Personal Injury Case Checklist

If you have been injured in an accident that was someone else’s fault, you may be eligible to pursue a personal injury claim against whoever was responsible for your injuries and related losses. Here are some things to keep in mind as you begin to organize your personal injury case.

Do You Even Have a Personal Injury Claim?

You may have a personal injury claim if you suffered an injury due to the negligent, reckless, or intentional acts of another person or entity. In certain cases, another party may have a legal responsibility to you in a personal injury case regardless of their intent or recklessness. You can see some of the types of personal injury cases we take, here.

To read more about personal injury claims, visit the American Bar Association website.

Putting the Incident on Paper

It can be very helpful to write out a statement describing your memories of the accident or event that caused your injuries as soon as possible after the accident.

Your memories of your accident or incident will fade over time. If you try to describe what happened much later, it can leave an opening for the other side to challenge your recollection. However, having a contemporaneous account of your accident or incident that caused your injuries can be much stronger evidence and can allow you to refresh your memory later on.

In addition, following the accident you should keep a journal of your injuries and the effect they have on your life, including;

• the kinds of pain you experience
• how your injuries impact your ability to work
• participate in activities, or perform daily tasks

This documentation can later help you to assert a claim for damages for pain and suffering and loss of quality of life.

Gathering Evidence

Moreover, you should also start collecting documentary and physical evidence related to your personal injury, or accident.

Physical Evidence

• If you still have the clothing worn during the incident, keep it (or at least take pictures of it)
• Any damaged items associated with the incident

Medical Records & Reports, W2s, and Statements

In your personal injury claim, you may be entitled to compensation for your economic damages, such as costs of medical treatment and lost wages for time missed from work during your recovery. Be sure to keep copies of your medical records, which will document your injuries and the course of your treatment. They may also layout your prognosis and future treatment requirements.

You should keep copies of your W2s or income statements to calculate your lost wages, or your lost earning potential if you cannot return to work.

Any statements you receive from your insurance or the other party’s insurance are vital.

You should also have copies of the official police report and any witness or victim statements associated with your personal injury.

Audio Recordings  of 911 Calls, Calls to Employers, Calls to Doctors

Recordings of 911 calls, calls to your employer, and calls to medical providers can also serve as important contemporary evidence of what happened in your accident or incident and of the injuries you suffered.

What an Attorney Does for You While Preparing Your Personal Injury Case

When you hire an attorney to represent you in your personal injury case, they will get to work on several tasks to prepare your claim:

• Investigating your claim, including recovering evidence, identifying responsible parties, and determining sources of financial compensation available to you
• Contacting and interviewing witnesses
• Working with experts to develop your legal case
• Helping you to obtain medical treatment for your injuries
• Negotiating with responsible parties and insurance companies for a fair and full settlement
• Filing your case in court, if necessary

If you have suffered an injury due to someone else’s wrongdoing, contact the Alabama personal injury attorneys at Stokes Stemle, LLC today to schedule a free case evaluation. We are ready to discuss your legal rights and how our firm can help you prepare and organize your personal injury case.

The post Personal Injury Case Checklist appeared first on .

from https://stokesstemle.com/blog/personal-injury-case-checklist/
via https://stokesstemle.com

Stokes Stemle, LLC Launches New Personal Injury Website

Stokes Stemle, LLC, an Alabama personal injury firm, has launched a new, updated website to better serve people who have been harmed by negligent individuals and companies.

With this new website, it’s easier than ever for people in Alabama to find the information they need when they’ve been injured in an accident that was someone else’s fault. Users can find detailed information about Stokes Stemle, LLC’s attorneys and the types of cases we handle.

Potential clients can also use this comprehensive site to learn how much their personal injury case might be worth, read testimonials from the firm’s past clients, and easily set up a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer.

A Little History of Our Personal Injury Law Firm

At Stokes Stemle, LLC, we put you first. Our founding partners, Jonathan H. Stokes and Joshua Stemle are dedicated to fighting for people in Montgomery and throughout Alabama who feel powerless after they’ve been injured because of someone else’s negligence.

Jonathan and Joshua were both born in Alabama, and both graduated from Auburn University. While Joshua was at Auburn, he interned for U.S. Representative Mike Rogers and former U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions. Joshua then went on to get his law degree from Thomas Goode Jones School of Law in Montgomery. Jonathan also interned for former U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions before obtaining his law degree from Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham.

Before launching Stokes Stemle, LLC, our team worked at large firms, where we handled cases such as significant class-action settlements and complex defense arguments for Fortune 500 companies. After gaining this valuable experience at well-established firms, we knew that we wanted to move into an area where we could better serve individual victims instead of large corporations.

As natives of Alabama, Jonathan, and Joshua, established the practice to help give people in Montgomery, Dothan, Auburn, and across the River Region and Wiregrass area the personalized attention they deserve after accidents. We built our practice out of a desire to help individuals get on the road to recovery.

At our firm, we take pride in focusing exclusively on personal injury cases, and we’ll do everything we can to help clients seek the justice and compensation they deserve. We stand out because we genuinely care, and we give clients direct access to our experienced legal team.

Jonathan and Joshua go out of their way to help clients. We not only handle the complex details of each client’s legal case, but we also help them find important resources, such as doctors and treatment facilities. Our team also does everything we can to make sure we’re available for clients whenever they need us.

As demonstrated by our five-star reviews and glowing testimonials from past clients, the knowledgeable and compassionate attorneys at our firm go above and beyond to help personal injury victims.

What Kind of Personal Injury Cases We Handle

At Stokes Stemle, LLC, we have the skills and resources to take on insurance giants, tackle even the toughest cases, and help individuals pursue maximum compensation for their injuries. Some of the types of cases we handle include:

• Car accidents. Our dedicated legal team can handle all aspects of your car accident claim, from gathering evidence to fighting for you in court, if needed, so you can focus on recovering from your injuries.
• Slip-and-fall accidents. These claims are common but incredibly complex. We can help you build the strong case you need to fight for your rights after you’re injured in a slip-and-fall accident.
• Wrongful death. If a family member is killed because of someone else’s negligence, no amount of money can bring them back. However, our compassionate legal team can help fight for the compensation you need to help cover some of the damages caused by this traumatic event.
• Truck accidents. Even though these accidents often cause some of the most life-threatening injuries, it can seem impossible to get fair compensation after a truck accident. Several different parties might be liable in a truck accident, and oftentimes, each will try to pass the blame. Our attorneys can help determine who was responsible for the trucking accident and fight for the compensation you’re owed.
• Sexual abuse. We’re here to help victims of sexual abuse and assault file civil cases against their perpetrators. Through these claims, victims often recover compensation for some of the damages they’ve suffered, such as emotional and psychological harm.
• Spinal cord and traumatic brain injury. These life-altering injuries can permanently change the life of not only an accident victim, but also their families and everyone around them. Our experienced legal team can fight to seek the compensation you deserve to cover the life-long complications of these injuries.
• Motorcycle accidents. Motorcyclists often suffer severe injuries in road accidents because they are much more vulnerable than other vehicles on the road. However, it’s typically challenging for these victims to get fair compensation after accidents because of bias against motorcycle riders. Stokes Stemle, LLC is here to stand up for motorcycle accident victims and help them fight for the compensation they’re owed.

How to Get in Touch with Us

At Stokes Stemle, LLC, our experienced legal team is available 24/7 to serve clients and help them get on the road to recovery. To set up a free initial consultation, call us today or contact us online.

We proudly serve personal injury victims across the River Region, with offices conveniently located in Auburn, Dothan, and Montgomery. Contact the office closest to you at:

• Auburn office

927 Lakeview Drive

Auburn, AL 36830

Tel: (334) 316-4123

• Dothan office

810 Hedstrom Drive

Suite 1

Dothan, AL 36301

Tel: (334) 316-4123

• Montgomery office

445 Dexter Avenue

Suite 4050

Montgomery, AL 36104

Tel: (334) 316-4123

For additional information about Stokes Stemle, LLC, or to set up a free consultation with our personal injury legal team, you can also reach us through social media at:

• Facebook
• YouTube
• Instagram
• LinkedIn

The post Stokes Stemle, LLC Launches New Personal Injury Website appeared first on .

from https://stokesstemle.com/blog/site-launch/
via https://stokesstemle.com

What Happens If a Police Officer Causes a Car Accident

Car accidents frequently occur on the roads of Montgomery. Unfortunately, these accidents sometimes involve a law enforcement vehicle or a vehicle driven by an on-duty police officer. Making a legal claim for compensation for a car accident is tough enough. When a police officer causes a car accident, it can make your legal claim considerably more complex.

When you are injured in an accident involving a police car, it’s important to seek prompt treatment for injuries and then understand your legal rights and options for seeking compensation for your injuries and damages.

Who Is Liable for an Accident Involving a Police Car?

Typically, when a driver violates traffic laws or drives in a careless or reckless manner, such as by speeding, running red lights or stop signs, that driver can be found negligent and held responsible for damages and injuries arising from an accident.

However, emergency vehicles such as police cars are exempted from traffic laws when they are responding to emergency calls and using the vehicle’s lights and sirens. Thus, a police officer may not be held negligent for an accident if he or she was operating an authorized emergency vehicle in response to an emergency situation and reasonably using lights and sirens.

When you’ve been hit by a police car, you may wonder who you can hold responsible for your injuries and other damages. The answer is it depends on the specific facts of the accident. Unlike a typical car accident in which you would hold the at-fault driver liable for your damages, liability for a motor vehicle accident caused by a police car is more complicated.

For example, when pursuing legal action against a state and local law enforcement agency in Alabama, you will have to deal with the issue of sovereign immunity. This means that police are generally immune from liability and cannot be sued for personal injuries. Some states have enacted tort claims law that allows citizens who have been injured by public agencies or personnel to file a claim for compensation.

For example, if you are injured in an accident caused by an Alabama Highway Patrolman, you generally cannot sue the state of Alabama. You may have a right to sue the highway patrolman if the officer was acting outside the scope of his job duties and caused the accident as a result. However, if the patrolman was acting within the scope of his duties, he has legal protection from liability.

A different set of rules apply if the traffic accident was caused by a police officer from a municipal police department. You can file a complaint with the city or town government.

The amount of time you have to give notice to the local government is six months. This starts a process to try to resolve your claim through a negotiated settlement. It is important to seek the help of a car accident attorney who has experience negotiating settlements with municipal agencies. They are more complicated to resolve than typical car accident claims.

What to Do after a Police-Involved Accident

If you have been in a car accident with a police officer, there are steps you should take to protect yourself and your rights in the event you later need to make a claim for compensation for injuries you suffered.

Assuming that the police officer in the accident is not badly hurt or unconscious, he or she will likely immediately radio police dispatch to send another officer to investigate the accident and send emergency medical services, if needed. Other officers who respond to the scene will generate an accident and/or incident report. You should request a copy of all publicly available accident or incident reports.

If possible, you should try to take photographs of the accident scene, including the positions of the vehicles involved in the accident, damage to the vehicles, any skid marks on the road, the road lines and traffic controls at the scene, and the lighting, weather, road, and traffic conditions at the time of the accident. If you have visible injuries, you may want to photograph those as well.

Even if you decline treatment at the scene of the accident because you don’t feel like you were hurt, you should still follow up with your medical provider. In the shock of an accident, you may not feel pain or other symptoms from injuries you suffered. However, an examination may reveal those injuries and allow your medical provider to diagnose the extent of your injuries and develop a plan of treatment.

A doctor’s report will provide evidence of your injuries, especially if the other party tries to claim that you were not as seriously hurt in the accident as you claim or that your injuries occurred after your accident

You should then make an appointment and speak to an experienced police car accident attorney about your options. Car accidents involving police vehicles are more complicated than other kinds of motor vehicle accidents. It can be very difficult to hold police departments accountable when officers cause car accidents, so you need aggressive representation on your side to give you the best chance at securing the compensation you deserve. The limited amount of time you have to notify a municipal government of a pending claim underscores the importance of talking to a lawyer as soon as possible.

Do I Need to Pay for the Damages in an Accident Involving the Police?

If you’ve been injured in an accident caused by the police, holding the police accountable to compensate you for your injuries and losses may be a complex, time-consuming task. If you have collision or comprehensive coverage under your insurance, that can pay to repair the damage to your vehicle.

If you are found to be at fault for the accident, you may be held responsible to pay for damages arising from the accident. The police department may be content to simply issue you a traffic citation for causing the accident. However, if the police department is insured, the insurer may decide to file a claim against your car insurance company for reimbursement for benefits the police department’s insurer paid out, such as repair costs for the police cruiser.

Should I Hire a Lawyer for an Accident Involving a Police Car?

Even if you believe that you have a straightforward case, when you’re involved in an accident caused by a police officer, you should still seriously consider hiring an attorney to represent you. Filing a legal claim against a police officer or police department is a complicated task. It can be easy for someone who doesn’t have experience handling claims against public entities to miss key notification deadlines or requirements and have the claim dismissed.

An experienced attorney will ensure that your claim is pursued properly. Your attorney will fight back against efforts to paint you as responsible for the accident and will work to hold the negligent officer accountable for the accident and for your injuries.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident involving a police car in Montgomery, you need aggressive, experienced legal representation on your side. Contact the Montgomery, AL police car accident attorneys of Stokes Stemle, LLC today to schedule a free consultation with one of our lawyers to discuss the details of your accident and to learn more about your legal options for seeking compensation for your injuries. Call us today at (334) 316-4123.

The post What Happens If a Police Officer Causes a Car Accident appeared first on .

from https://stokesstemle.com/blog/police-accident/
via https://stokesstemle.com

An Update from Stokes Stemle on COVID-19

Concerned About Coronavirus? You Don’t Need to Leave the House to Meet with Our Lawyers.

We all have a duty to keep ourselves, our families, our neighbors, and our communities safe right now. This means temporarily reshaping the way we live our lives to combat the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). At Stokes Stemle, we are taking this duty seriously and are practicing the “social distancing” guidelines recommended by health officials. To ensure you still have access to us, our lawyers are available to meet with you remotely so we can answer your legal questions and discuss your case.  

Across the nation, people are limiting in-person contact as much as possible to help slow the spread of the virus and allow our health care system to operate within its capacity. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to provide important guidance about what we all can do to protect ourselves and others from exposure. (Visit the CDC website for the most up-to-date information and recommendations.)

During this challenging time, our attorneys remain available to talk about your legal issues over the phone or via free video conferencing services such as:  

• GoToMeeting
• Facetime
• Skype
• Zoom

If you are ready to speak with a lawyer now, please contact us to schedule your free consultation. Our team can meet with you remotely and get started on your case immediately without having to talk in person.

The post An Update from Stokes Stemle on COVID-19 appeared first on .

from https://stokesstemle.com/blog/covid-19-update/
via https://stokesstemle.com