Car Accident Attorneys in Homewood

Auto accidents can be among the most devastating events for injury victims. In the blink of an eye, a crash can leave you hospitalized and requiring medical care for an extended period of time. The mounting medical bills are just the beginning, however. You might also have to miss work for a while, and you will most likely be dealing with excruciating physical pain and a high amount of stress during your rehabilitation.

More than 90% of motor vehicle accidents are caused by some type of human error, and as such, most of them are preventable. If you or someone close to you was injured or killed in a car accident in Homewood or a nearby Alabama community, you may be eligible for damages. Unfortunately, the responsible party will probably not admit to causing the crash; and recovering damages will usually involve filing a claim with their insurance company.

It is important to realize that insurance companies are in business to make a profit and they are not eagerly waiting to pay you the compensation you are entitled to for your car accident. With so much at stake, it makes sense to have a skilled legal advocate in your corner who is looking out for your best interests.

At Burge & Burge, we have several decades of experience representing victims of car accidents in Homewood, Birmingham, and surrounding Alabama communities. Our attorneys have handled all types of personal injury cases, and we have an in-depth understanding of the complexities involved with successfully pursuing these types of cases. We routinely go up against insurance companies and other large entities, and we know what it takes to effectively thwart the tactics they commonly use in order to evade responsibility for the injuries that have been caused.

How do Most Car Accidents Happen?

As we touched on earlier, auto accidents that occur in Homewood and other areas in Alabama are usually caused by human error. And in the vast majority of those cases, one of the vehicle drivers is at fault. Some of the most common driving behaviors that cause car accidents include:

• Distracted Driving: Motorists have more distractions than ever these days, and it is getting increasingly difficult for many of them to stay focused on the road. Texting while driving is especially dangerous, because it distracts drivers in three different ways; visually, manually, and cognitively. When a motorist is busy sending and receiving text messages, it is very easy for them to miss important things, such as a vehicle moving into their blind spot or a vehicle slowing down in front of them.

• Speeding: Speed kills. And driving over the speed limit is a surefire way to increase your chances of a car accident. Speeding not only gives a driver less time to adjust to adverse conditions on the road, the effects of a high-speed collision also heighten the likelihood of serious and catastrophic injuries.

• Aggressive/Reckless Driving: Excessive speeding is one form of reckless driving, others include tailgating, waving wildly back and forth between lanes, running stop signs and red lights, making sharp turns, illegal and dangerous passing maneuvers, street racing, and playing “chicken”. All of these behaviors are frequent contributors to a vehicle crash.

• Drunk Driving: It is well-known that driving while intoxicated can lead to more vehicle accidents and senseless fatalities. Impaired drivers have slower reaction times and poor judgment, and they often lose their inhibitions and take unnecessary chances that endanger themselves and others on the road.

• Drowsy Driving: A surprising number of motorists frequently drive without getting enough sleep. This is most common among commercial vehicle operators such as long-haul truckers and tow truck drivers and those who regularly work long hours during late evenings, overnights, and early mornings.

There are some instances in which another party that was not directly involved in the accident is responsible. Here are some examples:

• Vehicle Defects: Sometimes, a Homewood car accident might be (at least partially) the fault of a product manufacturer, supplier, or distributor that is responsible for providing a defective vehicle or vehicle part that contributed to the accident. When this is the case, it may be possible to file a product liability claim against the responsible party.

• Employer Pressure: When a commercial vehicle driver causes an accident, their employer could share some of the blame if the driver was under pressure to break traffic laws or in the case of a big rig truck driver, violate government regulations.

• Poorly Maintained Roads: If a road was not adequately maintained and was full of potholes and other dangers, those in charge of maintaining the roads could have some culpability in the accident. This could be a government entity in the case of a public road or a private entity in the case of a private road, parking lot, or parking garage.

Damages Recoverable in Homewood, Alabama Car Accident Claims

When someone suffers an injury in an auto accident through no fault of their own, they may be entitled to significant damages. This could compensation for losses such as:

• Medical Bills
• Lost Earnings (both present and future)
• Property Damage
• Pain-and-Suffering (both physical and emotional)
• Loss of Enjoyment
• Disfigurement
• Permanent Injury

In more limited cases in which the actions of those responsible for the Homewood vehicle accident were especially egregious, punitive damages may also be awarded over and above those damages that are meant to compensate the victim. The purpose of punitive damages is to punish the wrongdoer and help discourage them and others from similar behaviors in the future.

Pursuing a car accident injury claim is especially difficult in Alabama because we are one of the few states that still uses the antiquated legal standard known as “contributory negligence”. Under contributory negligence, an injury victim can be barred from recovering damages if they are found to be even 1% responsible for the underlying accident. This makes it all the more important to work with an experienced auto accident attorney who has the proven ability to successfully pursue auto accident claims in Alabama.

Contact an Experienced Homewood, AL Car Accident Lawyer

If you or a loved one suffered injury in an auto accident in Alabama, the attorneys at Burge & Burge are ready to go to work for you. Message us online or call our office today at 205-251-9000 to schedule a free consultation and case assessment.