Taking a beach trip is supposed to be a fun and relaxing way to enjoy spending time with friends or family. Unfortunately, for some people, taking a beach trip ends up being memorable for all the wrong reasons. If you were injured in an accident while visiting one of Alabama’s beaches, you have clear legal rights, and you will want to speak with a Birmingham pedestrian accident attorney promptly.

7 Important Facts About Your Legal Rights After a Beach Trip Accident

Pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, scooter accidents, vehicle collisions, and slips and falls can all lead to painful and expensive injuries. If you are dealing with injuries from an Alabama beach trip, here’s an overview of what you need to know:

1. The Costs of Accident-Related Injuries Can Add Up Quickly

The first thing you need to know is that the costs of accident-related injuries can add up very quickly. If you are on vacation, not only could you be facing a mountain of medical bills, but you could also be facing costs for extending your stay, cancelling and rebooking your flight, and ordering restaurant food more than you expected. If you will need to take additional time off from work when you get home, this will add to the costs of your beach trip accident as well.

Then, there are the non-financial costs of serious injuries. Pain and suffering, permanent scarring, and loss of enjoyment of life are all very real costs that can impact your life for months or years to come. These are also costs that an attorney may be able to help you recover under Alabama law.

2. Prioritizing Your Legal Rights Will Help Maximize Your Chances of Recovering Just Compensation

While we know it can be tempting to ignore your injuries and try to salvage the rest of your vacation, at this point, you need to prioritize your legal rights. Doing so will help maximize your chances of recovering just compensation—which will be much more important in the long term.

Prioritizing your legal rights starts with hiring a local attorney. At Alabama Personal Injury Lawyers, LLC, we represent Alabama residents and visitors, and we can get to work immediately preserving the evidence needed to seek the financial compensation you deserve.

3. Many Types of Beach Trip Accidents Can Give Rise to Claims for Financial Compensation

How do you know if you have a claim for financial compensation? Many types of beach trip accidents can give rise to claims under Alabama law. These include (but are not limited to):

Negligent drivers, rideshare companies, stores, restaurants, rental property owners, hotels and motels, and numerous other parties can be held liable for accident victims’ injuries in Alabama. When you hire an experienced attorney to represent you, your attorney will thoroughly evaluate your legal rights and ensure that he or she is fighting to hold the appropriate party (or parties) accountable.

4. You Can Hire an Attorney to Help You at No Out-of-Pocket Cost

When you have a personal injury claim, hiring an attorney costs you nothing (or should cost you nothing) out of pocket. At Alabama Personal Injury Lawyers, LLC, we represent all of our clients on a contingency-fee basis. As a result, hiring an attorney does not add to the costs you are facing, and, by hiring an experienced attorney to represent you, you can give yourself the best possible chance of recovering the financial compensation you deserve.  

Calculating your future out-of-pocket costs, calculating “just” compensation for your non-financial losses, proving fault, and negotiating with the insurance companies all require experienced legal representation. Given that this is the case, even taking your attorney’s potential contingency fees into account, hiring an attorney is still generally the best way to maximize the amount you take home if your claim is successful.

5. You Should Not Assume You Were Partially at Fault  

No matter how you got injured on your Alabama beach trip, under no circumstances should you assume you were partially at fault in the accident. Under Alabama law, if you are found even one percent at fault for your injuries, you will not be entitled to any financial compensation. This is different from the law in most other states.

When you hire an experienced attorney to represent you, your attorney will conduct a comprehensive assessment of the facts under Alabama law. Then, based on this assessment, your attorney will advise you regarding the legal options you have available.

6. Other Mistakes Can Prove Very Costly as Well

Along with making assumptions about fault, other mistakes can prove very costly as well. These include waiting to seek medical attention, ignoring your doctor’s advice, and taking the insurance companies’ advice, among others. An experienced Birmingham pedestrian accident attorney will be able to explain everything you need to know in order to protect your claim for just compensation.

7. Prioritizing Your Health and Legal Rights Will Be Worth It in the End

Finally, we know you paid for your beach trip, and we know you want to get back to enjoying your trip as much as possible. But, we also know how critically important it is for you to prioritize your health and legal rights. Trust us, if you are entitled to financial compensation, putting your health and legal rights first will be well worth it in the end.

Doing the right thing means seeking a doctor promptly and talking to an attorney as soon as possible. If you need an attorney for a beach trip accident in Alabama, we are here to help you throughout the recovery process.

Contact Us for a Free Consultation with a Birmingham Pedestrian Accident Attorney Today

Do you need to speak with an attorney about your legal rights after a beach trip accident in Alabama? If so, we encourage you to contact us promptly. Call 205-855-2745 or tell us how we can reach you online to arrange a confidential consultation today.