This page was written, edited, reviewed & approved by JR Krebs following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. JR Krebs, the Founding Partner, has years of legal experience as a bankruptcy attorney. Our last modified date shows when this page was last reviewed.
Car accidents in Huntsville can leave you hurt, confused, and worried about medical bills. You might not know what to do next or who can help you. The pain and stress can make everything harder.
They have teams of lawyers working to protect their money. This puts you at a disadvantage when you're already suffering.
Krebs Personal Injury Lawyers helps people hurt in Huntsville car crashes. We explain your rights, handle the paperwork, and fight for fair payment for your injuries.
A Huntsville attorney knows the local roads where accidents happen often, like Memorial Parkway and University Drive. They understand Huntsville's court system and how Alabama's strict driver negligence law works. This local knowledge helps build a stronger case for you after a car accident.
A local lawyer can talk directly with Huntsville doctors, police officers, and court staff. They know which medical experts can best explain your injuries. This makes everything move faster and smoother during a difficult time.
Alabama follows a strict rule called pure contributory negligence for car accidents. This rule means if you are found even 1% at fault for your accident, you cannot receive any money for your injuries. For example, if you were slightly speeding when someone ran a red light and hit you, you might get nothing - even if the other driver was mostly to blame.
Good lawyers work hard to protect you from these unfair blame claims. They gather evidence like traffic camera videos, witness statements, and accident scene photos. A thorough investigation can show you followed all traffic laws and the other driver was completely responsible for what happened.
The actions you take right after a car crash in Huntsville can protect your health and legal rights, and knowing what to do after an accident helps even if the crash seems small.
Check yourself and others for injuries, then call 911 even if the crash seems minor. Stay at the scene in a safe spot away from traffic, and turn on hazard lights to prevent another collision.
When police arrive, give them the facts without guessing or admitting fault. The police report they create becomes an official record of what happened and helps with insurance claims later.
Take photos of all vehicles from multiple angles, showing damage, license plates, and the entire accident scene. Pictures of skid marks, traffic signs, and weather conditions can help show who was at fault.
Get names and phone numbers of anyone who saw the accident. Witnesses can provide statements about what they saw, which is especially important when fault is disputed.
Write down or record voice notes about road conditions, visibility, and anything unusual you noticed. In Alabama's contributory negligence system, these details might prove you had zero fault in the accident.
See a doctor within 24 hours after the accident, even if you feel fine. Some injuries like whiplash, concussions, or internal bleeding might not show symptoms right away but can become serious problems later.
Tell your doctor about all symptoms, no matter how small they seem. Medical records connect your injuries directly to the accident, which insurance companies look for when processing claims.
Follow all treatment plans and attend follow-up appointments. Gaps in medical care might be used by insurance companies to argue your injuries aren't serious or weren't caused by the accident.
Report the accident to your insurance company promptly, giving only basic facts about when and where it happened. Avoid saying "I'm sorry" or making statements that could be interpreted as admitting fault.
Decline to give recorded statements without legal advice, and don't accept the first settlement offer. Insurance adjusters often contact accident victims quickly, hoping to settle claims before the full extent of injuries becomes clear.
A car accident attorney can explain how Alabama's contributory negligence law affects your case and help gather evidence that shows the other driver was completely at fault. They can also calculate the true value of your claim, including future medical expenses and lost income.
Contact a lawyer within a few weeks of your accident to allow time for investigation while evidence is fresh. Alabama has a two-year time limit for filing car accident lawsuits, and building a strong case takes time.
After a car accident in Huntsville, you may get money for two main types of damages. Economic damages cover the actual money you lost, like medical bills for hospital stays, doctor visits, and physical therapy. This also includes lost wages if you missed work, car repair costs, and any property that was damaged in the crash.
Non-economic damages pay for things that don't have a clear dollar value, like pain and suffering or emotional distress. Serious injuries might require home modifications, such as wheelchair ramps or bathroom grab bars. Long-term injuries can lead to future medical costs and ongoing care that must be included in your claim.
Insurance companies in Huntsville often call accident victims within days of a crash with quick settlement offers. These early offers are typically much lower than what your case is worth for car accident claims and come before you know the full extent of your injuries. Once you accept this money, you sign away your rights to ask for more later, even if you discover your injuries are worse than you thought.
In Alabama's at-fault system, insurance companies look for any reason to reduce or deny your claim completely, so understanding how to claim auto insurance can help protect your rights. They might check your social media posts, talk to witnesses, or review your driving history to find evidence that you were partly at fault. An attorney familiar with Huntsville insurance practices can handle these communications, gather evidence showing the other driver was completely at fault, and calculate what your injuries will truly cost over time.
Talking with insurance adjusters can be tricky after a car accident in Huntsville.
Understanding what your claim is worth gives you power when talking to insurance companies. Add up all your medical bills, car repair costs, and lost wages from missed work days. A lawyer can help figure out fair amounts for pain and suffering based on similar cases in Huntsville.
Write down the date, time, and main points of every phone call with insurance people. Save all emails, letters, and text messages in a folder. This record helps if the adjuster says something different later or forgets what was promised to you.
Many injuries take weeks or months to show their full effects, especially back and neck problems. Insurance companies may offer money right away, hoping you'll accept before you know how badly you're hurt. Waiting until your doctor says you've reached maximum medical improvement gives you a clearer picture of your long-term health needs.
Police officers use several key factors to decide who caused a car accident in Huntsville. They look at traffic tickets given at the scene, statements from people who saw what happened, and physical evidence like skid marks and vehicle damage. In serious crashes, experts may create detailed reconstructions showing exactly how the vehicles collided and which driver made mistakes, especially among the common types of car accidents in Alabama.
Alabama's strict contributory negligence rule makes proving fault especially important in Huntsville car accidents. Insurance companies examine police reports, medical records, and photos from the accident scene to find any possible mistake you made. Even small details like whether your turn signal was on or if your headlights were working properly can determine if you receive any money for your injuries.
Many people have questions after being hurt in a car crash in Huntsville, and our blog covers a range of personal injury topics.
Most Huntsville car accident lawyers work on a "contingency fee" basis. This means you pay nothing upfront, and the lawyer only gets paid if they win money for you. The fee is often based on a percentage of the settlement and can vary depending on the lawyer and complexity of the case.
The exact percentage may depend on how much work your case requires and whether it goes to trial. Many lawyers offer free first meetings to discuss your case and explain their fee structure before you decide to hire them.
There is no set dollar limit for car accident lawsuits in Alabama. The amount depends on your specific injuries, medical bills, lost wages, and property damage. More serious injuries like brain trauma or spinal cord damage typically result in higher compensation amounts.
Alabama law allows you to seek money for both economic damages (medical bills, lost wages) and non-economic damages (pain and suffering). Your total damages might include current medical costs plus estimates of future care needs and income losses.
Car accident settlements in Alabama vary widely based on injury severity, available insurance, and whether you were partly at fault. Minor injury cases might settle for a few thousand dollars, while severe, permanent injuries can result in settlements of hundreds of thousands or even millions.
The average settlement amount isn't a good predictor for your specific case. Each accident has unique factors like the type of crash, your medical history, and how the injury affects your daily life and ability to work.
Choosing a lawyer based only on television ads or billboards without checking their actual experience with car accident cases in Huntsville. A good attorney should have specific experience with Alabama's strict contributory negligence law and a track record of successful settlements.
Failing to ask about all potential costs and fees before signing an agreement. While the main fee is usually a percentage of your settlement, some firms charge extra for case expenses like filing fees, expert witnesses, or medical record copies.
In Alabama, you generally have two years from the date of your accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. This legal deadline is called the "statute of limitations." If you miss this two-year window, the court will likely dismiss your case permanently.
The clock starts ticking on the day of your accident in most cases. However, there are some exceptions that might extend this deadline, such as when injuries aren't discovered right away or when the victim is a minor child.
Krebs Personal Injury Lawyers, a Tuscaloosa personal injury lawyer, treats each car accident case with personal attention, taking time to understand how your injuries affect your daily life. Our team knows Huntsville roads, local medical facilities, and Madison County courts from years of handling similar cases. We work hard to build strong evidence that shows the other driver was completely at fault under Alabama's strict rules.
While our main office is in Tuscaloosa, we help accident victims throughout Alabama, including Huntsville and Madison County, and offer Tuscaloosa Car Accident Lawyer services as well. We travel to meet clients who cannot come to us because of their injuries. Our attorneys stay in regular contact with clients, explaining each step of the process in plain language without legal jargon.
After a car accident in Huntsville, talking with a lawyer can help you understand your options without any cost to you. Krebs Personal Injury Lawyers offers free case reviews where you can explain what happened and learn how Alabama's strict laws might affect your situation. You can ask questions about your specific accident and injuries without worrying about paying for legal advice.
The free consultation helps you decide what to do next without any pressure or obligation. A lawyer will listen to your story, look at any documents you have, and give you honest feedback about your case. Schedule a free consultation to learn if you have a valid claim and how we might help you get fair payment for your injuries.
J.R. is dedicated to providing personalized representation, avoiding a one-size-fits-all approach. He tailors his strategy to the unique challenges and needs of each client and case, ensuring focused and individualized attention.
His practice mainly covers Plaintiff’s Personal Injury, including car and 18-wheeler accidents, slips and falls, dog bites, defective products, and wrongful death. He also handles commercial disputes on contingency, with experience in contracts, construction, and probate. For any dispute headed toward litigation, J.R. develops an aggressive strategy to maximize your recovery through negotiation, arbitration, or trial.
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