Average Motor Vehicle Accident Settlement in Phenix City

It’s a question that all lawyers are always asked by clients: “How much is my car accident case worth?” The answer is not a simple one.

Unfortunately, there’s no such thing as an average motor vehicle accident settlement in Phenix City. Many factors impact the total amount of compensation you can collect after a crash, including laws that are specific to Alabama. Ask an experienced motor vehicle accident attorney to review your case so that you can maximize the value of your settlement today.

Contact Bence Law Firm. For more than a decade, firm founder David Bence has fought for the rights of accident victims throughout Alabama. If you’ve been hurt in a motor vehicle accident, you can count on our firm to provide the personalized, one-on-one attention you need during this difficult time.

Attorney David Bence has secured top-dollar verdicts and settlements for his clients over the years, including $1.4 million for the victim of a T-bone accident and $350,000 for another individual injured in a head-on collision.

We know results matter to you because they’re just as important to us. Get Bence Law Firm on your side. Call or contact us today for a free consultation.

Factors to Consider in a Motor Vehicle Accident Settlement

No two collisions are the same. As a result, motor vehicle accident cases — even ones that seem nearly identical — may settle for very different amounts. That can be frustrating for accident victims, but the truth is that small variations can actually make a big difference.

Factors that can impact settlement amounts include:

• Severity of the injuries: Accidents resulting in severe or catastrophic injuries will have a larger case value than moderate injuries because the medical expenses and related losses will be much higher. Attorney David Bence will place a value on your claim that accounts for all of your physical and emotional losses.
• Contributory negligence: Alabama is one of the strictest states in the nation when it comes to awarding compensation to injured people after a car accident. Under its contributory negligence law, victims cannot receive compensation if they are assigned any portion of fault for the crash. At Bence Law Firm, our motor vehicle accident attorney can shield you from any unfair claims of fault.
• Strength of the evidence: The burden is on you to prove the severity of your injuries and how they will impact your life. You need strong evidence linking your injuries to the motor vehicle accident. A lawyer can conduct an in-depth investigation of your case to determine what happened and who should be held responsible. Depending on the cause of the crash, more than one party may be liable.
• Your total losses: Compensation is possible for more than just bodily injury in Alabama. You can also receive money for lost wages, lost future earnings, rehabilitation, home renovations to accommodate a new disability, pain and suffering, and more. A motor vehicle accident lawyer can place a value on your case that reflects all of your losses.
• Personal factors: Your age, health, and any pre-existing conditions can also impact the amount of your car accident settlement. It’s guaranteed that insurance companies will be looking for any way to minimize their payout to you, and digging into your medical history is just one tactic that they will try as your claim proceeds.

The best way to protect your motor vehicle accident claim is by speaking with an attorney who has your best interests at heart. A lawyer can handle every part of the claims process for you so that you can focus on what’s most important — getting well again.

How Proving Fault Can Make or Break Your Settlement

As mentioned above, Alabama is a contributory negligence state. If the other side can prove that you are even slightly responsible for a motor vehicle accident, you lose your right to collect compensation forever.

Negligence means failing to take reasonable precautions to prevent causing harm to another person. Speeding, drunk driving, distracted driving, tailgating, reckless driving, racing, road rage, and breaking traffic laws are all examples of negligent behaviors. Proof that you engaged in those activities or similarly careless ones is enough to lose your case, even if the other driver was more to blame.

An important exception to the contributory negligence rule in Alabama involves seat belts. Though seat belts are required by law in Alabama, the failure to wear a seat belt is not considered evidence of contributory negligence. In other words, not wearing a seat belt cannot be counted against you when determining fault after a motor vehicle accident.

What is the Average Motor Vehicle Accident Settlement?

Again, there is no average car crash settlement amount in Phenix City. However, after looking at the totality of the circumstances surrounding your accident, analyzing your losses, and looking at how cases similar to yours have settled in the past, an attorney should be able to place a realistic estimate on the value of your case.

Keep in mind that the amount could change as the case proceeds, depending on what challenges come from the other side. Your attorney will be able to anticipate potential disputes and develop arguments to refute those claims.

Alabama Motor Vehicle Accident Statistics and Facts

According to the state Department of Transportation, drivers in Alabama have greater than a 1 in 3 chance of being involved in a traffic accident resulting in injuries or death during their lifetimes.

Other motor vehicle accident facts from a recent year show that:

• A traffic accident occurred every 3 minutes and 19 seconds.
• One person died in a motor vehicle crash every 9 hours and 26 minutes.
• A person was injured in a collision every 11 minutes and 19 seconds.
• The No. 1 cause of fatal crashes is speeding.
• The top cause of non-fatal crashes is failure to yield the right of way.
• The three most prevalent types of crashes involve the failure to wear a seat belt, speeding, and alcohol/drug use.
• Around half of all fatal crashes occurred at night.

How to Maximize Your Motor Vehicle Accident Case Value

The best way that you can maximize your case value is by hiring a motor vehicle accident lawyer. Alabama’s negligence laws are complex, and the contributory negligence doctrine means that it only takes a single percentage point to wipe out your chances of compensation forever.

Other tips to protect your case:

• Don’t provide a recorded statement to the insurance company. Anything you say can be used against you during settlement negotiations. Instead, politely refer the insurance adjuster to your attorney.
• Don’t sign any release forms. You may be asked to sign a medical release form to give the insurance company access to your medical records. Don’t agree. You may end up giving the insurer access to your entire medical history rather than the records related to the crash.
• Follow doctor’s orders. Go to every follow-up appointment and therapy visit. Fill all of your prescriptions. If the insurance company discovers that you did not comply with your doctor’s orders, it can argue that you weren’t as hurt as you claim or that you worsened your injuries by not following through with the treatment plan.
• Stay off social media. Avoid mentioning the accident and or posting photos of your injuries on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other sites. The insurance company will be investigating your case in detail. If you’re tagged in a photo swimming when you should have been sidelined with a back injury, an adjuster can use that picture as evidence against you.
• Keep it confidential. Keep all crash-related discussions between you and your motor vehicle accident lawyer.

Call Now to Discuss the Average Car Accident Settlement in Phenix City

Don’t wait to take action if you’ve been hurt in a motor vehicle accident in Alabama. Every moment counts, and you’ll want a lawyer to start gathering evidence while it’s fresh. Contact Bence Law Firm today to learn more about the average motor vehicle accident settlement in Phenix City.

You’ll get one-on-one time with firm founder David Bence, who can review the facts of your case and discuss all of your legal options in a free consultation. When you work with our firm, you’ll have a car accident lawyer who treats your case with the dignity and respect it deserves. Contact us now to get started on your case. All initial case reviews are free, and there’s no obligation.