Who Is At Fault?
Who is at fault in your car accident case?
Thousands of motor vehicles, including cars, SUVs, motorcycles and trucks, share Alabama roads and highways every day, making accidents inevitable.
What are your rights as an accident victim?
If you're injured by the carelessness of another driver, or by a defective car part, you may be eligible to recover money damages. That money will help to cover the cost of your personal injuries, your medical bills, your lost wages, and other damages you've suffered.
At the Belt Law Firm, we’ve represented many Birmingham, Alabama families hurt in automobile accidents -- and we can help you. Contact us online or call us toll free at 1-888-933-1514 for your Free Consultation.
> More Frequently Asked Questions about Car Accidents
Experts have identified several common causes of motor vehicle accidents.
Driver distraction
Drivers involved in car accidents are often trying to do too many things at one time. Instead of focusing on their driving, they may be talking on a cell phone, reaching for things on the floor or in the back seat, talking to passengers, supervising children, eating, shaving, applying make-up, adjusting their iPod -- or even reading the newspaper. Engaging in these activities while behind the wheel of a motor vehicle can lead to deadly automobile accidents. Even so, you probably see other drivers doing at least one of these things every day.
A split second of not paying attention to the road -- especially at stoplights, stop signs or on busy highways -- is all it takes to cause an auto accident. Drivers who are not keeping a proper lookout and cause an accident may be found liable for negligence. That makes them responsible for the damage and harm they cause. If you have been injured in a car accident by a distracted driver, you may have a good case, but an experienced Birmingham auto accident attorney should investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident to make sure you obtain the money damages you deserve.
Speeding
Drivers who speed are making a conscious choice to engage in behavior that puts other drivers at risk. Speeding means exceeding the posted speed limit, but it also can mean going too fast for road or weather conditions. The speeding driver may be held responsible when that conduct causes an automobile accident and injures another person. If a speeding driver caused an accident and injured you, contact the Birmingham car accident lawyers at the Belt Law Firm about your legal options.
Driver impairment
Too many drivers get behind the wheel while impaired by substances such as alcohol or illegal drugs. Of 1,110 fatal Alabama accidents in 2007, 389 -- or 35 percent -- involved drunk driving. Even when drivers don't realize they are impaired, they can still be held liable when they cause a motor vehicle accident. It is not only illegal drugs or alcohol that can affect drivers' judgment. Lack of sleep, over-the-counter and prescription drugs or an illness can also lead to auto accidents and truck accidents. In fact, truck driver fatigue is often cited as a factor in catastrophic truck accidents and tractor trailer wrecks. Did one of these factors cause your wreck? Let our experienced Birmingham car accident attorneys investigate the facts of your case. Contact us today.
Mechanical failure
In a four-decade span, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has ordered the safety recalls of more than 390 million cars, trucks, buses, recreational vehicles, motorcycles, and mopeds -- as well as 46 million tires, 66 million pieces of motor vehicle equipment and 42 million child safety seats. The recalled products have included tires that break apart at highway speed, steering components that fail, fuel system components that leak after a crash, accelerators that stick and air bags that don't inflate properly.
Design Defects
Two significant types of auto defects concern SUV rollovers. SUVs, light trucks, and minivans are more prone to rollovers than smaller passenger cars because of their high center of gravity. This tendency to rollover is a direct result of a defective design. Many SUVs also have weak roof pillars that allow the roof to collapse when the vehicles flip, crushing the driver and passengers. In fact, while only 3 percent of collisions involve rollovers, about one-third of all fatalities, or 10,000 deaths annually, occur in rollover crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. When a design defect causes injury or death, we can help you hold the manufacturer or retailer responsible for the harm you've suffered.
Manufacturing Defects
When a car accident is caused by a manufacturing defect, the car company, retail seller or tire manufacturer can be held accountable for the harm that results. An example of this type of failure is tire defects. Few car part failures cause as much damage as a faulty tire. When a car, truck or SUV is traveling at or near highway speed, a faulty tire can lead to a blowout, a loss of vital tread, a loss of traction on slick roads or a rollover accident. An automobile accident caused by a tire defect can be catastrophic, leading to serious and often fatal injuries. If you suspect a product defect caused your accident, contact contact our personal injury lawyers to discuss the facts of your case.
Road design and layout
Some roads are designed or laid out poorly, whether due to alignment, visibility, surface conditions, road markings or lack of traffic lights. In some cases, the state may held liable for negligent design or maintenance. The experienced Birmingham accident attorneys of Belt Law Firm can investigate the issue and advise whether you have a viable case.
When it comes time to decide who is at fault for your accident, who you choose to handle your case does make a difference. If you have been injured or lost a loved one in an accident in Birmingham or anywhere in the state of Alabama, the car accident attorneys at the Belt Law Firm cordially invite you to meet our staff, discuss your needs and requirements, and determine how we can help you. Contact our law firm to work with an experienced and dedicated attorney who cares about your case. Contact our Birmingham automobile accident attorneys online or call us toll free at 1-888-933-1514 for your free consultation.
