Birmingham Car Accident Lawyer

 

A car accident can leave you facing injuries, medical expenses, lost income and difficult questions about dealing with insurance companies.

Henry C. Dailey Injury Law Firm represents people injured in automobile accidents in Birmingham, Shelby County, Jefferson County and throughout Alabama.

Henry C. Dailey has represented injured people in Alabama since 1987, with automobile accident cases forming a major part of his personal injury practice.

 Why Choose Henry C. Dailey for an Alabama Car Accident Case? 

 

He has represented injured people in Alabama since 1987 and has handled automobile injury claims involving a wide range of accidents and injuries.

 

Experience with Alabama car accident cases includes investigating how collisions occurred, dealing with insurance companies, documenting medical treatment and lost income, evaluating available insurance coverage, and preparing cases for settlement or trial when appropriate.

Henry C. Dailey's experience in the Birmingham area includes handling personal injury matters involving accidents in Shelby County, Jefferson County and surrounding communities.

Our approach is straightforward: investigate the collision, preserve important evidence, document the client's injuries and financial losses, evaluate available insurance coverage, and pursue the compensation supported by the evidence and Alabama law.

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Call Now 205-995-2412

 

 What Should I Do After a Car Accident in Birmingham? 

 

Your health should come first. Seek appropriate medical attention for your injuries. When reasonably possible, there are also steps you can take to preserve information that may later become important to an insurance claim or lawsuit.

After an Alabama car accident, consider:

• Report the accident and obtain the police crash report information.
• Photograph the vehicles, accident scene and visible injuries when reasonably possible.

• Obtain names and contact information for witnesses.
• Exchange insurance and contact information with the other driver.
• Keep documents provided by police, insurance companies and medical providers.
• Follow your medical providers' instructions and keep records of your treatment.
• Document time missed from work and lost income.
• Preserve photographs, videos and other information relating to the collision.
• Consider obtaining legal advice before resolving a serious injury claim.

Insurance companies may begin investigating an accident shortly after it occurs. Photographs, video, witness information, vehicle damage, medical records and other evidence may become important if responsibility for the collision or the extent of the injuries is disputed.

You should not assume that an insurance company's initial evaluation or settlement offer represents the full value of your injury claim.

 Who May Be Responsible for an Alabama Car Accident? 

 

Responsibility for a car accident depends upon the facts and evidence of the individual case. In many collisions, another driver's negligence may be the primary issue, but other people or businesses may also potentially be responsible depending upon how the accident occurred.

Potentially responsible parties may include:

• A driver who failed to yield, followed too closely, ran a traffic signal or otherwise failed to use reasonable care.
• An employer when an employee caused an accident while acting within the scope of employment.
• The owner of a vehicle in circumstances where Alabama law may impose responsibility.
• A manufacturer or seller when a defective vehicle or component contributed to the injuries.
• A business or other party whose conduct contributed to the collision.

Identifying potentially responsible parties can also be important when determining what insurance coverage may be available for an injury claim.

Responsibility should be evaluated using the evidence surrounding the collision rather than simply relying upon what an insurance company or another driver says happened.

 What Evidence Is Important After an Alabama Car Accident? 

 

Evidence can be important when determining how a car accident occurred, who may be responsible and the nature and extent of the resulting injuries and financial losses.

Depending upon the circumstances, useful evidence may include:

• Police crash reports
• Photographs and video of the accident scene
• Photographs of vehicle damage
• Witness statements and contact information
• Dash-camera or surveillance video
• Vehicle information and available electronic data
• Insurance information
• Medical records and bills
• Documentation of time missed from work and lost income
• Photographs documenting visible injuries
• Other records relevant to how the collision occurred or the damages claimed

Not every type of evidence exists or is relevant in every accident. The evidence needed depends upon the circumstances of the collision and the issues in dispute.

Preserving important evidence early can be particularly useful when fault, injuries or damages are later disputed.

 What If the Insurance Company Says I Was at Fault? 

 

An insurance company may argue that you caused or contributed to a car accident in an effort to dispute responsibility for your injuries. You should not assume that an insurance company's determination of fault is necessarily correct.

Alabama follows a contributory negligence rule. In a negligence case, if an injured person is found to have been contributorily negligent and that negligence proximately contributed to the injury, it can prevent recovery of compensatory damages, subject to applicable Alabama law and exceptions.

For that reason, allegations that an injured person was speeding, distracted, following too closely, failed to take evasive action or otherwise contributed to a collision can become particularly important in an Alabama car accident case.

Evidence such as the police crash report, photographs, witness statements, vehicle damage, video, electronic information and testimony concerning how the collision occurred may be important when fault is disputed.

Do not assume that you are legally responsible for an accident simply because another driver or insurance adjuster says you were at fault. Responsibility should be evaluated using the evidence and applicable Alabama law.

 What Injuries Can Result From a Car Accident? 

 

Car accidents can cause injuries ranging from relatively minor conditions to injuries requiring surgery, rehabilitation or long-term medical treatment.

Injuries may include:

• Traumatic brain injuries and concussions
• Head and facial injuries
• Neck and back injuries
• Spinal injuries
• Shoulder injuries
• Broken bones and fractures
• Knee and leg injuries
• Hand, wrist and arm injuries
• Internal injuries
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Permanent physical impairment

Some injuries are immediately apparent after a collision, while others may become more noticeable in the hours or days that follow or require diagnostic testing and specialist evaluation to fully understand.

Medical records, diagnostic studies, treatment recommendations, physical limitations and prognosis may all become important when documenting injuries resulting from an automobile accident.

The nature and severity of the injuries, the treatment required and the effect of those injuries on work and daily activities can be important when evaluating an Alabama car accident claim.

 What Compensation May Be Available After an Alabama Car Accident? 

 

A serious car accident can cause substantial financial and personal losses. The compensation legally available depends upon the facts of the individual case, the nature and extent of the injuries, insurance coverage and applicable Alabama law.

Depending upon the circumstances, an injured person may potentially seek compensation for:

• Past medical expenses
• Reasonably necessary future medical expenses
• Lost wages and income
• Loss of earning capacity
• Physical pain and suffering
• Mental anguish
• Permanent injury or impairment
• Scarring or disfigurement
• Other damages recoverable under Alabama law

In serious injury cases, evaluating future medical needs and the long-term effect of an injury on employment and daily activities can be particularly important.

There is no reliable formula or online calculator that can determine the value of every Alabama car accident claim. The value of a claim should be evaluated using the evidence and circumstances of the individual case.

 What If I Cannot Work After a Car Accident? 

 

Injuries from a car accident may prevent an injured person from returning to work temporarily or, in more serious cases, may affect the person's ability to perform the same type of work in the future.

Lost income may potentially be part of an Alabama car accident claim when legally recoverable and supported by appropriate evidence.

Documentation may include:

• Medical records showing the nature of the injuries
• Written work restrictions from a medical provider
• Employer verification of time missed from work
• Wage and payroll records
• Tax records or other documentation of income
• Evidence concerning reduced hours or inability to perform particular job duties

For self-employed individuals, documenting lost income may require additional financial and business records showing how the injuries affected the person's ability to work.

In cases involving serious or permanent injuries, the effect of the injury on a person's future ability to earn income may also need to be evaluated.

Keeping medical work restrictions, employer records and income documentation can be important when establishing the amount and duration of a claimed wage loss.

 Dealing With the Insurance Company After an Alabama Car Accident 

 

After a car accident, an insurance adjuster may contact you to obtain information about the collision, your injuries and your medical treatment. The adjuster may also request a recorded statement, medical authorization or other information concerning your claim.

Insurance companies investigate claims to determine responsibility, evaluate injuries and damages, and decide how much they are willing to pay to resolve a claim. Their evaluation may not necessarily reflect the full amount of compensation legally recoverable by an injured person.

Before resolving a serious injury claim, it can be important to understand the nature and extent of your injuries, medical expenses, lost income, future treatment needs and other damages. Once a claim is finally settled and an appropriate release is signed, additional compensation generally cannot later be recovered from the released parties for injuries covered by that settlement.

You should also be careful to provide accurate information about how the accident occurred and your injuries. Statements made during the claims process may later become relevant if responsibility or damages are disputed.

Before accepting a settlement or signing a release involving a serious injury claim, consider obtaining legal advice about your individual circumstances and the potential effect of the settlement.

 

 

Some Alabama car accidents involve drivers who have no automobile liability insurance or whose liability insurance is not sufficient to compensate an injured person for the losses caused by the accident.

Depending upon the circumstances and applicable insurance policies, uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage—often referred to as UM/UIM coverage—may provide an additional source of recovery.

UM/UIM coverage may become particularly important in accidents involving serious injuries when the at-fault driver's available liability insurance is insufficient to cover the damages.

Determining available coverage may require reviewing the injured person's automobile insurance policy and, depending upon the circumstances, other potentially applicable policies. Issues concerning coverage, policy limits and applicable Alabama law can affect the amount of insurance potentially available.

The fact that an at-fault driver has little or no liability insurance does not necessarily mean that no additional insurance coverage is available.

 

 

Henry C. Dailey has handled automobile accident cases for decades. The following are examples of car accident settlements obtained in prior cases:
 

$15,000,000 — Car Accident Settlement

$11,000,000 — Car Accident Settlement

$2,000,000 — Car Accident Settlement

$1,600,000 — Car Accident Settlement

$1,200,000 — Car Accident Settlement

$1,000,000 — Car Accident Settlement

Past results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome in any future case. Every case is different, and results depend upon the particular facts, injuries, insurance coverage, applicable law and other circumstances.

 

Not every car accident requires an attorney. Legal representation may be particularly useful when injuries are serious, responsibility for the collision is disputed, substantial medical expenses or lost income are involved, insurance coverage is disputed, or an insurance company is asking an injured person to resolve a claim before the full extent of the injuries is known.
 

Alabama generally has a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims arising from a motor vehicle accident. In many cases, this means a lawsuit must be filed within two years after the accident. However, different deadlines or exceptions may apply depending upon the facts, parties involved and nature of the claim.
There is also a practical reason not to delay. Evidence such as photographs, video, witness information and other records may become more difficult to locate or preserve over time.
 

Alabama's contributory negligence law can make allegations of fault particularly important in a car accident case. If an injured person is found to have been contributorily negligent and that negligence proximately contributed to the injury, it can prevent recovery of compensatory damages, subject to applicable Alabama law and exceptions.
An allegation by another driver or insurance company that you were partially at fault should be evaluated using the evidence and applicable Alabama law.
 

An insurance company may ask for a recorded statement concerning how the accident occurred, your injuries and other matters relating to the claim. Before providing information that could affect a serious personal injury claim, you may want to obtain legal advice concerning your particular circumstances.
 

There is no reliable formula for determining the value of every car accident claim. Important factors can include how the accident occurred, the nature and severity of the injuries, medical expenses, future medical needs, lost income, loss of earning capacity, permanent impairment, pain and suffering, available insurance coverage and other evidence.
During a free consultation, we can discuss the factors that may affect the value of your individual claim.

 

Lost income may potentially be part of a car accident claim when legally recoverable and supported by appropriate evidence. Medical work restrictions, employer verification, payroll records, tax records and other documentation may be important in establishing the amount and duration of the claimed loss.
 

The firm offers free consultations concerning personal injury cases. There is no attorney fee unless compensation is recovered for you.

 

Henry C. Dailey has represented injured people in Alabama since 1987.
Automobile accident cases have been a major part of his personal injury practice. His experience includes representing people injured in car accidents and other serious motor vehicle collisions in Birmingham, Shelby County, Jefferson County and throughout Alabama.  The firm also represents people injured in serious commercial vehicle and truck accidents throughout Birmingham and Alabama. 

Henry C. Dailey brings decades of Alabama personal injury and trial experience to the investigation, preparation and resolution of automobile accident claims.
If you have been injured in a car accident, contact Henry C. Dailey Injury Law Firm to discuss the circumstances of your case.
 

Written and reviewed by Henry C. Dailey
Alabama Personal Injury Attorney
Last reviewed: August 2026

LEARN MORE ABOUT HENRY C. DAILEY

 

If you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident in Birmingham, Shelby County, Jefferson County or elsewhere in Alabama, contact Henry C. Dailey Injury Law Firm to discuss your legal options.

Henry C. Dailey Injury Law Firm
2217 Cahaba Valley Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35242
FREE CONSULTATION — CALL 205-995-2412

NO ATTORNEY FEE UNLESS WE RECOVER COMPENSATION FOR YOU
 

CALL 205-995-2412

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Important Legal Notice 

The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Every case is different, and the application of Alabama law depends upon the particular facts and circumstances of each case.
Past results do not guarantee a particular outcome in any future case. Viewing this website or contacting Henry C. Dailey Injury Law Firm does not, by itself, create an attorney-client relationship.