Mike Bell Accident & Injury Lawyers has a team of experienced Birmingham reckless driving accident lawyers who have expertise in supporting people who have been involved in car crashes throughout Alabama. The team works almost exclusively with personal injury cases and has a long track record of helping clients who are going through even complex cases. By liaising closely with clients and fighting to recover the compensation that the clients are owed, Mike Bell Accident & Injury Lawyers helps people get back to normal life after an accident.
If you have ever suffered an injury at the hands of a reckless driver, you might find that you are almost immediately contacted by an insurance adjuster who is offering to help you with the situation. Be careful and think before you respond. The company may not be acting in your best interests. Remember that the goal of an insurance company is to avoid paying out for your injuries. Their interests and yours are not aligned. Contact a car accident attorney in Birmingham today at 205-666-6000 if you believe the insurance companies are not offering you a fair settlement.
How Can A Lawyer Help If I'm Hit By A Reckless Driver?
It is possible to put in a claim after an accident by yourself in Birmingham, AL. Doing so, however, can be hard work and there are many pitfalls. If you are not familiar with the legal process, you could find yourself susceptible to accepting a settlement that is not enough to cover the costs and distress that you have faced. Some insurance companies offer up a lump sum settlement hoping that the injured party will accept it, but the settlement is smaller than the amount that the victim would be able to get in court. The first offer made by an insurance company is unlikely to reflect the severity of the accident.
A good Birmingham reckless driving accident injury lawyer will investigate the facts of your situation, evaluate your losses, and calculate a suitable compensation target that will cover the monetary and non-monetary aspects of your losses. The attorney will aim to negotiate a settlement that matches your losses, but if the insurance agency is not willing to present a fair offer they can take the claim to court and fight for a suitable amount of compensation.
Fighting these battles is difficult, and it is important to act quickly, especially if you are facing lost wages and significant medical expenses. There can be several delays in the compensation process, and your lawyer will be able to help speed things up and navigate the milestones that might take a lot of time. They can put pressure on the right parties to get your claim expedited.
Another area where a good Birmingham reckless driving accident lawyer can be useful is in helping to save you time and also offering you support. If your finances have been disrupted and you are struggling to work, you won't want to have to deal with too many other issues. Having a skilled attorney on your side can help to ensure that you get the results you want, without having to invest your valuable time in the case.
What Types of Reckless Driving Cases are The Most Common?
According to Drive Safe Alabama, there is a one-in-three chance of a motorist in Alabama being involved in a collision that results in someone getting injured. If you are injured in an accident in Alabama, then it is possible to recover compensation if it can be provided that the at-fault motorist was driving recklessly. Proving recklessness can be difficult. A lawyer will review the police records, talk to witnesses, and look at any available surveillance footage to try to prove that the other party was at fault. Reckless driving behaviors can include:
- Driving aggressively
- Driving above the speed limit
- Driving within the speed limit but too fast for the road conditions/weather
- Erratic driving
- Ignoring traffic signals
- Failure to signal
- Failure to yield
- Tailgating
What Injuries are Commonly Associated with Reckless Driving Accidents?
A reckless driver in Alabama may face criminal charges if it is found that their behavior led to injury or put people at risk. Injuries that are commonly associated with a reckless driving incident can include:
- Sprains
- Lacerations
- Concussions
- Other head injuries
- Broken bones
- Soft tissue damage
- Spinal cord injuries
- Internal injuries
- Paralysis
- Death
If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident, you have the right to take action if you can prove that the injuries were caused by the other driver being careless or reckless. You do not have to accept the burden of the injuries. The other driver should face consequences.
When Should a Birmingham Reckless Driving Accident Lawyer Be Hired?
It is a good idea to seek advice from a Birmingham reckless driving accident lawyer as soon as you are able to do so. If you seek advice quickly your lawyer will be better positioned to collect the evidence required for your case. In Alabama, individuals have up to two years to take action against a reckless driver following an accident. If you fail to take action within the two-year window, then you lose the right to collect compensation.
What Evidence Can Help My Car Accident Claim?
For an injury case, the burden of proof falls to the victim. This means that the victim must demonstrate that the at-fault party was reckless and that their actions caused the accident. Your Birmingham reckless driving accident lawyer will want as much information as possible from you in order to put together a case. The more information you can provide, the better.
In the moments after the accident, you may not be thinking clearly, but if you were able to take photographs, get a police report, talk to witnesses and get their contact details, or gather other evidence, your Birmingham reckless driving lawyer will want to see this. They will also want copies of receipts, insurance statements, hospital bills, and any other paperwork.
How Should I Deal With Insurance Adjusters?
If an insurance adjuster contacts you, do not assume that they have your best interests in mind. If the insurance adjuster is calling on behalf of an at-fault party, then they are going to want you to agree to a lower amount of compensation than they expect to have to payout. They may try to trick you into saying something that could reduce the value of your claim. Talk to your Birmingham reckless driving accident lawyer before you speak to the at-fault party's adjuster.
What Damages Can A Reckless Driving Accident Lawsuit Cover?
Reckless drivers can cause very serious injuries. Because the other driver does not see the accident coming, they are more susceptible to severe injury. A person who has been injured through no fault of their own is entitled to seek compensation, and there are two categories of compensatory damages that are seen regularly in this kind of case:
Economic Damages
This category covers the financial loss. The hospitalization costs, the cost of surgery and medical treatment, rehabilitation, ongoing medical expenses, loss of earnings both in the short term and if the victim's long term ability to work suffers.
Non-Economic Damages
This category covers intangible losses such as distress, reduced quality of life, loss of consortium, and any pain and suffering.
There is a third category, punitive damages, which may sometimes be awarded. This category is not intended to compensate the injured person, but rather to punish the person who was responsible for the accident. Punitive damages can be a powerful deterrent against irresponsible behavior.
Punitive damages are rarely awarded in car accident cases because it is hard to prove that there was true recklessness, rather than just negligence. If, however, there is clear evidence of reckless driving, a lawyer may push to show that the person who caused the accident acted with malicious intent or was willfully reckless in their behavior.
Talk to a Birmingham Reckless Driving Accident Lawyer Today
If you have been involved in a car accident that was not your fault, seek legal advice today to get the justice you deserve. Mike Bell Accident & Injury Lawyers takes on car accident cases in Birmingham and pursues them with tenacity and assertiveness. Call 205-666-6000 now to arrange a free consultation with a skilled Birmingham personal injury attorney, or contact us via our web form to discuss your incident so that we can start working on your case and give you the skilled representation you deserve.
