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Alabama · fracture

Fracture settlements
in Alabama.

By 6 min read

Alabama applies pure contributory negligence — 1% claimant fault bars all recovery — making liability proof critical to any personal injury claim. For fracture claims specifically, the band is built from the state-by-state tort law · jury verdict reporters · statutory caps framework and then adjusted for Alabama's pure contributory negligence and any applicable statutory cap.

Alabama retains pure contributory negligence — one of only a handful of US jurisdictions that has not abolished the rule. For fracture claims, this means any percentage of claimant fault, however small, bars recovery entirely. The rule converts mixed-liability fracture cases into binary outcomes and gives defendants and their insurers substantial settlement leverage. Plaintiffs' counsel here typically focus heavily on framing the claimant's conduct as faultless before damages are even discussed.

Alabama's caps (punitive damages cap) apply to the non-economic component of fracture damages and can compress upper-tier verdicts. The exact application depends on the cause of action and the head of damage; the caps section on this page sets out each ceiling and the conditions under which it bites.

band · US federal frame
$15,000 – $80,000
Wrist or arm fracture
Settlement aggregates

The US band is the starting point. Alabama's fault rule and any applicable cap then adjust the figure.

AL · statute of limitations
2 years from date of injury

Ala. Code § 6-2-38

AL · fault rule
Pure contributory negligence

Pure contributory negligence — even 1% of fault attributed to the claimant bars all recovery. Alabama is one of only five US jurisdictions to retain this rule.

AL · caps

What caps recovery.

Statutory caps that may bear on a fracture settlement in Alabama.

fracture · neighbouring jurisdictions

Compare to neighbours.

How Alabama's fault rule and limitation period compare to other US jurisdictions for fracture claims.

JurisdictionFault ruleLimitationFracture page
Alabama · you are herePure contributory negligence2 years from date of injury
AlaskaPure comparative negligence2 years from date of injury or discoveryAK · fracture
ArizonaPure comparative negligence2 years from date of injuryAZ · fracture
ArkansasModified comparative — 50% bar3 years for personal injury; 2 years for medical malpracticeAR · fracture
CaliforniaPure comparative negligence2 years for personal injury; 1 year for medical malpractice (with 3-year repose)CA · fracture
ColoradoModified comparative — 50% bar2 years for personal injury; 3 years for motor vehicleCO · fracture
ConnecticutModified comparative — 51% bar2 years from date of injuryCT · fracture
DelawareModified comparative — 51% bar2 years from date of injuryDE · fracture
District of ColumbiaPure contributory negligence3 years from date of injuryDC · fracture
FloridaModified comparative — 51% bar2 years from date of injury (was 4; reduced by HB 837)FL · fracture
GeorgiaModified comparative — 50% bar2 years from date of injuryGA · fracture
HawaiiModified comparative — 51% bar2 years from date of injuryHI · fracture
IdahoModified comparative — 50% bar2 years from date of injuryID · fracture
AL · fracture · frequently asked

Common questions.

Each answer is independently coherent and references the relevant statute or authority document.

editorial note

Figures on this page are starting points: the US band adjusted for Alabama's statutory framework. They are not quotes for any specific case. For representation, consult an attorney admitted in Alabama. See /methodology, /sources, and /disclaimer.