Birmingham traffic is notoriously congested, especially on Highway 280 and along the I-20/59 corridor. Accidents here happen far too often. If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a serious car accident in Birmingham, you're likely facing extensive medical treatment, serious injuries, and a long road to recovery. Car accident victims may be entitled to financial compensation for their car accident injuries through a personal injury claim. Liable parties and insurance companies may cover your medical care, pain and suffering, and other damages. The Birmingham car accident attorneys at Cory Watson Attorneys can guide you through your car accident claim. Don't wait for help; you may have limited time to seek justice.
Why Choose Our Attorneys to Lead Your Birmingham Car Accident Claim?
Depending on the severity of your motor vehicle accident, you may need extensive treatment. Rollover accidents are some of the most dangerous and devastating car accidents.
Our Birmingham personal injury lawyers handle every step of the legal process, allowing you to rest and recover.
Every car accident victim has a story.
We'll speak with you, your loved ones, and your doctors to find out:
How your accident happened
Learning the facts about what caused the collision can provide valuable information about who was at fault. It can also help us defend against the defendant's accusations that we caused the crash.
The injuries you've suffered
The severity and type of wounds you sustained will significantly affect the compensation we seek on your behalf. A broken leg will likely result in more substantial monetary damages than a bruise.
The treatment you'll need
The medical intervention you require for your injuries will also affect how much compensation you can pursue. Juries tend to award higher monetary damages when a car accident victim must undergo invasive or painful procedures, like extensive surgeries and physical therapy.
How your injuries have affected you
People do not always recuperate to the same level of function and comfort as before an accident, even after completing all their prescribed treatments. You might have to endure chronic pain, weakness, stiffness, or decreased range of motion at the injury site. Also, physical wounds can cause psychological trauma.
How Our Birmingham Car Accident Lawyers Find Evidence
Video footage and witness accounts may show how your collision occurred, which is compelling evidence. For example, red light cameras might have captured valuable footage about the accident's cause, the vehicles' speed, and each car's position.
We will also obtain a police report and any other relevant evidence. For example, if a law enforcement officer came to the scene and wrote a report, that document could contain data like an assessment of fault and the damage to each vehicle.
Sometimes, police reports have factual errors, but we can ask the officer to file a supplemental report correcting any relevant mistakes.
Document Your Losses
Car accidents can produce different losses for each victim. We detail your losses from a devastating car accident by:
- Obtaining medical records and bills. Your medical records can link your injuries to the accident and establish that the collision caused your wounds.
- Recording testimony from those who've witnessed your losses. People who saw the crash happen can help establish fault.
- Obtaining proof of lost income. We can gather payroll records from your employer to show how much income you lost when you could not work because of your injuries.
- Procuring invoices for vehicle repairs. In general, a person whose car got totaled will get treated as having a more traumatic experience than one who had a fender-bender with only scratches on the bumper.
- Recording mental health professionals' evaluations of your trauma.
Our experienced car accident attorney will obtain any other available proof of your damages. The actual documents and other evidence will depend on the facts of your car accident case.
Hire Investigators, Experts, and Specialists
Our law firm uses only the most influential witnesses. One of the greatest perks of retaining our legal services is our network. Our Birmingham car accident lawyers work with medical experts who may testify about your injuries.
Our Birmingham Car Accident Lawyers Fight Insurance Companies
Insurance companies might contact you in the days following your accident, but you should be cautious.
Insurers might:
Pressure you to accept a car accident settlement
Quick settlement offers usually don't reflect the actual value of your claim. Unfortunately, people who accept early settlement offers might realize when it is too late that the money does not fully cover their medical expenses. Thus, they're left having to pay some of these bills out of their pocket for a wreck that someone else caused.
They could pressure you to accept fault
They could claim to have an eyewitness who will testify against you, even though the insurance company's policyholder was at fault.
Delay a settlement
You might have a clear case of liability in which the insurer has no defense, but they want to keep their money as long as possible.
The insurance company can intimidate you with legal tactics
Using confusing legal terminology makes it sound like it has a stronger case than it is.
Act in their own best interests instead of yours
The insurance company makes a profit when it pays less on claims than it receives in insurance policy premiums. Its executives answer to their shareholders, not those hurt by the insurer's policyholders. They are more interested in resolving a claim for a low amount than paying what you deserve.
A Birmingham Car Accident Attorney will File and Resolve Your Case
When we accept your case, we intend to finish your case. As your personal injury attorneys, we will:
- File your case. If appropriate, we will resolve your case with the insurance company instead of through the courts.
- Submit all necessary paperwork. If you try to handle your Birmingham car accident injury case alone, you must do all this work alone. When Cory Watson Attorneys handles your injury claim, we can do the legwork and prepare the documents needed in a personal injury case.
- Communicate with other parties. It can be stressful to be badgered by the claims adjuster and the at-fault party's defense lawyers. We'll take care of all the phone calls, emails, and other forms of communication.
- Negotiate a settlement. We will work with you to determine a fair settlement range for your claim. We can then handle the negotiations with the insurer on your behalf.
- Go to trial if necessary. If your case requires a judge or jury to resolve, we can file your car accident lawsuit in civil court and handle the trial for you.
Ideally, you will start working with us from the beginning of the process. That way, we can shape the course of your claim and have the best chance of achieving a favorable outcome.
We Identify Liable Parties and Fight for a Fair Recovery in Car Crashes
Human error is a common cause of car accidents, per the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Our team will identify any driver errors that caused your accident, including common types of motor vehicle accidents such as:
- Speeding
- Tailgating
- Distracted driving
- Drunk or drug-impaired driving
- Head-on collision
- Dangerous lane changes
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Failing to adjust to dangerous weather or road conditions
Vehicle defects, pedestrian interference, and other conditions may also cause accidents. Such conditions may affect liability. We'll identify any party who owes you compensation.
Alabama Car Accident Cases Are Based on Negligence
Negligence is the basis for most personal injury claims because it is a legal theory that holds individuals responsible for the harm they cause to others due to their failure to exercise reasonable care. In other words, if someone's careless or reckless actions result in injury to another person, the injured party may seek compensation for their damages through a personal injury claim based on negligence.
To have a successful car accident case based on negligence, four key elements must be established:
- Duty of Care: The plaintiff (injured party) must prove that the defendant (at-fault party) owed them a duty of care. In the context of car accidents, all drivers have a duty to operate their vehicles safely and follow traffic laws to avoid causing harm to others on the road.
- Breach of Duty: The plaintiff must demonstrate that the defendant breached their duty of care by failing to act as a reasonably prudent person would under similar circumstances. Examples of breach of duty in car accident cases include speeding, running red lights, driving under the influence, or texting while driving.
- Causation: The plaintiff must show that the defendant's breach of duty directly caused their injuries. In other words, the plaintiff's injuries must be a direct result of the defendant's negligent actions. This element is often divided into two sub-elements:
- Cause-in-fact: The defendant's actions were a substantial factor in bringing about the plaintiff's injuries.
- Proximate cause: The plaintiff's injuries were a foreseeable consequence of the defendant's negligent actions.
- Damages: The plaintiff must prove that they suffered actual damages, such as physical injuries, medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, pain and suffering, or other losses, as a result of the defendant's negligence.
If all four elements of negligence are established, the plaintiff is likely to have a successful car accident case and may be entitled to compensation for their damages. However, the specific laws and legal procedures for pursuing a personal injury claim based on negligence may vary by jurisdiction, so it is essential to consult with a qualified attorney to assess the merits of a particular case.
Frequently Asked Birmingham Car Accident Questions
The following are common questions our lawyers and staff answer for our Birmingham car accident clients. If your answer isn't here, give us a call. We can help.
Why Hire a Birmingham Personal Injury Attorney to Fight for You?
If you are involved in an automobile accident, it is important to hire a Birmingham personal injury lawyer. This legal representation can help protect your rights and ensure you receive fair compensation.
If you have been injured in an accident caused by someone else's negligence, you deserve to be compensated for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and emotional distress.
A qualified Birmingham car accident attorney can help determine whether you qualify for financial compensation under Alabama law. They can also assist you in negotiating a settlement with the responsible party's insurer.
Many people don't realize they can file claims against their insurance provider, even if another policy covers them. Your attorney can explain your options and advise you about filing a claim.
An experienced attorney can help you better understand how much money you could collect. For example, an attorney can provide information regarding your workers' compensation benefits entitlement.
In addition, they can tell you how much money you could possibly collect from the responsible party's liability coverage.
Does Our Law Firm Charge Upfront Attorney's Fees?
Our car accident lawyers in Birmingham are often asked how our fee structure works for car accident claims. Cory Watson Attorneys is a client-first law firm. We're most concerned with your health and financial recovery. Therefore, our fee structure puts no financial strain on you. That's because we understand you might be missing paychecks while you recuperate and that having to come up with upfront attorney's fees might be challenging right now.
Therefore, we use a contingency fee arrangement in car accident injury cases. Car accident victims pay nothing upfront or out of pocket. You only pay our fee if we win your case. Finally, with this fee arrangement, our fees will be a percentage of the settlement or jury verdict.
If you deserve justice, we'll provide the legal help—a lack of money will not prevent you from getting the assistance you deserve. If you do not win, you do not owe us any money for legal fees.
Do You Need to Obtain a Copy of the Police Report of the Collision?
You can request a copy of the accident report; however, it's unnecessary. Instead, rest and focus on healing from your injuries while we take care of time-consuming matters like this on your behalf.
If the police did not come to the collision scene, please let us know immediately. Alabama law requires people to self-report crashes under certain circumstances.
How do We Prove Liability for Your Car Accident?
Most car accidents have their grounds for negligence, meaning that someone was careless and did not mean to hurt you.
Let's say that you got injured in a car crash with a drunk driver. The driver might have intended to drink alcohol, but they did not do so to cause you harm.
Here is how we would establish the drunk driver's liability:
- The defendant had a duty of care to drive safely and follow the road rules.
- The defendant violated that legal duty when they drove while impaired by alcohol. A violation of a legal duty of care is negligence.
- The negligence must be the accident's cause. In this example, the drunk driver crashed into your vehicle because the alcohol physically and mentally impaired their ability to drive safely.
- You suffered measurable losses in the accident. Your physical injuries satisfy this element.
We can establish the defendant's liability by proving all four factors.
What Are Recoverable Losses in a Car Accident Case?
Car accident damages vary from case to case. Our team will determine the cost of your:
- Property damage, which could include your vehicle and its contents.
- Medical care, including ambulance rides, hospital visits, diagnostic tests, prescription drugs, blood transfusions, and physical therapy.
- Counseling, medications, and other treatments for the emotional trauma you suffered from the collision.
- Lost income, if you missed paychecks or self-employment income when you could not work while recuperating from your injuries.
- Diminished earning power if residual problems like pain and disability keep you from making as much money as before the accident.
- Treatment for traumatic brain injury if you require weeks or months of inpatient or outpatient specialized care after a head injury.
- Temporary transportation if you cannot drive yourself because of your condition.
We'll identify and value any other damages you've experienced, including losses from wrongful death if you've lost a loved one.
Common Car Accident Injuries
Common car accident injuries include:
- Neck injury
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Head injuries
- Catastrophic injuries
- Internal injuries
- Bodily injuries
- Spinal cord injury
- Emotional trauma
What to Do After a Birmingham Car Accident
Car accidents happen in Birmingham every day, and knowing what to do (and what not to do) afterward is crucial. Here are some tips that may help you avoid getting into trouble while dealing with a car accident.
- Stay calm. If you are involved in a car accident, don't panic. Remain calm and follow directions from emergency responders.
- Call the police. Contact law enforcement officials as soon as possible following a crash. They will want to speak with witnesses and collect evidence.
- Take photos of the scene. Document everything around the crash site, including skid marks, vehicle damage, and debris. These photos could be helpful later.
- Get medical attention immediately after an accident injury. Even minor injuries require immediate treatment. Keep copies of all your medical bills. Let someone else take over driving. You might feel like you need to drive home, but it's best to let another driver take control of the wheel. This way, you won't make mistakes due to fatigue or stress.
- When you get home, report the incident to insurance companies. A report must be filed within 24 hours of the collision. Insurance claims adjusters often ask for documentation such as photographs, witness statements, and police reports.
Finally, if you have not already done so, you might want to contact a Birmingham car accident attorney. Make sure you hold on to any evidence from the accident and the emergency room so you can share it with your lawyer.
Traps to Avoid After a Birmingham Car Accident
Some things can affect the settlement value of your injury claim after the crash.
Here are five things to avoid so you protect your right to compensation:
Apologizing to other people at the accident scene
In Alabama, manners are essential but can backfire on you after a collision. You might intend to express compassion to other drivers and passengers, but they might twist your words into an admission of fault in causing the wreck.
Talking to anyone other than the police at the accident scene
You must exchange insurance and contact information with the others at the crash site but do not get chatty.
Providing a recorded statement
If the insurance adjuster asks you to give one, politely decline and provide them with the name of your attorney. We can tell them all the information they need. Recorded statements let the insurer take your words out of context.
Posting about your car wreck on social media
The insurance company will likely get access to your posts and photos. You do not want to give them material they can twist and use against you.
Assuming the insurance company has your best interests
Realize that the claims adjuster's job is not to get you a fair settlement. That is our job.
Many other pitfalls could leave you with less money at the end of your injury claim, but our team will help you avoid these dangers and fight for the compensation you deserve to maintain your financial situation.
Cory Watson Attorneys Represents Car Accident Victims in Birmingham
Personal injury victims suffer enough. Your car accident case is the chance to:
- Hold liable parties accountable for dangerous actions
- Obtain the financial relief you deserve and need
We take cases like yours seriously. Winning your case could help your recovery and improve your quality of life.
Our Past Clients Endorse Cory Watson Attorneys
You should not hire a Birmingham car accident lawyer without reading client reviews. Our clients speak highly of our attorneys and support staff:
- “This has been the most amazing firm I have come into contact with.” –Ashley T.
- “I cannot thank them enough for their professionalism, kindness, and expertise.” –Tracey W.
- “They helped us navigate through difficult legal issues. The entire staff is very knowledgeable and professional. The dedication and time Cory Watson took to resolve our issues have left us forever grateful.” –Joe T.
- “The compassion shown is above and beyond.” –Shannon K.
We respond to every client's question and concern. Expect us to return emails and phone calls promptly. Cory Watson Attorneys will handle your legal needs so you can concentrate on your recovery.
Types of Car Accidents that Could Occur in Birmingham, AL
Some common types of automobile accidents that could lead to severe injuries include:
- Hit-and-run accidents: The liable driver flees the scene of the accident to avoid facing the police. A driver in a hit-and-run accident may also flee out of panic.
- Rear-end collisions: Rear-end collisions can occur when another driver is following too closely behind your vehicle. Since they have less room to stop, their vehicle may crash into yours.
- T-bone accidents: A driver collides with your vehicle, hitting it on its side. This kind of crash is very dangerous for the victim, as a T-bone accident could cause a driver to be stuck in their car, depending on the vehicle damage.
- Head-on collisions: A head-on collision happens when two cars crash into each other. This commonly occurs if one car is traveling in the wrong direction.
- Sideswipe accidents: A sideswipe is when two cars collide with each other from the side. This type of accident is common when cars are in tight spaces, such as on a narrow road.
Any kind of accident can cause devastating injuries and emotional trauma. Our experienced car accident attorneys can build your case and analyze the details of your accident to determine exactly what happened.
Call Cory Watson Attorneys Today
We work hard to get results for our clients. A car accident attorney from Cory Watson Attorneys law firm will handle your legal case from start to finish. We'll provide case updates, so you can receive treatment in Birmingham or surrounding areas for as long as needed.
As an Alabama-based firm, Cory Watson Attorneys proudly serves our community. Contact our team today for a free consultation. We'll answer your questions, introduce our firm, and handle all the car accident matters in your case.