Prattville car accident attorney | Comprehensive And Compassionate Legal Help For car Accident Victims
Car accidents happen with an alarming regularity in and around Prattville.
If you live in Prattville, you are likely familiar with the congestion on Cobbs Ford Road, the dangerous intersections along State Route 14 and Main Street, the labyrinth-like commercial parking lots and access roads at Prattville Town Center shopping mall, and the heavy rush-hour traffic along I-65.
Unfortunately, even the safest driver on the road can’t always avoid the negligent actions of other motorists. If you or a family member has been injured in a car accident caused by a negligent or reckless driver, an experienced Prattville car accident lawyer with Alexander Shunnarah Trial Lawyers can help.
Don’t let painful injuries, mounting medical bills, missed work, and insurance matters consume you. Call Alexander Shunnarah today to discuss how we can get you the justice, peace of mind, and compensation you deserve.
FREE CASE REVIEWWhy Choose Alexander Shunnarah for Your Prattville Car Accident Case?
When it comes to car accidents in Prattville, the right legal representation makes all the difference. Alexander Shunnarah has built a strong reputation across Alabama for aggressive and successful advocacy.
We have decades of experience representing car accident victims, and we know how to go head-to-head with insurance companies to secure the maximum compensation for our clients.
Here’s what might make us the right choice for you:
Trial-Ready: Insurance companies don’t like to negotiate with experienced trial lawyers. They know we will take them to court if they don’t offer you a full and fair settlement for all of your damages.
Proven Record: We’ve won millions of dollars for car accident victims throughout Alabama.
Compassionate Representation: We understand that a car accident can change your life. We handle all legal matters so you can focus on your recovery.
Aggressive Legal Approach: We’re not afraid to take on big insurance companies and hold them accountable.
Local Knowledge: We’re familiar with Prattville and the common causes of accidents in the area, making us uniquely equipped to represent you.
Causes of Car Crashes in Prattville
Car accidents happen for a variety of reasons.
In Prattville, here are some common accidents and where they frequently occur:
- Rear-End Collisions: These are the most common car accidents, occurring frequently in traffic-heavy areas, such as US Highway 81 and U.S. Highway 82, where sudden stops during rush hour can lead to crashes.
- T-bone Accidents: T-bone crashes typically happen when a driver runs a red light or stop sign at busy intersections like the ones along Cobbs Ford Road. These car crashes can be particularly dangerous because many passenger vehicles lack side airbags.
- Head-On Collisions: Head-on collisions are the deadliest of crashes. These occur most often on rural roads outside of Prattville, such as County Road 40, often when drivers attempt improper passing.
- Sideswipe Accidents: Drivers merging without checking their blind spots on the I-65 can cause these sideswipe accidents.
Each type of accident has unique legal implications that affect how fault is determined and what compensation you may deserve.
A skilled Prattville personal injury lawyer with Alexander Shunnarah will thoroughly investigate your crash to build you a solid case that holds the assault party accountable.
Car Accident Injuries
Here are some of the most common injuries car accident victims experience:
- Whiplash: Common in rear-end collisions, whiplash results from the sudden back-and-forth motion of the neck.
- Broken Bones: Fractures often occur in high-impact crashes, such as T-bones or head-on collisions.
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI): These serious injuries can result from blunt force trauma or sudden deceleration in accidents, leading to long-term complications.
- Spinal Cord Injuries: These can lead to paralysis and are often the result of high-speed accidents or rollovers.
- Cuts and Lacerations: Flying glass or debris during an accident can cause serious cuts, which might require surgery.
- Burn Injuries: Burns caused by fires or explosions during a crash, which can result in severe pain, scarring, and the need for extensive medical treatment.
- Internal Injuries: Damage to internal organs, such as the lungs or liver, caused by the force of the collision or broken ribs.
No matter the type of injury, getting immediate medical attention can save your life, even if you feel okay. The adrenaline of a crash could mask some serious car accident injuries, such as head trauma, brain bleeds, and damage to vital organs, which can worsen with time.
What to Do After a Car Accident
You’re recovering from your car accident injuries. The initial shock of the crash is starting to fade, but now reality is setting in. You’re probably wondering how you will pay for all those medical bills. What about your lost wages or income? Will your job be waiting for you when you’re ready to return?
These are all normal concerns after a serious accident, and they can overwhelm you.
Hire a Lawyer
The first and most important step is to hire a car accident lawyer. While you focus on healing, your lawyer will handle the legal aspects of your case, including collecting evidence and negotiating with insurance companies.
Keep All Medical Appointments
Attending every medical appointment and follow-up is essential, even if you start to feel better. Missing appointments can hurt your case, as insurance companies may argue that your injuries aren’t as severe as you claim.
Your medical appointments also provide documented proof of your condition, which strengthens your claim and helps ensure you receive compensation for all of your medical needs.
Journal Your Recovery
Document your pain, how your injuries affect your daily life, and any emotional distress you’re experiencing. This record can serve as valuable evidence for claims related to pain and suffering, as well as providing a clear picture of your recovery.
Don’t Post About the Accident on Social Media
Set your social media accounts to private and avoid posting about your accident or injuries. Insurance companies often monitor claimants’ online activity, and even innocent posts can be used to undermine your case.
Something as simple as a picture from a family event could look like evidence that your injuries aren’t as serious as you say.
Track Your Medical Expenses
Keep detailed records of all medical bills related to your injuries. This includes doctor visits, surgeries, physical therapy, prescriptions, and any other treatments you receive.
Medical costs add up quickly, and having an organized list of expenses will help ensure you’re fully compensated for the financial impact of your accident.
Track Your Lost Wages or Income
If your injuries have caused you to miss work, keep track of your lost wages.
Ask your employer for a letter that verifies the time you’ve taken off and how much income you’ve lost due to the accident. This documentation is a central part of calculating the compensation you deserve for lost wages and potential future earnings if your injuries prevent you from returning to work.
Don’t Rush Into a Settlement
Insurance companies may try to offer you a quick settlement but don’t accept it without consulting your lawyer. Early insurance offers are far less than what you deserve, and once you accept, you can’t ask for more compensation later.
Your lawyer will evaluate your case, including future medical needs and lost earnings, to ensure any settlement offer is fair and fully covers your damages.
By following these steps and working with an experienced car accident lawyer, you can focus on your recovery while ensuring your legal and financial interests are fully protected.
What Compensation is Available to Car Accident Victims?
Recovering from a car accident can leave you feeling overwhelmed and unsure of what comes next. The accident wasn’t your fault, so you shouldn’t have to face a long uphill battle and an uncertain future.
Alexander Shunnarah’s Prattville car accident attorneys will work closely with you and your doctors to assess every dollar of compensation you deserve to get your life back on track and look ahead.
Generally, car accident damages fall into two categories: economic and non-economic. While each Prattville car accident case is different, every claim seeks some of these damages.
Economic Damages
These damages cover your direct financial losses, such as:
Medical Expenses
- Emergency room visits
- Hospitalization
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy
- Prescription medications
- Medical equipment (e.g., crutches, wheelchairs)
Lost Wages or Income
- Current lost wages
- Future lost wages or diminished earning capacity
- Lost benefits and bonuses
Property Damage
- Vehicle repair or replacement
- Damage to personal belongings inside the car
Other Out-of-Pocket Expenses
- Transportation costs (e.g., to medical appointments)
- Childcare or household help due to injury
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are as important as economic damages, especially when you’re suffering from car accident injuries. They can be more difficult to quantify because they don’t easily convert to a dollar amount.
Pain and Suffering
- Physical pain resulting from injuries
- Emotional and mental distress
Loss of Enjoyment of Life
- Reduced ability to participate in hobbies, activities, or day-to-day tasks
Loss of Consortium
- Impact on relationships with a spouse or family members
Disfigurement or Permanent Disability
- Compensation for scarring, disfigurement, or long-term disability
An experienced and proven Prattville car accident lawyer with Alexander Shunnarah will thoroughly investigate your case, document your damages and back them up with solid evidence to make you the strongest possible claim.
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, you may have a lot on the line. Figuring for your rights and your future is a responsibility Alexander Shunnarah takes to heart. We fight for every dollar you deserve, and we won’t back down until we get it.
Our Prattville Car Accident Attorneys Will Handle the Insurance Companies
Insurance companies are in the business of making money. To protect their bottom line, they often minimize or outright deny valid claims. They make lowball settlement offers, pressure you to settle, or delay your claim unnecessarily to frustrate you into accepting less than you deserve.
When you hire Alexander Shunnarah, we deal with the insurance adjusters, so you don’t have to. Insurance companies know that we are trial lawyers who will take your case to court if they refuse to settle fairly. This usually leads to higher and faster settlement offers that fully cover your damages and losses.
Do I Have an Eligible Car Accident Claim?
Most car accident cases are based on negligence, which is the failure to exercise reasonable care while driving.
To establish negligence in your case, we will work to prove four elements:
- Duty of Care: The at-fault driver had a legal obligation to you and all drivers to drive safely.
- Breach of Duty: The driver violated that duty by acting negligently (e.g., speeding, distracted driving).
- Causation: The breach of duty directly caused the accident and your injuries.
- Damages: You suffered physical, emotional, or financial harm as a result of the accident.
You will have an eligible car accident claim when we can establish each of these elements.
Who May Be Held Liable in a Car Accident Case?
In a car accident, multiple parties may cause your injuries, including:
- Other Drivers: If another driver’s negligence caused the accident, you can hold them liable.
- Vehicle Manufacturers: If a vehicle defect contributed to the crash, you could hold the manufacturer at fault.
- Government Entities: Poorly maintained roads or defective traffic signals can lead to accidents, for which you can hold a government entity responsible.
- Commercial Vehicle Owners: If a commercial truck or vehicle hits you, you can hold the company that owns the vehicle liable.
Our team will investigate your case to identify all potentially liable parties and hold them accountable.
Is There a Deadline for Filing a Car Accident Lawsuit in Alabama?
Yes. The Alabama statute of limitations allows two years from the date of the car accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. The deadline is firm, so you will lose your right to recover compensation if you don’t file in time.
There are many other reasons to act quickly, so consult a Prattville car accident lawyer as soon as possible after the accident.
Contact the Prattville Car Accident Lawyers at Alexander Shunnarah Today
If a car accident injures you or a loved one in Prattville, don’t wait to get the legal help you need. Contact Alexander Shunnarah Trial Lawyers today for a free, no-obligation consultation.
Unlike most personal injury lawyers, our Prattville car accident attorneys are battle-tested with trial experience and years of handling complex litigation. Our success in Alabama has allowed us to expand to several other states, giving us access to an unbeatable network of resources to back your case.
Don’t let cost deter you. At Alexander Shunnarah Trial Lawyers, you pay nothing unless we win your case. Our contingency fee structure joins our interests with yours and allows everyone to seek justice and fair compensation regardless of economic status.