Assessing Economic Damages in Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Litigation: The State of Alabama

This article is intended to provide the basic information needed by an individual charged with the task of calculating economic damages for personal injury or death cases filed in state courts in Alabama. The primary sources of information are the Code of Alabama 1975, the Alabama Rules of Civil Procedure, the Alabama Pattern Jury Instructions, a publication by the Administrative Office of Courts titled A Guide to Alabama Court Procedures, and relevant case law. The basic structure of the state's legal system is discussed, and a presentation is made of Alabama law as it relates to wrongful death actions. Economic evaluation in personal injury litigation is examined as well as admissibility issues in the state.