Frequently Asked Questions
This is an extremely difficult question to answer. The value of a case is based on a wide range of criteria including:
- The extent of your injuries
- Your inability to work / loss of earnings capacity
- Your age
- Past medical bills
- Future medical bills
- Pain and Suffering
- Whether injuries are temporary or permanent
- The insurance coverage of the other party
- The identity and financial condition of the other party
- and other factors.
All cases are unique and we assess them on a case-by-case basis.
To have a personal injury case, you must have suffered an injury, and that injury had to be at least partially the fault of another. The injury can be physical or non-physical depending upon the case and the basis of the lawsuit. Invasion of privacy, assault, infliction of emotional distress or an attack on your reputation are examples of injuries that are non-physical.
Some cases settle within weeks, while others require litigation and can take over a year to reach completion.
In most personal injury cases, our firm works on a contingency fee, meaning we get paid if you get paid. If you do not recover, we do not earn a legal fee.
There are other legal services, such as commercial litigation, contract work and similar services. Those services are typically billed at an hourly or fixed rate.
Our firm focuses on injury cases, so most clients will have contingency fees.
In general, you should speak with one of our Alabama personal injury lawyers as soon as possible after your accident or injury. Different types of injuries have different statutes of limitations (time periods in which you may start a lawsuit). Once you miss that deadline, you lose your right to sue. Speak with our offices as soon as possible to protect your rights.
This varies by jurisdiction. In some locations you can, in some you cannot. Please speak with our lawyers and let us evaluate your situation.
You should bring any information – documents, recordings, police reports, etc., – concerning the event causing the injury. If you are unsure if you should include it, we recommend you bring it and let us evaluate it for you.
The more information you can provide to the attorneys when reviewing the case, the better they can assess the case and your situation.
Generally speaking, yes. If the person died as a result of the event, that could constitute a “Wrongful Death” claim under the law. Even if someone died of unrelated conditions, the estate or survivors would likely continue the case for the original event.
The lawsuits brought by individuals for injuries sustained are civil lawsuits. While some may view the amount awarded as a punishment, it is not. Generally, the amount awarded is to compensate the injured party for the injuries sustained. In certain circumstances, punitive damages may be awarded, but only in extreme cases. Criminal charges and jail time do not come into play here. Those are separate legal actions initiated by the government against individuals who have committed crimes.
