Life can be hard sometimes. It can get even more complicated when you suffer an injury caused by someone else’s negligent actions. An injury, no matter its severity, can instantly change your life. It might become difficult to pay the bills, rent, buy food for your family and care for yourself. Those difficulties drive the Montgomery personal injury attorneys from the Mezrano Law Firm to fight so hard for you. When you are hurt and don’t know where to turn, turn to us. Let our family help yours.
There are two justice systems in America: the criminal justice system, which decides whether or not a person has broken the law, and the civil justice system, which handles non-criminal matters.
A personal injury claim is heard in civil court. It allows a person (a plaintiff) who has sustained a loss or injury to sue for damages. These damages compensate the plaintiff for those losses. You generally have two years from when you were injured or should have reasonably known you were injured to file a personal injury lawsuit.
All four elements must be present and established by evidence to prove negligence in Alabama. The burden of proof lies with the plaintiff, who must provide sufficient evidence to support their claim. This may include witness testimony, medical records, photographs or videos, expert opinions, and other forms of documentation. If all four elements are proven, a court may find that the defendant acted negligently and award damages accordingly.
Alabama offers two types of compensatory damages, which are damages paid to victims to help them get back to the lives they had before the accident:
Non-economic damages are difficult to quantify because there are no bills or invoices. These damages include emotional distress, pain and suffering, loss of consortium, loss of guidance, loss of companionship, loss of enjoyment of life, and more.
The economic damages you can sue for have a dollar value assigned to them. These include your medical bills, lost wages (present and future), property loss (damage to your vehicle or home), and any other monetary losses you sustained.
In some cases, you may also be entitled to punitive damages. Punitive damages are designed to punish the negligent parties for their actions. These damages are awarded if the defendant's activities can be proven as intentional or especially egregious. Unlike compensatory damages, punitive damages are capped at either $1.5 million or at 3x the compensatory award, whichever is less.
At our Montgomery personal injury law firm, we understand how difficult it can be to deal with the aftermath of an accident caused by someone else’s negligence. We are dedicated to helping you get the justice and compensation you deserve. Our experienced attorneys have handled a wide range of cases, such as:
Alabama is a contributory negligence state. This means that if the plaintiff shares some of the faults for the incident and/or the injuries, that plaintiff will be barred from recovering any award.
For example, say that you are driving on the “Highway to Hell” (US 431) when another driver fails to yield coming off the ramp of Rt. 79 and hits your car. However, you were not wearing your seatbelt at the time of the crash. Even though the accident was the other driver’s fault, your injuries were more severe because you were not buckled up.
As a result, you can be barred from collecting compensation because your actions contributed to the severity of your injuries.
You may have a personal injury case if you have been injured due to the negligence of another person or organization. Common examples include slip and fall, motor vehicle, and car accidents where someone was not paying close attention to the road.
It is best to seek advice from an experienced lawyer who can assess your case and advise you on whether it is worth pursuing. Our injury lawyers offer free initial consultations with legal advice, so it can be worth exploring your options further.
Do not talk to any insurance adjuster as they only look out for their bottom line, not what's best for you. Send them to your personal injury attorney, or hire one if you have not yet.
The length of time you have to file a personal injury case varies by jurisdiction and is known as the statute of limitations.
In Alabama, you will have one to two years from the date of your injury to file a case.
However, if the injury was due to medical malpractice, then the period may be significantly shorter, such as six months in some states. If you wait too long, your case might be barred from being heard in court. Therefore, it is best to contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible after an accident or incident has occurred so that you can understand your rights and make sure any claim is timely filed.
Yes, you do! Hiring a personal injury attorney to represent you after you’ve been hurt is the first step to protecting your rights, your family, and your future. At Mezrano Law Firm, we handle all of the details so that you can focus on getting medical treatments and recovering from your injuries. Our team:
We have found that, in some cases, our willingness to try cases in court can help our clients reach a more just and fair settlement. If you’re happy, then we’re happy. But if a settlement is unjust, or if we believe that you have a better chance at recovery if you go before a jury, we will help prepare you for that, too. We can discuss your options and help you choose the best path forward.
The employee may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits under state laws if an accident happens. Workers' compensation is a form of insurance that provides medical coverage, disability payments and death benefits to injured workers or their family members in case of a workplace accident. Employees should follow their company's procedures for filing an accident report to ensure they receive proper care and the necessary paperwork is completed correctly for submitting the claim for workers’ compensation benefits.
At Mezrano Law Firm, we take our cases on contingency. That means if you don’t win, we don’t get paid.
After you win your case, we take our fees and costs from your final award. You never pay anything upfront and don’t have to worry about getting billed while still in negotiations.
A few options are available if you cannot pay your medical bills until you receive your settlement. You can contact the provider of the care and ask whether there is a possibility for an extended payment plan or financial assistance; some providers will negotiate a lower bill or provide discounts if you pay up front.
Additionally, you can inquire about any state-funded programs that may be available to help with associated costs. Finally, some insurance policies may have provisions to help with out-of-pocket medical expenses until a settlement is received.
The team from the Mezrano Law Firm is available to represent you no matter what type of injury you have sustained. Contact our injury lawyers in Montgomery for help with the following:
Montgomery, Alabama, is the place to be. You'll never get bored with two-hundred sunny days a year and endless opportunities for entertainment and activities. The City of Montgomery is a bustling and lively place to be! Activities in Montgomery include: