Car Accident Lawyers in Athens, AL

Car accidents are one of the most common sources of injury in Alabama. According to Drive Safe Alabama, a traffic crash is reported approximately once every three minutes and 18 seconds in our state. One of the most devastating facts about traffic crashes is that they are almost always preventable and are usually caused by the negligence of an involved party.

At the law office of Hodges Trial Lawyers, P.C., our Athens, Alabama car accident attorneys understand how life-changing a car accident may be, and we want you to know that we are here to advocate for you. When you choose our law firm, you can count on aggressive representation that prioritizes your best interests and advocates for your right to a settlement that fully compensates you for your injuries. To learn more, call our Alabama car accident law firm today. 

Common Injuries and Damages in a Car Accident

A car accident can lead to severe injuries and losses. Some of the most common injuries in a car accident include:

• Traumatic brain injuries. A traumatic brain injury can occur when the head is hit with an object, punctured, or subjected to rotational forces. These types of injuries may cause long-term disability, impact cognition, emotion, sensation, and more.
• Back, neck, and spinal cord injuries. The back and neck are at high risk of injury in a severe car accident. One of the most severe injury types is a spinal cord injury, which can leave the affected person with permanent, partial, or complete paralysis from the injury site downwards.
• Soft tissue injuries. Soft tissue injuries refer to sprains and strains of the muscles, ligaments, and tendons. These injuries usually heal completely with time and proper medical care, they can be expensive, painful, and temporarily disabling.
• Internal injuries. Internal injuries can be extremely serious and might include internal bleeding which leads to organ failure or other complications.
• Bruises and lacerations. Bruises and lacerations, including facial injuries, are common in a car accident.

The types of injuries sustained in a car accident can lead to various other damages, including:

• Medical expenses. A person who is involved in a car accident and suffers severe injuries may incur hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical expenses. This can place a huge financial burden on a person who is recovering from injuries.
• Loss of use. After a wreck, your vehicle will be in the shop for repairs or totally lost. Alabama Law allows recovery for the time you lost use of your vehicle.
• Pain and suffering. Not all losses are tangible. Pain, suffering, emotional distress, and mental anguish often accompany severe injuries and trauma.  
• Lost wages. In addition to the high costs of medical care, someone who is injured may be temporarily or permanently disabled, resulting in lost wages. This can exacerbate financial woes during an already difficult time.
• Property damage costs. Of course, a car accident will result in vehicle repair or replacement costs.

Contributory Negligence in an Alabama Car Accident

When you’ve been involved in a car accident caused by the fault of another party, you deserve to be compensated for every cent you’ve lost. In most states, you can file a lawsuit and hold the at-fault party liable for your harm even if you contributed to your injuries in some minor way. However, this is not the case in Alabama.

Alabama follows the contributory negligence rule in car wreck cases. Under this rule, a person usually cannot receive any money damages from an at-fault party in a car accident trial if they contributed to their own injuries in any way, even as little as 1%.

Insurance adjusters will also keep it in mind when evaluating a case. This is because an insurance company makes a decision on whether to settle—and if so, for how much—on what is likely to happen at trial. Therefore, if an insurance adjuster believes that there is strong evidence you contributed to the crash they will likely be unwilling to offer a fair settlement.

Statute of Limitations on Car Accident Claims

While most claims settle out of court, if a settlement cannot be reached, you can file a lawsuit. A lawsuit must be filed within a set amount of time, known as the statute of limitations.

In Alabama, the statute of limitations is two years from the date of the wreck. This means that after your car accident, you only have two years to file a lawsuit. If you wait longer than two years, you will lose your claim forever. This is one of the reasons why it’s important to hire a car accident attorney.

The Role of an Athens, Alabama Car Accident Attorney

When you work with our Athens, Alabama car accident lawyer, you will have an advocate on your side every step of the way. The job of our attorney is to work for you and do everything possible to recover your maximum settlement award. Your attorney will help your case by doing the following:

• Investigating the case. One of the most important roles of an attorney is that of investigating your car accident to determine what happened and who’s to blame. We’ll collect and analyze evidence, talk to witnesses, and review police reports.
• Proving negligence. As explained above, if you are found to be even partially at fault for a car accident, this could stop any recovery. We’ll work hard to prove the fault of the other driver and disprove any allegations of fault made against you.
• Proving damages. In order to recover damages the law requires you to prove your injuries were a result of the car wreck. This can be a difficult and complicated process. At Hodges Trial Lawyers we are well equipped to analyze and assist with medical causation issues.
• Negotiating your settlement. We know how much a fair settlement means to you. We are skilled negotiators who won’t back down.

Call Our Athens, Alabama Car Accident Attorneys Today

If you or a loved one has been in a serious car accident, call our Athens, Alabama car accident lawyers today for your free consultation. You can reach us at 256-539-3110, online, or by visiting our office in person.