Car Accident Attorney In Dothan

If you are involved in a motor vehicle accident, you need to call our experienced car accident lawyer in Dothan Alabama. In a perfect world, you would simply report the crash to your own insurance company and everything would be taken care of. Unfortunately, this is not how the process works in the vast majority of cases.

In reality, large insurance companies prey on everyday consumers, taking their money in the form of large premiums, and then looking for ways to avoid having to pay out on valid claims. This happens so much that car accident lawyers spend a considerable amount of time-fighting to keep the insurance companies honest.

Thousands of people are seriously hurt each year in Alabama car crashes, including many here in the Dothan, AL area. Some victims die because of injuries suffered in a wreck.

At Gartlan Injury Law, our Dothan car accident attorneys are devoted to helping injured people recover after their accidents. If you have been in a motor vehicle accident, call today to schedule a free consultation with an auto accident lawyer.

How Can a Lawyer Help After a Car Accident?

A car accident lawyer can do many things to help you recover compensation on your auto claim. At Gartlan Injury Law, we will aggressively work through the process, step-by-step, methodically looking for every option to recover maximum compensation on your behalf.

Thorough Investigations

Car accident investigation filesWe don’t just sit back and wait for the insurance company to do the research for us. Instead, we go to where it all happened. In many severe car crashes, we deploy investigators to the scene to review key evidence and obtain photographs of skid marks, damage, and vehicles. We talk to witnesses, gather police investigation reports, and obtain medical evidence to build your case. We may also consult with experts about the cause of the crash, the extent of your losses, and other important matters.

One-on-One Consultations with an Attorney

Man Consulting With a Car Accident LawyerWhen you call our firm, you are treated like a member of the family. Your attorney can answer your questions and help you understand your best legal options for recovery. This all starts with a free initial case evaluation. Some big national firms leave this to intake people or even call centers, where the staff may have little practical experience in the law. At our firm, an attorney will discuss your options and advise you on the important factors in your case.

Careful Medical Evaluations

Medical Evaluation After a Car AccidentBecause all injury cases necessarily involve medical care, it’s important to understand the severity of the injuries and how they impact a person’s life. In many cases, our firm will consult with highly respected medical experts from around the country. This gives you extra leverage against the insurance company.

Skilled Settlement Negotiations

Car Accident Settlement NegotiationWhen you are recovering after a car accident, you should not be bombarded with phone calls and legal proceedings. Our attorney will handle the settlement discussions with the insurance company so you don’t have to.

 Talented Trial Work

Lawyer Preparing for a TrialIf your case has to go to trial, you can rest easy knowing you have an attorney who carefully prepares cases and will fight for maximum compensation before the jury.

What Should You Do If You Are Involved in an Auto Accident?

If you are involved in a car wreck, there are several key things you should do in order to protect yourself, preserve your case, and ensure that you do not give up any rights.

Get Medical Treatment

Never delay medical treatment. After a crash, you will likely be in a bit of shock and not know what to do. You may think you are okay and decide to “tough it out.” This is a critical mistake. Now is not the time to be tough. Days after a crash, you may begin to suffer pain and soreness associated with whiplash, or you could have a disc injury in your back, for example. These painful injuries could get worse with time if not treated. Some very serious injuries like internal bleeding or a traumatic brain injury may not show immediate symptoms. Even if you don’t go by ambulance to the emergency room, be sure to get a thorough medical exam as soon as possible.

Follow Doctor’s Orders

If your physician puts you on a lifting restriction, listen. If you are to do 6 weeks of physical therapy, go. Missing appointments and ignoring your doctor could have very serious consequences for your health. It may also affect your claim for compensation.

Take Photos and Gather Info at the Scene

If you are able, try to take some pictures of the crash scene and the vehicles involved. If you are not able or are in distress, it’s okay. Your health is of primary importance. Consider asking someone at the scene to take pictures for you. If you are able, you should try to get the names and phone numbers of any witnesses or other parties who may have seen the crash or stopped to help immediately after.

Call an Auto Accident Attorney as Soon as Possible

The sooner that you engage the services of a skilled auto accident lawyer, the sooner your attorney can take over discussions with the insurance company so you can get back to healing. You do not want to talk to the insurance company while you are lying in a hospital bed or recovering at home.

Other Tips

If possible, try to get a copy of the police report as soon as possible. This key document will give you and your auto accident attorneys the information you need to get started, including the other driver’s name, insurance information, and details about the crash. Also consider keeping a daily journal about how your injuries have affected your life.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Car Accident Lawyer in Dothan?

After a car accident, most people are dealing with piles of medical bills, missed work and pay, and quickly draining savings.

No one should have to settle their injury claim for a lowball offer just because they are broke and desperate. And no one should be forced to represent themselves just because they can’t afford to fight the major insurance companies who have endless resources.

We don’t want money to be an issue when it comes to seeking the compensation you deserve. If you need a car accident attorney in Dothan, you can count on Gartlan Injury Law to handle your case on a completely contingent basis.

What our car accident lawyers will do for you:

  • Free Consultations. We do not charge a fee to meet with an attorney. Until we’ve spoken with a person, we don’t even know if there is a case. Therefore, we don’t feel it would be right to start charging a person just to review the facts.
  • Free If You Don’t Recover Compensation. If we fail to obtain compensation on your behalf, you owe us nothing for our work. That’s what a contingent fee is all about. It means having no risk. Our office takes all the risk by advancing the costs of litigation and only recovering money if we succeed.
  • Our Goals Are the Same as Yours. The more we can recover for you, the more we are paid as a fee. This makes sense because it guarantees that you and your lawyer will always have the same goal – maximizing your compensation. Therefore, your interests are always aligned and you can rest assured that your lawyer has your best interests at heart.
  • You Never Pay Legal Fees Out of Pocket. If we are successful at recovering compensation for you, our fee with be deducted from the settlement or award. That means you never have to write us a check for our services.

What Common Types of Damages are Available In Accident Claims?

There are several damages a person can suffer in a car accident claim. These will depend on the unique facts and circumstances of each situation, but in general, they include:

  • Adaptive devices (typically in cases involving amputations or permanent disabilities)
  • Emotional distress
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Property damages

Doctor checking up fractured leg from car accident.Specific damages will vary from case to case, but most people find that when negotiating with an insurance company, it all comes down to the severity of injuries and the strength of the medical evidence that supports the injuries.

Auto accident lawyers must often work to not only maximize your financial recovery but also to minimize the effect of medical debts and liens that could otherwise rob you of much of your settlement funds.

Therefore, it’s important to understand that your damages may often not be clearly outlined in a settlement offer.

In many cases, the insurance company is going to make a lump-sum offer. In turn, you and your attorney will have to review the potential expenses, lost income, and other damages to carefully determine whether it is a fair offer.

How Will My Bills Get Paid After a Wreck?

Some physicians will treat patients on a lien. This means the doctor agrees to undertake medical treatment based on your attorney’s promise to pay the bill from the proceeds of the case. This may not always be a good idea, and each case is unique.

However, in the vast majority of situations, this is far better than just going without care. Our car accident attorneys in Dothan have years of experience working with local physicians, physical therapists, chiropractors, and other providers, and they know our attorney’s reputation for success.

Ultimately, even if you have unpaid debts and collections from your medical treatment, these bills usually get paid out of the proceeds of a settlement. Therefore, your car accident attorneys will be looking at the total amount of your medical expenses when evaluating the value of a potential settlement offer.

Ultimately, if you have questions about whether your medical bills will get paid, you should talk to your Dothan car accident attorney.

Tips for Dealing with the Insurance Company After a Crash

There are plenty of ways you can go wrong when dealing with an insurance company after a car crash.

If you already have an attorney, the answer is simple:

  • Answer the phone politely.
  • Do your best to be courteous and professional.
  • Respectfully ask the insurance adjuster for a name, phone number, and company.
  • Ask for the claim number.
  • Explain that you have an attorney and provide the adjuster with your attorney’s name and phone number.
  • Decline to answer any questions until you’ve spoken to the attorney.
  • Respectfully say goodbye.

If you do not have a car wreck lawyer yet, you can do the same thing with just a couple of minor modifications.

  • Answer the phone politely.
  • Do your best to be courteous and professional.
  • Respectfully ask the insurance adjuster for a name, phone number, and company.
  • Ask for the claim number.
  • Explain that you are not comfortable discussing the matter at the moment. Ask for a good callback number and the best time to reach them.
  • Hang up and call a vehicle accident attorney right away.

If an insurance adjuster becomes hostile, aggressive, or begins to belittle you, simply say goodbye and hang up. Do not engage in an argument, do not mention anything about your injuries, any photos or information you have, and do not consent to be recorded.

Have you been involved in an Uber or Lyft accident?

Get Help from a Car Wreck Attorney Near Me

For years, Aaron Gartlan has served the people of southern Alabama throughout Dothan and the surrounding communities by helping injured people fight for justice. At Gartlan Injury Law, we believe that serving those who are most vulnerable is a calling.

If you are suffering after a painful and devastating wreck, you should not be forced to face it alone. Our car accident lawyers in Dothan can help.

With every client, we attempt to share our knowledge and help educate the community about the tactics and tricks employed by big insurance companies.

We look for creative solutions to everyday problems that will help our clients hold on until the end.

We know that injuries can take a real toll on a family emotionally and financially, so we work fast to try to recover compensation quickly, but we also know that sometimes you have to go the distance to get justice.

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Contact Our Dothan Car Accident Lawyer Today

If you’ve suffered injuries in a car accident caused by someone else’s negligence, call us today to schedule a free consultation with our Dothan car accident lawyers, and get the answers and help that you deserve.