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According to the 2017 Alabama Crash Facts published by Alabama’s Department of Transportation (ADOT), a person was injured in a traffic accident every 11 minutes in the state. Indeed, there were nearly 157,000 traffic-related car accidents in 2017 in the state of Alabama, with one reported every three minutes and 20 seconds. Based on the 2017 data, typical Alabama drivers are at more than three times the risk of suffering an injury or even death in a car accident in their lifetime.
If you or someone you care about has been hurt in an Alabama car accident, the next step you should take is to call the experienced car accident attorneys at the Stevenson Klotz Law Firm. Our legal team can help you understand your rights and obligations during this difficult time.
Steps to Take after an Alabama Car Accident
Immediately after being involved in a car accident, the first step you should take is to contact local law enforcement officials to notify them of the collision. Next, be sure that you and anyone else who is harmed receive immediate medical attention. Once these important matters have been addressed, there are several steps you can take to help protect your rights. These include:
- Obtaining the names and contact information of any witnesses to the accident;
- Taking photos and video footage of the accident scene;
- Recording details of the accident (time, place, date);
- Requesting a copy of the crash report written up by law enforcement officers; and
- Contact information of the other driver(s) and passengers involved in the crash.
Seeking Monetary Compensation
A typical question asked by a Mobile, Alabama car accident victim who is overwhelmed with financial distress resulting from the collision is how much can be obtained in a monetary award. Unfortunately, the answer that a personal injury attorney will likely give is “it depends.” This is because each personal injury case is as unique as the circumstances and parties involved. That being said, a good personal injury attorney will fight hard to seek the monetary compensation to which you are entitled.
Damages in a Personal Injury Case
Generally, monetary compensation for personal injury victims in Alabama can be placed into two categories: economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are often referred to as compensatory damages. This is because their purpose is to compensate an injured victim for financial losses suffered. Typical compensatory damages awarded in car accident lawsuits include medical expenses, lost past and future wages, property damage losses, and other quantifiable losses. Non-economic damages, on the other hand, include monetary compensation for non-quantifiable losses such as pain and suffering, mental anguish, and loss of enjoyment of life, among others.
Of note, there is a third type of compensation known as punitive damages. The goal of this monetary award given to an accident victim is to punish the at-fault party for behavior that is reckless or willful and wanton. Additionally, a punitive damage award serves to put others on notice that this type of egregious behavior will be punished.
Personal Injury Help in Mobile
If you or someone you care about has been hurt in a Mobile, Alabama car accident due to the fault of another, know that you are not alone. Contact the experienced car accident attorneys at Stevenson Klotz to learn about your rights and obligations under the law. Our skilled attorneys have years of experience representing the injured in Mobile and across the state of Alabama. Our team will fight hard for the compensation you deserve.