If you were injured as a passenger in a Birmingham car crash, you may have a right to pursue compensation. In its 2018 Safety Facts Book, the Alabama Department of Transportation reported 159,925 crashes that resulted in 47,419 injuries and 953 fatalities.
If another driver caused your accident, they may be liable for your injuries. If the driver of your vehicle caused the accident, liability will depend on whether the ride was paid for, and on what type of circumstances led up to the accident.
No matter who was responsible for your accident, a Birmingham passenger vehicle accident lawyer from the Morris Bart law firm wants to speak to you.
Call our Birmingham team for a free case evaluation today at (205) 380-4158. We can discuss who may be liable for your accident and what grounds you may have to pursue legal action.
When the Driver of Your Vehicle Is At Fault
If the driver of the vehicle you are in causes an accident, they are only liable for your injuries in certain circumstances.
According to Alabama State law, if you were paying for your ride, such as with a taxi or rideshare vehicle, you have a right to hold your driver liable for your injuries in an accident they caused.
If it was not a commercial ride, and you were simply a guest in another person’s vehicle, the driver is not liable for your injuries in an accident they cause unless there was “willful or wanton misconduct” under Code of Alabama § 32-1-2.
This classification may pertain to things like intoxicated driving, or repeated and purposefully dangerous acts such as aggressive driving or speeding.
To discuss the specifics of your accident with a member of our legal team, contact the Morris Bart law firm today at (205) 380-4158.
For a free legal consultation with a Passenger Vehicle Accident lawyer serving Birmingham, call 800-537-8185
Proving Driver Liability in Your Passenger Accident Case
Once we have established who is responsible for your injuries, we can start to build a case to prove that their negligence harmed you. The courts may only hold them liable for your injuries if this evidence exists.
This evidence could include:
- Photographs or videos taken at the scene of the accident
- Witness statements
- Police reports
- Communications before and after the ride between you and the driver
- Medical records indicating your injuries were caused by the accident
- Statements from traffic accident reconstruction experts
When you hire the Morris Bart law firm to represent your passenger accident case, we will work to gather this evidence while you concentrate on your recovery.
Compensation in a Passenger Accident Case
Essentially, any damages you experienced as a result of your accident could be eligible for compensation in a settlement offer or ruling in court.
Damages possible in a passenger accident case include:
- Cost of the treatment you have received
- Estimated costs of future treatment
- Lost wages if the accident forced you to miss work
- Reduced earning income
- Pain and suffering
The defendant in a personal injury case will also need to produce evidence of these losses. A Birmingham passenger vehicle accident lawyer can use this evidence to negotiate a fair settlement offer with the insurance company, or present the value of your losses in court.
To discuss what damages may be available to you, call the Morris Bart law firm for a free consultation.
Click to contact our Birmingham Car Accident Lawyers today
Communicating with Insurance Companies After Your Accident
The responsible driver’s insurance company may approach you after an accident with a settlement offer. Remember that a settlement offer is just that, an offer, and choosing to deny it does not preclude you from getting compensation in negotiations or court later.
Many times, an insurance company will start with a low offer that they may be willing to increase if challenged with evidence of the full value of your damages. If you sign off on a low initial offer from an insurance company, it may limit your ability to obtain further compensation later should you discover further damages.
Be cautious when communicating with insurance agents. It may be possible for them to hold your statements against you later to reduce or deny you compensation.
A Birmingham passenger vehicle accident lawyer from the Morris Bart law firm can handle all communications with the insurance company while you recover from your accident injuries.
A Legal Time Limit to Your Passenger Accident Case
Under Alabama Code § 6-2-38, personal injury victims have a two-year limit on the time they have to file a lawsuit after the accident. This is also known as the statute of limitations.
If the statute of limitations expires before you file your case, you may lose your legal right to sue.
The sooner you call us, the sooner we can start gathering evidence to build your case, and the sooner you may receive a fair settlement.
Call Morris Bart & Associates, LLC and Get Started Today
When you choose the Morris Bart law firm to represent you in your passenger vehicle accident case you can concentrate on your recovery while our Birmingham lawyers:
- Answer your questions and keep lines of communication open
- Gather evidence in your defense
- Handle legal deadlines and paperwork
- Communicate with insurance companies on your behalf
- Negotiate with the insurance companies for a fair settlement offer
- Take them to court if they are not willing to make an offer that matches the evidence we present
Call the Morris Bart law firm today at (205) 380-4158. We offer a free, no-obligation phone consultation to victims of passenger accidents who have questions about their case and legal options.
If you choose representation from the Morris Bart law firm there will be no up-front costs to you. Our firm works on a contingency fee basis, so we only receive a payment if we secure a fair settlement for you.
Questions?Call 800-537-8185
to find a Morris Bart office near you.
