In a perfect world, you would simply report a crash to your own insurance company and everything would be taken care of. Unfortunately, that is not how the process works in the vast majority of cases. Large insurance companies take your money in large premiums, then look for ways to avoid paying out on valid claims. Thousands of people are seriously hurt each year in Alabama car crashes, including many here in the Dothan area, and some victims die because of injuries suffered in a wreck. Car accident lawyers spend a considerable amount of time fighting to keep the insurance companies honest.
How a Lawyer Builds Your Case
A car accident lawyer can do many things to help you recover compensation, working through the process step by step to find every option for maximum compensation. The firm does not sit back and wait for the insurance company to do the research. In severe crashes, investigators go to the scene to review key evidence and photograph skid marks, damage, and vehicles.
The team talks to witnesses, gathers police investigation reports, and obtains medical evidence to build your case, consulting experts about the cause of the crash and the extent of your losses. When you call, you are treated like a member of the family, and a car accident lawyer in Dothan discusses your options in a free initial case evaluation, not an intake worker at a call center.
What to Do Right After a Dothan Wreck
Never delay medical treatment after a crash. Days later you may begin to suffer pain from whiplash or a disc injury in your back, and very serious injuries like internal bleeding or a traumatic brain injury may not show immediate symptoms, so get a thorough medical exam as soon as possible and follow your doctor’s orders.
If you are able, take pictures of the crash scene and the vehicles, and get the names and phone numbers of any witnesses. Get a copy of the police report, and keep a daily journal about how your injuries have affected your life. Alabama has a two-year statute of limitations, and claims against the city or county have even shorter deadlines, so time is critical.
What Damages Can You Claim?
Alabama is an at-fault state, so the injured party can seek damages from the at-fault driver, and a car accident lawyer in Dothan will value your claim across every loss the crash caused. The damages depend on the unique facts of each situation.
They can include medical expenses and future anticipated medical care, pain and suffering, lost wages, and future diminished earning capacity. Adaptive devices in cases involving amputations or permanent disabilities, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and property damages complete the list.
Alabama’s One Percent Rule and Uninsured Drivers
Plainly stated, Alabama is a contributory negligence state: if you are even 1% responsible for the car accident, you are barred from any damage recovery. That is why speaking with a car accident lawyer in Dothan before the insurer shapes the story matters so much, so the necessary research and investigation prove the fault lies with the other driver.
Uninsured motorist protection steps in when you are injured by a driver without auto insurance. You turn to your own vehicle policy to pay for medical expenses, missed income, and associated damages up to your selected policy thresholds. The coverage also safeguards you if you are struck as a bicyclist or pedestrian, and it typically applies to hit-and-run incidents where the motorist flees and cannot be found.
Conclusion
When negotiating with an insurance company, it all comes down to the severity of injuries and the strength of the medical evidence that supports them. Your attorney must work to maximize your financial recovery and to minimize the effect of medical debts and liens that could otherwise rob you of much of your settlement funds.
If you have been in a motor vehicle accident, call Gartlan Injury Law at (334) 699-4625 to schedule a free consultation with a car accident lawyer in Dothan. There is no fee unless the firm wins, and the office stands at 408 S Foster St, Dothan, AL 36301, ready to help you recover after your accident.
