Can Car Accident Victims Recover Compensation for Their Damages?
Have you been in a car crash? You may be entitled to financial compensation. Learn how to maximize your financial recovery today.As a car accident victim, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your injuries, medical bills, pain and suffering, and other losses related to the auto accident. In order to pursue justice and financial recovery, it is strongly recommended that you work with an experienced personal injury lawyer in your area. Our law firm has extensive experience representing clients in various personal injury cases, including motor vehicle crashes. To learn more about our legal services and how we may assist you during this difficult scenario, please get in touch with our law office to schedule your free initial consultation today.
What Types of Financial Compensation Can You Recover in a Car Accident Case?
After a car accident, you may file a claim with the at-fault parties insurance company in pursuit of financial compensation for your injuries and other losses. If successful, you will be awarded economic and non-economic damages for your pain, vehicle repairs, medical expenses, and more.
Economic damages may include:
· Lost wages and lost income earning capacity
· Past medical bills and future medical expenses
· Physical therapy and rehabilitation expenses
· Property damage and motor vehicle repairs or replacements
· Transportation costs
· And more
Non-economic damages may include the following:
· Emotional distress and mental anguish
· Loss of quality of life
· Lost companionship or consortium
· Physical pain and suffering
· Post-traumatic stress disorder
· Wrongful death
How to Maximize Your Car Accident Settlement?
It may seem unfair, but not all car accident victims receive the same amount of financial compensation that others might. Insurance companies will do everything they can to limit how much they must pay for a car accident claim, including trying to shift the blame onto you. In order to combat this, there are several steps that motorists can take after an auto accident to help maximize the potential compensation for their personal injury claim.
Get Immediate Medical Attention
As soon as you are able following the car crash, it is important that you seek professional medical treatment from doctors and nurses. Not only can medical attention help save your life or reduce the severity of your injuries, but it can also help bolster your personal injury claim. This is important regardless of whether you believe your injuries to be serious in nature. Failure to seek medical care after a car collision could result in your personal injury claims being dismissed or devalued. Your personal injury lawyers will be able to use your medical records as valuable evidence in the pursuit of maximum compensation for your case.
Obtain Contact Information from the Other Motorists and Witnesses
At the scene of the accident, attempt to obtain contact information and insurance provider information from the other motorists. This will be valuable information for when you seek financial recovery from the insurance company. Additionally, seek out any potential eyewitnesses to the motor vehicle crash in order to obtain their testimonies. Eyewitness testimonies can be valuable evidence for your personal injury attorneys when they file your lawsuit.
Document Evidence of the Collision
It may be difficult to remember all the steps you should take at the accident scene, but it is important that you attempt to record valuable evidence to support your claim while that evidence still exists. This includes getting photographs and videos of your injuries, the state of the vehicles, debris left on the road, and more.
Never Admit Fault or Diminish Your Injuries
While you should remain polite, do not go so far as to admit fault or diminish the severity of your injuries. Anything you say after the accident could be used to diminish the value of your personal injury claim. Be polite to the other driver, but never say sorry or try to brush off the seriousness of your injuries.
Record What Happened in the Auto Accident and Document Your Losses
As soon as you can, document exactly what you remember about how the car crash transpired. This may include your speed, attention to the road, awareness of the other driver, and more. In the future, keeping a personal injury journal may be useful for documenting the severity of your injuries and your recovery. Additionally, keep an accurate accounting of all of your financial losses. All of this will be valuable evidence for your car accident lawyer when it comes time to file a claim.
Hire an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer
If you have not done so already, now is the time to schedule a consultation with our law firm. Our legal team has extensive experience representing clients and personal injury matters, including the complexities of car accident cases. It is highly recommended that you hire legal help, especially when seeking the maximum settlement for your injuries.
Get Estimates on the Costs of Motor Vehicle Repairs or Replacements
Before making your demands to the insurance company and the at-fault driver, accurately calculate the cost of vehicle and property damage repairs. We recommend getting estimates from a couple of different repair places to get an idea of how much your vehicle repairs or replacement may cost.
Don’t Accept the Initial Settlement Offer from the Insurance Company
When insurance companies receive your car accident claim, they will do everything they can to limit how much they need to pay for your expenses and demands. In many cases, this may involve offering a lowball settlement offer in an attempt to make the case go away. You do not need to accept the first offer. You do not even need to accept the second offer. You are allowed to negotiate for better terms. Our law firm can lend valuable legal assistance during these negotiations.
Don’t Wait Too Long Before Filing Your Car Accident Lawsuit
There is a strict statute of limitations for filing car accident claims against the at-fault drivers in Alabama. You must file your personal injury lawsuit within two years of the date of the accident if you hope to recover compensation. Failure to file your personal injury claim within that time window could result in your claim being dismissed entirely.
What is Contributory Negligence?
Alabama is one of a handful of states that operates by a contributory negligence understanding of personal injury law. Under contributory negligence laws, any party that is deemed even the slightest bit responsible for causing an accident will be barred from recovering compensation.
Schedule a Free Consultation with an Experienced Car Accident Attorney Today
Perhaps the greatest mistake that people make when pursuing financial recovery following a car accident is attempting to do it all themselves. If you want to get the maximum compensation for your personal injury case, we strongly recommend retaining professional legal representation.
To learn more about our legal services and how we may assist you during this difficult time, please schedule your free case evaluation today. You can reach us at 334-489-1951.