Instantly Connect For Your Personal Injury Consultation When Filling Out Form
Your Alabaster Personal Injury Attorney
The short answer. In Alabama most injury claims must be filed within two years (Ala. Code § 6-2-38(l)). A child under 19, or a person who is legally insane when the claim arises, may have more time (Ala. Code § 6-2-8(a)). The trial court for Shelby County sits in Columbiana, at 112 North Main Street, Columbiana, AL 35051. To talk it through, send the form on this page and we will work to connect you with an attorney in our network.
An injury changes the pace of your days. Medical visits, paperwork and worry about money can crowd out everything else. If you were hurt in Alabaster because of another person’s actions, this page explains how Alabama treats injury claims so you can plan your next step.
A quick note on what this page is: general information about Alabama injury law, written from the statutes, from a matching service that does not practice law. It is meant to help you ask good questions, not to decide your case.
Before You Hire: Questions For An Alabaster Attorney
Ask these in any first conversation:
- The date. Ask for the specific last day to file in your case. The general rule is two years (Ala. Code § 6-2-38(l)).
- If you were partly to blame. Ask what happens to your award if a jury finds you share the blame.
- Limits on damages. Ask whether any rule restricts the amount you could recover in Alabama.
- The money terms. Ask how fees are calculated and which costs come out of a recovery.
- The people. Ask who will be in touch with you and how quickly they return calls.
Injury Claims People Ask About
Vehicle crashes
Vehicle injuries start with the same few steps: medical care first, then photographs of the scene, names and numbers of anyone who saw it, the other driver’s insurance information and any estimates for repairs.
Pedestrian and bicycle injuries
Walkers and cyclists hurt by a vehicle should write down the location, the time of day, the lighting and the signals as soon as they can. Witnesses who stopped are valuable, so ask for their contact details before they leave.
Falls and unsafe property
Slips, trips and falls come from spills, uneven surfaces, poor lighting and broken stairs. What matters is who controlled the place and how long the problem was there, so document the hazard and tell the owner or manager promptly.
Wrongful death
When a death is caused by someone else’s wrongful act or neglect, the claim works differently from an injury claim. A wrongful death claim follows its own rules in Alabama; ask an attorney which date applies (Ala. Code § 6-5-410). This is a hard moment to decide anything, and an attorney can walk you through the steps without hurrying you.
Injured in Alabaster? Get matched with an attorney now.
What Shared Blame Means For You
Shared fault can decide a claim in Alabama.
A claim can be barred if you share any of the blame, with narrow exceptions in some cases. Insurers often press this point first, so keep notes about how the injury happened.
What The Law Says About Damages
What an injured person can recover in Alabama is shown by the records and the medical proof. Special rules can apply to particular kinds of claims, so ask about yours.
The facts of your claim drive the amount. Punitive damages are limited separately (Ala. Code § 6-11-21(a)).
When The Clock Starts And Stops
The general time limit for an injury claim in Alabama is two years (Ala. Code § 6-2-38(l)). A person under 19, or one who is legally insane when the claim arises, may have more time (Ala. Code § 6-2-8(a)).
A wrongful death claim follows its own rules, so ask which date applies (Ala. Code § 6-5-410). If a government body may be responsible, the steps can differ (Ala. Code § 11-47-23). Missing the date usually ends the case, so ask any attorney to name the exact last day for yours.
Insurance Limits To Know
Under Ala. Code § 32-7-6(c), an auto liability policy in Alabama must provide at least $25,000 for injury to one person, $50,000 for injury to two or more people in one accident and $25,000 for property damage.
Those figures are floors, and a serious injury can cost more than the other driver’s policy pays. They are minimums, not a measure of what your claim is worth.
Local Courts and Hospitals in Alabaster
The Census Bureau places Alabaster in Shelby County. Shelby County’s 18th Judicial Circuit circuit court is listed in Columbiana, at 112 North Main Street, Columbiana, AL 35051. Baptist Health Shelby Hospital in Alabaster appears on the Alabama Department of Public Health, Alabama Trauma System list of trauma centers as a Level III trauma center.
Whichever provider treated you, request your complete records and an itemized bill, and keep a list of every appointment. If you were transferred to another hospital, ask for the paperwork from both ends of the transfer.
How The Intake Process Works In Alabaster
Start with the form at the top. It asks a few questions about the injury. NeedAnAttorney.net reviews your details and works to match you with an attorney in our network who may handle cases in Alabama. Using it is free, and it does not create an attorney client relationship.
While you wait, write down what happened and when, who saw it, what treatment you have received and how many days of work you missed. Put bills, letters and insurance messages in one folder.
Frequently Asked Questions
When must an injury lawsuit be filed in Alabama?
Within two years for most injury claims (Ala. Code § 6-2-38(l)). A person under 19, or one who is legally insane when the claim arises, may have more time (Ala. Code § 6-2-8(a)). A wrongful death claim follows its own rules (Ala. Code § 6-5-410).
What happens to my claim if I share some of the fault?
Alabama answers this directly. A claim can be barred if you share any of the blame, with narrow exceptions in some cases. How the facts are described matters from the start. Details from the day of the accident can matter.
Does Alabama limit how much I can recover?
Pain and suffering is proved by the facts of your case, so ask which rules, if any, apply to your claim. The amount depends on the facts of your claim. Ask an attorney whether any rule reaches your claim.
Does Alabama require drivers to carry liability insurance?
Liability coverage of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for injuries (Ala. Code § 32-7-6(c)). Those figures are floors, not a measure of what a claim is worth. Ask an attorney to check every policy that may apply.
What should I gather before I call an attorney?
Gather treatment records and itemized bills first. Photographs of the scene and your injuries help. Add pay records for time off, estimates for repairs and every message from an insurer.
Should I speak with the other driver’s insurance company?
You are free to talk, but nothing requires an immediate recorded statement. A polite request to wait until you have talked to someone about your options is fine. Early offers can be low, so wait until treatment is clear.
What if the injury happened on public property?
There are special steps. Special claim or notice steps can apply (Ala. Code § 11-47-23). The notice step can come before any lawsuit. Ask an attorney at once if a public body may be responsible.
What comes first after an injury?
Seek medical attention before anything else. Make sure the incident is reported. Write down names of witnesses and keep every record in one place.
Injury Attorney Pages For Other Alabama Communities
People are hurt in every part of Alabama. These pages cover other communities.
