Birmingham Car Accident Lawyer
If you have suffered an injury in a car accident in Birmingham, or throughout Alabama, you may be entitled to compensation. To learn more about how you can maximize the settlement or award you will receive for your injuries, you need to call one of the best injury law firms nationwide, Hare, Wynn, Newell & Newton. We offer a free case evaluation to answer all of your questions and determine how much your case is worth.
We have helped thousands of clients recover an average of 3x more than what they would have gotten without the assistance of our attorneys. This could make a significant impact on the life of an injured victim. Think about all the medical bills, the loss of income, and all the other problems an injury could potentially cost you – are you prepared to cover these costs on your own?
With over a century of vast experience handling auto accident cases for the residents of Alabama and all over the US, our firm’s main focus is to ensure every single client gets the compensation they deserve. From small fender benders to multimillion-dollar trial cases, we will fight for your rights until the end and defend you in court if necessary.
Don’t jeopardize your future and call us today! We’ll make things better.
What Should I Do After a Car Accident?
There are a few things you need to do when you get into a motor vehicle accident:
Call the Police
You always need to do this. Even if the accident is minor, it’s important that the police come to review the scene. They will determine if any of the drivers are under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the car wreck. They will also prepare a police report that your Birmingham car accident attorney will need later on.
Seek Medical Treatment Immediately
You have to go to the hospital and get checked out. They’ll run the necessary tests to see if you have brain injuries or internal injuries. They can also provide medical documentation to prove that you were injured.
Call a Car Accident Lawyer
Your injury attorney will contact the insurance companies to make sure your claim is filed. They can also start gathering the evidence to prove your case so you can recover damages.
How Much Does a Car Accident Lawyer Cost?
Many people are hesitant to contact an attorney after an auto accident because they are worried about how much a lawyer will cost them. However, most injury lawyers in Alabama operate on a contingency basis, meaning you only owe them if they win your case. At that point, you will owe them a previously agreed-upon percentage, generally between 25-40%. The range of the fee will also be based on how much work they had to put in.
If a settlement with the insurance company was agreed to prior to any court proceedings, you will likely owe less than if your case goes before a local court. Not only does this pay structure mean that you only pay for an attorney if you are getting a settlement, but it also means your attorney has a vested interest in your case, as their pay is based on how much money they are able to get you.
Some attorneys do work with different payment arrangements, such as an hourly fee or a flat rate. While these options may be preferred in some cases, the majority of clients are best served by agreeing to a contingency arrangement.
Do I Need a Police Report for My Accident?
The police report will play an essential part when building up your case. This accident report contains information that your lawyer may not be able to get his hands on later on. Some of this information includes:
- Name, license, and insurance information for both drivers
- Name and contact information for witnesses
- Statements made by both drivers
- Witness statements
- Pictures of the scene, road conditions, and the vehicles
- Whether either driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the accident
- Information regarding any citations issued as a result of the accident
Even if your car accident attorney can get his hands on this information, it will be time consuming and expensive. If you get into a car accident in Birmingham, Alabama, you need to make sure you call the police – there are no exceptions. You may need that police report if your insurance claim is denied.
When people get in minor fender benders, they are tempted to just exchange insurance information and go their separate ways. They figure nobody got hurt so why call the police?
No matter how minor the accident, you always need to call the police. You have no idea if the other driver gave you valid information. He could have given you expired insurance information. The next thing you know, your claim is denied and you have no way to reach the driver. There are all sorts of reasons the other driver may ask you not to call the police:
- They’re driving a stolen car
- They do not have a valid license or registration
- Their insurance policy expired
- They have active warrants
- They’re in the middle of the commission of a crime
- They are under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- They were not obeying the traffic laws at the time of the accident
No matter how bad you feel for the other driver, you have to call the police. It’s important that the officer be able to ascertain these things. Once the driver leaves, there’s no way to prove any of these things.
Why Would the Insurance Company Deny Your Claim?
Your insurance claim may be denied. There are all sorts of reasons for this, including:
- The policy was canceled or lapsed
- The driver was not insured under the policy
- They believe the accident was your fault
- They don’t believe you were really hurt
- They don’t think the accident is what caused your injuries
- The statute of limitations has passed – you only have two years to file a claim according to Alabama law.
Our auto accident lawyers can help you file your claim. We’ll call and speak to the insurance adjuster and see if he can get your claim paid. We will work hard to negotiate a settlement so you don’t have to go to court.
If your claim isn’t paid, an attorney will have no choice but to file a lawsuit on your behalf.
What Kinds of Damages Can You Demand in Birmingham, AL?
If you get into a car accident in Birmingham, Alabama, you’ll be entitled to demand certain damages. Almost all accidents involve some sort of injury and property damage.
You can be compensated for the following:
Medical Bills: You’re entitled to recover both current and future medical bills. You may require surgery and physical therapy. You may need long-term treatment. If this is the case, your lawyer will demand that you’re reimbursed for this.
Lost Wages: Chances are, if you get hurt, you’ll miss time from work. You can submit timesheets to show how much time you’ve missed.
Property Damage: If your car needs to be repaired or replaced, the defendant needs to pay for this.
Pain and Suffering: These are a type of non-economic damages. You can’t prove pain and suffering with receipts. Your Alabama auto accident lawyer will have to prove that you experienced pain and suffering in order for you to recover.
In order to collect damages, you have to suffer an actual injury. Just because you get into an accident doesn’t mean you’re automatically entitled to compensation. It’s your lawyer’s job to make you whole.
Our lawyers will fight hard to get you the compensation you deserve. We have obtained large settlements for many other clients and would love to do the same for you.
The Most Common Types of Car Accidents
Some car accidents are serious while others are quite minor. Birmingham car accident lawyers handle all types of car accidents.
Some of the more common types of cases they see include:
Rear-End Accidents
Rear-end car crashes are the most common type of accident. Usually, they happen when you’re stopped at a red light or sitting in bumper to bumper traffic. But sometimes they occur simply because a driver isn’t paying attention to the road. Most rear-end car accident cases involve only minor injuries. The property damage is usually quite minimal as well.
Head-On Collisions
These accidents are some of the most dangerous. The negligent party is almost always driving recklessly. They somehow merge into oncoming traffic and crash into your car. The injuries sustained in head-on collisions are very serious. The impact can be so severe that you’re lucky to make it out alive.
Distracted Driving
Texting and driving may be the most common form of distracted driving. If you take your eyes off the road for just two or three seconds, you may crash into another driver. Proving the other driver was distracted is hard. You’ll have to rely on an experienced Birmingham car accident lawyer to help you do this.
Drunk Driving
There is no excuse for drunk driving. With companies like Lyft and Uber, nobody should get behind the wheel after drinking alcohol or doing drugs. But they do it every day. Because they’re drunk, they’re more reckless and drive with no regard for other cars on the road. Drunk driving car accident victims usually suffer pretty serious injuries.
Speeding
Regardless of the law, people still drive over the speed limit. The faster a car is going when they crash, the worse the impact will be. When two cars collide, both at fast speeds, the results are disastrous.
If you’ve suffered injuries in any of these types of accidents, you need to call and schedule a free consultation with the Birmingham personal injury lawyers at Hare, Wynn, Newell and Newton.
What are the Most Common Injuries Sustained in Car Accidents?
Our Birmingham car accident attorneys see all kinds of injuries. Most accidents involve some sort of injury, even the minor ones. It’s your lawyer’s job to get you compensation for these injuries.
Some of the more common injuries sustained in car wreck include:
Back Injuries
No matter what kind of accident you’re in, you could end up with a back or a severe spinal injury. Some back injuries involve disc herniations and strains. You may require surgery. You may have to deal with months of physical therapy. Most people with serious back injuries are out of work for months. Your car accident attorney will demand compensation for this time.
Neck Injuries
If you get into a head-on collision or distracted driving accident, you may suffer neck injuries. These are very dangerous. You could suffer a broken neck. Or, you may end up with nerve damages. Both of these are very painful and can lead to lifelong issues.
If you have suffered a neck injury in a car accident, Hare, Wynn, Newell & Newton is here to help you get the compensation you deserve.
Internal Injuries
The reason your lawyer always says to get medical treatment immediately after your car accident is that you could have suffered internal injuries. These include internal bleeding, organ damage or punctured lungs. All of these can prove fatal if they’re not treated properly. The hospital can run tests to see if you have any sort of internal injury.
Traumatic Brain Injury
If you suffer a severe blow to the head, you may have suffered a traumatic brain injury. The signs and symptoms of a traumatic brain injury include:
- Nausea
- Headaches
- Vision loss
- Ringing in your ears
- Memory loss
- Hearing issues
- Exhaustion and fatigue
If you experienced any of these after your accident, make sure you get to the hospital right away.
Contact a Birmingham Car Accident Lawyer Today
If you’re injured in a car accident in Alabama, you need to call the accident lawyers at Hare, Wynn, Newell & Newton right away. You only have a certain amount of time to file your claim. If you miss this deadline, your case will be barred forever. Your attorney can deal with the insurance company on your behalf. They’ll try to get your claim settled for you. If they can’t, they will file a lawsuit on your behalf.
The consultation is free and you pay nothing until your claim is settled. The other driver and the insurance company are going to have attorneys working for them; you need to have one too. Contact us today and get the best representation to obtain compensation for your car accident claim.
Related Attorneys
If you have suffered an injury in a car accident in Birmingham, or throughout Alabama, you may be entitled to compensation. To learn more about how you can maximize the settlement or award you will receive for your injuries, you need to call one of the best injury law firms nationwide, Hare, Wynn, Newell & Newton. We offer a free case evaluation to answer all of your questions and determine how much your case is worth.
We have helped thousands of clients recover an average of 3x more than what they would have gotten without the assistance of our attorneys. This could make a significant impact on the life of an injured victim. Think about all the medical bills, the loss of income, and all the other problems an injury could potentially cost you – are you prepared to cover these costs on your own?
With over a century of vast experience handling auto accident cases for the residents of Alabama and all over the US, our firm’s main focus is to ensure every single client gets the compensation they deserve. From small fender benders to multimillion-dollar trial cases, we will fight for your rights until the end and defend you in court if necessary.
Don’t jeopardize your future and call us today! We’ll make things better.
What Should I Do After a Car Accident?
There are a few things you need to do when you get into a motor vehicle accident:
Call the Police
You always need to do this. Even if the accident is minor, it’s important that the police come to review the scene. They will determine if any of the drivers are under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the car wreck. They will also prepare a police report that your Birmingham car accident attorney will need later on.
Seek Medical Treatment Immediately
You have to go to the hospital and get checked out. They’ll run the necessary tests to see if you have brain injuries or internal injuries. They can also provide medical documentation to prove that you were injured.
Call a Car Accident Lawyer
Your injury attorney will contact the insurance companies to make sure your claim is filed. They can also start gathering the evidence to prove your case so you can recover damages.
How Much Does a Car Accident Lawyer Cost?
Many people are hesitant to contact an attorney after an auto accident because they are worried about how much a lawyer will cost them. However, most injury lawyers in Alabama operate on a contingency basis, meaning you only owe them if they win your case. At that point, you will owe them a previously agreed-upon percentage, generally between 25-40%. The range of the fee will also be based on how much work they had to put in.
If a settlement with the insurance company was agreed to prior to any court proceedings, you will likely owe less than if your case goes before a local court. Not only does this pay structure mean that you only pay for an attorney if you are getting a settlement, but it also means your attorney has a vested interest in your case, as their pay is based on how much money they are able to get you.
Some attorneys do work with different payment arrangements, such as an hourly fee or a flat rate. While these options may be preferred in some cases, the majority of clients are best served by agreeing to a contingency arrangement.
Do I Need a Police Report for My Accident?
The police report will play an essential part when building up your case. This accident report contains information that your lawyer may not be able to get his hands on later on. Some of this information includes:
- Name, license, and insurance information for both drivers
- Name and contact information for witnesses
- Statements made by both drivers
- Witness statements
- Pictures of the scene, road conditions, and the vehicles
- Whether either driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the accident
- Information regarding any citations issued as a result of the accident
Even if your car accident attorney can get his hands on this information, it will be time consuming and expensive. If you get into a car accident in Birmingham, Alabama, you need to make sure you call the police – there are no exceptions. You may need that police report if your insurance claim is denied.
When people get in minor fender benders, they are tempted to just exchange insurance information and go their separate ways. They figure nobody got hurt so why call the police?
No matter how minor the accident, you always need to call the police. You have no idea if the other driver gave you valid information. He could have given you expired insurance information. The next thing you know, your claim is denied and you have no way to reach the driver. There are all sorts of reasons the other driver may ask you not to call the police:
- They’re driving a stolen car
- They do not have a valid license or registration
- Their insurance policy expired
- They have active warrants
- They’re in the middle of the commission of a crime
- They are under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- They were not obeying the traffic laws at the time of the accident
No matter how bad you feel for the other driver, you have to call the police. It’s important that the officer be able to ascertain these things. Once the driver leaves, there’s no way to prove any of these things.
Why Would the Insurance Company Deny Your Claim?
Your insurance claim may be denied. There are all sorts of reasons for this, including:
- The policy was canceled or lapsed
- The driver was not insured under the policy
- They believe the accident was your fault
- They don’t believe you were really hurt
- They don’t think the accident is what caused your injuries
- The statute of limitations has passed – you only have two years to file a claim according to Alabama law.
Our auto accident lawyers can help you file your claim. We’ll call and speak to the insurance adjuster and see if he can get your claim paid. We will work hard to negotiate a settlement so you don’t have to go to court.
If your claim isn’t paid, an attorney will have no choice but to file a lawsuit on your behalf.
What Kinds of Damages Can You Demand in Birmingham, AL?
If you get into a car accident in Birmingham, Alabama, you’ll be entitled to demand certain damages. Almost all accidents involve some sort of injury and property damage.
You can be compensated for the following:
Medical Bills: You’re entitled to recover both current and future medical bills. You may require surgery and physical therapy. You may need long-term treatment. If this is the case, your lawyer will demand that you’re reimbursed for this.
Lost Wages: Chances are, if you get hurt, you’ll miss time from work. You can submit timesheets to show how much time you’ve missed.
Property Damage: If your car needs to be repaired or replaced, the defendant needs to pay for this.
Pain and Suffering: These are a type of non-economic damages. You can’t prove pain and suffering with receipts. Your Alabama auto accident lawyer will have to prove that you experienced pain and suffering in order for you to recover.
In order to collect damages, you have to suffer an actual injury. Just because you get into an accident doesn’t mean you’re automatically entitled to compensation. It’s your lawyer’s job to make you whole.
Our lawyers will fight hard to get you the compensation you deserve. We have obtained large settlements for many other clients and would love to do the same for you.
The Most Common Types of Car Accidents
Some car accidents are serious while others are quite minor. Birmingham car accident lawyers handle all types of car accidents.
Some of the more common types of cases they see include:
Rear-End Accidents
Rear-end car crashes are the most common type of accident. Usually, they happen when you’re stopped at a red light or sitting in bumper to bumper traffic. But sometimes they occur simply because a driver isn’t paying attention to the road. Most rear-end car accident cases involve only minor injuries. The property damage is usually quite minimal as well.
Head-On Collisions
These accidents are some of the most dangerous. The negligent party is almost always driving recklessly. They somehow merge into oncoming traffic and crash into your car. The injuries sustained in head-on collisions are very serious. The impact can be so severe that you’re lucky to make it out alive.
Distracted Driving
Texting and driving may be the most common form of distracted driving. If you take your eyes off the road for just two or three seconds, you may crash into another driver. Proving the other driver was distracted is hard. You’ll have to rely on an experienced Birmingham car accident lawyer to help you do this.
Drunk Driving
There is no excuse for drunk driving. With companies like Lyft and Uber, nobody should get behind the wheel after drinking alcohol or doing drugs. But they do it every day. Because they’re drunk, they’re more reckless and drive with no regard for other cars on the road. Drunk driving car accident victims usually suffer pretty serious injuries.
Speeding
Regardless of the law, people still drive over the speed limit. The faster a car is going when they crash, the worse the impact will be. When two cars collide, both at fast speeds, the results are disastrous.
If you’ve suffered injuries in any of these types of accidents, you need to call and schedule a free consultation with the Birmingham personal injury lawyers at Hare, Wynn, Newell and Newton.
What are the Most Common Injuries Sustained in Car Accidents?
Our Birmingham car accident attorneys see all kinds of injuries. Most accidents involve some sort of injury, even the minor ones. It’s your lawyer’s job to get you compensation for these injuries.
Some of the more common injuries sustained in car wreck include:
Back Injuries
No matter what kind of accident you’re in, you could end up with a back or a severe spinal injury. Some back injuries involve disc herniations and strains. You may require surgery. You may have to deal with months of physical therapy. Most people with serious back injuries are out of work for months. Your car accident attorney will demand compensation for this time.
Neck Injuries
If you get into a head-on collision or distracted driving accident, you may suffer neck injuries. These are very dangerous. You could suffer a broken neck. Or, you may end up with nerve damages. Both of these are very painful and can lead to lifelong issues.
If you have suffered a neck injury in a car accident, Hare, Wynn, Newell & Newton is here to help you get the compensation you deserve.
Internal Injuries
The reason your lawyer always says to get medical treatment immediately after your car accident is that you could have suffered internal injuries. These include internal bleeding, organ damage or punctured lungs. All of these can prove fatal if they’re not treated properly. The hospital can run tests to see if you have any sort of internal injury.
Traumatic Brain Injury
If you suffer a severe blow to the head, you may have suffered a traumatic brain injury. The signs and symptoms of a traumatic brain injury include:
- Nausea
- Headaches
- Vision loss
- Ringing in your ears
- Memory loss
- Hearing issues
- Exhaustion and fatigue
If you experienced any of these after your accident, make sure you get to the hospital right away.
Contact a Birmingham Car Accident Lawyer Today
If you’re injured in a car accident in Alabama, you need to call the accident lawyers at Hare, Wynn, Newell & Newton right away. You only have a certain amount of time to file your claim. If you miss this deadline, your case will be barred forever. Your attorney can deal with the insurance company on your behalf. They’ll try to get your claim settled for you. If they can’t, they will file a lawsuit on your behalf.
The consultation is free and you pay nothing until your claim is settled. The other driver and the insurance company are going to have attorneys working for them; you need to have one too. Contact us today and get the best representation to obtain compensation for your car accident claim.