Alabama follows the doctrine of contributory negligence, under which a plaintiff is barred from recovering any compensation at all if they contributed to the accident in any way. This sometimes leads to unfair results and has been abandoned by most other states in the country. For example, a driver might have caused an accident by texting while driving and failing to notice a stop sign as a result. However, if the victim was moderately speeding at the time, they might be considered to have contributed somewhat to the accident. There are a few exceptions to this rule. For example, children under the age of 14 are generally presumed not to be capable of being negligent, so contributory negligence would not apply to a victim under that age. In general, though, contributory negligence is a defense commonly invoked by defendants and insurers. You need to get a knowledgeable lawyer in your corner at the outset to help prevent blame from being shifted to you.
Alabama law allows victims of negligence to pursue compensation for their injuries. Plaintiffs may typically recover both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include items like past, present, and future medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, property damage, and lost wages. Non-economic damages often involve pain and suffering, scarring, disfigurement, and disability, among others.
Discuss Your Situation with a Personal Injury Lawyer in Robertsdale
If you or someone close to you has been hurt in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, it is important to reach out to a skilled Robertsdale personal injury attorney who can analyze your case. Whit A. Thomas can provide you with an honest assessment of your claim. We understand that this is a stressful time for your family and you, and you can expect the utmost compassion from our team. We represent people in many areas of Southern Alabama, such as Fairhope, Daphne, Gulf Shores, Mobile, Altmore, Monroeville, and other communities in Baldwin, Mobile, Escambia, and Monroe Counties. Call us or contact us online if you want to set up a free initial appointment with a personal injury or wrongful death lawyer.