When you are hurt because someone else was careless — in a car crash, a truck collision, a slip and fall, or any other incident on Birmingham's roads and properties — Alabama law gives you the right to seek full compensation for everything you have lost. Medical bills, lost wages, pain, diminished quality of life. The challenge is getting a fair amount without leaving money on the table.
Simmons Law is a Birmingham personal injury firm with an office at 1905 14th Ave S. Chris Simmons handles every case personally. The firm works on contingency — no fee unless there is a recovery.
The Alabama Collateral Source Rule
One of the most powerful legal protections for injured people in Alabama is the collateral source rule. Under Alabama law, a defendant cannot reduce the damages they owe you simply because your health insurance, disability insurance, or other benefits paid some of your medical bills.
In practical terms: if you had $100,000 in medical bills and your health insurer paid $80,000, the at-fault driver still owes you the full $100,000. The rule prevents wrongdoers from benefiting from the injured person's prudence in maintaining insurance. Alabama courts have consistently upheld this doctrine, and Simmons Law applies it in every case.
What Personal Injury Claims Simmons Law Handles in Birmingham
Simmons Law handles motor vehicle accidents — cars, trucks, motorcycles, rideshare, and pedestrian cases — which account for the majority of serious personal injury claims in Jefferson County. The firm also handles other injury cases, including premises liability (slip and falls on commercial property) and dog bites.
Birmingham's industrial activity, heavy commercial traffic on I-59 and I-20, and the density of pedestrian areas around UAB, Five Points South, and downtown all generate injury claims. Jefferson County is Simmons Law's territory.
Damages Available in Alabama Personal Injury Cases
Alabama personal injury victims may recover: economic damages (medical bills, lost wages, future medical care, lost earning capacity), non-economic damages (pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life), and in cases of wanton or reckless conduct, punitive damages. There is no cap on compensatory damages in Alabama personal injury cases.
Post-judgment interest in Alabama accrues at 7.5% per year from the date of the verdict if a defendant does not pay promptly. This creates real financial pressure on defendants who try to delay payment after a judgment is entered.
Why Timing Matters in Birmingham Personal Injury Cases
Alabama Code § 6-2-38 gives injury victims two years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit. Missing this deadline eliminates the right to recover entirely. In practice, the investigation that builds a strong case — gathering medical records, accident reports, witness statements, and expert opinions — takes time. Starting early is always better.
If UAB Medical Center, Brookwood Baptist, or another Birmingham hospital treated you after your accident, those medical records are critical evidence. Simmons Law obtains all records and bills, documents every injury, and constructs a damages case that reflects the true scope of what was taken from you.
Jefferson County Circuit Court
When insurance companies refuse to pay fair value, Simmons Law files suit in Jefferson County Circuit Court at 716 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd N, Birmingham, AL 35203. Jefferson County juries hold defendants accountable. Simmons Law has no interest in accepting inadequate settlements — the contingency fee structure means the firm gets paid more when you get paid more.
For car accident cases specifically in Birmingham, see Simmons Law's dedicated Birmingham car accident page.
Mobile County residents can reach Simmons Law at the Mobile office — serving clients throughout Mobile and Baldwin County.
