Alabama auto insurance laws require all drivers to carry liability insurance that pays for victims’ injuries and property damages in accidents those drivers cause. Many drivers also opt for additional coverage that helps them in the event of a crash.
Understanding your Alabama car insurance policy makes it easier to determine the coverages you have before an accident. At the same time, reading the types of policies of the at-fault driver from their insurance card can help you determine the coverage potentially available to you. An attorney can help you assess your options for compensation, as well.
Mandatory Auto Insurance Coverage in Alabama
According to the Alabama Department of Insurance, the state requires these minimum auto insurance liability limits:
- $25,000 in bodily injury liability per person
- $50,000 in bodily injury liability per accident
- $25,000 in property damage per accident
This is sometimes called a 25/50/25 policy and refers to the top limits of your liability coverage. If the injuries or property damages in a collision you caused exceed this limit, you may have to pay the additional compensation from your own accounts.
According to this mandatory liability insurance law, any Alabama driver who causes a collision should also have at least this minimum coverage. This means you should be able to seek damages up to this limit by filing an insurance claim based on their policy.
Optional Auto Insurance Coverages
There are optional coverages you may want to consider adding to your policy in case minimum insurance requirements aren’t enough. They help to cover the harm you suffer in an accident. This could include:
- Collision: This policy covers the damage to your car regardless of fault. If you still owe on your vehicle or have a lease, your bank or the dealership may require this type of policy.
- Comprehensive: If your vehicle suffers damage in an incident that does not involve a collision, this is the coverage you need to pay for repairs. For example, comprehensive coverage will pay for it if you hit a deer, a tree falls on your car, or someone steals your vehicle.
- Medical payments: This coverage pays for your injuries, including medical transportation and treatment costs, following an accident. It should pay for your care regardless of who caused the crash.
- Uninsured motorist: Uninsured motorist policies, known as UM coverage, pay for your covered losses if the driver who caused your collision does not have the mandated liability policy. Underinsured motorist coverage pays if they do not have sufficient coverage.
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Pursuing Expenses and Losses from the Negligent Driver’s Car Insurance
Alabama has fault-based car accident laws. This means the driver whose negligence caused the crash is financially responsible for any injuries and damages that occur. This could include a range of expenses and losses, both economic and intangible. Some common examples include:
- Medical care and related expenses
- Future medical treatment of injuries
- Lost income and reduced earning capacity for long-term injuries
- Property damages, including repair or replacement of your vehicle
- Pain and suffering damages, which are intangible damages related to your accident
Filing a Claim to Recover Damages After a Traffic Accident
To recover compensation after a crash in Alabama, you will need to file an insurance claim based on the other driver’s coverage. You can find out who provides their coverage by looking at their insurance card at the accident scene or obtaining a copy of the police report.
Filing a claim will include contacting the insurance carrier and demanding a payout. It is imperative to be very careful what you say to them to protect your rights to a fair settlement.
You will have to gather evidence to prove their insured driver caused the crash and document the value of the damages you suffered. Many people opt to work with a personal injury law firm to help with this process. This is because a firm has the resources and experience to investigate an accident and value your case.
Evidence a Car Accident Attorney Can Gather on Your Behalf
To establish fault and collect damages, your lawyer will need to build a strong case against the at-fault driver. They can do so by gathering evidence that both testifies to your damages and demonstrates fault. They may help you gather difficult-to-collect evidence like:
- Phone records
- Police report
- Surveillance footage
- Eyewitness statements
- Expert testimony
- Black box data
- Forensic evidence
Building a strong case is an essential step in compelling the insurer to pay your financial award. They may also use your testimony (via a deposition or diary entry), or the testimony of your physician, friends, and family to show how you have been impacted by the accident.
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A Car Accident Attorney Can Manage Your Claim or Sue the at-Fault Driver
You may want to contact an Alabama personal injury lawyer about your case. Most offer free consultations and work with no upfront fees. They can explain your legal options and may be able to handle your claim or sue the at-fault driver if an insurance claim is not the best option for you.
Our attorney knows how to protect your rights while navigating the claims process on your behalf. They will manage all aspects of your car accident case.
Receive a Free Car Accident Case Review By Contacting Our Law Office Today
The Morris Bart law firm reviews car accident cases in Alabama for free. We may be able to help you seek and secure compensation based on the facts of your collision. We are a contingency fee firm with testimonials from former clients that show how effectively we protect accident victims’ rights.
We have 165 locations across the Gulf South, including Birmingham, Huntsville, Mobile, and Montgomery. Call (800) 537-8185 to speak with the team in the location closest to you.
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