ALABAMA PERSONAL INJURY

If you or a loved one has been injured by the negligence of someone else, you may be owed compensation.  To effectively represent an accident victim, an attorney must take the time to understand the impact of the accident on the victim's life and must work diligently to find, and hold accountable, those reponsible for the accident.

I take pride in knowing all the facts of a client's case and utilizing every available tool to obtain the best outcome for the client.  Whether it's negotiating a fair settlement or arguing the case to a jury, I take the time to thoroughly explain my client's injuries and expectations.  To do this, it is necessary to spend time with and get to know my clients.  In allowing me to handle your personal injury case, you will never feel that your case is not the most important one in the office.  Call today for a free consultation and enjoy legal services with a "personal touch."           

Automobile accidents are by far the largest category of personal injury claims.  If you are in an accident, consider the following tips:

  1. Make a Police Report - Accident information should be documented for your insurance company and your attorney.  Be sure the report identifies the location and time of the accident, parties, and any witnesses.  Be sure to take pictures of all vehicles involved if you can.  These will be beneficial later in your case.   
  2. Get Medical Help - If necessary, you and/or any passengers should obtain medical assistance immediately.  Even if you are feeling fine after the accident, you may begin to experience problems at a later date.  If so, follow up with medical care.  It will be difficult to make a claim for your injuries if there are no medical records supporting such injuries.  It may be necessary for you to seek care from a Physical Therapist or a Chiropractor.  If so, make sure all of your complaints are documented.
  3. Paying Medical Bills - If possible, use your own health insurance to pay for your medical treatment.  Although you will have to reimburse your insurance company for any bills paid, most insurance companies receive discounts with medical providers, which means you will only have to reimburse them for the amount they actually paid.  You may also be able to pay your medical bills under the "Medical Payments" clause of your auto insurance policy (up to the limits available).  When your case settles, the at fault driver will have to pay you for your medical bills and pain and suffering as a result of the accident.  If the at fault driver does not have insurance, these payments may be covered under your auto policy if you have Uninsured/Underinsured coverage.  Although most people hate the idea of reading insurance policies, you should be very familiar with the types of coverage you have.
  4. Renting a Car - If you have rental car insurance, you should check with your agent to determine the daily limit and any other allowances.  If you do not have rental car insurance, the at fault driver will be responsible for the payment of your rental car.  Note, however, that such payment probably will not be available until after the case settles. 
  5. Giving a Statement to At Fault Party's Insurer - In general, do not give a statement to the at fault party's insurance company unless your attorney is present.  The insurance company will be responsible for your medical bills, damages to your car, lost wages, and pain and suffering.  If your case does not settle and a lawsuit is filed, the insurance company will try to use your statement against you, which may impact the outcome. 
  6. Contacting Your Insurance Company - You should notify your insurance company immediately if you are in an accident.  If you do not, the insurer may be able to deny coverage to you or to refuse to defend you if a lawsuit is later filed against you.  Obviously, your own insurance company has a right to obtain a statement from you.
  7. Lost Wages - The at fault party will be responsible for any lost wages you incur as a result of the accident.  However, any time taken off work must be directly related to the accident and/or your injuries received in the accident.  If the at fault party does not have insurance, your own policy will reimburse you under your uninsured/underinsured coverage. 
  8. Hiring an Attorney - While the law does not require you to have an attorney, it may be in your best interest to do so.  You can count on the at fault party's agent trying to convince you that you can handle the case on your own.  However, a study conducted by the Insurance Research Council found that persons represented by an attorney received settlements on average above $14,000, whereas persons without attorneys received settlements on average less than $4,000.  Because attorneys are experienced in evaluating the value of the injuries you received, hiring an attorney will more likely than not result in a higher settlement for you.
  9. Pain and Suffering - This is a unique aspect of every case and will vary depending on the specific facts.  Usually though, this is the largest part of the settlement in an auto accident case.  Your attorney will discuss this value with you after reviewing the facts and circumstances of your case.

     
Slip and Fall - If you "slip and fall" (or, trip and fall) on someone else's property as a result of a dangerous or hazardous condition, you may be owed compensation for injuries received.  Property owners are generally responsible for injuries that result from a condition they either created, knew about, or should have known about.  The hazard may be obvious (like a broken sidewalk) or hidden (like a hole under a rug). 

Generally, if the hazardous condition is permanent, the owner will be assumed to have known of its existence.  If the hazard is temporary in nature, the length of time the hazard was in existence will be important.  For example, a ketchup spill on a restaurant floor that has coagulated, or hardened, can be used of evidence that the ketchup was on the floor for a long period of time and should have been noticed by an employee of the restaurant prior to someone slipping on it.  If you have a slip and fall accident:
  1. Inspect the area immediately (or have someone else do so if you cannot).  You should attempt to identify what caused your fall. 
  2. Write down the names and phone numbers of any witnesses. 
  3. Speak to the manager on duty if the fall occurred in a business.  Be sure the manager makes an incident report and provides you with a copy.  If the manager, or an employee, states that this type of accident has occurred before, be sure to write down that person's name and phone number and exactly what they said.
  4. Take pictures or video.  The hazardous condition will likely be repaired or removed after your accident.  Documenting the condition as it existed on the day of your accident will be beneficial to your case. 
  5. Get medical assistance if necessary.  Although you may not feel seriously injured at the time, you may begin to experience pain at a later date.  If necessary, see a Physical Therapist or Chiropractor.  Make sure the medical provider documents all of your complaints in the medical records and be sure to state that you experienced a recent fall.    
The Alabama State Bar requires the following statement: "No representation is made that the quality of legal services provided is greater than the legal services provided by other attorneys." 

The content of this website should not be construed as legal advice of any kind nor should it be considered as creating an attorney-client relationship.     

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