Car accident claims: what to do next in Alabama

Who pays: the driver at fault

Alabama is a tort state, the state insurance department says. That means the driver at fault pays. If a driver is at fault for a crash that hurts others, their insurance pays claims for medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering, up to its limits. Alabama has no no-fault system and no PIP rule.

In Alabama, no one may drive or register a car without liability insurance. To fix your own car, you can claim from the at-fault driver's insurer, if they have one. Or you can use your own collision coverage if you have it.

How fault is shared

Alabama uses contributory negligence. This rule usually bars your claim if your own carelessness helped cause your injury. It does not matter that the other driver was careless too. The driver you claim against must raise this as a defense.

One rule limits this defense. In Alabama, not wearing a seat belt is not proof of carelessness under this rule. It also does not limit what an insurer must pay.

Coverage drivers must carry

Alabama policies must cover at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per crash for injuries you cause. They must also cover $25,000 for property damage. The state insurance department calls this 25/50/25.

Source: Code of Alabama § 32-7-6: Required security and minimum limits · as of Oct 5, 2026

Source: Code of Alabama § 32-7-6: Required security and minimum limits · as of Oct 5, 2026

Each policy must also have uninsured motorist coverage at those injury amounts, unless the buyer turns it down. It helps after a crash with a hit-and-run driver or a driver with no insurance. It can also help when the other driver has too little.

If a driver with no insurance caused a death, an injury or more than $500 in damage to one owner, you can send form SR-31 to ALEA's Safety Responsibility Unit. You can file it only if you have not been paid for your losses. You can find it on ALEA's forms page.

Source: Alabama Law Enforcement Agency: Form SR-31, Safety Responsibility claim form · as of Oct 5, 2026

Reporting the crash

After a crash with an injury or death, drivers must stop and stay at the scene. They must help anyone who is hurt and share their name, address and plate number. Cars in a crash with an injury or death may not be moved until an officer says so. In a city, tell the local police right away. Outside a city, tell the county sheriff or the state highway patrol.

Within 30 days, each driver must send a written report to the state. This applies if anyone is hurt or killed, or if one person has more than $250 in property damage. Officers who look into a crash send their report to the state within 24 hours after they finish. You can buy a copy from ALEA, the state law enforcement agency, for $15 online or at a driver license office. State law limits who can buy one.

Source: Code of Alabama § 32-7-5: Driver written report · as of Oct 5, 2026

Source: Alabama Law Enforcement Agency: Crash report copies · as of Oct 5, 2026

Deadlines

Most Alabama injury lawsuits must be filed within 2 years. A claim for a death must be filed within 2 years after the death.

Alabama's strict fault rule and its 2-year limit make the details of a crash matter, and exceptions can apply to any deadline. People's Justice is not a law firm. We do not review your crash or recommend a lawyer. If you want, you can use the form on this page to ask to be connected with a law firm that pays us to advertise.