personal injury attorney – Law Firm of Lewis Lewis Falkner

Should I Try to Settle My Car Accident Claim Without a Lawyer?

If you’ve been injured in a car accident, you may be wondering if you can save money by working out a settlement with the insurance company on your own.

Everyone is looking for ways to save money these days, and perhaps you think that if you negotiate your own claim you will be able to keep more in your pocket by avoiding an attorney’s fee. But in many cases handling your own claim can actually end up costing you money. Here’s why:

Despite what their commercials may lead you to believe, insurance companies are not in the business of paying claims. This is true, of course, because the less they pay out in claims the more profit they make. While the insurance adjuster may seem nice you should remember that she is not on your side!

So, if the insurance company isn’t looking out for your best interest, who is?

Having an attorney on your side can help level the playing field and give you a better chance of getting the compensation you deserve.

According to a study conducted by the Insurance Research Council, injury victims who use lawyers for their personal injury claims receive bigger settlements than victims who do not use a lawyer. You may be saying to yourself, “yeah, but how much of that money do they actually keep after paying for the lawyer?” According to the study, injured persons who used lawyers received more money on their claims even taking into account fees paid to their lawyers.

The bottom line is that an attorney can help get you your best possible recovery because he knows how to deal with the insurance companies.

An experienced personal injury attorney can help maximize your recovery to get you the compensation you deserve. Call Al Lewis of Lewis, Lewis & Falkner at 205-553-5353 for your free consultation.

October 1, 2020/by Mary Lane Falkner

Alabama’s “Anti-Road Rage” Law

We recently wrote about Alabama’s new seat belt law, and today we are reminding you about another update to Alabama traffic laws. If you like to cruise in the left lane then you need to be aware of this change.

As its name suggests, the so-called “Anti-road Rage Act” is designed to prevent situations that can lead to road rage.

Under the new law, you cannot drive in the leftmost lane of the interstate for more than a mile and a half without passing another vehicle. There are some common-sense exceptions to this rule including provisions for road hazards, inclement weather, traffic congestion, and moving over for emergency response vehicles. It’s also important to note that the Act does not apply to every Alabama roadway – only interstate highways.

While the bill went into effect September 1^st, 2019, only warnings will be issued until November, 2019, at which time violators could face a ticket for up to $200.00.

As mentioned, this isn’t the only recent update to Alabama traffic safety laws. Read our blog post on the recent seat belt law here.

These changes to the law should help Alabama drivers stay safer, but unfortunately accidents still happen.

If you’ve been injured in a car accident, call Lewis, Lewis & Falkner today at 205-553-5353 for your free consultation and case evaluation. An experienced personal injury attorney can help make sure you get the recovery you deserve.

October 25, 2019/by Mary Lane Falkner

Car Accident, Personal Injury

Alabama’s New Seat Belt Law

Everyone knows that one of the safest choices you can make is to use a seat belt when you are in a car. Now, a new Alabama law encourages everyone to make the safe choice to buckle up.

Starting September 1, 2019 everyone traveling in a vehicle in Alabama must wear a seat belt. While Alabama’s previous seat belt law applied only to people in the front seat and minors in the backseat, the new law follows common sense by requiring all passengers and drivers to buckle up.

Why is Buckling Up So Important?

A few key seatbelt statistics:

According to the Alabama Department of Transportation, 60 percent of the people who died in traffic accidents in the state in 2017 weren’t wearing seat belts.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that buckling up in the front seat of a car reduces your risk of fatal injury by 45%, and your risk of moderate to critical injury by 50%.
The NHTSA also tells us that wearing a seatbelt in a light truck is even more important: it reduces your risk of fatal injury by 60% and of moderate to critical injury by 65%.

And remember that just because your car has an airbag doesn’t mean you can get away with driving unrestrained.

Airbags and seatbelts are designed to work together, not to replace each other. If you don’t wear a seatbelt your airbag can become dangerous – the force of being thrown unrestrained into a rapidly opening front airbag can seriously injure or even kill you.

What Should I Do If I’m Involved in a Car Accident?

Whether you’re wearing a seatbelt or not, being involved in a car accident is scary and stressful. Safety should, of course, be your first priority. Once you have determined that you are safe and have called for medical assistance, follow this link to read about next steps.

If you have been in a car accident you may be entitled to compensation. Call us at 205-553-5353 for your free case evaluation with an experienced personal injury attorney.

October 17, 2019/by Mary Lane Falkner

Our Team

Meet Our Attorneys: Albert G. Lewis III

Al was born in Birmingham, Alabama and has lived in Tuscaloosa most of his life. The oldest of six children, he learned from an early age the importance of hard work:

“My father died when I was only ten years old, so my mother depended on me to help take care of my younger brother and sisters.”

He began practicing law over forty years ago, starting at a local firm after graduating from the University of Alabama School of Law in 1979. As a young associate, Al gained hands-on experience in a variety of practice areas, an opportunity he says has prepared him to provide a high level of service to his clients:

“One thing that sets our firm apart is our ability to give our clients comprehensive service. For example, when a client comes to us with a car accident case, instead of viewing his situation only from the perspective of a personal injury attorney, we can also give the client advice about how to file for disability if necessary, or how to protect his award of damages through a good estate plan.”

In 2000, Al opened his own firm. Eventually, two of his three children, Albert and Mary Lane, joined him in his practice.

“One of the best things about working with family is that we share the same values. We all believe that trust, loyalty, and communication are important, and we make sure that those principles guide us in our work.”

Al’s dedication to serving his clients has been recognized by LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review, which granted him an AV-Preeminent rating, its highest possible rating.

Al represents individuals and businesses in a variety of matters including personal injury, wrongful death, fraud, insurance claims, commercial transactions, and bankruptcy.

He is admitted to practice in all state and federal courts in Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee and the District of Columbia.

October 15, 2018/by Mary Lane Falkner

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