Birmingham car accident statistics paint a mixed picture of road safety. Allstate Insurance found that drivers in the city filed insurance claims at an average rate. Thus, its America’s Best Drivers Report placed Birmingham, AL, at 50 out of 200 major U.S. cities with the safest drivers. While not stellar, it still outranked Jackson, MS, and Atlanta, GA.
On the other hand, Alabama has one of the highest fatality rates in the nation. After a crash that injures or kills someone, the victim or their family can pursue compensation. Belt, Bruner & Barnett Personal Injury Lawyers assists claimants in their battle to hold negligent drivers accountable.
If you need help after a crash, contact our Birmingham car accident attorneys at 205-206-5088 for a free case evaluation.
How Belt, Bruner & Barnett Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Car Accident in Birmingham, AL
Since 2002, Belt, Bruner & Barnett Personal Injury Lawyers has fought for accident victims in Birmingham, Alabama, against those who harmed them. Our Birmingham car accident lawyers have over 93 years of combined legal experience. Over that time, we have successfully represented thousands of clients.
Our law firm provides the following services if you’ve suffered an injury due to someone else’s actions:
- Assessing your case and identifying your legal options for compensation
- Investigating your claim and gathering evidence to prove it
- Preparing your insurance claim and attempting to settle with the insurer
- Filing a lawsuit if settlement negotiations fall apart
You could face significant financial losses and physical disabilities after a car accident. Contact our Birmingham personal injury lawyers at 205-206-5088 for a free consultation to discuss your crash and the compensation you can seek for your injuries.
How Dangerous Are Birmingham’s Drivers?
Despite its moderately good ranking in the America’s Best Drivers Report, car accident statistics paint a different picture. According to a study by Clever Move, opinion surveys place Birmingham drivers at fifth-worst in the country. The city had the second-worst traffic fatality rate and the ninth-highest uninsured motorist rate.
The last statistic is extremely important. Alabama uses a fault-based insurance system in which all vehicle owners must buy liability insurance. After a car accident, crash victims file insurance claims against the at-fault driver’s insurer. The insurer pays the claims if its covered driver was negligent.
This means any driver who causes a crash due to unreasonable carelessness bears the liability for all resulting injuries. When a driver lacks insurance, injured victims cannot get the compensation they need for medical bills and living expenses.
Birmingham Car Crash Numbers
Alabama issues an annual Crash Facts book that contains traffic accident statistics. Unfortunately, the report provides only a few numbers on the county level and no statistics for cities.
While Birmingham recently adopted a Safe Streets and Roads for All initiative to eliminate all traffic deaths, the city has not yet completed its traffic safety analysis. As a result, Birmingham and Jefferson County have no resource that gives comprehensive car crash numbers.
Thus, the numbers come from diverse resources for different geographic regions, including the entire state, Jefferson County, the city of Birmingham, and the “Heart of Alabama” region. The Heart of Alabama region covers Blount, Chilton, Jefferson, Shelby, St. Clair, and Walker counties, and the Birmingham metro area.
The most recent data from the metro area is old. The Greater Birmingham Safety Coalition compiled statistics covering 2010 through 2014 and has not updated its data since then. Over those five years, Jefferson County had 8,055 serious injuries and 470 deaths.
When you take a closer look at the Heart of Alabama Region, you can find more recent data. Over the five years from 2019 through 2023, this region had 183,705 traffic accidents.
This number includes all of the following:
- Single-vehicle accidents
- Multi-vehicle collisions
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bicycle accidents
The region also had over 800 traffic deaths over that period. This region accounted for 25% of the state’s total crashes and 19% of its fatal crashes.
Causes of Car Crashes in Alabama
The most recent data comes from the Crash Facts book. However, since Birmingham is the most populous city in the state, you can probably infer that the city’s crash trends match those of the state.
Common causes of car accidents in Alabama include:
- Failing to yield the right of way
- Speeding
- Changing lanes improperly
- Failing to see a vehicle, person, or object
It is also worth noting that Birmingham specifically identified aggressive driving as a problem behavior in its 2017 Strategic Highway Safety Plan. According to the city, aggressive drivers were responsible for 58% of deaths and 57% of serious injuries in the city between 2006 and 2015. Aggressive driving includes excessive speeding, tailgating, and other traffic violations.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Birmingham Car Accident Lawyers
A car accident injury can cause severe physical and economic hardships. Contact Belt, Bruner & Barnett Personal Injury Lawyers for a free consultation. We can discuss the losses you experienced and how we can help you recover financial compensation for them.