Personal Injury Attorneys in Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Injured? Fight for the compensation you deserve with our experienced personal injury lawyers in Alabama
Accidental injuries can occur with no warning and completely upend a person’s life. The fallout from the injuries can extend to their family, leaving the victim and their loved ones struggling financially, physically, and emotionally. When another person’s negligence brings these hardships onto a family, the law offers opportunities to seek compensation to cover the costs related to the injury while also holding the person who caused the injury accountable. At Prince Glover Hayes, our dedicated team has been protecting the rights and futures of families in Alabama for more than 45 years.
If you or your loved one suffered an injury because of a car accident, defective product, or dangerous conditions on someone else’s property, you need to find an attorney who is ready to stand up and fight for you. Call Prince Glover Hayes today for a free consultation with our Alabama personal injury lawyers.
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Why choose us?
At Prince Glover Hayes, our team is proud to stand on our strong record of representing injury clients in Alabama. Some of our notable successes include:
- A $43.8 MILLION verdict against Plantation Pipeline and Chevron over harmful gasoline fumes caused by 750,000-1,000,000 gallons of gasoline that leaked and migrated onto the plaintiff’s property in Hale County.
- A $40 MILLION result in a harmful workplace exposure case.
- A record-setting $15.5 MILLION verdict involving an 18-wheeler that slammed into a car and broke the driver’s leg.
While our attorneys are fighters when it comes to taking our clients' cases to court, we also offer compassionate representation and support to each family who places their trust in us to handle their claims.
What is a personal injury case?
Personal injury law allows injured people a legal pathway to collect compensation, or “damages,” from the party who harmed them. Most personal injury claims rely on the legal concept of negligence. A person or company can be negligent if they fail to take reasonable care to avoid causing harm or injuries. In cases where someone behaves negligently, leading to injuries, personal injury claims allow the victim to shift some of the resulting burden onto the at-fault party.
Personal injury claims fall into several categories. Each one has different laws and policies that apply.
Common types of personal injury claims in Alabama
Our attorneys represent individuals who suffered injuries in many types of personal injury claims in Alabama. Some common cases our team handles include:
Car accidents
Motor vehicle accidents are the most common type of personal injury claim. Crashes involving cars and other vehicles happen all too often on Alabama’s roads. In fact, on average, a car crash happens every 3 minutes and 38 seconds in Alabama. While some of these collisions will be minor, others lead to catastrophic injuries, and sadly, more than 900 people lose their lives on the state’s roads each year.
Debilitating injuries can leave victims requiring life-long care and treatments while simultaneously making it difficult or even impossible for them to work. At Prince Glover Hayes, our team works to negotiate favorable settlements for our clients who suffer injuries in car crashes. However, if insurance companies or opposing attorneys are unwilling to offer a fair amount, our Alabama motor vehicle accident attorneys are prepared to take these claims to court.
Truck accidents
In Alabama, 86.1% of communities rely exclusively on trucks to transport their goods. The state relies on the trucking industry to support its people and economy. However, this means that there are large numbers of trucks on the road at any given time. These massive vehicles present some severe risks to other road users. When trucks are involved in claims, the injuries are often more severe, and the claims can be more complex because the defendants may include the driver and a large and powerful trucking company. At Prince Glover Hayes, our Alabama truck accident lawyers have experience taking on these large companies and holding them accountable when they hire or continue to employ irresponsible or negligent drivers.
Motorcycle accidents
Alabama ranks in tenth place in the country when it comes to deadly motorcycle wrecks. The state’s hot summers and mild winters support motorcycling most of the year, which means more bikes on the road and a higher risk of accidents. In many cases, drivers in larger vehicles cause these collisions because they fail to notice motorcycles or otherwise neglect to respect their space. When these crashes do happen, a person on a motorcycle is at a disadvantage and will often suffer catastrophic injuries. If you were injured because of another driver while riding, you need to speak to an Alabama motorcycle accident lawyer about whether you have grounds to file a personal injury claim.
Defective products
Product liability claims stem from products that are defective in a way that makes them dangerous, even when a person uses them properly. For example, imagine a car’s airbags explode in hot weather because the manufacturer used the wrong chemicals in the device, and someone suffers injuries. As a result, that person would have a strong claim against the manufacturer. When it comes to product liability claims, the defect can relate to the following:
- Design, in which case the product is dangerous even when the manufacturer builds it according to the specified design.
- Manufacturing, which happens when the product’s design is proper, but an error during the manufacturing makes the product unsafe
- Marketing and warning, which means that the company that made the product failed to point out possible risks connected to the product
Product liability cases can be technical, especially if the defective device is a medication or medical device.
Premises liability
Property owners have a responsibility to remove dangerous conditions from their properties. The burden is higher when the property in question serves commercial purposes, like a shopping mall, private gym, or hotel. Slip and falls are by far the most common type of premises liability case. In these accidents, a person may slip on a slick or wet floor, trip on a loose stair, or otherwise fall because of dangerous conditions. The consequences can include severe brain injuries, broken bones, and more. Other premises liability claims may involve swimming pool accidents, dog bites, or inadequate security measures that put hotel guests at risk. In any of these scenarios, you need a dedicated premises liability and slip-and-fall attorney to help build the case and show that the conditions and negligent behavior of the owner led to your injuries.
What compensation can you recover after a personal injury in Alabama?
In a personal injury case, you can typically recover economic and non-economic damages. In rare cases, you may also be able to collect punitive damages, which are a different category and serve a different purpose. The actual amounts that might be available in each claim will vary as they depend on the facts, specific injuries, and actions of those involved. Importantly, unlike some other states, Alabama does not place any caps on either economic or noneconomic damages, which together make up “compensatory damages.”
Economic damages
Economic damages are one type of compensation that an injury victim can collect from the party who harmed them. These damages include any actual financial losses related to the injuries. From medical bills to lost wages, injured individuals and their attorneys can add up the known losses and then estimate future costs – which might include future medical care, rehabilitation, surgeries, lost earning capacity and more. Records like medical bills can help back up these claims.
Non-economic damages
While non-economic damages are also part of compensatory damages, they are more difficult to calculate. This category covers losses and challenges related to the injury that are impossible to quantify. For instance, the injured person can recover for their pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life and emotional distress. If the injuries cause scarring and disfigurement, this might also fall into non-economic damages.
Punitive damages
Punitive damages are completely separate and only apply in cases where the defendant behaved in a way that the court deems egregious or intentional. An example might be a serious car crash that a driver caused because they were severely intoxicated. In such cases, the behavior goes beyond mere negligence. Courts will sometimes add this additional form of damages as a way to punish the defendant and to deter them and others from similar acts in the future.
If you have questions about which types of damages apply in your personal injury case, you should consult with a personal injury lawyer in Alabama.
Frequently asked questions about personal injury law in Alabama
Facing a personal injury is difficult and overwhelming. If you have questions about what to do next, you aren’t alone. These are some common questions that personal injury victims ask following an accident or injury.
What should I do immediately after a personal injury accident?
The best answer is to get medical attention. In the case of severe and obvious injuries, people don’t often need anyone to tell them they should get to a hospital. However, injuries can be tricky, especially if you are experiencing adrenaline and shock following something like a car crash. Sometimes, you might not realize how seriously you were injured until later. For this reason, it’s best to see a doctor even if you think you are probably all right. Also, if you delay treatment, you might face some skepticism over whether your injury is as bad as you claim.
How much does it cost to hire a personal injury attorney?
Prince Glover Hayes works on a contingency fee basis. What this means is that you don’t pay us anything unless we win your case. If your claim is successful, your payment will be a percentage of the total award. This arrangement makes sure that your interests and ours align and prevents you from worrying about how to pay for legal services when you want to seek compensation.
How long do I have to file a personal injury claim in Alabama?
Alabama’s statute of limitations for personal injury cases is two years from the date of the injury. There are more details about how this law may apply in your case, so it is important to speak to an attorney as soon as possible.
Can I file a claim if I’m partially at fault?
Alabama’s contributory negligence rule may prevent the recovery of damages if you’re partially at fault. Your attorney can help argue that you did not play a role in the accident or other event that caused your injuries.
Do you have an Alabama personal injury lawyer near me?
Prince Glover Hayes’s office is located at 2311 University Boulevard, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401. If you can’t make it to us, call our offices so we can find another way to connect.
Ready to get started? Call Prince Glover Hayes today
If someone else caused you or a loved one severe injuries, you need to speak with an Alabama injury attorney. At Prince Glover Hayes, we offer free consultations, making reaching out to us risk-free. Call us or fill out our contact form to get in touch with one of our dedicated Alabama personal injury lawyers today.