You’ve been in a car accident. You’re hurt. There are questions you need answered right now.
Who is financially responsible for the damages? How much compensation am I entitled to? How long do I have to sue someone who recklessly caused the accident?
No matter how carefully you drive, you can’t prevent others from driving negligently. The sad fact is that responsible drivers get into accidents every day, get hurt, and are left to pick up the pieces of others’ mistakes.
Automobile insurance coverage in AL
Our Birmingham car accident attorneys know the value of your claim because we’ve been fighting for the rights of car crash victims across Alabama for more than 50 years.
If you or a loved one has suffered a serious injury or wrongful death in an Alabama car accident because of someone else’s negligence, contact Nomberg Law Firm today to schedule a free consultation to learn how we can help maximize your claim.
There’s no substitute for local legal experience.
We’ve been protecting injured Alabamians for more than 5 decades.
Verdicts & settlements
$1.5M
Settlement in an automobile
collision case
$350,000
+ lifetime medical benefits
Back injury at work resulting in paralysis from the waist down
$300,000
+ lifetime medical benefits
Job injury resulting
in paralysis
Trusted by car accident victims throughout Alabama
The harsh reality of car accidents in Alabama and across the U.S.
Each year in the U.S., tens of thousands of people are killed in car crashes, and millions more are injured.
In fact, in 2024 alone, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that about 2.42 million people were injured and another 39,254 people died on U.S. roads. This is equivalent to 1 death every 13 minutes and about 5 injuries every single minute due to a car crash.
That same year in Alabama, there were approximately 962 fatal crashes, which is equivalent to about 18.7 deaths per 100,000 Alabama residents.
Those who survive these accidents are often left with serious injuries like spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries that can have significant long-term implications for their lives.
The top causes of car accidents in Alabama
In Birmingham and throughout Alabama, car accidents often stem from various forms of driver negligence. Here’s a closer look at some of the most common causes of accidents in our state:
- Distracted driving. This has become increasingly prevalent with the rise of smartphones. Drivers distracted by gadgets, phones, or other in-car distractions are a major risk factor.
- Drunk driving. Driving under the influence remains a significant cause of accidents, often resulting in serious injuries and death. In 2024, drunk driving killed 11,904 people.
- Inexperienced drivers. Novice drivers might lack the skills or judgment required to navigate complex traffic scenarios safely.
- Ignoring traffic signals and speeding. Many accidents occur due to simple negligence, like running red lights or speeding. Drivers in a hurry often compromise their reaction time, leading to collisions. Speeding-related accidents caused 11,288 fatalities in 2024, or about 29% of crash fatalities.
- Mechanical failures. Sometimes, vehicle malfunctions like brake failure or tire blowouts lead to accidents.
- Poor weather conditions. Birmingham’s weather can contribute to accidents, with rain, fog, or icy conditions reducing visibility and road traction.
- Wrong-way accidents. Another particularly dangerous situation is wrong-way driving, where a driver heads into oncoming traffic, often due to confusion or impairment.
- Tailgating. Following too closely can lead to rear-end collisions, especially if the front vehicle brakes suddenly.
- Fatigued driving. Drivers who are tired or drowsy can lose concentration or even fall asleep at the wheel, leading to accidents.
- Improper lane changes. Accidents often occur when drivers change lanes without checking for other vehicles or without signaling.
A range of factors, from personal negligence to external conditions, contribute to the frequency of road accidents in Birmingham. Awareness and adherence to safe driving practices are crucial in reducing these incidents.
What type of negligence state is Alabama?
Alabama is one of only a handful of states that follows a legal rule called pure contributory negligence. While the legal term may sound complicated, the rule itself is fairly straightforward.
Under Alabama law, if you’re found to be even 1% responsible for causing the crash, you may be barred from recovering any compensation from the other driver’s insurance company.
Because of this strict rule, insurance companies typically look for ways to shift even a small portion of the blame onto the injured person so they don’t have to pay.
If you were speeding slightly, distracted by your phone, or following too closely, they may argue that you should have been able to avoid the collision—even when the other driver’s negligence was the primary cause of the accident.
That’s one of the biggest reasons we recommend not trying to negotiate directly with the other driver’s insurance company yourself if you’ve suffered a serious injury.
Insurance adjusters are trained to investigate claims and minimize what their company pays. Something as simple as an innocent comment about what happened can later be used to argue that you were partially at fault.
At Nomberg Law Firm, we can handle communications and negotiations with the insurance company on your behalf. Our Birmingham car accident lawyers will protect your rights throughout the claims process and fight back against unfair attempts to shift the blame so you can get the compensation you’re owed.
What is the mandatory liability insurance law in Alabama?
Like almost every state, Alabama requires drivers to carry minimum amounts of liability insurance to pay for injuries and property damage they cause to others in an accident.
Currently, Alabama drivers must carry at least:
- $25,000 for bodily injury/death to one person
- $50,000 for bodily injury/deaths per accident
- $25,000 for property damage per accident
These minimum limits are often referred to as 25/50/25 coverage.
While these limits satisfy Alabama law, they may not come close to covering the losses caused by a serious car accident.
A single emergency room visit, surgery, or hospital stay can quickly exceed the at-fault driver’s insurance coverage. Once the insurance company pays the policy limits, it generally has no further obligation to compensate you—even if your medical bills, lost income, and other damages are substantially higher.
That doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve reached the end of your case. Depending on the circumstances, you may be able to pursue compensation through your own uninsured or underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage, another applicable insurance policy, or a claim against another responsible party.
Our experienced Alabama car accident attorneys can identify all available sources of compensation and help you pursue the maximum recovery available under the law.
Do I need a car accident attorney after a crash in Birmingham?
It depends on the circumstances. If you suffered only minor injuries, liability is clear, and the insurance company is offering fair compensation, you may not need an attorney.
However, if there’s been a serious injury or fatality, fault is disputed, multiple vehicles were involved, or the insurance company is delaying, denying, or undervaluing your claim, having an experienced car accident lawyer can make a significant difference.
On average, people who hire a lawyer receive 4 to 5 times more compensation than those who don’t.
That’s especially true in Alabama. Because the state follows a strict contributory negligence rule, insurance companies often look for ways to place even a small percentage of the blame on the injured person. An experienced attorney can gather and preserve critical evidence to prove the fault of the other driver and protect your rights throughout the claims process.
Average insurance payout for car accident victims
| Type of injury | Average settlement without a lawyer (1999) |
Average settlement without a lawyer (adjusted for inflation 1999-2022) |
Average settlement with a lawyer |
Average payout INCREASED by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broken bones | $19,105 | $32,241 | $66,486 | $34,245 |
| Average injury | $3,262 | $5,504 | $20,148 | $14,644 |
| Neck sprain | $2,480 | $4,185 | $13,362 | $9,177 |
| Minor cuts and bruises | $1,166 | $1,968 | $8,052 | $6,084 |
Note: Adjusted for inflation 1999-2022 (23 years, cumulative price change = 68.76%)
On average, the insurance payout for car crash victims with an attorney doubled or tripled, compared to those who settled without an attorney. (Source: The Insurance Research Council’s study, 1999 | Enjuris: Car accident guide)
What compensation can I expect after a car accident in Alabama?
There are actual costs associated with motor vehicle accidents—even the most minor fender benders. The first and obvious cost is the damage done to cars. Vehicles are not cheap, and fixing auto property damage can be very expensive.
For many people, their car is a lifeline for getting to work. Unfortunately, some people with damaged or totaled cars might find themselves in the terrible situation of losing their jobs as well.
But outside of property damage, people get hurt, too.
Certain types of car accidents, like pile-ups, rollovers, head-on collisions, T-bone crashes, and accidents with commercial trucks, are more likely to cause catastrophic injuries like:
These injuries often lead to long-term medical care and may even prevent an accident victim from returning to work and earning a living.
Even for car crash victims with less severe injuries, there are often hospital bills, time off work, and other financial costs associated with the accident, not to mention the “emotional costs” like the pain and suffering, emotional distress, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) experienced by many car accident survivors.
All of these financial and emotional costs add up to damages that someone should be liable for.
The amount and type of compensation you can receive after a car accident will depend on the severity of your injuries and other damages, the specific circumstances of the accident, and the coverage limits of the insurance policies involved.
Generally, compensation can include the following:
- Medical expenses. This covers all medical treatments, including hospital stays, surgeries, medications, physical therapy, and any future medical care related to the injuries sustained in the accident.
- Pain and suffering. This is compensation for physical pain and discomfort caused by the accident and the injuries sustained.
- Property damage. This includes the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle and any other personal property damaged in the accident.
- Punitive damages. In cases where the defendant’s conduct was particularly egregious or reckless, such as drunk driving cases, punitive damages may be awarded as a way to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar conduct in the future.
- Lost wages and earning capacity. If the injuries prevent you from working, you may be compensated for lost wages. Additionally, if your ability to earn in the future is affected, compensation for lost earning capacity can also be sought.
- Emotional distress. This addresses the psychological impact of the accident, such as anxiety, depression, or PTSD.
- Loss of enjoyment. If the injuries prevent you from enjoying day-to-day activities or hobbies that you participated in before the accident, you may be entitled to additional compensation.
- Wrongful death and survivor benefits. If the accident results in death, the victim’s family may also receive compensation for funeral expenses, loss of financial support, and emotional suffering.
Our experienced Birmingham injury attorneys can evaluate your claim, calculate past and future estimated damages, and ensure that you receive fair compensation for all your losses.
If the other driver’s insurance company offers you a quick settlement, don’t take it before consulting with an attorney. Most insurance companies will try to pressure accident victims into accepting a low settlement offer before they have the chance to talk to an attorney and find out what their claim is worth.
What steps do I need to take after a car accident in Alabama?
It’s often challenging for car crash victims to handle all the legal aspects after an accident, and many injured drivers are unsure of the steps required to obtain compensation.
We can’t say this enough: Always be cautious about accepting quick settlement offers from insurance companies. You should be sure that all your costs (current and future) are covered before agreeing to any settlement.
To ensure your rights are protected and to reduce your liability following a car accident in Alabama, it’s important to follow these steps:
What is the statute of limitations for a car accident in Alabama?
In most cases, Alabama gives car accident victims 2 years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you miss this deadline, you will likely lose your right to seek compensation, regardless of how strong your case may be.
However, there are exceptions that can shorten or extend the filing deadline depending on the circumstances. Because important evidence can disappear and deadlines may vary, it’s best to speak with an Alabama car accident attorney as soon as possible after a serious crash.
Why Birmingham car accident victims trust Nomberg Law Firm
From the initial consultation to courtroom representation, we’re dedicated to guiding you at every step, aiming to secure maximum compensation for all damages, including injuries, lost wages, pain and suffering, medical expenses, and property damage.
Looking for the best Birmingham car accident attorneys to help with your claim?
If you’ve been involved in a car accident in Alabama, don’t navigate the complex legal and insurance landscape alone. At Nomberg Law Firm, our knowledgeable Birmingham injury attorneys specialize in car accident cases and will work tirelessly to protect your rights and ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.
For clients who were injured while driving for their jobs, our attorneys can assist you with both workers’ compensation claims and car accident or personal injury claims.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident in Alabama, reach out to Nomberg Law Firm today for a free consultation and take the first step toward peace of mind and a fair resolution.
Resources
- Rear-End Collision
- Intersection Crash
- Hit and Run
- Multi-Vehicle Pileup
- What Happens When Your Car is Totaled?
- What If You’re Dealing With Disputed Fault?
- What Is Underinsured/Uninsured Motorist Insurance Coverage?
- What to Ask/Info to Collect After a Car Accident
- A Guide to Police Reports After an Alabama Car Crash
- Lemon Law and Limitations in Alabama
- Does Your Car Accident Qualifies for a Standard Property Damage Claim
- Alabama Hands-Free Law
- Subrogation Claim in a Car Accident
- What to Do When Getting Sued In a Car Accident That’s Not Your Fault
- What to Do When Involved In Accident with Alabama Gov Vehicles
- Alabama Lemon Law: When Does a Faulty Car Qualify for a Refund or Replacement?
- Does Your Car Accident Qualify for a Standard Property Damage Claim?
- Alabama Hands-Free Law
- Subrogation Claim in a Car Accident
- What to Do When Getting Sued in a Car Accident That’s Not Your Fault
- What to Do When Involved in an Accident with Alabama Government Vehicles
- Determining Fault – Contributory Negligence
- The Doctrine of Subsequent Negligence (Last Clear Chance)
- Alabama Extended Manufacturer’s Liability Doctrine (AEMLD)
References
Fatality facts 2024: State by state. (2026a). In IIHS-HLDI crash testing and highway safety. https://www.iihs.org/research-areas/fatality-statistics/detail/state-by-state
Overview of Motor Vehicle Traffic Crashes in 2024. (2026b). In Dot.gov. https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/813791