When you’ve been involved in an automobile accident, it’s important to protect the value of your claim.  But, how – exactly – do you do that?  We asked Dana Taunton, an Alabama attorney whose practice focuses on product liability and personal injury matters, to provide that information.

Expert advice

According to Taunton, there are several things that auto accident victims can do to protect the value of their claim.  She explained: 

I would recommend that injured victims get the names of witnesses to the accident and to preserve the vehicle that was involved in the accident as that can be a key piece of evidence.  Take photos or find out whether a police officer took photos.  If the vehicle gets repaired without proof of the damages, it makes the whole process that much more difficult.  You can have family members or friends take photographs if you can’t do so yourself.  Finally, it’s important to know how the accident happened, the speeds that were involved, etc.  If the case goes to trial and that information isn’t known, then an accident reconstruction expert may have to be hired.

Seek help

If you’ve been injured, the best way to protect the value of your case is to see a lawyer first because the lawyer can evaluate your situation and provide advice on what needs to be done.  Taunton says that most accident attorneys in Alabama work on a contingency fee basis – which means that they don’t get paid unless they recover on your behalf. 

When we asked her whether clients needed to pay any upfront costs she emphatically told us no and explained, “If we elect to take a case, the client will not have to pay anything up front as it is part of the contingency fee contract.  We take care of the expenses related to hiring experts, obtaining medical records and things of that nature.  If there is a recovery at the end of the case, then those expenses and our fee will be taken out of the recovery.  So, injured parties don’t have to be concerned with out of pocket expenses.”

It’s estimated that nearly 90% of all auto accident cases in Alabama settle.  So, make sure you hire a lawyer that insurance companies know understands the ins and outs of insurance law.  If you’ve been injured in an auto accident, consult with an attorney whose practice focuses in this area of the law to discuss your situation.  Consultations are free, without obligation and are strictly confidential.  To contact a qualified attorney, please click here.