When a car accident case goes to trial in Alabama, a judge or jury reviews the evidence, hears testimony, and decides who was at fault and what compensation the injured person should receive.
Most car accident claims settle before anyone sets foot in a courtroom. But when an insurance company will not offer fair compensation in a car accident settlement, a trial may become the only way to hold the at-fault driver accountable.
Only a small fraction of motor vehicle accident claims, generally somewhere between 3 and 5 percent nationally, ever reach a verdict. However, understanding the Alabama car accident trial process can help you know what to expect if your personal injury claim reaches that stage.
How a Car Accident Case Reaches an Alabama Courtroom
A car accident case does not go straight from the crash scene to trial. First, the injured person files an insurance claim and tries to negotiate a fair settlement with the insurance adjuster. Many people wait until they reach maximum medical improvement (MMI, or the point where a doctor determines that further recovery is unlikely) so they know the full extent of their injuries before agreeing to an Alabama car accident settlement.
If settlement negotiations stall, the injured person can file a lawsuit in court. Alabama law gives injured people a strict two-year window from the date of the crash to file suit, under Alabama Code Section 6-2-38. Once a lawsuit begins, both sides exchange evidence and prepare their arguments. For a closer look at each of these steps, read our guide on the car accident lawsuit process in Alabama.
Which Alabama Court Will Hear Your Case?
Alabama assigns car accident cases to different courts based on the amount of money at stake. According to the Alabama Judicial System, district courts handle civil claims up to $20,000, while circuit courts have exclusive jurisdiction over claims exceeding that amount. Because serious car accident injuries often involve significant medical bills and lost income, many car accident cases end up in circuit court.
Alabama’s circuit courts are organized by county. A crash in Huntsville would likely be heard in the Madison County Circuit Court. Crashes near Athens, Decatur, or Florence would likely go to the Limestone County, Morgan County, or Lauderdale County Circuit Courts.
The Stages of an Alabama Car Accident Trial, Step by Step
An Alabama car accident trial follows a set order:
- Jury selection (voir dire) – Attorneys for both sides question potential jurors from a struck-jury list under Alabama Code Section 12-16-140 and remove anyone who shows bias before the final panel is seated.
- Opening statements – Each attorney gives the jury a preview of the evidence and explains what they expect it to prove.
- Presentation of evidence – The plaintiff’s attorney will present police reports, medical records, and witness testimony, while the defense cross-examines the witnesses and presents its own case.
- Closing arguments – Both sides summarize the evidence one final time and ask the jury to rule in their favor.
- Jury deliberation and the verdict – The jury discusses the case in private, then records its decision about fault and compensation on a verdict form.
What You’ll Be Expected to Do as the Plaintiff at Trial
If your case goes to trial, you will likely need to attend every day of the proceedings, since your presence shows the jury that you take the case seriously. You should also expect to testify about the crash, your injuries, and how they changed your daily life.
Jurors pay close attention to how a plaintiff behaves in the courtroom, so calm, honest, and respectful conduct can help your credibility throughout the trial. Your attorney will typically prepare you ahead of time so you know what questions to expect from both sides.
How Long Does a Car Accident Trial Last in Alabama?
Most car accident trials in Alabama last a few days to about a week, depending on how many witnesses testify and how complicated the crash was. Jury selection alone can take up a large part of a day. Jury deliberation can add anywhere from a few hours to a few days before a verdict comes back. Cases with multiple vehicles, disputed fault, or serious injuries tend to run longer than straightforward, single-vehicle claims.
What Happens After the Verdict
A verdict does not always end the case immediately. Either side can file post-trial motions asking the judge to change or set aside the verdict. After that, the losing side generally has 42 days to file an appeal under the Alabama Rules of Appellate Procedure.
If the verdict stands, Alabama law adds post-judgment interest to the award at a rate of 7.5 percent per year, under Alabama Code Section 8-8-10, starting from the date of the judgment. Before any money reaches the injured person, though, medical liens and other subrogation claims from health insurers or medical providers usually must first be paid.
What if You Lose at Trial?
Losing at trial usually means the case ends without compensation, unless there are valid legal grounds to appeal. Court costs may also become the losing party’s responsibility, depending on the judge’s ruling.
Alabama’s contributory negligence rule adds extra risk to any trial, since a jury that finds you even slightly at fault can bar you from recovering anything at all. Because trials carry real financial risk, many injured people prefer to explore going to court for a car accident in Alabama only after weighing the strength of their evidence with an attorney.
Talk to Morris, King & Hodge, P.C.’s Alabama Trial Attorneys
Deciding whether to settle or go to trial is one of the most important choices you will make after a car accident.
Morris, King & Hodge, P.C. has represented injured people in Alabama since 1966 and has taken many cases to trial when insurance companies refused to offer fair compensation. Our car accident lawyers have secured results for clients across North Alabama, including a $3.1 million wrongful death verdict and a $925,000 recovery in a car accident case.
You can review more outcomes on our case results page. While past results do not guarantee a similar outcome in any future case, they do indicate the level of experience and resources we bring to each matter we handle.
If you were hurt in a car accident and are not sure whether a trial is the right step, our team can review your case and explain your options. Contact us now for a free consultation with an Alabama car accident attorney at our law firm.
