Did you sustain injuries in a Dothan, Ala., traffic collision? If so, you could hold the at-fault driver responsible and recover compensation to pay your medical bills, repair your car, and more. A Dothan car accident attorney from the Morris Bart law firm can manage the insurance claim process or sue the liable party on your behalf with no upfront costs for you.
Our team of car crash attorneys serving Southeast Alabama provides free case reviews. We can assess your legal rights and opportunities to pursue compensation based on your collision and injuries. You can learn about your options and our services during your free consultation.
Recoverable Damages in a Dothan Injury Crash
With a successful insurance settlement or jury verdict at trial, an accident victim can recover compensation based on a wide range of damages. The award will be specific to the expenses and losses incurred in the crash and their injuries. However, some common examples include:
- Medical treatment costs, current and future
- Care and support costs
- Lost income
- Reduced earning capacity
- Car repairs
- Pain and suffering
- Other intangible losses
Our attorneys know how to document and value car accident damages, including future and intangible. When we represent a crash victim, we work to recover a fair and appropriate payout based on their range of losses. We believe our clients should get justice, including not having to pay for their losses out of pocket.
Wrongful Death Claims in Alabama
Under Ala. Code § 6-5-410, Alabama awards only punitive damages in wrongful death cases. Unfortunately, your family cannot recover compensation for funeral and burial costs, lost income, or other related losses.
Instead, any award you recover on behalf of the estate will be based on the severity of the at-fault party’s bad behavior. To this end, it is more likely that you would recover a significant payout from a drunk driving accident than a crash that occurred because of carelessness.
Our lawyers will assess your case and discuss the process in detail during your free initial consultation.
For a free legal consultation with a Car Accident lawyer serving Dothan, call 800-537-8185
Morris Bart & Associates, LLC, Has Handled Car Crash Claims for Over 40 Years
The Morris Bart law firm knows how to develop a car accident claim and pursue compensation for our clients. Across our 15 Gulf South locations, we won cases for more than 6,500 clients during 2019. We could also help you get the financial recovery you need and deserve, too.
Our case results illustrate a team of lawyers willing to fight for the appropriate payout our clients deserve based on the value of their crash case. If the insurance company will not negotiate with us, making a fair settlement agreement impossible, our trial attorneys are not afraid to litigate. Instead, we will sue on your behalf and take the case to trial.
Building a Car Accident Case in Dothan
Having the Morris Bart law firm on your side to prepare and file your claim for car accident compensation could reduce your stress and help you secure a better settlement. Our attorneys know the ins and outs of:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Bus crashes
- Motorcycle collisions
- Other traffic accidents
We understand the role negligence plays in collisions and how to prove it. In each traffic accident case, we must show four things:
- The at-fault driver had a duty of care.
- They breached that duty.
- Their actions caused the collision.
- Our client suffered financial, physical, or psychological harm.
For example, imagine a driver failing to yield the right of way while turning left. Even though their light was green, they still had a duty to stop and allow you to pass first. Unfortunately, they failed to do so, causing a crash where you broke your leg. In this case, we might use these resources and evidence to pursue a monetary award:
- The accident report filed by law enforcement
- Accident reconstruction
- A survey of the accident scene
- Video or photographs
- Witness statements
- Expert testimony
- Documentation of your injuries and damages
Click to contact our Dothan Personal Injury Attorney today
Complicating Factors in Car Accident Cases
While we navigate the compensation process every day and understand the many statutes and caveats that could apply, this might be your first experience. Thus, you might want to know these factors that could affect your case.
Contributory Negligence
Contributory negligence is a common defense in Alabama personal injury cases, including car accident claims.
That’s because Alabama has one of the nation’s most stringent shared fault statutes. It is one of four states that uses pure contributory negligence. Case law from the Alabama Supreme Court in Golden v. McCurry (1980) bars crash victims who contributed to the accident or their injuries in any way from recovering compensation.
Applying this to our previous example, suppose the at-fault driver can prove that you were speeding at the time of the collision. While a violation of the law, it’s unlikely to change what happened significantly. However, if the judge or jury determines it played any part in the crash, you might be unable to recover any damages in your case.
Liability in Commercial Vehicle Accidents
When a commercial vehicle driver causes an accident, that driver is rarely the only liable party. Instead, under a 1929 decision in St. Louis-San Francisco Ry. Co. v. Robbins, Alabama recognizes the legal doctrine of respondeat superior. This doctrine means the driver’s employer is likely vicariously liable for its employee’s actions. Therefore, you will file your claim or suit against the company.
Two-Year Statute of Limitations Applies to Car Accident Cases
Alabama generally gives car accident victims up to two years to begin a civil suit against the liable party or parties, per Ala. Code § 6-2-38. However, some people may have more or less time, depending on the facts of their case. Our team can determine the timeline for your claim during your initial consultation.
Let a Morris Bart & Associates, LLC, Attorney Review Your Case Today
You can discuss your Dothan crash and options for compensation for free today with an attorney from our team. We provide complimentary initial consultations in our four-state service area. After that, we will represent you based on a contingency fee.
Call our office today to speak to a lawyer for free.
Questions?Call 800-537-8185
to find a Morris Bart office near you.
