Motor Vehicle Accidents in Alabama
Car accidents are complex matters that can, unfortunately, happen to anyone, almost anywhere, even if you are the safest of drivers. In general, car accidents are increasing in frequency every day which means that there are more and more claims to be handled by insurance companies. Insurance companies have a vested interest in paying out as little as possible for a claim. Their best outcome is to pay nothing. In fact, the longer you wait and the less car accident victims do to protect their rights, the more money the insurance companies tend to make. Insurance companies are set up for one reason, to make money. They exist to protect their clients by paying losses sustained by them but they want to pay as little as they possibly can. Insurance companies have owners who are generally stock holders. The more money the insurance company retains, the more the stockholders make. This puts the insurance company in a very precarious position. While they have a duty to pay a claim, they also have an interest in paying as little possible to maximize value to their stockholders.
What if You are Involved in a Car Wreck?
If you are involved in a car wreck, you should speak to a car accident attorney as soon as possible after the accident. There are many things an insurance company will not tell you and has no duty nor benefit in doing so. For instance, when speaking with an insurance adjuster, your conversation is recorded and logged with notes so that it can be used against you later, if needed. Even your own insurance company will do this to defend an uninsured/underinsured claim later in the claims process.
How to Choose a Car Accident Lawyer
In general, you will be best served by a local personal injury attorney who’s experienced and knowledgeable in the area personal injury and car accidents. Many people will turn to a friend or a lawyer they’ve used in the past, even if inexperienced in the field of car accident injury law. This will often prove to be a mistake. Many cases sit and languish for months or even years until the inexperience Attorney will release the client and cancel their contract just weeks or even days before the statute of limitations expires. Many clients are surprised that a lawyer who’s been practicing for 10 or even 20 years may not have sufficient experience to handle a car accident case, if the lawyer hasn’t practiced in this area before. Lawyers who work in the area of personal injury and car accident law tend to have more experience and are more knowledgeable about law and policy changes that frequent this area of law.
Other Important Considerations When Selecting a Personal Injury Lawyer
Car accidents have the power to reshape and change your life. Your choice of local Alabama lawyer can determine whether the change is for the better or for the worse. A lawyer is your advisor in your case. Don’t hand your case off to a multi-state, case referral firm that will just hand your case to the next attorney on their list. Note that the case is yours and YOU should be in control of your case at all times and be made aware of the risks of each stage. Many lawyers insist on not settling or, just the opposite, insist on only settlement. In either case you should make the final decision. There are times when settling is the most logical approach to a case for a myriad of reasons. There are also times when trial may be the only option but trials are incredibly risky and juries are completely unpredictable. A trial, if necessary, should be undertaken after careful examination and should always be about the client’s decision, not about a lawyer’s ego. Trials are unpredictable and expensive. You should always find a local lawyer who’s experienced in your area of law. Many commercials and ads contain lawyers who aren’t licensed in Alabama and some even contain actors, not lawyers or clients.