, you could be more seriously injured than you are even aware. Thus, it’s important to consult with an experienced Birmingham, AL car accident lawyer as soon as possible. You don’t want to lose your chance at winning fair compensation.
Rushing an insurance settlement with insurance companies leads to regret if you later realize that you’re more insured than you initially thought. Once a settlement is made, it’s too late to obtain additional compensation to cover your growing medical expenses.
Vehicle safety feature statistics
No matter what safety features your vehicle has installed, every time you get in your car and turn the key, you run the risk of getting in a car wreck. Millions of people are injured in car accidents and SUV rollovers every year, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- Seat Belts
- Crash-Resistant Door Pillars
- Anti-lock Brake Systems
- Airbags
- Tire Traction Control
Signs of Hidden Auto Accident Injuries
Are you the same since your wreck? Maybe you look the same, but you don’t feel the same.
Perhaps you have noticed a difference in your ability to handle the physical work you’ve been doing all your life, or your partner or friend has noticed that your personality is somewhat different. These changes may seem insignificant now, but may not be so unimportant in the long run. To be safe you should see a doctor or medical professional who can determine if these injuries are worse than they seem, then notify a Birmingham car accident lawyer of your personal injury to make sure you get the compensation you deserve.
KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR THE FOLLOWING SIGNS OF A HIDDEN INJURY:
- Headache
- Insomnia
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Neck Pain
- Abdominal Pain
- Dizziness
- Disorientation
- Changed Personality
- Depression
- Difficulty Concentrating
- Tingling
- Tension
- Nervousness
- Blurred or Double Vision
- Sensitivity to Noise or Light
- Changes in Appetite
- Soreness
- Stiffness
- Weakness
- Brain-Fog
- Fatigue
- Numbness
- Restricted Range of Motion
* The possible indications of a latent or hidden auto accident injury in Alabama are not limited to this list.
We Get Results for Injured Victims Like You
The Alabama personal injury attorneys at Norris Injury Lawyers have more than 40 years of experience helping injured victims just like you, ranging from motor vehicle accidents to many other types of personal injury law. A car accident attorney from our law firm knows what it takes to build and defend successful claims against big insurance companies.
Don’t settle for just any Birmingham AL law firm – contact the Alabama accident attorneys at Norris Injury Lawyers and schedule a free consultation today by dialing (800) 477-7510 or filling out a free online form. Your first visit with us is at no cost to you, and there are no obligations at your free consultation.
If we do take on your claim, our No Fee Guarantee® means you don’t owe us any money unless we get money for you.
“I couldn’t imagine trusting anyone else to handle my case.” – Joel F.
FAQs
Do I have to go to court if I want to recover damages?
Retaining a Birmingham car accident lawyer is a vital step. This increases your chances of winning a larger settlement in time while ensuring that the rest of your needs are also met.
1. YOU NEED TO PAY YOUR BILLS.
You don’t want to settle too low when the medical bills have been growing since the day of your accident.
If you were unfortunate enough to be seriously injured, then you are facing the cost of multiple clinic visits, treatments, and specialist evaluations. Or, at the very least, you had costly exams or x-rays done to confirm you were fine.
2. YOU NEED MORE TIME.
Even if your doctor gave you a clean bill of health, you could have an injury that won’t present symptoms until later. Unfortunately, you can’t wait forever.
There is a statute of limitations restricting the amount of time you have to file a car accident claim. In Alabama, this is only two years from the date of the accident, unless you are a minor, who may file anytime before turning 18.
If you miss this deadline to file a lawsuit, the courts would most likely deny your case. The insurance company knows this and may try to drag things on to miss your deadline. Your lawyer can make sure they don’t get away with this.
3. YOU NEED TO GATHER EVIDENCE.
In the meantime, you don’t have time to collect all the documentation and evidence to build your case on your own. You’re just trying to stay on the road to recovery, but you feel exhausted, overwhelmed by your bills that seem to be growing exponentially.
Your experienced car accident lawyer can help by guiding you through the claims process. Most of what we need from you are simple details you already have.
- Your insurance information
- The other driver’s insurance information
- Names of doctors and specialists who have examined you
- Clinics where you’ve been seeking treatment
From there, you can leave it up to us to gather the medical records and other documents we need.
4. YOU NEED A BUFFER BETWEEN YOU AND THE INSURANCE COMPANIES.
You don’t want to say anything to them that could undermine your case. If someone from the other driver’s insurance company calls, you can tell them to speak to your lawyer.
This is safer for you, and that’s what we’re here for.
How much does a lawyer charge for a car accident?
We understand that you can’t truly recover from an accident when you’re facing more ominous bills than you can count.
We want you to have a fair chance at winning the compensation you deserve, and that means we provide professional legal representation at no cost to you.
There’s no cost from the very first step—consulting with us is free. Throughout the process, we promise that you won’t be spending any money out of your pocket.
If you retain us, our No Fee Guarantee® ensures that we won’t charge you a dime unless we win you money. Our service fee is simply taken from the amount we win. If we don’t win, we don’t take a fee. Let us help get you the compensation you deserve for your injuries, lost wages, pain and suffering.
Should I hire a lawyer for a minor car accident?
Perhaps the accident seems minor at this time, since you have no injuries to speak of. Nevertheless, you could encounter serious problems down the road.
1. LATENT OR WORSENING INJURIES
Maybe your doctor examined you and told you that you’re fine.
True, maybe you weren’t exhibiting any signs or symptoms yet, but you could develop a serious condition over time.
Or, perhaps your whiplash seems so minor that you choose not to see a chiropractor. However, your pain grows until you can’t cope anymore.
INJURIES THAT MAKE TAKE TIME TO SHOW
2. COMPROMISED CAR INTEGRITY
Perhaps it takes some time to notice that your car isn’t how it used to be. When a reliable vehicle is involved in an car wreck, everything could change.
According to CarWise.com, your vehicle’s structural integrity could be affected so the car is less able to take another heavy impact. Transmission or electrical problems could also result from seemingly minor physical damage to your vehicle.
3. MISPLACED BLAME
The other driver could try to blame you. In Alabama, this could result in you losing 100% of your compensation.
Retaining a lawyer is vital in order to prove that the other party was liable for the accident. In fact, your attorney can assure you that you’re not at fault even when you start to doubt yourself. There are various legal factors to consider that you may be unaware of, but we know how to prove your case.
What is the Contributory Negligence Rule?
Alabama applies the contributory negligence rule, which means proving fault on your own could be a nightmare.
This rule is different from the comparative negligence rule which is applied in many other states. Comparative negligence means that you share a percentage of the fault and receive a percentage less of your compensatory damages accordingly.
In Alabama, though, where the contributory negligence rule is applied, sharing even 1% of the fault for an accident results in losing your chance at receiving any compensation whatsoever.
4. LIMITED TIME RUNNING OUT
There is limited time to file a claim to receive damages. In Alabama, you have only two years from the date of your accident. Minors may file anytime before turning 18.
Sometimes, the insurance companies try to drag on the settlement process so long that you miss your deadline, so they don’t have to compensate you at all. This is unfair, but it’s an unfair world.
Norris Injury Lawyers know how insurance companies work, and we will race the clock for your rights.
How much do you get for pain and suffering in a car accident?
Alabama does not have a set sum of how much may be awarded for pain and suffering resulting from an accident, so it varies from case to case.
Pain and suffering are non-economic damages, and most states limit the total amount of non-economic damages a person can win. However, Alabama sets no limit for compensatory damages, which includes pain and suffering.
You can increase your chances of winning pain and suffering damages if you track your emotional state and pain in a diary to be used as evidence.
What is the average payout for whiplash?
Neck injury settlements have a wide range, varying from a few thousand dollars or less, to tens of thousands of dollars or more. The severity of your injury and its permanence will have quite an impact on the final total you are awarded.
If your life is unduly affected by your injury, then you may win a higher amount of compensation.
On the other hand, since Alabama applies the contributory negligence rule, you will not be awarded any compensation if you share any fault for the accident.
How much do you usually get for a car accident settlement?
The short answer is: it depends. However, it is possible to estimate how much money you may be entitled to, depending on the damages you are due.
Various economic damages include personal property damages, medical bills, out-of-pocket expenses, and lost wages. There are also non-economic damages to consider, such as pain and suffering.
Property damage depends on an appraisal from the insurance company facing your claim. They will evaluate your vehicle and its damage. If the repair costs outweigh your vehicle’s value, then the company will offer you the amount of money your vehicle is worth.
If you take the sum of all economic and non-economic damages you are due, and multiply it by a factor of three, then you have a rough idea of the total compensation you could be awarded.
However, if the other driver was drunk, or if there was negligence involved, then you could get punitive damages as well. It all depends on the case specifics.
Ideally, your total amount of compensation will be more than enough to cover all your accident-related expenses.
Who pays the medical bills in a car accident?
It depends on who is responsible for the accident and whether or not the liable party is insured.
Liability is the legal term for describing who is to blame for an accident.
In some cases, liability could be difficult to determine. It’s safe to assume, though, that violating a law weakens a driver’s case. If using a phone, speeding, or running a red light, then he or she is most likely liable for the accident.
Alabama is an “at-fault” state, which means whoever caused the accident is required to pay any resulting damages. Typically, this is done by means of insurance up to the policy limit. Beyond that, the driver would be personally responsible for compensating you.
What if an uninsured driver hit me?
Alabama State Law requires all drivers to have liability insurance covering at least $25,000 per person for up to $50,000 for death or bodily injury per accident. Without insurance, you could be fined for hundreds of dollars and even have your license suspended. Some people, though, still drive without insurance.
You can file a claim with your own insurance, if your losses will be covered under your own policy. Although, in many cases, your insurance will pursue a subrogation claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance.
If your accident occurred outside of Alabama, in a no-fault state, you may be required to follow a different filing procedure.
In Alabama, some drivers opt to purchase additional insurance, such as Med Pay and Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist Coverage.
If you have either of these types of coverages, then that’s more good news. Med Pay covers medical bills regardless of fault, while UM and UIM cover the difference when a driver has no insurance or not enough insurance.
Therefore, in the case of the other driver being at-fault, his or her insurance company will award you the damages.
How do you negotiate a car accident settlement?
It’s better not to negotiate your car accident settlement yourself. You need as many resources as possible to win your ideal amount of compensation.
The experienced auto accident attorneys at Norris Injury Lawyers know how to negotiate your claim efficiently and aggressively. We follow a dependable set of procedures to increase your chances of getting a fair settlement.
We negotiate on your behalf by following a few principles that motivate us to keep up the fight.
“Sooner the better”
We file your claim as soon as possible. This increases your chances of winning a fair settlement since we will have longer to negotiate a fair amount. Plus, we are more likely to meet the statute of limitations deadline.
“Don’t call us, we’ll call you”
We are happy to hear from you anytime. Rather, it’s the insurance companies that shouldn’t be calling you day after day. It’s better for them to have direct contact with us. This will prevent you from saying anything to them that they want to hear, anything that will jeopardize your case, and cause you to seem liable for the accident.
“Set your sights high”
We estimate how much your settlement should be, which may be around three times the total of your compensatory damages. Later, when the insurance company makes their first lowball offer, we refuse. We know they can do better than that.
Do you have to pay a lawyer if you lose?
You’re upset about your Birmingham car accident enough. The last thing you want is to add the cost of an attorney to your growing pile of post-accident bills. You would be thinking, “This shouldn’t be happening to me.”
We agree. This should not happen to you.
We at Norris Injury Lawyers stand by our No Fee Guarantee® to ensure that you never have to pay out of pocket. If we win you compensation, our services are paid for out of the total sum.
If we lose, you don’t owe us anything. No fees. No expenses. Nothing.
It’s as simple as that.