Car accidents are so common that most people have probably been involved in an accident or known someone who has. While we sometimes dismiss accidents for being so commonplace, you can and should take legal action to get fair compensation for your injuries.
Many car accidents are not just unfortunate mishaps. They are the results of inexcusable negligence, often from other drivers. Various parties might be responsible for a car crash, including the other driver, several other drivers, professional drivers and their employees, or even the government. Damages should reflect your injuries and the losses and experiences you endured because of the crash. Physical injuries, medical bills, property damage, and emotional anguish deserve adequate compensation. Car accidents often happen because drivers make inexcusable mistakes or lapses in judgment. Driving while distracted, drinking and driving, and common traffic violations are frequently cited reasons for accidents.
Contact our car accident lawyers to set up a review of your claims for no charge by calling Howe Law at (844) 876-4357.
Who to Hold Responsible for Your Car Accident in Tuscaloosa
Car accidents happen for countless reasons, and numerous parties might be implicated. Many people assume that one of the drivers in an accident must be to blame, but this is not always true. Multiple drivers might have contributed to the crash. A driver’s employer might be liable for the accident or even the government, depending on how the accident occurred.
Another Driver
Many car accidents are the result of a single driver’s negligent behavior. Our car accident lawyers can help you figure out the driver’s identity if you are unsure and hold them accountable. Identifying the driver is supposed to be a somewhat easy process since drivers are required to stop and wait for the police after an accident. Unfortunately, many drivers panic and flee the scene, never identifying themselves to the person they hit or law enforcement.
If you were the victim of a hit and run, we can help you sue the other driver for damages, but it might take more time and effort. You must report the accident to the police immediately so they can begin a criminal investigation. Once they track down the other driver, we might have to wait for criminal proceedings to finish before your civil lawsuit can begin.
Multi-Vehicle Accidents
Another common problem in car accident cases is multi-vehicle crashes. A lot of car crashes involve more than just 2 vehicles and drivers. As such, determining which driver is to blame or if more than one driver is to blame can be difficult. In many cases, each driver points the finger of blame at all the other drivers, and you might end up sued or even countersued.
Like any other car accident, we can determine which drivers are to blame by examining the crash and looking for evidence. If nearby security cameras recorded the accident, that footage can help us determine who caused the accident.
Often, more than one driver is held liable for an accident, but the defendants might share varying levels of liability. For example, one defendant might be 60% responsible for the crash while the other is only 40% responsible. Even so, car accident defendants are considered joint and severally liable. This means that even if they are not responsible for the entire crash, they are legally liable for 100% of the damages. How the defendants decide to pay for the damages is up to them.
Professional Drivers and Employers
If the driver who hit you was working, and driving is a part of their job, their employer might be vicariously liable for your damages. Common examples of professional drivers include taxi, bus, and limo drivers. While these drivers’ negligence might directly cause the crash, their employer might also be liable.
An employer might be vicariously liable for injuries inflicted by an employee’s negligence if that negligence happened within the scope or in furtherance of the employee’s duties. For example, a taxi driver who caused an accident while transporting passengers might be liable, but so might the taxi company they work for.
Government Authorities
Believe it or not, the government might be liable for your injuries under specific conditions. One possibility is that the driver that hit you was driving a bus or other public transit vehicle. For example, the Tuscaloosa Transit Authority is owned by the local government. If your accident involves TTS vehicles, you might be able to sue the government.
Alternatively, your car accident might not have involved public transit but was caused by negligently maintained public roads or malfunctioning traffic lights. Since the local government must maintain these aspects of our roads and highways, they might be liable for the accident.
Keep in mind that suing the government comes with stricter deadlines than ordinary car accident lawsuits. You might have to submit a notice of your claim to the proper governmental authorities within 6 months of the accident or lose your right to sue the government.
How to Claim Damages for a Tuscaloosa Car Accident
To claim damages, we must first assess your injuries and the economic and non-economic toll they took on you. Car accidents commonly lead to severe bodily injuries and extensive medical treatment. As a result, many injured plaintiffs have to deal with high medical bills they might not be able to afford. The cost of your medical treatment should be factored into your damages. On top of that, we can estimate the value of future medical bills you can reasonably expect.
Your injuries might also take a severe mental and emotional toll. People who survive car accidents often have deep psychological scars that take months or even years to heal. Feeling depression, anxiety, fear, or even being diagnosed with conditions like PTSD are possible. Although pain and suffering do not have price tags, juries may still award financial compensation to plaintiffs.
You should also consider the value of lost or damaged property. Of course, replacing or repairing your damaged vehicle is expensive, but there might be other expenses to consider. Did you lose your phone in the crash? Maybe your expensive laptop computer was in the car and destroyed. Maybe you lost your priceless wedding ring somewhere at the accident scene. The cost to replace these items might add up to a very significant sum.
Call Our Tuscaloosa Car Accident Attorneys for a Free Review of Your Case
Call our car accident attorneys to schedule a private review of your claims at no cost by calling Howe Law at (844) 876-4357 or 205-809-3763.
