Hit by another driver? Want your fair share of the available insurance money? To help in that, you need a “crash” course in Alabama auto wrecks.
First, this might shock you, but every year, Alabamians receive about $4 billion in compensation for traffic accidents. Yes, 4 billion with a B.
This money falls into three categories:
- Economic compensation covers medical costs, property damage, lost wages, etc. Things that cost money.
- Non-economic compensation covers stuff that does not have a dollar value, like your pain and suffering and loss of quality of life.
- Punitive compensation is rare but is awarded in cases of extreme negligence or intentional wrongdoing by the at-fault driver. This money to you is meant to punish the wrongdoer and try to ensure that this type of behavior doesn’t happen again.
To maximize your dollars, here is my advice:
- Get medical care. If you tough it out, it will cost you. It is hard to prove you were really hurt without medical proof.
- Don’t admit fault. If you are even 1% to blame in Alabama, you will not receive anything. Much of my legal fighting with insurance companies is over this point.
- Take pictures and get witness info if you can. Evidence can quickly disappear after an accident. Also, try to get the names and phone numbers of witnesses.
- Don’t wait to see a lawyer. Most personal injury lawyers, like me, do not charge you anything to determine your case’s legal impact. However, Alabama does have a statute of limitation in which, after that date, you cannot file a lawsuit and will likely not collect anything.
If you suffer from an accident – car, boat, on-the-job, slip and fall, nursing home abuse, etc. – you can talk to us at the Law Firm of Steele Ritchie LLC (251) 666-1212. Remember that it is free. We want to help you.
Join us on Sunday night for a shortened NBC 15 LawCall show here in Mobile. We will return to our 30-minute show next week. All this season, we have been putting aside a few extra hours on Monday mornings to answer any of your legal questions. Just call our office.
Alabama Personal Injury Lawyer