You Shouldn't Have To Fight Alone Right Now.

How We Help

While You Grieve, They Build Their Defense

You lost someone. And while you're still absorbing it, an insurance company is already working to contain the financial exposure of what happened.

They'll call you. They'll be polite. They may express genuine sympathy. And they will quietly be working to close the claim for as little as possible, as fast as possible, before you have legal counsel — because they know the value of this case and they know you don't.

Alabama's wrongful death law is unusual and it's complicated. Unlike most states, Alabama's wrongful death statute does not allow families to recover for the economic loss of the person who died — lost income, medical expenses, financial support. Instead, Alabama's law is punitive in nature: damages are awarded to punish the defendant for their conduct. This distinction matters enormously, and the way a case is built — and when the estate is opened, and who has standing to bring the claim — affects what the family can recover.

Most families don't know any of this. They shouldn't have to. But someone does — and that someone needs to be involved before critical decisions are made.

The first two to four weeks after a wrongful death are often the most consequential for the legal case. Evidence is fresh. Witnesses are reachable. Documents exist that will disappear later. And the statute of limitations clock has already started.

What Alabama's Wrongful Death Law Actually Requires

Alabama Code § 6-5-410 grants the right to bring a wrongful death claim to the personal representative of the deceased's estate — not automatically to the surviving spouse or family. If an estate has not been opened and a personal representative appointed, the claim cannot be filed. This is a procedural step that families going through grief often don't know they need to take.

Alabama wrongful death damages are punitive, not compensatory. Juries award damages to punish the at-fault party, not to compensate the estate for economic loss. This changes how a case should be built and argued, and it means the conduct of the defendant — how reckless, how negligent, how disregarding of your loved one's life — is central to the value of the claim.

The two-year statute of limitations begins running from the date of death. There are narrow circumstances where it can be tolled, but counting on that is not a strategy. The case needs to move.

And it needs to move correctly, because Alabama also applies contributory negligence to wrongful death claims — meaning any finding that the deceased was even partially at fault can eliminate the family's recovery entirely. Protecting the fault record is as important in wrongful death as it is in any other injury case.

Who Else May Be Liable

Wrongful death cases frequently involve more than one at-fault party, and identifying all of them is critical to maximum recovery:

The driver. In vehicle-related wrongful death, the at-fault driver's personal auto policy is the starting point.

The employer. If the driver was acting in the scope of employment — making a delivery, driving a company vehicle, running an errand for work — the employer may be vicariously liable. Commercial employers carry substantial insurance.

The vehicle manufacturer. If a mechanical failure contributed to the crash, product liability may apply.

A municipality. If a dangerous road condition, missing signage, or failed traffic control contributed, government entity liability may be involved.

A third-party contractor. Construction zones, road maintenance contractors, and other third parties can share responsibility.

Missing any of these parties means leaving available compensation on the table. Identifying them requires investigation — early investigation, before evidence disappears.

What We Offer

Chris Simmons personally handles every wrongful death case Simmons Law accepts. He meets with families himself. He reviews the evidence himself. He opens the estate process if needed. He prepares the case trial-ready from day one — not because wrongful death cases always go to trial, but because the preparation is what generates the results that don't require one.

Chris understands that the family going through this is not just a client in a legal matter. They are people who lost someone and who deserve one attorney, one clear point of contact, and one honest voice throughout the process. You will not be passed to a paralegal. You will not be rushed. You will have Chris's personal cell number and the ability to reach him directly when you need to.

Chris has recovered $1.6M, $1.2M, $1M, $750K, and $500K in documented results for Alabama injury clients. His wrongful death cases are prepared with the same rigor he brings to every other file — and with the seriousness that cases involving the loss of a human life demand.

He is based in Birmingham and Mobile, serving families throughout Alabama.

How Chris Handles a Wrongful Death Case From Day One

A confidential conversation. Chris listens to what happened. There's no intake script, no hurry, and no pressure. You tell him the story when you're ready.

Honest case evaluation. He tells you what the case looks like under Alabama law, what it could be worth given the circumstances and the conduct of the defendant, and what the steps are. If there are complications, he explains them plainly.

Estate and standing. If a personal representative hasn't been appointed, Chris helps you understand what needs to happen and coordinates that step so the legal case can proceed correctly.

Evidence preservation. Crash scene, medical records, witness accounts, electronic data — secured immediately so nothing is lost before the investigation is complete.

Full liability mapping. All potentially responsible parties are identified and their coverage assessed. The goal is complete recovery, not a partial settlement from the most obvious source.

Trial-ready preparation. Every decision in the case — from the evidence gathered to the experts retained to the demand built — is made with trial in mind, because that preparation is what produces outcomes that families actually deserve.

• Chris personally handles every wrongful death case — no handoffs, no case managers, no call centers
• Alabama wrongful death expertise — punitive damages framework, estate standing, and contributory negligence defense built into the strategy from day one
• Trial-ready preparation — Alabama wrongful death claims protected and built completely so no compensation is left unreachable
• Millions recovered for Alabama families — documented results up to $1.6M
• Offices in Birmingham and Mobile — serving families throughout the state

Questions Families Often Have Before Calling

"We haven't opened an estate yet."
Chris can help you understand what's needed and coordinate that step. Don't let procedural uncertainty stop you from protecting your family's rights.

"The insurance company is already saying my loved one was partially at fault."
This is a standard defense tactic in wrongful death cases and needs to be challenged with evidence, not accepted. Alabama's contributory negligence standard makes the fault record critical.

"We're not ready to think about legal action right now."
That's completely understandable. But the statute of limitations is running, and evidence disappears. A single call with Chris — private, no pressure, no obligation — costs you nothing and preserves your options.

"We already spoke to an attorney and weren't sure about them."
Chris is happy to speak with families who have consulted elsewhere and want a second perspective. He'll give you an honest assessment.

Private, No-Pressure Case Review With Chris

Your family deserves answers, not a sales pitch. Speak directly with Chris — confidentially, at no cost — and take the next step only if and when you're ready. There is no obligation, no intake queue, and no script. Just an honest conversation with the attorney who would handle your case.