Statute of Limitations on Car Accidents in Alabama
Alabama’s statute of limitations generally gives personal injury victims, such as car accident victims, two years to file their lawsuit for compensation in court. This two-year time limit usually begins on the date of the injury, which means the clock starts ticking the moment your car accident occurs.
If you fail to take action before this two-year deadline expires, the court almost certainly will dismiss your case, no matter how strong the underlying evidence may be. This means you will effectively lose your right to demand compensation for your losses, so it’s important to act quickly if you plan to pursue a lawsuit.
Why Choose Morris King & Hodge After a Car Accident in Huntsville, AL
Decades of Experience Representing Accident Victims
Since 1966, Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., has been representing car accident victims in North Alabama and throughout the state. We have multiple law offices, including two locations in Huntsville, which help us conveniently serve clients across the region.
Over $168 Million Recovered for Clients
Over the years, our firm has secured more than $168 million in verdicts and settlements for deserving clients, including several multi-million-dollar settlements in car accident cases. Our experience and success have earned us considerable recognition from peers and clients.
We have been named a Top 50 Alabama law firm by Super Lawyers and among the Top 100 Trial Lawyers by The National Trial Lawyers, and we have an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell.
Hundreds of 5-Star Reviews from Satisfied Clients
In addition to this formal acclaim, our firm has received hundreds of 5-star reviews on Google from satisfied clients. We encourage you to read what our past clients have to say about us to get a better understanding of what it’s like to work with our Huntsville car accident attorneys.
We treat clients with respect and work hard to provide personalized service and effective legal representation. As one former client said:
“Mr. Hodge and Becky have been wonderful to work with. They took care of all communications regarding my injuries after a vehicle accident and did a great job representing me. I highly recommend them to anyone needing legal assistance.” – Theresa Brown on Google
Get a Free Consultation with a Huntsville Car Accident Lawyer
Were you injured in an auto accident in Huntsville? Was a negligent driver responsible for the crash? If so, it’s essential to learn about your legal rights and options for seeking the full and fair compensation you deserve.
To learn more about how you can move forward, contact the Huntsville car accident lawyers of Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., for a free consultation.
How Much is My Car Accident Case Worth?
Various factors contribute to the value of a car accident case. The most important factors contributing to your car accident compensation are the severity of your injuries, the extent of your economic and non-economic losses, the clarity of another party’s liability, and the relevant insurance policy limits.
The severity of your injuries affects almost every other aspect of your case, from your medical expenses to your lost wages to your pain and suffering. More severe injuries also typically result in longer recovery periods and higher levels of impairment, necessitating additional compensation.
Furthermore, the more severe your injuries are, the more expensive they will be to treat in the long term. The longer you are out of work while recovering, the more wages you will lose. The greater the damage to your vehicle, the more it will cost to repair or replace. All of these are compensable losses that will affect the overall value of your case.
If someone else is to blame for the accident, their liability insurance should cover the damage up to its policy limits. At a minimum, Alabama drivers must have the following amounts of liability coverage as part of their auto insurance policies:
- $25,000 per person for bodily injury
- $50,000 per accident for bodily injury
- $25,000 per accident for property damage
If your expenses exceed the policy limits of the at-fault party, recovering the full compensation you need could prove challenging without the help of an experienced attorney.
A good car accident lawyer can identify additional sources for compensation, including personal assets owned by the at-fault driver, other parties that might also be liable for the accident, and first-party benefits available through your own insurance policy.
What Type of Damages Can You Recover after a Car Accident?
Compensation for car accident injuries can cover both economic and non-economic losses. Economic losses are those with a specific value, including medical expenses, while non-economic losses are those without a dollar value, including pain and suffering. All told, you could be entitled to money for your:
- Medical Expenses – Your past and future medical expenses related to the accident include hospital stays, surgeries, medical treatments, medical devices, prescription medications, and physical therapy. Estimating the value of future medical care is essential for securing the compensation you will need going forward.
- Lost Wages – If your injuries caused you to miss work or have to work in a reduced capacity during your recovery, you can seek compensation for the income you lost.
- Loss of Future Earning Potential – If your injuries will impact your ability to work in the future, such as by requiring you to work with restrictions or preventing you from working altogether, you can seek compensation for the income you will lose.
- Pain and Suffering – The physical pain and emotional suffering you experience due to your injuries can be challenging to place a value on. However, a compassionate lawyer can assist you with determining a fair amount of compensation.
- Permanent Disability – If you experience permanent disabilities due to your injuries, you can seek compensation to accommodate them by modifying your home or vehicle to be accessible or hiring in-home care.
- Property Damage – You can seek compensation for the value of replacing or repairing your lost or damaged property, including your vehicle.
- Wrongful Death – If your loved one died due to injuries sustained in a car accident, you can seek compensation for your loss, including funeral and burial expenses.
How We Investigate Your Car Accident
Independent investigations are a critical part of the car accident support our firm provides. While you focus on recovering and following up with your medical treatment, our lawyers will gather various forms of evidence by:
- Identifying and following up with any eyewitnesses, including by getting their names and contact information from the police report, to collect their statements
- Obtaining traffic, security, and dashboard camera footage depicting the accident or the events immediately preceding or following it
- Hiring experts, including medical professionals, crash reconstruction specialists, and vocational experts, to testify about specific aspects of your case, including the severity of your injuries, how the accident occurred, and how your injuries will affect your ability to work
Securing copies of your medical records and statements from your treating doctors that detail your diagnosis, prognosis, and recommended treatments for your injuries
Strong evidence makes strong cases. Our goal is to uncover the details that will help us seek maximum compensation on your behalf.
Areas We Serve in Alabama
We have multiple office locations across North Alabama and offer both in-person and virtual consultations for your convenience. The areas we serve car accident victims throughout Northern Alabama include:
- Huntsville
- Albertville
- Athens
- Decatur
- Fayetteville
- Florence
- Lacey’s Springs
- Limestone County
- Scottsboro
Getting Compensation for Injuries in Huntsville, Alabama
When it comes to auto accidents, Alabama is a fault state. This means drivers who are responsible for others’ injuries or wrongful death in a crash are liable for the losses suffered by the accident victims. In most cases, drivers rely on auto liability insurance policies to cover accident-related expenses.
If an at-fault driver is uninsured or doesn’t have enough insurance, injured parties may be able to rely on their own insurance to cover their losses. These types of coverage are called uninsured motorist coverage (UM) and underinsured motorist coverage (UIM). Our Huntsville car accident lawyers can help you understand all your legal options.
Statistics on Alabama Auto Accidents
According to motor vehicle crash data released by the Alabama Department of Transportation:
- In Alabama, someone is injured once every 11 minutes, 19 seconds, and someone is killed once every 9 hours, 26 minutes due to statewide traffic accidents.
- There were 9,018 motor vehicle crashes in Huntsville in just one year (2019).
- 2,390 people were injured, and 23 people were killed in Huntsville car accidents throughout 2019.
What to Do After a Car Accident in Huntsville, AL
The moments after an auto accident can feel disorienting and overwhelming. Make sure you protect your health, safety, and legal rights by:
- Assessing your health and seeking help promptly if you are injured.
- Calling 911 to report the crash, which is required if anyone was injured or killed.
- Waiting for emergency responders to arrive on the scene.
- Taking photos and videos of the vehicles and the surrounding crash area.
- Notifying your auto insurance company per your insurance policy.
- Carefully maintaining records of medical bills, lost wages, and accident-related expenses and information.
- Contact a car accident attorney for professional legal advice after the accident.
How to Get a Copy of Your Accident Report in Alabama
The moments after an auto accident can feel disorienting and overwhelming. Make sure you protect your health, safety, and legal rights by:
- Mail a completed Crash Report Request Form and a $15 payment to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA).
- Call ALEA at (334) 242-4241 to request and pay for the report by phone.
- Visiting a Driver’s License Reinstatement Office to request and pay in person.
Most Dangerous Intersections in Huntsville, AL
Our roadways in Huntsville continue to experience more traffic with the continued growth of our downtown. With more vehicles on the road comes more accidents. Areas to stay alert include:
- Research Park Boulevard Northwest
- U.S. 72 & Jordan Lane Northwest
- University Drive
- Interstate 565 & Sparkman Dr NW
- Memorial Parkway
- Old Madison Pike at Research Park
Most Common Types of Car Accidents and How They Happen
Some of the most common types of car accidents in Huntsville include:
- Rear-end accidents – Rear-end collisions occur when the front end of one car collides with the rear end of the vehicle in front of it.
- Side-impact accidents – Also called T-bone or broadside accidents, these crashes occur when the front or rear end of one car collides with the side of another.
- Sideswipe accidents – Sideswipe accidents result when the side of one vehicle collides with the side of another vehicle traveling in a parallel or opposite direction.
- Head-on accidents – Head-on accidents are devastating crashes that occur when the front end of one vehicle collides with the front end of another.
- Rollover accidents – Rollover accidents occur when a vehicle is flipped over onto its side or roof, possibly rolling over one or several times before stopping.
- Backing-up accidents – Backing-up accidents occur when a negligent driver reverses, and the rear end of their vehicle collides with another car or pedestrian; commonly seen with hit-and-run accidents.
- Single-vehicle accidents – Single-vehicle accidents occur when drivers collide with stationary structures, rollover, leave the roadway, or otherwise crash without hitting another car.
- Multi-vehicle accidents – Multi-vehicle accidents occur when two or more vehicles are involved in the same collision. These are often chain-reaction crashes.
What Typically Causes Car Crashes
Many Huntsville car accidents are the result of:
- Speeding – Exceeding posted speed limits or driving too fast for conditions.
- Failure to yield the right-of-way – Ignoring the rights of other road users to move with precedence over others in certain situations.
- Tailgating – Driving too closely behind another vehicle without leaving enough distance to stop safely.
- Improper lane changes – Moving into another traffic lane without properly signaling or checking first to ensure it is clear.
- Reckless or aggressive driving – Driving carelessly without regard to the safety of others.
- Misjudging necessary stopping distance – Failing to recognize or look out for the safe following distance behind other vehicles.
- Distracted driving – Driving while focused on any object or activity, such as texting while driving, that takes your attention away from the road.
- Failing to see an object, person, or car – Ignoring or overlooking other road users or obstructions while driving.
- Swerving to avoid an object, person, or vehicle – Crashing into an obstacle after veering sharply and dangerously to one side to avoid another obstacle.
- Fatigued or drowsy driving – Driving without proper rest or complete attentive control of the vehicle.
- Drunk or drugged driving – Driving while under the influence of alcohol or intoxicating legal or illegal drugs.
- Inexperienced drivers – Drivers with less than three years of driving experience.
Types of Injuries Associated with Auto Accidents
The extreme forces of a car accident commonly leave victims with painful injuries, such as:
- Broken bones – Partial or complete fractures of bones in the upper body, abdomen, limbs, or digits.
- Internal bleeding – Blood loss inside the body that is not visible from the outside.
- Whiplash – An injury caused by violent jerking motions that affect the neck, shoulders, and upper back.
- Traumatic brain injuries – Any injury that damages the brain and changes how the brain functions.
- Back, neck, and spinal injuries – Injuries that affect the ability to stand or sit up, lift objects, and move or feel.
- Knee trauma – Injuries that affect the kneecap or structures surrounding the crucial knee joints.
- Facial lacerations – Facial trauma from sudden impacts, broken glass, or contact with rough surfaces.
- Airbag injuries – Injuries caused by the impact or failure of deployment from airbags.
Contact a Huntsville Car Accident Lawyer at Morris, King & Hodge, P.C. Today
To discuss the details of your Huntsville car accident case with an experienced attorney, contact Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., to get started with your free initial case review.
