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St. Clair County Car Accident Lawyer
Being involved in a car accident is one of the most frightening situations anyone can go through. Often a car accident victim is left with serious injuries that leave them with medical expenses that are difficult to pay. Even minor accidents can cause drivers and their passengers to have to seek medical attention and miss time at work.
If you have been involved in a car crash resulting from driver negligence, you may be entitled to file a compensation claim to recover the damages. Therefore, the best step to protect yourself and your future is to obtain skilled legal representation.
In Alabama, a traffic crash was reported every 3 minutes and 38 seconds in 2022. – Drive Safe Alabama
Jim Golden Law is a law firm dedicated to seeking justice for personal injury victims. We can gladly assist you with filing a car accident claim and negotiate with the insurance companies to help you obtain a financial recovery that will adequately provide for your needs.
Contact our law firm to schedule a free case evaluation with a qualified legal team member who can answer your questions and explain your legal options.
What is the Leading Cause of Car Accidents in Alabama?
Car accidents occur daily in Alabama and can result from any number of factors. However, certain factors seem to be cited more commonly than others, including:
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Drunk driving
- Drug use
- Defective vehicles
- Poor maintenance
While speeding seems to be the number one cause of car accidents, distracted driving takes a close second. Increased cell phone use, including texting and driving, has contributed significantly to the number of motor vehicle accidents occurring daily in Alabama.
Additionally, with the advanced technology featured in newer cars, many motorists are distracted by their entertainment systems and GPS.
We have also started to see an increase in reports that reference defective vehicles as being a cause of car accidents. In those types of St. Clair County personal injury cases, there may be multiple liability issues that require the assistance of an experienced personal injury lawyer who can determine who should be held accountable.
What Type of Car Accidents Can Your Saint Clair County Law Firm Handle?
Jim Golden Law has extensive experience in handling various car accidents, such as:
- Fatal accidents
- Head on collisions
- Hit and run.
- Rear end collisions
- Sideswipe accidents
- T bone accidents
No matter what type of motor vehicle accident you may have been involved in, our law firm can file a legal claim on your behalf to help you recover the settlement you deserve after being injured.
A person was injured in a traffic crash each 11 minutes and 19 seconds. – Alabama Department of Transportation
Contact our law office today to schedule an appointment to learn more about how we may be able to help you after a car wreck.
How Can I Recover Compensation to Pay My Medical Bills?
One of the most crucial aspects of any motor vehicle accident settlement is the ability of the accident victim to recover financial compensation. If you have sustained car accident injuries or property damage, you may be entitled to recover economic and non-economic damages, also called compensatory damages.
Economic and non-economic damages are granted to the claimant to reimburse them for money and losses they have experienced due to being involved in a collision.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are awarded to individuals for the out-of-pocket expenses they have paid or may have to pay in the future. Some of the most commonly awarded economic damages include:
- Past and future medical bills
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity
- Property damage
If you have been involved in a motor vehicle accident, you may have sustained severe personal injuries that require ongoing medical treatment, such as physical therapy and rehabilitation, that can quickly become cost prohibitive. In addition, if you have suffered catastrophic injuries such as spinal cord or traumatic brain injuries, you most likely will need specialized medical care for the rest of your life.
Our law firm can fight to ensure you receive the compensation you need to sufficiently provide for your healthcare needs.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are granted to help compensate accident victims for intangible losses they have suffered. It is important to remember the circumstances of every car accident case are different, so the non-economic damages they may be able to recover will vary greatly.
Some of the most frequently awarded non-economic damages awarded in Alabama include:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of companionship
- Permanent disfigurement and scarring
One of the advantages of having a knowledgeable car accident attorney represent you is they can evaluate your accident and determine the amount and type of non-economic damages that are appropriate for your case.
Jim Golden Law is unwavering in our commitment to helping accident victims obtain total compensation for their personal injuries and property damage. Contact our law office and ask to schedule a meeting with a legal team member who can answer any questions about what types of damages you may be eligible to recover.
Should I Take the First Offer From the Other Party’s Insurance Company?
Often, an insurance adjuster may contact you after you have been involved in a car accident. The adjuster may offer a quick settlement in response to your insurance claim. However, you should be advised that although a quick settlement can be appealing, especially if you have been unable to work, it rarely takes into account your long-term needs.
In other cases, the insurance adjuster may ask you to consent to make a recorded statement detailing facts about how the accident occurred. However, an insurer has the legal right to use your statement against you to lessen their accountability and lower the amount they have to pay out in a claim.
Therefore, you should never make any agreement with an insurance provider without first discussing it with your auto accident attorney, who can ensure your rights are not violated.
Furthermore, unlike other states that offer PIP coverage, Alabama is a fault state. In states that offer personal injury protection, individuals can file a PIP claim that will pay for damage to other people’s property. However, in Alabama, individuals deemed the at-fault driver could be held liable for the damages incurred by the other parties involved in the accident.
What Happens if an Uninsured Driver Caused the Accident?
Alabama citizens have the option of purchasing uninsured motorist protection (UM). Suppose you are involved in an accident with an uninsured driver or a hit-and-run victim. In that case, your own insurance company will compensate you for your losses as if they were the liable party responsible for the accident.
If you do not have UM coverage, you could find yourself in a financial crisis as a result of your injuries and lost income. However, if you have uninsured motorist protection, you can file a claim with your provider that will pay for damages within your policy limits.
Alabama law does not require drivers to purchase uninsured motorist protection. Nevertheless, all insurance providers offer uninsured motorist protection, which you can opt out of in writing.
Many injury victims file a lawsuit against the uninsured motorist to try and collect damages. However, a knowledgeable car accident attorney like Jim Golden can advise you about your legal options and whether filing a lawsuit is in your best interests.
Call Our St. Clair County Car Accident Lawyers Today!
Jim Golden Law is passionately committed to assisting car accident victims to recover the compensation they deserve after being injured or sustaining property damages. We will stand by your side throughout the entire legal process by helping you complete and file your insurance paperwork as quickly as possible. The insurance company may deny your claim if the paperwork is incorrect, incomplete, or late.
Attorney Jim Golden is uniquely positioned to handle car accident cases due to his hands-on experience being a first responder on many car accident calls as a firefighter. With over 20 years of dedicated service, Jim understands firsthand how devastating car accidents can be. The raw emotions after a crash, the serious injuries involved, and the fallout after the dust settles are all things Jim Golden knows all too well. With his insight, he’ll leverage every piece of evidence during negotiations to get you the best possible outcome in the end.
Our law firm also recognizes that many accident victims are hesitant to file a lawsuit after being involved in a car accident. However, many accident victims are unaware that most claims are settled out of court through negotiations with the insurance company. Nevertheless, if the insurance provider is unwilling to negotiate, our law firm is fully prepared to take your case to court to ensure you receive a settlement that will reimburse you for your losses and provide for the future.
Jim Golden Law recognizes that you have many questions and are probably uncertain about the future for you and your family. Contact our law offices and ask to schedule a free initial consultation to discuss your case. A qualified legal team member will gladly sit down with you and answer your legal questions.