There are several ways in which you can suffer a personal injury. Regardless of how it happened to you, you can file a claim against the negligent party responsible and receive financial compensation for your damages. You don’t have to pay out of pocket for anything when you win a settlement.
Our Decatur personal injury attorneys are standing by, ready to help you get started. We want to see you get the maximum amount for your settlement. Don’t let the insurance company and the at-fault party try to get out of giving you the compensation you deserve.
Why Do I Need a Personal Injury Lawyer in Decatur to Help Me?
A personal injury lawyer is almost always necessary when you file a claim and enter into negotiations. While you have the right to represent yourself throughout the whole process, if you don’t have any legal experience or knowledge of personal injury law, it would be in your best interest to obtain an attorney to help you handle your case you.
Although you have the right to file a claim, this does not mean that it will be easy to win a settlement. The insurance company won’t give in without a fight, and the defense will almost always try to shift the blame for your accident onto you. Do not allow this to happen. Allow one of our attorneys to assist you with your case and be there for you throughout the process.
For a free legal consultation with a Personal Injury lawyer serving Decatur, call 800-537-8185
What Cases Do Decatur Personal Injury Attorneys Handle?
At Morris Bart, our personal injury lawyers can handle virtually any type of case:
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- Medical malpractice
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Drunk driving accidents
- Slip and fall
- Workers’ compensation
- Product liability
- Dog bites and animal attacks
- Class action and mass torts
- Wrongful death
As long as you’ve suffered an injury that resulted in damages, you can file a claim, and we will help you fight for a fair settlement. Even if you don’t see a case from the list above that describes what you went through, you should still give us a call to find out about all of the legal options available to you.
How Contributory Negligence Works in Alabama
Alabama is extremely strict regarding contributory negligence. While most states have a modified version of this rule, Alabama still adheres to a very firm law that can make it difficult for personal injury victims to file a claim and receive compensation.
For example, let’s say that you were partially responsible for your accident. No matter how little or how much your fault may be, the negligent party doesn’t have to pay you since you also caused the accident that led to your injury.
There have been many cases where the insurance company or the defense successfully fought their way out of paying for any damages due to this rule. This is why it’s essential that you get an experienced attorney to assist you. Without one, you may be at the mercy of contributory negligence and end up with nothing.
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What Will a Personal Injury Attorney in Decatur Do for Me?
Our personal injury lawyers are capable of assisting you throughout the negotiation process. We do much more than just file paperwork and sign contracts for you.
Representing You and Your Best Interests
While you rest and recover from your accident, we will represent you and your best interests with the insurance company and the defense. Our personal injury lawyers know how to handle insurance companies and won’t let them try to get out of compensating you for your damages.
In addition, our lawyers won’t hesitate to go to trial if necessary. Our primary goal is to win your case to get you compensated. We always put the needs of our clients first before anything else and won’t compromise for a lowball settlement offer.
Building Up a Strong Case
As mentioned above, Alabama has a strict contributory negligence rule. Because of this, you must have a strong case prior to filing your claim. We will help you gather evidence such as:
- Police reports
- Medical records
- Witness testimony
- Surveillance footage
- Supporting testimony from experts in various fields
The more substantial evidence you have, the more likely you will win your claim against the insurance company and the at-fault party.
Handling Communications
Right after your accident, up until your claim gets settled, our lawyers will handle all of your communications with other parties. This is to ensure your privacy and the integrity of your case doesn’t get compromised by saying or doing the wrong thing and result in not getting the maximum compensation amount possible.
Accurately Calculate Your Damages
If you settle without calculating your damages, you can end up with far less than you could’ve won. Calculating your damages can be difficult if you don’t know where to begin. Our lawyers know how to ensure that nothing gets left out of your settlement so that you receive maximum compensation.
Get Compensation for Your Damages
There are several types of damages that you can get compensation for depending on the circumstances surrounding your case. Here are just a few of the most common that most personal injury victims file claims for.
Medical Expenses
Medical expenses can cost a small fortune after an accident. Even minor procedures in the emergency room or a one-day hospital stay can cost thousands of dollars or more. Seeking medical care after an accident that wasn’t your fault shouldn’t be a financial burden to you.
You can factor all of your medical expenses into your settlement. This isn’t just limited to hospital visits. You can get reimbursed for prescriptions, physical therapy, medical equipment, and psychological services. Additionally, you can receive compensation for any future medical-related expenses as well.
Lost Wages
Your injury may prevent you from returning to work or from working altogether. The cost of living doesn’t suddenly stop just because you were in an accident, even if it wasn’t your fault. You shouldn’t have to struggle to make ends meet just to prioritize your health and wellness. Your settlement can get you reimbursed for all of your lost wages.
Property Damages
Property damages frequently happen in product liability and motor vehicle accident cases. Whatever repairs or replacements you need to make, you can factor that cost into your settlement. Always be sure that you keep any receipts, work orders, or invoices to make it easier to calculate your compensation.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are the broad term for damages that don’t have a fixed monetary value. In other words, how much you can receive in compensation for them depends on their severity and negative impact on your life. You can recover for several non-economic damages, such as:
- Wrongful death
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma and mental anguish
- Loss of consortium or enjoyment of life
Our personal injury lawyers in Decatur will fight to ensure that the insurance company doesn’t downplay your non-economic damages.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages aren’t compensatory. Instead, they act as a financial payment that punishes the negligent party responsible for your accident. According to the Official Code of Alabama Annotated (OCAA) §61-11-20, you can recover a reward for punitive damages if your personal injury case meets specific criteria:
- If the at-fault party committed an act of fraud when they caused the accident that led to your injury.
- If the at-fault party intentionally tried to cause you harm with malice.
- If the at-fault party was extraordinarily negligent and wantonly disregarded the safety of others around them.
- If the at-fault party oppressed you with cruel and unjust hardship that aimed to deprive you of your rights.
There needs to be clear and convincing evidence to receive a reward for punitive damages. When we review your case, we will see if you qualify to get punitive damages in addition to your settlement.
How Much Will My Settlement Be?
Your personal injury settlement can be anywhere from thousands to millions of dollars. This is a broad range largely because every personal injury case will be different. For example, mild accidents can result in a modest settlement, while severe injuries can net you an extremely high settlement.
To get a better idea of how much your settlement will be, it’s best to contact one of our lawyers as soon as possible. Remember, never file your claim before you know how much your damages are worth. Don’t risk settling and realizing later on that you would have received much more.
How Can I Trust Your Decatur Personal Injury Lawyers?
The personal injury lawyers here at Morris Bart have years of experience handling the toughest of cases. We have the resources, legal knowledge, and dedication required to handle your case and help you win in your fight against the insurance company.
Even though there’s no hard requirement to have a lawyer when you negotiate, not doing so will risk losing a large portion of your settlement. Insurance companies will try and convince personal injury victims to work with them directly instead of a lawyer. Never trust this, and always seek strong legal representation right away.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer in Decatur?
You don’t have to pay for anything upfront when you hire one of our Decatur personal injury lawyers. We will never charge you for our services until we win compensation for your claim. If we can’t win compensation for your claim, you don’t have to worry about paying us for our services.
This is known as a contingency fee basis. If we win a settlement on your behalf, our legal fees are deducted from your settlement. At no point will you have to pay out of pocket when you choose us to represent you. The contingency fee arrangement incentivizes our lawyers to work hard and get you the best settlement possible so everyone wins.
Why Can’t I Trust the Insurance Company?
Insurance companies may seem like they’re on your side, but in reality, they will say anything to convince you to settle on their terms. Often, this means that you’re settling for far less than what your settlement is actually worth. Unfortunately, plenty of personal injury victims fall prey to insurance companies and end up with next to nothing for their settlement.
If the insurance company tries to talk to you directly after your accident, try to avoid speaking to them. If you must speak to them, don’t accept any offers and never reveal any information outside of basic details. Anything you say, do, or write will be used against you, so always be cautious and evaluate all of your options first with a lawyer.
Our Results Speak for Themselves
With more than 40 years of practice, we have recovered millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for our clients. With more than 6,500 cases won, our results show our skills, experience, and dedication.
There are many predatory law firms out there that only look to sweep your settlement from under you. We will never do this. Our lawyers always put 100% of their effort into every case they take on and will never stop working hard to win you the settlement you rightfully deserve.
The Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Claims in Alabama
OCAA §6-2-38 only gives you two years to file a personal injury claim. The two-year time period can be even shorter depending on certain factors surrounding your case. While you have some time to file, don’t wait until the last minute to do so. Start gathering evidence as soon as possible and consult with one of our attorneys today.
Schedule an Appointment with Our Decatur Personal Injury Attorneys
For a free consultation and case review, please contact the Decatur personal injury attorneys at Morris Bart online or over the phone at (800) 537-8185. There’s no obligation or risk when you contact us. We are available 24/7 to assist you.
Questions?Call 800-537-8185
to find a Morris Bart office near you.
