Car Accident Lawyers in Fairhope, AL

If you have been injured in an auto accident in the Fairhope, AL area, it can turn your life upside down. Vehicle accidents take a major physical, emotional, and financial toll on victims and their households, and it can take years to get back to normal life. In some instances, the injuries are long-term and debilitating, and there will never be a return to normal. And the worst cases can result in the loss of life – leaving the family of the victim devastated.

Over the years, we have seen numerous vehicle accidents in and around Fairhope, AL. In January of 2017, a 71-year-old man was killed in a two-vehicle collision at Baldwin County 32 and Baldwin County 33. Later that same month, a 24-year-old man was killed in a motorcycle crash on Fairhope Avenue. And in late 2019, one person was killed in a car crash on Highway 98 and Chris Hires Road.

In all three of these cases, someone lost their life in a senseless accident. And these victims have loved ones who were left behind to pick up the pieces and try to move on.

Unfortunately, no amount of money can bring back the loss of someone close to you or restore the health of someone who has been permanently disabled by an accident. But when this happens, victims and their families deserve to be fully compensated – not only to help ease the suffering and make adjusting to their new reality smoother, but also to ensure that those responsible for causing accidents like these are held fully accountable.

At Hedge Copeland, PC, we understand that those who get injured in an auto accident through no fault of their own have to pay a heavy price, and we are here to provide strong legal guidance and moral support during this difficult time. Our lawyers have extensive experience representing car accident victims in Fairhope, Mobile, and surrounding Alabama communities, and we have a successful track record with even the most complex and difficult cases.

We limit the number of cases we take on, so we can devote the necessary amount of attention and focus to each of our clients. We routinely go up against large insurers and other well-funded adversaries, and we are not intimidated by their high-priced legal teams. When possible, we will try to work out a settlement that fairly compensates our client, but at the same time, we will not hesitate to file a lawsuit if the other side is not negotiating in good faith.

Damages Recoverable in Fairhope, AL Car Accident Cases

While many auto accidents result in minor injuries and minimal vehicle damage, many others cause moderate to severe injuries and as we have talked about earlier, fatalities as well. Alabama is an “at fault” car insurance state, which means that if someone is injured in a vehicle accident, they will usually seek damages for their losses from the responsible party’s insurer.

Compensation can be sought in the form of a claim filed against the other side’s insurance company or through a personal injury lawsuit. Compensable damages for auto accident claims can be divided into two general categories:

• Economic Damages: These are damages for losses that are calculable. Examples include hospitalization costs, costs for surgeries and other treatments, rehabilitation expenses, the cost of ongoing medical care (in the case of a long-term injury), lost wages, loss of earning capacity, and property damage.

• Noneconomic Damages: These are damages for losses that are real but more intangible and difficult to quantify. Examples in this category include physical pain-and-suffering, mental anguish, psychological distress, loss of enjoyment, scarring and disfigurement, loss of consortium, and permanent injury.

In more limited cases in which the actions of the party that caused the Fairhope area auto accident were especially egregious, punitive damages might also be awarded. Punitive damages are not meant to compensate the victim, but rather to “punish” the wrongdoer and discourage them and others from similar behaviors in the future.

If an injury victim is handling the claim without legal representation, then it is highly likely that a lawsuit is not going to be filed – they will usually need to recover compensation through the insurance claims process. This puts victims at a significant disadvantage, because there is no credible threat that they might sue the insurer if they do not receive a reasonable settlement offer.

When a reputable attorney enters the picture, the whole calculus changes. Now the insurance company knows that they will not be able to take advantage of the claimant. Your attorney will be able to put together a more solid case and present a more accurate valuation of the claimant’s losses, which typically compels the insurance company to present a better offer. And of course, if their offer is not acceptable, your attorney reserves the option to take the case to trial.

Do I Have a Car Accident Injury Case?

While we cannot tell you for sure what kind of case you have until we speak with you and go over the specifics, we can provide you some general guidelines. Here are a few questions that will help determine whether or not you have a case:

• Was another person or party at fault for your Fairhope auto accident? We will need to know the circumstances of your accident, how it was caused, and who was at fault. It is worth noting that parties that were not directly involved in the crash might hold some responsibility, such as employers (if the at-fault driver was driving for work), mechanics (if negligent repair/maintenance contributed to the crash), and product makers (if the accident happened because of a vehicle or vehicle part defect).

• Were you in any way at fault for the accident? Under Alabama’s contributory negligence laws, even if someone is 1% responsible for the accident or event that caused their injury, they can be barred from recovering damages. Do NOT apologize to anyone or imply that you are at fault at all for the accident! And do not provide any official statement to the insurance company without first speaking with an attorney.

• Did your accident result in compensable losses? In order to recover damages, we need to show that you sustained calculable losses from the accident, such as the economic and noneconomic losses we talked about earlier. The economic damages will need to be documented through medical bills, pay stubs, and other various types of receipts.

• Are you within the Alabama statute of limitations? Fairhope, AL vehicle accident victims generally have up to two years from the date of the accident to file an injury claim. If this claim is against a government entity, the timeframe is much shorter and there are certain procedures that need to be followed. If you are still within the statute of limitations, then you will be eligible to file a lawsuit to recover compensation for your injuries.

Contact Our Seasoned Fairhope, AL Car Accident Attorneys

If you or someone close to you suffered injury in an auto accident in Alabama, Hedge Copeland is ready to go to work for you! Message us online or call our office today at 251-432-8844 to schedule a free consultation and case assessment.