Have you or someone you love been seriously injured in a car crash? Contact the Hamilton car accident lawyers at Mama Justice today for a free consultation.
While it only takes a split second for a car accident to happen, the negative effects of a crash can last for months, years, or even a lifetime. Car accidents are not a rare occurrence in Alabama, and each year thousands of residents grapple with the lasting physical, emotional, and financial consequences of car crashes.
Over 90 percent of Alabama drivers are involved in a crash throughout their lifetime, according to 2020 data assembled by the Alabama Department of Transportation. Additionally, drivers in Alabama also have at least a 40 percent chance of suffering personal injury or death while operating a vehicle throughout their lifetime.
If you’ve been involved in a car accident, you likely already know the toll that it can take on both you and your loved ones. Whether it is personal injuries, medical bills, lost income, or future medical bills, having to manage life after a car accident is difficult, and facing it alone can be extremely challenging.
If you’ve been involved in a crash, it is crucial to contact a car accident lawyer to help you receive justice and fair compensation. The Hamilton car accident lawyers at Mama Justice have years of experience representing car accident victims and can help you recover the maximum compensation you may be entitled to after being injured in a car accident. Reach out to our Hamilton car accident attorneys to schedule a free consultation and explore your legal rights and how a car accident case can help you.
Alabama Car Accident Statistics and Figures
Data can play an important role in understanding the severity of car accidents in Alabama as well as realizing that, if you’ve been impacted in a car crash, you are not alone. Here is a list of figures from 2020 about car accidents from the Alabama Department of Transportation:
- On average, someone was injured in a traffic crash every 13 minutes and 50 seconds in Alabama. Every 9 hours and 20 minutes, a person was killed in a traffic crash, and an accident was reported once every 3 minutes and 55 seconds.
- In total, over 134,000 traffic accidents took place in Alabama and just under 38,000 personal injuries occurred as a result.
- There were 932 deaths in Alabama in 2020 from traffic accidents, two more than in 2019. Alabama’s fatality rate stands at 1.40 per hundred million vehicle miles, greater than the 2020 national rate of 1.37.
- Of the over 244,000 vehicles involved in an accident in Alabama, roughly 121,000 were passenger cars, 62,700 were SUVs, minivans, or station wagons and 42,800 were pick-up trucks.
- In Marion County, home to Hamilton, Alabama, there were a total of 466 traffic crashes in 2020, as well as seven fatalities.
While these numbers may seem overwhelming, if you’ve suffered injuries from a car wreck, our Hamilton car accident attorneys at Mama Justice know that you and all car accident victims are more than just another statistic, and we may be able to help. Call today to speak with an experienced car accident attorney, and take the first steps to get the legal representation you deserve.
Common Car Accident Injuries in Alabama
Serious car accidents can cause a variety of catastrophic injuries and even death. An individual who sustains injuries in a car accident is likely to need medical treatment, and as a result, they will accrue significant medical expenses. An average single-night hospital stay can cost well over $10,000, depending on an individual’s health insurance company, or lck thereof. Being forced to stay at a hospital for medical treatment or being physically limited due to serious injuries will frequently force injured victims to endure lost wages, as they cannot work and get paid. Some examples of common car accident injuries include:
- Spinal cord damage or spinal cord injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Broken bones
- Back and neck injuries
- Shoulder injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Burn injuries
- Lacerations and scarring
In addition to a costly visit to a medical professional and the potential need for extended treatment, car accident injuries can leave lasting psychological impacts that might require therapy or other attention. Examples of this include post-traumatic stress disorder, severe anxiety or depression, and the development of phobias related to transportation.
One research study published in the National Library of Medicine showed that up to 67% of motor vehicle accident victims experience depression after a crash while up to 47% have elevated anxiety or driving phobia. An additional 20% to 40% suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. These numbers are startling and exemplify the impact a car accident can have on someone’s life.
The Hamilton car accident attorneys at Mama Just have decades of experience representing car crash victims and may be able to help you with your car accident claim. Contact the personal injury lawyers at Mama Justice today and learn about what steps you can take to receive the maximum amount of compensation available for your injuries and damages.
Common Causes of Car Accidents in Alabama
Car accidents frequently occur in Alabama, and there is a long list of causes and circumstances that may come together to result in a severe crash. Some car accidents are caused by negligent drivers, while others can be blamed on mechanical failures, like malfunctioning brakes. Some of the most common causes of auto accidents in Alabama include:
Distracted driving
Distracted drivers caused 57 fatalities in Alabama in 2020. Whether a motorist is texting, eating, using a GPS device, or engaging in other distracting behaviors, they should know that conducting these activities while behind the wheel are dangerous and against the law.
Reckless driving
Reckless drivers continue to cause deadly car accidents each year in Alabama. Examples of reckless driving include failing to yield intentionally, running red lights, and not pulling over for law enforcement. Aggressive operation of motor vehicles resulted in over 2,600 car accidents in Alabama in 2020.
Driving under the influence
Unfortunately, not all drunk drivers are caught by law enforcement, and in 2020, drunk drivers caused over 4,000 car crashes in Alabama.
Speeding
A form of reckless driving, breaking the speed limit has been normalized and is carried out by many drivers. In 2020, Alabama saw 128 fatal crashes attributed to speeding.
Falling asleep or drowsy driving
Time and time again, studies have shown that the average American does not get enough sleep. When drowsy drivers take to the road, it can lead to unsafe driving conditions. Fatigued motorists and drivers who fell asleep behind the wheel accounted for 2,235 car accidents and 18 deaths in Alabama in 2020.
Mechanical failure
Just like any piece of machinery, cars require constant maintenance and upkeep. If this is ignored, a car accident caused by mechanical failure can occur, such as a tire blowout, a broken headlight, or malfunctioning brakes.
Inexperienced drivers
When it comes to driving, experience is often very important. In 2020, six percent of all fatal motor vehicle accidents in Alabama were caused by drivers aged 19 years or under. About 19 percent were caused by drivers aged 25 years or under.
Few car accident cases are identical, and at times two or more of these causes may combine to result in a severe accident. If you’ve been the victim of an auto accident, particularly if you suspect a negligent driver was involved, it is important to contact legal representation who will listen to you, help you identify the at-fault party, and recover the compensation you deserve. Depending on the scenario, both the driver and the driver’s insurance company may be liable.
Our Hamilton car accident lawyer at Mama Justice has decades of experience fighting for victims in car accident cases in Mississippi. We will help you get a copy of the police report for your accident and fight to get you justice. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and speak with our law firm of personal injury lawyers.
Important Steps to Take if You’ve Been a Victim of a Car Accident in Hamilton
After being in a car accident, it is normal to feel overwhelmed, stressed, and unsure about what exactly to do. Even if you haven’t been involved in a car accident, it’s good to be prepared on what to do should one happen. Here is a list of steps to take if you find yourself involved in a car crash:
Try to stay calm and check for any injuries.
Being in a car accident is a shocking experience. It is important to take a breath and try to stay calm to properly assess the situation. Check yourself and the other car occupants for any major or minor injuries. For many people, adrenaline will be high following a crash, and minor injuries may go unnoticed if this step is ignored.
Pull your car over to safety.
Depending on the severity of the crash, this step may not be possible. If it is possible, however, move your car to the side of the road to avoid any further accidents, like a pile-up crash.
Contact law enforcement.
Car accidents in Alabama should be reported to law enforcement, especially if injuries have occurred. If a serious personal injury is sustained from an accident, it’s best to call 911 to request urgent medical treatment as well as to file a police report.
Collect the other driver’s insurance information.
After an accident, it’s important to share personal information, such as a name and phone number, as well as insurance information, like the company’s name, address, and phone number, with the other parties involved. Failure to exchange insurance information could result in unintended roadblocks if you file a personal injury claim. Also, make sure to contact your auto insurance company as well.
Gather information, and don’t admit fault.
After a car accident, it’s important not to assume who the at-fault party is. Many different factors can come together to contribute to an accident, and not all of them might be immediately apparent. Don’t immediately admit fault, apologize, or say you’re sorry. Gather information and as much evidence as possible, such as pictures, medical reports, accident reports, police reports, videos, and eyewitness statements.
Find legal representation.
An experienced personal injury lawyer can help guide you through the complex legal issues that arise after being involved in a car accident. The Hamilton car accident lawyers at Mama Justice have decades of experience taking on car accident cases and accident victims. Our legal team knows how to recover damages and seek compensation that may be owed to you following a car accident. Call today for a free consultation with our car accident lawyer.
The Different Classifications of Car Accidents in Alabama
There are more than 5.7 million registered vehicles in Alabama, and because of that, a long list of different types of car crashes can take place on Hamilton roadways. In 2020, according to the Alabama DOT, the majority–roughly 52,000–of car accidents occurred on city roads, although most fatalities came from crashes on state routes. Some major types of crashes that take place in Alabama include:
Head-on collisions
Typically a head-on crash is caused by a negligent driver failing to stay in the correct lane and then hitting another vehicle head-on. The combined force of both vehicles traveling at one another can make this type of accident particularly dangerous and deadly.
T-bone collisions
A T-bone collision occurs when one car crashes head-on into the side of another car. Depending on the driver or passenger’s proximity to the side of the car, this type of car accident can result in serious injuries.
Vehicle rollover
A vehicle rollover can impact one vehicle or several, depending on how it happens. Rollovers are typically caused by a speeding vehicle’s tires losing grip of the road and rolling over on its side.
Hit and run crash
A hit-and-run is a type of crash in which one party strikes another with a vehicle and then, intentionally or unknowingly, flees the scene. Hit and runs can range in severity and present challenges when identifying the at-fault party.
Pile-up accident
Depending on the type of roadway, the threat of a pile-up accident is usually created after another crash has happened. A pile-up occurs after several other drivers–who may be speeding, following too close, or not paying attention–fail to stop for an accident in front of them.
Construction accident
By one estimate, highway and road construction in the United States is expected to grow to around $103 billion by 2024. As a result, numerous roadwork projects take place throughout Alabama each year. Unfortunately, these areas are the sites of numerous crashes when negligent drivers fail to act carefully.
Intersection crash
Failing to yield or stop at a stop sign, red or yellow light, or to the commands of a traffic guard are all reasons why an intersection crash may occur. In 2020, there were 188 intersection-related crashes in Marion County, Alabama.
It’s not always easy to identify the type of crash that you’ve been the victim of or who the at-fault party is. The car accident attorneys at Mama Justice will be able to help. Our law firm is committed to helping car accident victims in Hamiltonrecover financial compensation for injuries and damages. Contact Mama Justice today at (888) 484-1476 to speak with a Hamilton car accident lawyer.
Managing Car Accident Settlement Negotiations
If you were injured or a loved one was killed in a motor vehicle accident, you have the right to file a personal injury claim or a wrongful death claim against the at-fault party. This is a process that will typically involve the driver, the victim, an insurance adjuster, and legal teams.
Going to trial can for a car accident case, at times, be a time-consuming and risky process, and therefore the insurance company for the at-fault party may offer a settlement, or a set sum of money, to avoid litigation. If you are considering a settlement, here are some tips to get the most out of negotiations:
- Accident, damage, and injury documentation. Immediately after a car accident, it is important to collect as much information as possible to prove your case and that you were injured in a car. Examples of this include a record of medical bills, damage estimates, an accident report, a police report, and documentation of lost wages, as well as videos and photos that may show the accident’s severity, the scene of the crash, and the injured person.
- Contact a car accident attorney. Learning the ins and outs of settlement negotiations and agreements can be a daunting, time-consuming task. Therefore, while not required, it’s usually to your benefit to find dependable legal service that is upfront, on your side, and can help you navigate all the legal issues and jargon.
- Persistence, professionalism, and patience. Settlement negotiations don’t always come easy. More often than not, the first offer you receive during negotiations will be lower than what you were expecting–it is important to be prepared to reject it. That being said, being professional, respectful, and courteous during negotiations will also go a long way in getting the amount of financial compensation that you are comfortable with. Lastly, landing on a number that both parties agree on can take some time, so it is important to be patient when negotiating, as the process could last weeks or even months.
Having a seasoned car accident attorney by your side throughout the entire legal process can make a big difference in your ability to get justice and recover the compensation you need and deserve.
Our accident lawyer at Mama Justice is not afraid to demand full compensation from the insurance company for your car accident case. Reach out to us for a free consultation today.
Who Can Be Held Liable in A Car Accident Case?
A negligent driver isn’t always the at-fault party in a car accident. Other acts of negligence can occur, unbeknownst to you, long before you start driving the vehicle, which can cause you to be injured or your car to be damaged. Here is a list of parties that could potentially be held liable after an auto accident:
- The other driver
- The driver’s insurance company
- The car’s passenger
- Car mechanic
- Gas station
- Car manufacturer
- A rideshare company
- Governmental agencies
In some cases, one or more of these parties could be held liable.t is important to contact a Hamilton personal injury attorney to ensure that everyone who played a role in the car accident is held responsible.
Most personal injury lawyers include hidden and unexpected fees, but if Mama Justice takes on your car accident case, we work on a contingency fee basis–meaning we don’t get paid until you do. Call today to schedule a consultation with our car accident lawyers and to learn more about what steps to take if you’ve been injured in a car accident.
Contact a Hamilton Car Accident Lawyer at Mama Justice Today
Why choose Mama Justice? Our founding attorney Missy Wigginton has decades of experience representing car accident victims. Missy earned her law degree at the University of Mississippi School of Law and has achieved a long list of accolades throughout her career. In addition, our team of 15 lawyers put in countless hours to ensure that no one has to deal with the fallout of a catastrophic car accident alone.
Call (888) 484-1476 to talk with a Hamilton car accident lawyer.