Car Accident Attorneys in Foley, AL

If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident in Foley or a nearby Alabama community, you may be entitled to damages for your losses. Most vehicle accidents result from some form of negligence or reckless actions, and if the accident was the fault of another party, then you deserve to be fully compensated. Unfortunately, however, the responsible party does not usually see things the same way.

When you file an auto accident injury claim, you are usually dealing with the other party’s insurer. And although the insurance company representative may be friendly and courteous, their interests are not aligned with yours. Their goal is to pay out as little as possible for your injuries, because this is what helps their bottom line. And as such, it is very prudent to view the actions of the insurer with skepticism.

If your Foley, AL auto accident resulted in moderate to severe injuries or there are other complicating factors, then it is highly recommended that you speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer before dealing with the insurance company. A skilled and knowledgeable lawyer can review your case and advise you of your legal rights and options, so you can make the most informed decision on whether you should retain legal representation or handle the claim on your own.

At Stone Crosby, P.C., we have extensive experience representing auto accident victims in Foley and other communities throughout Baldwin County, Alabama. Our firm has been providing strong legal representation to injured individuals in this area for more than 100 years, and we have a successful track record of obtaining favorable outcomes for the clients that we serve. Get in touch with us today to schedule a free consultation and case assessment.

Frequent Causes of Auto Accidents

In Foley and throughout Alabama, vehicle accidents are a regular occurrence. In fact, unintentional injuries (from accidents) are listed as the third leading cause of death in the United States, and auto accidents are the leading cause of death among US teens. There are several reasons why car accidents frequently occur, which include:

• Distracted driving (e.g., texting while driving).
• Excessive speeding.
• Driving while intoxicated.
• Reckless driving (e.g., running stop signs and red lights, unsafe lane changes, failure to yield the right-of-way, etc.)
• Drowsy or fatigued driving.
• Driving at night.
• Inexperience driving (unlicensed and underage driving would also fall into this category).
• Negligent vehicle maintenance.
• Vehicle defects.
• Poor road conditions.
• Inclement weather.

Every auto accident case is different, and in many instances, there are multiple contributing factors and a number of parties that could be at fault. A thorough investigation is needed to determine the specific cause of the crash and who was responsible.

Pursuing an Alabama Auto Accident Claim

Those who are injured in a car crash in Alabama can file a claim for damages not only for the direct monetary losses such as medical bills and lost earnings, but also for non-economic losses such as pain and suffering and emotional distress. In rarer cases, punitive damages might also be awarded as punishment for especially egregious actions that may have caused the crash.

For Foley car accident victims, it is important to realize that the laws in our state are not generally in their favor. Alabama is one of only a handful of states that applies the “contributory negligence” legal doctrine to personal injury cases. Under contributory negligence, if an injury victim is found to have “contributed” in any way to the underlying accident or event that caused the injury (even 1%), they can be barred from recovering damages.

This is a very high bar to clear, and you can be sure that the other side will look for any reason they can to pin at least some of the blame for the accident on you and avoid taking responsibility for your injuries. This is why we always recommend working with an attorney, especially if there is any doubt about how the accident occurred.

Important Steps to Take After a Foley, AL Auto Accident

What you do shortly after a vehicle accident will heavily impact both your health and the strength of any legal claim you may have. Here are some critical steps that you should take to protect yourself:

Seek Immediate Medical Care

No matter how badly you think you were hurt (or not) in the crash, you should always get prompt medical attention. At the scene of the crash, an ambulance should be called, so that first responders can check over everyone who was involved in the accident. But it is also recommended that you go into the emergency room, urgent care, or make an appointment with a physician to get a more thorough exam.

Preserve Important Evidence

Along with an ambulance, police should also be called to the crash site to secure the area and produce an official report about what happened. Although there will be a police report filed, it is in your best interests to compile a report of your own. In your report, you may want to include the following:

• Multiple photos of the accident scene showing various angles of the crash. And if you have a dashboard camera, don’t forget to capture any available video footage of the accident.
• Names and contact information of individuals who witnessed the crash. These witnesses might also be willing to provide a statement at the scene, which you can obtain using the audio or video recorder on your cell phone.
• A detailed written or audio account of the accident giving your version of events. Do this as soon as possible while everything is fresh in your mind, and later you can crosscheck your report with the police report to correct any errors that the police might have made.

Do NOT Apologize for the Accident

For some people, it is in their nature to apologize for an adverse event even if it wasn’t their fault. While that might be considered just good manners in most settings, it could be detrimental to your accident injury claim. Remember the Alabama contributory negligence standard that we talked about earlier – any admission of fault could be used against you by the other side.

Follow Through on Your Doctor’s Recommendations

Once you have been checked out by a medical professional, they will have a much better idea of the extent of your injuries. Based on their findings, you might be asked to go in for follow-up tests, limit your physical activities, and eventually, you may start physical therapy. It is very important that you follow all of your doctor’s recommendations not only so you can recover from your injuries more quickly, but also because you have a legal duty to mitigate the losses you sustain from your accident. If you ignored your doctor’s orders, for example, the insurance company might argue that you are not doing all you can to effectively deal with your injuries.

Speak With a Skilled and Knowledgeable Attorney

As we discussed previously, the insurance company that you will be dealing with after an auto accident is not on your side. For this reason, it is in your best interests to at least talk with an attorney before you discuss the case with the insurer and/or agree to anything that they offer you.

Contact Our Reputable Foley, AL Auto Accident Attorneys

Getting injured in a car accident can turn your life upside down, and while you are trying to get recovered and get your life back on track, the last thing you should have to worry about is dealing with an insurance company that is working to undermine your claim. At Stone Crosby, P.C., we understand what you are going through, and we are here to provide the strong legal representation you need and deserve.

Contact our office today to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation with one of our attorneys.