Cross & Smith LLC
205-391-0618

Tuscaloosa Car Accidents

Enlist the Help of A Tuscaloosa Car Accident Attorney

Car accidents are unfortunately common in America. With the high number of vehicles on the road today, auto accidents are the most common cause of accidental death and injury in the U.S. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, there were 10.2 million car accidents in 2008, with 39,000 of those accidents resulting in death. In Alabama, there were 62 fatal accidents in 2008. While figures are not as high as they were 30 years ago, our Tuscaloosa car accident attorney can tell you that auto accidents remain an unfortunate fact of life.

Car accidents have a variety of causes, but are almost always caused due to the negligence or reckless conduct of the driver of one of the vehicles involved in the crash. Distracted driving – paying more attention to a cell phone, PDA, GPS system, and so on than to the road – is a leading cause of accidents today. Other common causes are speeding, drinking alcohol, tailgating, failing to obey traffic signals, and bad weather such as heavy rain. When you are injured in an auto accident because someone else has engaged in risky driving behavior, you are entitled to compensation for your injuries.

At Cross & Smith, we have the knowledge and resources to pursue every aspect of your claim. Call us today at (877) 791-0618 to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Tuscaloosa car accident attorney.

What’s the First Thing I Should do After a Car Accident in Alabama?

Not every accident results in death or severe injury. Many car accidents result in more minor injuries. Sometimes these are scrapes and bruises, but often these are soft tissue injuries to the neck and back that an observer cannot see. Whiplash and other spinal injuries are nonetheless very serious. To obtain full compensation for a whiplash-type injury, it is important to hire an attorney with knowledge of these types of cases.

Because car accidents are so common, state governments across America, including Alabama, require that all drivers have auto insurance. This is good news for those injured in auto accidents, because it means that there is likely to be some form of compensation available for your injuries. Even where you are injured in a hit-and-run or where the other driver does not have insurance, you will likely have coverage through the uninsured motorist coverage of your own insurance policy.

You may believe that you do not need an attorney and can negotiate with the insurance company yourself. In the vast majority of cases, however, hiring a Tuscaloosa car accident lawyer can have a significant impact on how the insurance company handles your claim. Our experienced attorneys will research and present all forms of damage you suffered in the accident to the insurance company, and will work to have all questions regarding the cause and type of accident, the extent of the injuries suffered, and the full extent of the financial impact of the accident fully answered and explained to the insurance company. If, as is frequently the case, the insurance company does not realistically evaluate the claim, an attorney can file suit and pursue your case through trial, if necessary.

Evidence Gathering for an Alabama Car Accident Lawsuit

Particularly for injury victims, taking the right actions and making good decisions is challenging when pain and adrenaline work to muddy the ability to think clearly.

Even when injured motorists have to head straight to the emergency room, their legal interests are best served when they can collect evidence to support their stories and protect their rights. There are no perfect answers for this predicament, but there are some tools and tips that can make these situations easier to handle.

The Right Evidence Before and After the Accident

There is no such thing as too much evidence, but it does not only pertain to what happened at the accident. The best claims contain three basic categories of evidence:

  • General information from the accident scene: Never leave the scene without an accident report from police. Also be sure to collect contact information for all participants and witnesses. License and insurance information from all drivers is also essential and it is best to look at the actual ID cards or even take pictures of them.
  • Specific accident evidence: Capture images of the damage to all vehicles, their position on the road and injuries. Include photos of the road and even general weather conditions. Retain all damaged items within the vehicle and torn or bloodied clothing, as well. Of course, never begin vehicle repairs without obtaining permission from the insurance company or the attorney handling the legal case.
  • Ongoing documentation: The issues pertaining to an accident do not end at the moment of impact. To document what might have caused the accident, it is helpful to take notes of anything seen and heard before, during and after the collision — including overheard conversations and all official conversations pertaining to the claim. Naturally, it is essential to retain medical reports and receipts for everything, down to the costs of aspirin and bandages.

Keeping an accident tool kit in the vehicle helps ensure that evidence is captured and organized. Some insurance companies sell these kits. One from Liberty Mutual even includes a disposable camera.

There are Options When Accident Victims Cannot Remain on the Scene

Getting immediate medical treatment for serious injuries is more important than remaining at the scene of the accident. However, drivers lose out on the opportunity to capture the evidence that can help them pay for upcoming medical expenses. If uninjured passengers were also in the vehicle, they can remain at the scene to capture evidence.

Another option is to count on the resources of experienced Tuscaloosa car accident attorneys. Even after the road has been cleared, their experienced investigators can capture forensic evidence from the involved vehicles and analyze the damages to determine what happened.

How a Tuscaloosa Car Accident Attorney Can Help You

At Cross & Smith, our attorneys have handled hundreds of car accident cases in Tuscaloosa and surrounding areas and recovered millions of dollars for individuals injured in car accidents. We will aggressively investigate your case, including whether issues such as the design of the roadway or defects in a vehicle contributed to the accident. We will give your case individual attention and work to obtain the best possible result for you and your family. If you have been injured in a car accident, give us a call today for a free confidential consultation with a top Tuscaloosa car accident attorney at (877) 791-0618.

 

Related Topics:

Roadway Marks As Evidence In Auto Accident Cases
Injuries And Damages In Auto Accident Cases
Serious Traffic Offenses In Auto Accident Cases
Violation Of The Rules Of The Road As Evidence In Auto Accident Cases
Damages To Vehicles As Evidence In Auto Accident Cases

Alabama Injury Attorneys Blog – Car Accidents

Multiple Occurrences in Auto Insurance Claims
As with almost all liability insurance policies, auto insurance policies contain provisions that limit liability. This provides a maximum amount that ….

Perry v. USAA Casualty Insurance Co. – Fighting for Underinsured Motorist Coverage
In Alabama, it’s estimated more than one in four drivers lacks auto insurance. Even among those who do carry insurance, about 55 percent have ….

Volcano Enterprises, Inc. v. Rush – Alabama Supreme Court Rules on DUI Death Lawsuit
Plaintiffs in Alabama personal injury cases should take care to exhaust every means of serving defendants notification of a complaint before ….

Hear What Our Clients Have To Say

"I have great respect for the lawyers at this firm and would recommend them to anyone. "
Posted By: Adam Freeman

Read More Reviews