Alabama Car Accident Lawyers

Aggressive representation for those seriously injured in car wrecks throughout the state

You don’t speed. You fasten your seat belt every time. You don’t even use your phone while driving, and yet, you ended up in a car wreck caused by another driver who was impaired by alcohol. Now you are left with serious injuries, massive medical bills and you are unable to work. Fortunately, our civil justice system provides a way for you to take legal action against the negligent driver who caused the crash where you were injured.

At Mezrano Law Firm, helping injured people recover compensation after an injury caused by someone else’s negligence is what we do. We have more than 40 years of combined legal experience, and we are committed to doing whatever it takes to win for you. Schedule a free consultation to discuss your car accident injury case today. You will never pay attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.

Common causes of car accidents

While a motor vehicle is a complex piece of equipment, it is very simple to operate. The most important safety feature in a vehicle is the driver’s attention. Driver error, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) is responsible for about 94% of traffic crashes. Here’s a list of some of the different ways human error causes car accidents, and the other causes not directly related to driver error:

Types of car wreck cases we handle

There may be endless ways in which cars can smash into each other and cause massive injuries and property damage.
The following are a few of the general categories of car accidents:

• Rear-end crash is the most common type of car accident. These wrecks occur when one car crashes into the car in front of it. Rear-end crashes are typically the result of tailgating or following so close that the driver doesn’t have enough braking distance to avoid a crash when the forward vehicle stops unexpectedly.
• T-bone/broadside crash. A broadside crash often occurs at an intersection when one car runs a red light or stop sign but fails to stop before colliding with a vehicle entering the intersection on a green light.
• Head-on collision. Gratefully, these crashes are rare, but when they do occur, they can be deadly. Head-on crashes often involve drug or alcohol-impaired drivers, drowsy or distracted drivers whose attention is taken away from the task of driving and they lose control of the vehicle.
• Sideswipes can sometimes be caused by bad weather which makes the road slippery, but can also be caused by speeding or aggressive, reckless driving where one vehicle slams into the side of another vehicle’s side.
• Rollover crashes often happen in vehicles with a high center of gravity such as an SUV. Going around a sharp curve, the driver might over-steer and end up rolling the vehicle over.
• Single vehicle accident is self-explanatory and may be caused by an impaired driver or a driver suffering a medical emergency that loses consciousness and control of the vehicle.
• Multiple vehicle pileups/chain reaction crashes. You often see chain reaction crashes while snow is falling or when heavy fog descends on a roadway and there is zero visibility. Other times, it can be precipitated by an aggressive driver on a congested highway.

Distracted driving in Alabama

Distracted driving is a type of driver error – a deadly one. Trusted Choice Insurance reports that Alabama has the second highest rate of fatal car accidents in the country. Distracted driving caused 40 deaths in 2017. And, 43 percent of Alabama teens self-report texting behind the wheel. Even though the state banned texting and driving in 2012, the statistics show distracted driving is still a problem.

Anything a driver does behind the wheel that takes their attention away from the task of operating the vehicle is considered distracted driving. This includes basic and mundane tasks most of us don’t think about twice – but they indeed take our minds off the road. Activities like firing off a quick text, talking on the phone, adjusting the GPS, checking makeup or eating are all good examples of distracted driving.

Did you know?

• Alabama has the 2nd highest rate of fatal car accidents in the United States.
• In 2017, distracted driving was the cause of at least 40 fatalities in this state.
• A 2018 study by the Journal of Adolescent Health found that 43% of teen drivers in Alabama text while driving.

Different types of car accident claims

After a car accident injury, the injured person, the plaintiff, must prove that the car accident which caused their injury was the fault of another party. Three types of car accident claims include:

• Negligence. This is the most common type of claim for a car wreck. Using the example of a drunk driver causing a crash, the person who was injured claims that the drunk driver's negligence in driving while impaired by alcohol caused the accident where they were injured.
• Defective product claim. If the crash was caused because the at-fault driver's brakes failed, then the accident case would be based on a product liability claim, and the manufacturer of the braked might be one of the defendants. We have been particularly successful in Birmingham in cases involving defective, low-density asphalt, which causes drivers to skid out when, realistically, they should have been able to maintain control on the road.
• Defective roadway design. Whether it was negligent maintenance, potholes, defective guardrails, hazardous road design, or improper signage, these are all factors that could cause or contribute to a car accident.

Making a claim against the government for a car crash injury

If you are hit by a negligent driver who works for the county, your timelines to file a claim are much shorter. Instead of the general two years, you only have six months to file a claim. Furthermore, it is important to note that different cities have different rules. For example, both Birmingham and Montgomery require you to file paperwork with their city offices before you do anything else.

If your claim is denied, however, don’t give up: you may still be able to file a lawsuit to recover damages.

Common car accident injuries

When human bodies are involved in a collision of motor vehicles, the outcome is often devastating. There are endless ways a body can be injured in a car wreck, but here are some examples of car accident injures that often occur:

• Head injuries, which might involve a cracked skull or other injuries to the head that you often see in unrestrained passengers.
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an all-too common injury that is caused by the rapid deceleration which causes the head to swing forward and backward and the malleable brain tissue to collide with the inside front of the skull, the back of the skull damaging the cells of the brain and causing lasting injury and disability.
• Back and neck injury. Back injuries are common in car accidents from the trauma of the collision. The person with an injured back and neck will experience severe pain, limited range of motion and other debilitating symptoms.
• Soft tissue injuries such as whiplash which can cause pain and lasting immobility.
• Internal organ damage such as ruptured spleen, kidneys and other vital organs
• Bone fractures such as broken ribs, wrists, knees, ankles and feet from intrusion of the striking vehicle into the passenger compartment.
• Cuts and lacerations from the broken glass, and sheared steel after the crash
• Burn injuries can occur if a fire breaks out from spilled fuel which ignites.
• Amputations/traumatic limb loss. If one of the vehicle occupants had an arm out of the window at the time of the crash, or had their legs propped up on the dashboard, they might emerge with grisly injuries.

How can an Alabama car accident lawyer help me?

Before you can hope to recover compensation for your car accident injury, you must first prove that it was the fault of the other driver that caused your injury. This will require a careful investigation of the accident, interviewing witnesses, reconstructing the accident, proving who is at fault and then preparing a strong case for compensation for your injuries.

An experienced Alabama car accident lawyer handles all these tasks and more on your behalf, negotiates with the other insurance company and fights for fair compensation for you. A car accident lawyer will almost always be able to recover more compensation than you would be able to on your own simply because of their knowledge and experience in handling these cases and being able to determine the value of your case without falling for the insurance company’s initial lowball offer.

When you are dealing with a car accident lawyer from Mezrano Law Firm, our intention is to win you case, not just settle with the insurance company. Even as we are preparing a demand package for you, we are preparing to litigate if it is required.

A car accident injury is another form of stress in your life. We take on the legal challenge so that you can focus on recuperating from your injury and getting back to your normal life. Because we get paid only when we win compensation for you, we are doubly inspired to work hard to recover as much compensation as we can on your behalf.

Driving can be dangerous in Alabama

According to Drive Safe Alabama’s most recent data, there’s a traffic crash reported about every 200 seconds, and someone is injured in a crash every 11 minutes. Maybe that’s why Alabama drivers have, on average, more than a one-in-three chance of being seriously hurt or even killed in a wreck. Here are some other facts and statistics you should know:

About fatal crashes

• There were 1,315 drivers involved in fatal car crashes in Alabama in 2018.
  • 953 people died in crashes that year.
  • 541 of those crashes happened on rural roads.
• 54% of all fatal crashes happen between dusk and dawn.
• Almost 60% of people who died in fatal crashes aren’t wearing their seatbelts.
• In 2016, Alabama’s fatal car accident rate was higher than the national fatal crash rate.
• Most fatal wrecks happen on Sundays. (Friday is second on the list.)
• The number of fatal crashes involving drug or alcohol use is 6.9x higher than all other wrecks.

About causes of crashes

• Speeding is “the top contributing factor” to Alabama car accidents.
• In fact, out of 50 states, Alabama is #12 when it comes to speeding fatalities.
• The #1 cause of non-fatal accidents is failure to yield the right-of-way.
• Most car accidents involve speeding, drug/alcohol use, and/or someone not wearing a seatbelt.
• Almost half of unrestrained drivers and passengers (48.17%) suffer injures when they’re in an accident.
• Texting drivers are 23x more likely to be in wrecks than drivers who aren’t texting.

How much is my car accident case worth?

While this is a common question that new clients ask, it is not a question we can answer at the outset of the case. There are so many factors that contribute to what a case is worth, but no one will know the full extent of them in the beginning of the case. Factors such as the extent of your injuries, how much pain the injury is causing you, whether the injury will keep you from being able to work, the amount of your medical bills, wage and benefits lost all determine the value of your case.

Although we can’t tell you at your initial consultation how much you might expect to recover, we will review your case and offer sound, legal advice about how you might proceed given the present facts. You can rely on our trusted representation, and our willingness to fight for the best possible outcome for you.

How does my car wreck lawyer get paid?

The Alabama car accident attorneys at Mezrano Law Firm take cases on contingency. Because of this, you will not pay attorney fees up front. Instead, we advance the costs of your case and pursue compensation for you. We get paid our attorney fees as a percentage of your total settlement amount or the jury verdict.

This arrangement creates a win-win for the attorney and the client. We are in this together, and we have a strong incentive to fight to recover the most compensation possible for you.

Schedule a consultation with Alabama’s trusted car accident injury law firm today

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident caused by someone else's negligence, Mezrano Law Firm needs to be your first call. Our experienced Alabama car accident injury lawyers represent clients throughout the state with offices in Birmingham, Mobile, Florence, Gadsden, Montgomery, and Tuscaloosa. You are encouraged to call 205-206-6300 or fill out our contact form and schedule your free initial consultation with an experienced Alabama personal injury lawyer.

If you have a case, you have a lawyer. Call us today to learn more.