Birmingham Car Accident Attorneys
While the Drake Law Firm handles a wide- variety of personal injury claims, the majority of our current caseload consists of car accident claims, auto wrecks and motor vehicle collisions. Whether you need a car accident attorney depends largely on the severity of your injuries. If you are merely sore for a few days and do not need to visit the emergency room, we probably can’t be of assistance. On the other hand, if you have suffered a spinal cord injury, head injury or other serious medical problem, negotiating with the other driver’s insurance company without an attorney is not advised. Below is a list of common damages our clients have recovered in motor vehicle accidents.
Property Damage
We do not charge an attorney fee for helping our clients with settlement of their property damage claim. It is very common for the insurance company to settle this claim quickly without any disagreement. Settlement offers for the damage are usually based on blue book values for motor vehicles.
Medical Bills
Most of our clients go to the emergency room after the accident. It is very common for the doctor to order basic x-rays and prescribe muscle relaxers for the standard car accident victim. Patients are usually advised to follow-up with their general physician. Afterwards, many clients will need treatment by a specialist that may include epidural spinal blocks or even surgery. In more severe car accident collisions, brain injury, internal injuries, spinal cord damage and fractured bones may require prolonged treatment and rehab. Alabama law allows the injured party to seek compensation for all reasonable medical bills incurred as a result of the automobile accident, so long as the treatment was for injuries “proximately caused” by the accident.
Pain and Suffering/Mental Anguish
Alabama has no slide-rule or precise method for calculating this item of damage. It is not uncommon for car accident adjusters to dramatically underestimate the value of this claim. If your injury is severe, such as a brain injury, amputation, spinal cord paralysis or back surgery, mental anguish recoveries can be substantial.
Lost Wages or Income
Time missed from work due to a car accident is another properly allowed item of recoverable damages under Alabama law. An injured party is allowed to claim all lost wages or profits due to an automobile accident so long as they are capable of being calculated within reason and without speculation.
Permanent Injury
Severe auto accident collisions are capable of delivering tremendous forces to the human body. Additionally, most doctors agree that even relatively low impact car accidents, such as a rear-ender, can result in neck and back injury requiring surgery. Herniated discs, concussions, broken bones and internal injuries are common examples of permanent injuries for which compensation can be had under Alabama accident law. As with mental anguish, there is no set standard for this claim.
What is My Case Worth?
Every motor vehicle accident claim is different. At Drake Law Firm, we order all your medical records and bills, obtain narratives or depositions from your treating physicians, assemble all lost wage information and prepare a formal settlement synopsis for the insurance adjuster. If no offer of settlement is forthcoming, we can always file suit and let a jury decide what your car accident claim is worth. Our attorneys will advise you as to the value your claim and whether the settlement offer is sufficient. Since no two car accident claims are the same, we have experience in determining what a reasonable settlement range would be.
Only an experienced car accident attorney should handle your personal injury claim. Call us or submit your contact information to Drake Law Firm today and we will be happy to review your car accident claim.
