About Car Accidents
Birmingham Car Accident Lawyers
If you are a resident of Alabama, there is a 50 percent chance that you will be involved in an auto accident in your lifetime. If you are one of the thousands of Alabama residents who have been injured in a vehicle accident, you need an experienced Birmingham car accident attorney to guide you through the often confusing and complex process of personal injury litigation.
At the Belt Law Firm, we’ve represented many families affected by car accidents -- and we can help you. Our firm has obtained millions of dollars in settlements and trial verdicts for our clients. We have the staff, resources and experience to litigate the most serious automobile accident cases. Let our reputation and experience work for you. Contact us online or call us toll free at 1-888-933-1514 for your Free Consultation.
By the Numbers
The recent crash numbers for Alabama are staggering. In 2007, there were 1,110 traffic fatalities in the state of Alabama. Jefferson County alone saw 80 traffic fatalities in 2006. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Alabama’s motor vehicle death rate was 24 deaths per 100,000 people in 2007 -- the ninth worst in the nation for that year.
Who is involved in those motor vehicle accidents? Of Alabama’s 1,110 traffic fatalities in 2007, 520, or 47 percent, involved passenger car occupants, while 375, or 34 percent, involved pickup or SUV occupants. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) also reported 134 fatalities and 1,493 injuries sustained in crashes involving large trucks in Alabama in 2007. The injuries and property damage suffered when large trucks collide with smaller passenger cars are among the most severe and costly for Alabama motorists.
Most automobile accidents are caused by drivers behaving in a negligent or reckless manner. Car accidents are all too common when drivers make improper turns, tailgate, fail to obey traffic signals, speed, or operate their vehicles while tired or after drinking alcohol.
Accidents can also occur due to defective vehicles, defective parts, weather, or dangerous road conditions. Then there are the technological devices, including cell phones, GPS units, in-car TVs and CD players that distract today's drivers and divert their attention to places other than the road.
> For more information on the causes of accident in Birmingham, AL, please visit our Who is at fault? page.
How We Can Help You?
The costs and lost wages associated with car accidents are also staggering. Auto accidents cost $164.2 billion each year, according to a March 2008 report from the American Automobile Associations -- or an annual per person cost of $1,051. The personal injuries you suffer in an automobile accident can cost you dearly, especially if you suffer serious injuries such as head trauma, brain injury, spinal cord injury or broken bones.
After a car accident, how will you pay for the damage to your car and your medical bills? Who will pay you for the time you missed from work?
Most drivers believe the other driver’s insurance company will automatically pay for the damage to their car and their doctor bills. Unfortunately, that is not the case. The insurance company may try to minimize its costs by denying or delaying your claim -- or the insurance adjuster may offer you a settlement that is too small to pay all of your expenses. This is a common insurance company strategy. That's why you should not sign anything -- especially a release of your legal rights -- before talking to our Birmingham auto accident lawyers.
If you have med pay benefits, your insurance company may be required to pay your medical bills up to the amount of the coverage that you purchased. Your insurer may also be required to pay underinsured and uninsured motorist coverage, if the driver who caused your accident lacks insurance or doesn't have enough to pay your injury-related bills. The Birmingham automobile accident attorneys at Belt Law Firm have seen insurers drag their feet on paying these benefits. We can help you get the coverage you've paid for.
> More Frequently Asked Questions about Car Accidents
Successful Settlements
Successful settlements in car accident cases may include payment for medical costs and lost wages, as well as mental and physical pain or suffering, and other non-economic damages. At Belt Law Firm, our Birmingham car accident lawyers work tirelessly to see that you get all of the money damages you deserve. We strive to help our clients not only recover from their injuries, but also recover their lives.
Our office offers convenient support to Birmingham, the residents of Jefferson County and throughout the state of Alabama. If you have been seriously hurt or lost a loved one in a car accident, call the Belt Law Firm to work with an experienced and dedicated auto accident attorney who cares about your case. Contact us online or call us toll free at 1-888-933-1514 for your Free Consultation.
