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Accidents happen every day in Mobile, Alabama. A Mobile personal injury lawyer can help if you got hurt because of someone else. You don't have to face this hard time alone.
Injuries can cause big medical bills and lost wages. You might feel pain that affects your daily life. These problems can make recovery even harder.
At Krebs Personal Injury Lawyers, we help people who got hurt in Mobile. This article explains what you need to know about personal injury cases in our area.
Personal injury law deals with cases where someone gets hurt because of another person's actions. In Alabama, you can ask for money to pay for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain. The law gives you rights when someone else causes your injury.
Mobile has some special rules that affect injury cases. Alabama follows "contributory negligence," which means you might not get any money if you were even a little bit at fault. This makes having good evidence of what happened very important in Mobile cases.
The local courts in Mobile County handle personal injury cases differently than other places. Cases in Mobile can move faster or slower depending on which court hears your case. The judges and juries in Mobile also have their own way of looking at injury claims.
Many types of accidents can lead to personal injury claims in Mobile. These accidents happen when someone else's carelessness causes you harm.
Car accidents: These are the most common type of personal injury cases in Mobile. Car crashes can cause injuries ranging from whiplash to broken bones and can happen on busy roads like Airport Boulevard or Interstate 10.
Motorcycle accidents: Riders have less protection than car drivers, making these crashes often more serious. Motorcycle accidents frequently result in road rash, head trauma, or spinal injuries that require long-term care.
Truck collisions: Accidents involving commercial trucks can be devastating due to the size difference between trucks and passenger vehicles. These cases may involve multiple parties including the truck driver, trucking company, or even the cargo loader.
Slip and fall incidents: These happen when property owners fail to keep their premises safe for visitors. Wet floors in grocery stores, uneven sidewalks, or poorly lit stairways can cause serious injuries like broken hips or head trauma.
Workplace injuries: On-the-job accidents in Mobile's shipyards, construction sites, or factories can lead to compensation claims. Workers hurt while doing their jobs may qualify for workers' compensation or, in some cases, can file personal injury claims against third parties.
Wrongful death claims: When someone dies because of another person's negligence, their family may file this type of claim. These cases help families recover costs for funeral expenses, lost income, and the emotional pain of losing a loved one.
Each accident type comes with its own set of laws and proof requirements. The evidence needed for a truck accident case differs greatly from what's needed for a slip and fall claim.
Alabama uses a rule called "contributory negligence" that affects injury cases. This rule means if you had any part in causing your accident, you might not get any money at all. Contributory negligence is stricter than rules in most other states, making Alabama personal injury cases more challenging.
For example, if you were texting when a speeding driver hit you, the insurance company might deny your claim completely. This is why having strong evidence and a clear legal plan is so important for accident victims in Mobile.
Taking these steps after an accident in Mobile helps protect your health and legal rights.
Call emergency services and seek medical care. Even if you feel okay, some injuries like concussions or internal bleeding don't show symptoms right away. Getting checked by a doctor creates a medical record that connects your injuries to the accident.
Gather evidence and document the scene. Take pictures of vehicle damage, road conditions, traffic signs, and your visible injuries. Write down what happened while your memory is fresh.
Exchange information with all parties involved. Get names, phone numbers, addresses, license plate numbers, and insurance details from other drivers. Also collect contact information from any witnesses who saw what happened.
Notify your insurance company promptly. Tell them basic facts about when and where the accident happened. Keep your description simple and stick to the facts.
Keep a file of medical records and receipts. Save all paperwork from hospital visits, doctor appointments, prescriptions, and therapy sessions. Also keep receipts for other costs like crutches, bandages, or transportation to medical appointments.
Follow your doctor's instructions. Attend all follow-up appointments and complete the full course of any prescribed treatments. This helps your recovery and shows you're serious about getting better.
Consult a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. A lawyer who knows Alabama's strict fault rules can help protect your rights. They can also handle communications with insurance companies while you focus on healing.
Stay off social media during your recovery. Insurance companies often check social media accounts looking for posts that might hurt your case. Even innocent photos of you smiling at a family event could be used against you.
Quick action after an accident preserves important evidence that might disappear with time. Skid marks fade, witnesses forget details, and surveillance videos may be erased within days.
Talking with insurance companies after an accident can be tricky. Insurance adjusters work for the company, not for you, and they often look for ways to pay less money.
Stay calm and focused during conversations. Insurance adjusters might ask questions that make you upset or confused. Take a deep breath and think before answering any questions about your accident or injuries.
Document every call and piece of mail. Write down the date, time, and what was said during each phone call with the insurance company. Keep all letters, emails, and forms they send you in a folder.
Avoid giving recorded statements without legal advice. Insurance companies often ask to record your statement early after an accident. These recordings can be used against you later if your words sound unclear or if you don't yet know the full extent of your injuries.
Present only factual information without speculation. Stick to simple facts about what happened and your injuries. Avoid guessing about things you're not sure about or saying "I think" or "maybe" when describing the accident.
Consult an attorney to evaluate settlement offers. Early offers from insurance companies are usually much lower than what your case is worth. A lawyer can help figure out if an offer is fair based on your medical bills, lost wages, and pain.
Be careful about signing medical releases. Insurance companies might ask for access to your entire medical history. This broad access lets them look for old injuries they can blame instead of the accident.
Keep track of all accident-related expenses. Save receipts for medications, medical equipment, transportation to doctor visits, and home modifications. These costs can be part of your claim.
Insurance companies try to pay as little as possible on claims to protect their profits. What seems like a good offer might not cover future medical treatments or long-term effects of your injuries.
Local attorneys in Mobile know the judges, court staff, and how the local legal system works. They understand Alabama's strict contributory negligence rule that can affect your case. A Mobile-based lawyer has connections with local medical providers, accident investigators, and other experts who can help your case.
A local lawyer can meet with you face-to-face to discuss your case and answer your questions. They can visit the accident scene to gather important evidence that might be missed by someone unfamiliar with Mobile. This personal touch means your lawyer can better explain your story to insurance companies or in court if needed.
Many accident victims make simple mistakes that hurt their chances of getting fair payment for their injuries.
Failing to document evidence and injuries. Pictures of the accident scene, your injuries, and property damage serve as powerful proof of what happened. Without good photos and written notes about your pain and recovery, it becomes your word against the other person's about how bad your injuries really were.
Missing medical appointments or ignoring treatment plans. Skipping doctor visits makes it look like you aren't really hurt or don't care about getting better. Insurance companies check your medical records and use gaps in treatment to argue your injuries aren't serious or were caused by something else.
Accepting the first insurance offer. Early settlement offers are almost always too low and don't account for future medical care you might need. Once you accept an offer and sign a release, you can't ask for more money later, even if your injuries get worse or require more treatment.
Oversharing details on social media. Posts showing you active or having fun can be used to claim your injuries aren't serious. Even private accounts aren't truly private - insurance companies may ask friends to share your posts or request access to your accounts during the legal process.
Waiting too long to seek legal advice. Alabama's two-year time limit for filing injury claims passes quickly while you're dealing with recovery. Important evidence like security camera footage or witness memories can disappear within days or weeks after an accident.
Giving a recorded statement without preparation. Insurance adjusters ask questions designed to get answers that hurt your claim. Simple statements like "I'm feeling better" or "I didn't see the other car until the last second" can be taken out of context.
Not keeping track of all your expenses. Small costs like parking fees at medical appointments, over-the-counter medications, or help with household chores add up but are often forgotten. These expenses are part of your damages and deserve compensation.
In Alabama's strict legal system, even small errors in how you handle your claim can mean the difference between fair compensation and getting nothing at all.
Alabama follows a strict rule called "contributory negligence." This means if you had any fault in causing your accident - even just 1% - you might not get any money at all. This rule makes Alabama different from most other states and is why having good evidence to show the other person was completely at fault is so important.
Personal injury cases in Mobile can take anywhere from a few months to several years to settle. Simple cases with clear fault and minor injuries usually settle faster. Cases involving serious injuries, disputed fault, or uncooperative insurance companies often take longer to resolve.
Even with minor injuries, insurance companies may offer less money than you deserve for medical bills and missed work. A lawyer can spot issues you might miss, like future medical problems that could develop from your injury. They can also handle paperwork and deadlines while you focus on getting better.
At Krebs Personal Injury Lawyers, we talk with each client directly about their specific situation. Your case gets personal attention from lawyers who understand Mobile's local courts and Alabama laws. We listen to your story and explain your options in simple terms.
We offer a free consultation to discuss your accident and injuries. During this meeting, you can ask questions and learn how we might help with your case. You can schedule this free meeting by calling our office or visiting our website at https://krebslawllc.com/contact-us/.
Our Mobile office works with people hurt in many different kinds of accidents. We can look at the details of what happened to you and talk about possible next steps. Your recovery is important, and sharing your experience helps us understand how to best assist with your legal concerns.
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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