A car accident might be relatively minor or a total disaster. In either case, repairs might be expensive, and you might need costly medical care. A lawsuit might help you get financial compensation to help pay for your damages.
Some people find the idea of a personal injury lawsuit distasteful, but the truth is that lawsuits help many injured victims get justice and help pay for the expenses of the accident. You should speak to a lawyer soon, as the deadline for your case might already be approaching. Your injuries might have cost you big time, and more than just money might be on the line. Not only might the monetary costs of the accident be substantial, but you must also consider the emotional toll. Your overall damages might be worth a lot more than you realize. To prepare your case, we need evidence that shows how the defendant caused the accident. We should also be prepared to defend our evidence, as the defendant will likely try to undermine it.
For a free case review, call Howe Law at (844) 876-4357 and schedule an appointment with our car accident lawyers to discuss your legal options.
Suing for Injuries From a Car Accident in Vestavia Hills, AL
Not many people are eager to begin a lawsuit under any circumstances. Lawsuits are time-consuming, require a lot of work, and the outcome is not a sure thing. Even if you are unsure how to proceed, you should still meet with an attorney to discuss the possibility of a lawsuit.
A lawyer can go over the numerous reasons why a lawsuit might be in your best interest. Perhaps the biggest reason is financial. Car accidents are expensive, plain and simple. You might end up in serious debt between medical bills and repairing or replacing your car. If you sue the person responsible, you might get your numerous costs covered, and you can get back to your normal life.
If you want to pursue a lawsuit, you and your lawyer should get to work as soon as possible. The statute of limitations sets a hard deadline for lawsuits. In Alabama, under Ala. Code § 6-2-38(l), personal injury claims must be filed no later than 2 years after the injuries occur. This means the clock starts ticking on the day of the car accident.
Many people are unsure about lawsuits because they have auto insurance. In Alabama, injured drivers must submit third-party claims with the other party’s insurance and provide evidence of fault. In the end, the insurance company might deny your claim or agree to pay for limited damages, leaving you on the hook for others. A lawsuit can help you obtain full and fair compensation for your damages, including non-economic damages, which are often not covered by auto insurance policies.
What Your Injuries and Damages Are Worth in a Vestavia Hills, AL Car Accident Case
Damages include physical injuries and actual damage to your car, but they also include much more. Costs not directly related to your physical injuries or vehicle might also be included if they are directly related to the accident. You should also include damages related to injuries that do not cost money, such as psychological or emotional damages.
Economic injuries are often significant, and you should thoroughly analyze all your spending and bills since the accident to determine the full extent of your financial losses. Arguably the most prominent financial losses are your medical bills and vehicle repair bills. Medical care is unfortunately very expensive, even for relatively minor treatments. Emergency room bills, x-rays, scans, lab work, and medication do not come cheap. Replacing or repairing your car is another big expense that should not go unnoticed.
You might lose a significant amount of work depending on the magnitude of your injuries. You might take a leave of absence from your 9 to 5 job or lose work as an independent contractor. Either way, our car accident lawyers can help you claim the value of your lost income and wages. You should also evaluate other costs connected to the accident. If you are bedridden and need to hire a full-time childcare provider for your children because you cannot care for them while you recover, those costs should be factored into your damages.
Emotional and psychological anguish is typical in car accident cases, especially very serious ones. Perhaps you were pulled from the vehicle with the jaws of life, or the car flipped several times before landing upside down. Such experiences are nothing short of traumatic, and victims might spend years processing what happened. You deserve compensation for these psychological scars, even if your losses do not come with a bill.
Preparing Evidence for Your Car Accident Lawsuit in Vestavia Hills, AL Lawsuit
Lawsuits are more than just trials and courtroom proceedings. Much of the work in a lawsuit happens before the case enters a courtroom. One of the biggest steps in preparing a lawsuit is gathering evidence. Not only must we find evidence that supports your claims, but we must make sure the evidence is admissible in court.
Our search for evidence should start at the scene of the crash. Physical objects might be used as evidence. Although too large to bring to a courtroom, your vehicle may be used as physical evidence via photos. We should also take pictures of tire marks and other signs of the accident that might indicate how it happened.
We must make sure your evidence is admissible. Evidence must adhere to strict rules regarding admissibility. Generally, evidence that is irrelevant or cannot be substantiated cannot be admitted into court. Defendants often try to use the rules of admissibility against plaintiffs, and we must prepare to defend the validity of your evidence.
Contact Our Vestavia Hills, AL Car Accident Lawyer for Assistance with Your Claims
For a free case evaluation, call Howe Law at (844) 876-4357 and make an appointment with our car accident lawyers to discuss your claims.