While every crash is different, there are many commonalities in the causes and types of collisions that happen on the roads every day in and around Huntsville.
Since 1966, the Huntsville car accident attorneys at Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., have represented people who’ve been hurt in Huntsville and across Alabama. Put your trust in our firm’s legal experience so we can help you pursue fair and full financial compensation from those responsible for the harm that you suffered.
Contact our firm today for a free case evaluation with a knowledgeable Huntsville car accident lawyer. We are ready to discuss your right to demand compensation from the parties responsible for the car crash that injured you.
Common Types of Car Accidents in Huntsville
Some of the most frequent types of car crashes in Huntsville include:
- Rollover accidents – In this type of crash, a car flips over onto its side or roof. In more violent collisions, they can tumble over multiple times before coming to a rest. Rollovers often occur due to impacts, oversteering, tire blowouts, or driving too fast on slippery roads.
- Head-on collisions – Head-on car accidents usually occur when a driver drifts over the center line into oncoming traffic, crosses the median, or drives in the wrong direction. Head-on collisions tend to cause some of the worst injuries because the vehicles hit each other with combined force.
- Hit and run accidents – Alabama law requires motorists to stop or immediately return to the scene of any collision they are involved in. Failing to do so constitutes a criminal offense. Victims of hit-and-run accidents often have a harder time securing the financial compensation they need for their injuries. However, uninsured motorist coverage may be available if the hit-and-run driver is never found.
- Rear-end collisions – Rear-end accidents involve colliding into the back of other vehicles, often due to tailgating, speeding, or distracted driving. These crashes can cause whiplash and other serious injuries even at low speeds and when vehicle damage is minimal.
- Multiple-vehicle pileups – Chain-reaction car accidents result in complex cases because they involve numerous injured victims. Investigators often have a hard time determining who or what caused the pileup and each individual collision.
- Side-impact (sideswipe) collisions – Side-impact accidents involve the sides of two vehicles colliding with one another. These collisions can occur on highways when one vehicle moves into a lane already occupied by another vehicle.
- Intersection accidents – In intersection accidents, the cause is usually attributable to a driver’s failure to yield the right-of-way. This includes running a red light or failure to stop at a stop sign. One of the most common examples of intersection accidents is the T-bone crash.
- Single-vehicle crashes – While the driver involved in a single-vehicle crash usually bears fault for the accident, their passengers might be entitled to bring a legal claim against the driver and their insurance to recover compensation.
- Rideshare accidents –Drivers working for companies like Lyft and Uber may be involved in an accident while transporting a passenger; the passenger might be entitled to compensation through rideshare insurance and/or the driver.
- T-Bone/Side-Impact collisions – occur when the front of one vehicle crashes into the side of another, forming a “T” shape. This type of accident often happens at intersections when a driver runs a red light or fails to yield, leading to severe side injuries for occupants in the struck vehicle.
Liability for Car Accidents in Huntsville
Alabama is a fault state when it comes to liability for a car accident. Unlike no-fault states, the Alabama system uses the concept of negligence to determine who – and whose insurance company – has to pay expenses from a collision.
Alabama is one of the few states that still uses the pure contributory negligence rule. Under this rule, if you share any liability for the car accident that injured you, you’re barred from recovering compensation from the other at-fault party or parties.
Types of Compensation in Car Accident Lawsuits
If you suffered injuries and property damage from a car accident caused by another driver or someone else, you might be entitled to compensation for the expenses you incurred, such as:
- Expenses for medical treatment and physical rehabilitation of injuries
- Lost wages or income from missed work
- Lost earning capacity due to disabilities
- Physical pain and emotional distress
- Reduced quality of life due to scarring, disfigurement, or permanent disabilities caused by your injuries
- Repair costs for vehicle and other personal property damage
What Happens Legally after a Car Accident?
Pursuing a claim for compensation after a Huntsville car accident involves several steps on the road to financial recovery. You can expect your attorney to help by:
- Investigating the crash – A car accident claim begins with investigating the crash itself to recover evidence of fault for the accident, including accident scene photos, police crash reports, camera footage, and eyewitness statements.
- Determining liability –Your attorney, often in collaboration with accident reconstruction experts, will review the evidence to put together a persuasive case that shows how the other driver or party was responsible for causing the crash.
- Gathering documentation of damages –Documents that establish what losses you incurred, including medical bills, pay stubs and income statements, and invoices from auto repair shops for your damaged vehicle, can support your claim.
- Negotiating with the insurance company – Your attorney will send a demand letter to the insurance company to notify it of your claim. This demand letter typically begins settlement negotiations, in which you and the insurance company exchange compensation proposals until both sides can agree to the figure.
- Filing a lawsuit – In some cases, it’s necessary to file a lawsuit to continue your claim. A lawsuit can also serve as motivation for the parties to reach a settlement that both sides can accept, rather than leaving the result in the hands of a judge and jury.
- Going to trial if necessary – Even after you file a lawsuit in your car accident claim, settlement negotiations with the at-fault driver and their insurance company will likely continue. Trials can often be avoided, but, if necessary, your attorney will be fully prepared to advocate for your interests aggressively.
How Can Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., Help Me after a Car Accident?
If you’ve been injured in a car accident caused by another driver or other party, you have the right to demand just compensation and justice for the harm you have suffered. Let a car accident lawyer from Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., help you by:
- Offering a free case review to talk to you about your case and understand your concerns and goals.
- Promptly starting an investigation to secure evidence to help build your case.
- Identifying liable parties and explaining your legal options to you so that you can determine the best path forward.
- Aggressively pursuing compensation for your injuries, either through a negotiated settlement with the insurance companies or by taking your case to court if necessary.
If you’ve been hurt in a car crash in Huntsville, contact us today for a free, no-obligation legal consultation with a trusted Huntsville car accident attorney.
