If you have been injured in a car accident in Florence, Alabama, you need to know where to turn for help. Your first calls should be to request emergency responders if anyone needs medical assistance and to law enforcement to report the accident. You also may have questions regarding your medical bills and who is responsible for paying them if another driver was at fault.
Car Accident in Florence: Car Accident Attorneys
Having a knowledgeable Florence car accident attorney standing up for you can reduce your stress and allow you to focus on your recovery and your family. Our attorneys at Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., have over 100 years of collective experience in fighting and winning personal injury lawsuits in Florence. We offer the strength and understanding you and your family need during the trying days and weeks after a serious accident. We are justifiably proud of the case results we have obtained for Alabamians who put their trust in our law firm.
Getting Compensation After a Car Accident in Florence
Our attorneys are recognized for their commitment in providing legal representation to individuals and families in Florence and across the state of Alabama. You do not have to struggle alone to recover from your injuries. We offer a free consultation to review the details of your accident and discuss your legal options. Call us toll-free at 256-290-0404 or use our online attorney contact form to speak with an experienced car accident lawyer.
Types of Car Accidents in Florence, AL
Some of the most common types of car accidents in Florence, Alabama, include:
- Rear-end collisions – These accidents occur when one vehicle crashes into the back of another. They often happen due to sudden stops or inattention on the part of the trailing driver.
- Side-impact collisions – Commonly known as T-bone or broadside accidents, these occur when the front or rear of a vehicle strikes the side of another car. Side-impact crashes usually happen at intersections, though they can also happen on driveways or at the entrances to blind alleys, for example.
- Head-on collisions – This especially deadly type of car accident involves two vehicles colliding front-to-front. These incidents are often the result of a driver traveling the wrong way or veering into oncoming traffic, possibly due to distracted or impaired driving.
- Sideswipe accidents – These crashes involve two vehicles colliding with one another along their sides. They typically occur when drivers are merging, exiting a highway, or attempting to pass another vehicle.
- Multi-vehicle pile-ups – These catastrophic crashes involve multiple vehicles and often involve a chain reaction started by an initial collision.
- Hit-and-run accidents – In some cases, a driver will flee the scene after striking another vehicle, jeopardizing the other driver’s ability to seek compensation. Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage may be available if the driver isn’t found.
- Vehicle rollovers – High-speed turns or collisions can cause a car to flip onto its side or roof, putting occupants at risk of severe injuries.
Regardless of the specific type of car accident that caused your injuries, our team can protect your rights and assist you in recovering fair compensation.
Most Common Car Accident Injuries
Some of the most common types of car accident injuries in Florence include:
- Burn injuries – Car crash injuries may involve serious or fatal burns. Burn injuries are extremely painful, and the medical treatments may require multiple surgeries. Generally, the victim is left with scars, often disfiguring. The necessary treatments may take several years to complete.
- Whiplash and neck injuries – Whiplash is a painful injury that will require weeks, months, or longer to resolve. Many suffer long-term problems, including headaches, vision problems, neck and back pain, and other types of pain or discomfort for years after suffering from whiplash.
- Fractures – A broken bone can be extremely serious, depending on the type of break and the area of the break. A simple fracture will require a few months to heal, while others may require surgeries and leave a victim with permanent impairments.
- Airbag injuries – An airbag is intended to protect drivers and passengers, but in some cases, it may cause serious injuries. There are car wreck cases related to airbags that fail to deploy, unexpectedly deploy, or flying shrapnel when deployed, leaving a victim with facial and/or upper body lacerations.
- Spinal cord injuries – Damage to the spinal cord will frequently result in a lifetime of disability. The most serious type of spinal cord injury leaves the person suffering from quadriplegia (tetraplegia) and no longer able to control the body. There is no full recovery. Treatment and rehab may occur for many months or years. Ongoing medical care will be needed throughout the remaining years of life. Car accident injuries that impact the top of the spinal cord can be so extensive that the injured person will require assistance breathing. There are many health consequences beyond the lack of mobility.
- Internal injuries – A car accident impact can cause serious damage to the internal organs in the body, some of which cannot be fully resolved. In a car crash, blood vessels within the body are torn or crushed, with disastrous outcomes. The body can be damaged due to blood loss and the pressure the misplaced blood puts on the organs. These injuries require emergency surgery, blood transfusions, and other treatments.
- Foot, knee & ankle injuries – Injuries to the foot, knee, or ankle are extremely painful and complex to resolve. The foot has 26 bones, a quarter of the bones in the entire human body. The ankle is a complex joint, and, if damaged, often requires surgery and a long period of recovery and rehabilitation. The level of injury can vary from minor, requiring several weeks or months to heal, to severe, in which the victim requires surgery, joint replacement or other treatments.
- Back injuries – An injury to the back can have long-term consequences, and in some cases the damage is permanent. There may be the need for a long period of rehabilitation, surgeries, or other treatments, based on the degree of the injuries suffered.
- Traumatic brain injuries – Drivers and passengers can sustain traumatic brain injuries in a crash if they hit their head on the steering wheel, dashboard, or another part of the interior. In some instances, the force of the crash is enough to rattle the brain and cause a traumatic injury. Because traumatic brain injuries often lead to permanent damage, they are some of the most severe injuries people sustain in car accidents.
- Emotional distress – Being involved in a car accident is a traumatic ordeal, and many people injured in accidents suffer some form of emotional distress afterward. Common forms of emotional distress after a collision include nightmares, flashbacks, insomnia, heightened anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
How Our Car Accident Lawyer in Florence Can Assist You
Our skilled car accident lawyers handle claims for people injured in car accidents in Florence and throughout the Tennessee Valley. The attorneys at Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., all grew up in north Alabama, and we are proud to use our legal skills to help its people.
As your attorney, we will take the following steps to pursue your accident claim:
- Investigate the car accident thoroughly and identify all the parties who may be held liable;
- Track down all the insurance policies that may be available to provide compensation for your injuries;
- Calculate the extent of your losses including hospital bills, lost income, future medical care, and need for living assistance;
- Handle all negotiations and communication with the insurance companies;
- Seek to head off any medical debt collection efforts while your accident claim is pending;
- Negotiate for the maximum compensation;
- Inform you of the progress of the negotiations and any settlement offers;
- Prepare your case for trial and be ready to proceed to Limestone County Circuit Court if the insurer refuses to agree to a reasonable settlement;
- Handle your case on a contingent fee basis. You owe no legal fee unless we obtain compensation for you.
Emergency Responders Serving Florence and Lauderdale County
The county seat of Lauderdale County and the largest and principal city of “The Shoals,” Florence is located in northwest Alabama on Wilson Lake and Pickwick Lake. US Highways 43 and 72 merge just east of Florence. Highway 43 runs north and south. It helps connect Florence to Lawrenceburg and Columbia in Tennessee and Tuscaloosa and Mobile to the south. Highway 72 helps connect Florence to Huntsville and Chattanooga, Tennessee to the east, and Memphis, Tennessee to the west.
Also serving Florence are several Alabama state highways:
- State Route 13
- State Route 17
- State Route 20
- State Route 133
- State Route 157 (which links to Interstate 65 in Cullman)
Dial 911 for emergency assistance in Florence and Lauderdale County, including after car accidents. The necessary first responders will be dispatched to your accident site.
- Florence Police Department
702 S. Seminary Street
Florence, AL 35630
Phone: (256) 760-6500
You may obtain a police accident report online at crashdocs.org within five to seven business days after the accident. Our office can help you to obtain a copy in most cases.
- Athens Fire and Rescue
402 S. Wood Avenue
Florence, AL 35630
Phone: (256) 760-6475 - Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office
Lauderdale County Courthouse
200 South Court Street
Florence, AL 35630
Phone: (256) 760-5757
Alabama state troopers may respond if the crash occurs on a highway. Dial *HP (*47) to report traffic accidents, highway emergencies, stranded motorists, suspected drunken drivers, or other major hazards.
- Alabama Highway Patrol
4500 Hatch Boulevard
Sheffield, AL 35660
Phone: (256) 383-9212
Hospital Serving Florence Alabama
If you are injured seriously in a car crash, you will most likely be transported to the Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital and treated initially in the emergency department.
- Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital
205 Marengo Street
Florence, AL 35630
Phone: (256) 768-9191
While you are recovering from your injuries, you may have questions about what you need to do to recover financially as well as physically. It is natural to worry about how you will pay the bills for the medical treatment you are receiving. If another motorist caused your accident, you may have a legal right to seek compensation to cover your medical bills and other expenses by filing a Florence personal injury lawsuit.
We understand that after a serious car accident, you and your family are going through a difficult time. More than anything, you need compassion and trustworthy guidance. We will listen to your concerns and explain your legal options. Our attorneys at Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., have helped many Alabama families just like yours recover from serious injuries.
If your injuries make it difficult for you to visit our office, an attorney from Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., can meet with you in your hospital room, rehab center, or other location that is convenient for you. Contact us to learn how a Florence car accident attorney can help you.
Call our Car Accident Lawyer in Florence Now
If you or your loved one has been seriously injured by another driver and those injuries cloud your future, you want to have experienced and determined personal injury lawyers representing you. You want courtroom-tested trial attorneys with a demonstrated record of results. We are proud of the results our legal team has achieved for many Alabama families. Trust the knowledge and experience of Morris, King & Hodge, P.C. We would like to help you as we have helped many others. Contact us now for a free consultation.