Birmingham Auto Accident Attorney
Car crashes are the number one cause of serious injury and accidental death for most Americans. In 2019, Alabama recorded 159,102 traffic crashes, resulting in 46,383 injuries and 930 deaths. That’s one crash every three minutes and 18 seconds, one injury every 11 minutes and 19 seconds, one death every nine hours and 26 minutes.
By far the most crashes in the state occurred in Jefferson County, where 34,732 accidents caused 7,592 injuries and 85 deaths. That’s more than double the number of crashes in Mobile County and 9.1% of the total fatalities statewide. Over half of the crashes in Jefferson County occurred in Birmingham, where there were 4,289 injuries and 38 deaths. Far more crashes happened here than in any other Alabama city, including nearly double the amount in Mobile, the number two city with the most accidents.
As an individual, the odds are greater than 90% that you will be involved in a crash during your lifetime, and you have a one in three chance of being injured or killed in a crash. These statistics are alarming, but the saddest and most tragic fact of all is that nearly every one of these crashes could be prevented. They happen because people drive negligently or recklessly without considering the danger they are posing to themselves and others on the road.
At Goldasich, Vick & Fulk, our Birmingham auto accident attorneys are committed to helping victims of the most serious and catastrophic auto accidents recover significant amounts of compensation to help them deal with the medical bills, rehabilitation, loss of income, and pain and suffering they are forced to endure because of another person’s bad or negligent driving. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a Birmingham auto accident, call our office for a free consultation to discuss the ways we can help you through this difficult time.
Leading Causes of Birmingham Auto Accidents
According to the Crash Facts report prepared by the Alabama Department of Transportation, these are the leading causes of auto accidents in the state, in their order of frequency.* Take a look at these reasons. How many accidents could have been avoided had the driver taken more care to drive safely and attentively?
- Speeding
- Failed to Yield Right of Way
- Driving Under the Influence
- Improper Lane Change/Use
- Ran Off the Road
- Unseen Object/Person/Vehicle
- Failure to Heed Sign/Signal/Officer
- Swerved to Avoid Vehicle/Object
- Wrong Side of Road
- Fatigued/Asleep
- Tailgating
- Misjudged Stopping Distance
*Speeding is most often the cause of fatal crashes, while failure to yield is the reason behind most collisions overall.
Recovery of Compensation After a Birmingham Auto Accident
Alabama law requires all drivers to carry liability insurance to cover them in case they cause an accident. At a minimum, Alabama requires 25/50/25 coverage, which means:
- $25,000 for bodily injury per person
- $50,000 for bodily injury per accident
- $25,000 for property damage per accident
When you get hit by another driver, their insurance company should cover your damages up to the policy limits. Sometimes their coverage isn’t sufficient to cover all your damages, especially in the case of a traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury or other catastrophic injury. If a proper settlement cannot be reached, it might be necessary to file a lawsuit and take the negligent driver to court. Our team has been successful in achieving dozens of six and seven-figure verdicts and settlements in a wide range of personal injury matters.
What if the driver who hit you didn’t have insurance? This isn’t just an academic question; nearly one in five Alabama drivers are uninsured, ranking Alabama the seventh-highest state in the nation for having the most uninsured drivers. One option in this case is to file a claim with your insurance company under your Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage. By law, this coverage is included in your policy unless you specifically reject it in writing. UM coverage is typically offered in the same amounts as the liability coverage you carry.
Whether filing a claim with your insurance company or dealing with the negligent driver’s insurer, Goldasich, Vick & Fulk can represent your interests and help you get the best result. Legal representation is essential to proving the other driver’s liability and fighting back against any allegation that you contributed to causing the accident through your own negligence, which can keep you from making any recovery. We also know how to document your injuries and need for financial compensation so we can build and present a solid case for a full and fair settlement or jury verdict if your case has to go to trial to get the results you need and deserve.
Call Goldasich, Vick & Fulk for Help After a Birmingham Auto Accident
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a Birmingham auto accident, Call Goldasich, Vick & Fulk at 205-731-2566 for a free consultation. We’ll work to make sure you get all the medical care and compensation you need after getting hurt in an accident caused by another driver’s negligence.
