Your Car Accident Lawyer in Mobile, AL

Non-economic damages, also known as general damages, are intended to compensate the injured party for non-monetary losses and harms that are more subjective and not easily quantified. These include:

• Pain and suffering: This encompasses the physical pain and emotional distress the victim has suffered and will continue to suffer as a result of the injury.
• Emotional distress: This can include anxiety, depression, loss of enjoyment of life, and other psychological effects of the injury.
• Loss of consortium: This refers to the loss of companionship, affection, and support experienced by the spouse or family of the injured person.
• Disfigurement and scarring: Compensation for the physical and psychological impact of permanent changes to the victim’s appearance.
• Loss of enjoyment of life: This covers the decreased quality of life due to the injuries, including the inability to engage in hobbies or activities the victim once enjoyed.

Punitive damages, also known as exemplary damages, are not intended to compensate the victim but rather to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar conduct in the future. These damages are awarded in cases where the defendant’s actions were particularly egregious, malicious, reckless, or negligent. Punitive damages are less common than economic and non-economic damages and are subject to specific legal standards and limitations depending on the jurisdiction.

It is possible to prove liability after a hit-and-run accident, but it can be more challenging than in cases where the at-fault driver remains at the scene. Here are steps and strategies that can help in establishing liability and pursuing compensation:

• Photographs and Videos: If it’s safe and feasible, take photos or videos of the accident scene, your vehicle, and any visible injuries. Capture different angles and details that might help identify the other vehicle later, such as debris that could be linked to the make and model of the car.
• Witness Information: If there were witnesses to the accident, get their contact information. They can provide statements that corroborate your account of the incident and potentially help identify the fleeing driver.
• Surveillance Footage: Check for nearby surveillance cameras that might have captured the accident on video. Businesses, traffic cameras, or residential security cameras can provide helpful evidence.
• Immediate Reporting: Report the accident to the police as soon as possible. A police report can help establish the facts of the case. Be sure to provide the officers with all the information and evidence you have.
• Insurance Notification: Inform your insurance company about the hit-and-run immediately. Even if the other driver is not identified, your insurer needs to know about the incident to proceed with any claims under your uninsured motorist coverage.
• Legal Assistance: Consider hiring a car accident attorney experienced with hit-and-run cases. An attorney can guide you through the legal process, help in gathering evidence, and negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf.
• Private Investigators: In some cases, a lawyer might work with a private investigator to track down the hit-and-run driver using the evidence collected from the scene and witnesses.
• Public Appeals: Law enforcement may issue public appeals for information if there were any witnesses or evidence leading to the identification of the hit-and-run driver. This can sometimes lead to new evidence coming to light.
• Uninsured Motorist Coverage: If the at-fault driver remains unidentified, your uninsured motorist (UM) coverage, if you have it, can provide compensation for your damages and injuries. Your attorney can help you navigate this process to help ensure you receive fair compensation.
• Collision Coverage: If you have collision coverage, it can cover the damages to your vehicle, regardless of who was at fault. However, this does not cover personal injuries or other losses.
• Documentation and Claims: Document all your expenses, medical treatments, and repairs related to the accident. Provide your insurance company with comprehensive evidence to support your claim.

While proving liability in a hit-and-run can be difficult, especially without identifying the other driver, these steps can help you build a case and seek compensation through your insurance or, if the driver is found, through legal action against them. The key is to gather as much evidence as possible and work with professionals who can assist you through the process.

Getting into a car accident with an uninsured driver can present several obstacles, complicating the process of obtaining compensation for your damages. Here are some of the key challenges you might face:

• Limited Compensation Sources: Normally, in an accident, the at-fault driver’s insurance company would cover your damages. However, with an uninsured driver, there is no insurance policy to claim against, which can make it difficult to recover the costs for repairs, medical bills, and other losses.
• Personal Financial Impact: You might have to use your own insurance policies, such as uninsured motorist (UM) coverage or collision coverage, to pay for damages and medical expenses. However, this could lead to higher premiums in the future, and there might be limits on your coverage that would not apply if the other driver were insured.
• Legal Proceedings: You may need to take legal action against the uninsured driver to recover damages. This process can be time-consuming and costly, with no guarantee of a favorable outcome, especially if the at-fault driver lacks the assets to pay for your damages.
• Difficulty Proving Fault: Without the involvement of insurance adjusters, proving that the other driver was at fault could become more challenging, requiring more effort and possibly legal representation to build a strong case.
• Negotiations and Settlements: Negotiating a settlement with an uninsured driver can be problematic, as they may not have the means to pay a large sum upfront. Arrangements like payment plans might be necessary, but they come with their own risks and complications.
• Uninsured Motorist Coverage: If you have uninsured motorist coverage, it can help cover your losses. However, the coverage limits may not fully cover all your expenses, and you might still need to pay a deductible. Additionally, not all policies include UM coverage by default; it’s often optional.
• Deductibles and Coverage Limits: Even with the right coverage, you might have to pay deductibles out of pocket before your insurance kicks in. Plus, your policy limits might not cover all your expenses, especially for severe accidents.
• Claim Process and Delays: Filing a claim under your uninsured motorist coverage can still involve a complex and time-consuming process, with negotiations and assessments similar to dealing with another party’s insurance.
• Stress and Frustration: Dealing with the aftermath of an accident with an uninsured driver can be particularly stressful and frustrating. The financial uncertainty and legal complexities add to the usual stress of recovering from an accident.
• Sense of Injustice: You may feel a strong sense of unfairness, knowing that the other driver’s irresponsibility and lack of insurance are causing you additional problems and expenses.

Navigating these obstacles often requires understanding your insurance policy, knowing your rights, and seeking legal assistance. It’s important to report the accident to the police and your insurance company promptly and to document all aspects of the incident and your expenses thoroughly.

When an insurance company is ready to make you an offer, they may ask you to sign a release form. Do not do this without having a lawyer look over it first. Often, these release forms will free the insurance company from having to make any further payments regarding your accident. This can be problematic if your settlement is unfair and doesn’t cover the extent of your losses.

It depends. Typically, personal injury cases settle before a trial becomes necessary. However, if an agreement cannot be reached between both parties, then your next step may be to take your case to trial.

The circumstances surrounding your accident play a significant role in determining how much your case is worth. Factors such as the severity of your injuries, lost wages, medical expenses, and property damage all impact the amount of compensation you may receive. In order to calculate how much your case may be worth, our team of car accident attorneys will need to first review the specific details of your case.

If you lost a loved one in a car accident, you may be able to file a wrongful death claim to seek compensation for the emotional and financial losses you’ve suffered. This can include funeral expenses, loss of companionship, and lost future earnings. An experienced attorney can guide you through the legal process and help ensure your rights are protected during this difficult time.

At Long & Long, we work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t pay any legal fees upfront. We only get paid if we successfully recover compensation for you. This allows you to access high-quality legal representation without the burden of out-of-pocket costs.

Our car accident lawyers in Mobile can help by guiding you through the legal process, investigating your accident, gathering evidence, and negotiating with insurance companies on your behalf. We work to ensure that your rights are protected and to secure the compensation you may deserve for medical bills, lost wages, and other damages. Additionally, if needed, we can represent you in court to fight for the best possible outcome.