Derek Simms | Birmingham Criminal Lawyer

Simms & Associates is widely regarded as one of the top personal injury law firms in the State of Alabama. The firm was founded in 1999 by lead attorney Derek Simms after gaining years of insight as an insurance industry insider. Simms & Associates will provide you with firsthand knowledge of how auto insurance companies operate. Insurers have specific methods of evaluating cases to determine their worth. Some insurance companies fear litigation – others do not. Simms & Associates can help guide you through the complex legal landscape to arrive at the best possible outcome in your personal injury case. Even if you have received a letter from an insurance company denying your claim on the basis of “contributory negligence,” Simms & Associates may be able to recover money damages on your behalf.

Simms & Associates has also earned a reputation as an aggressive criminal defense firm that tries bench and jury trials in state and federal courts throughout Alabama. Simms & Associates is well-known for fighting hard and going to trial if needed to achieve the client's goals. Success in criminal defense requires persistence in the discovery phase and a detail-oriented approach. Simms & Associates works diligently to protect the rights of clients. The firm handles a wide range of criminal cases, including DUI and drug offenses  The lawyers at Simms & Associates take personal pride in achieving the best possible outcome in the cases they handle. Their track record speaks for itself, with countless dismissals and jury acquittals.

Position	Organization	Location	Duration
Owner	Simms & Associates	Birmingham, AL	Present
Senior Claims Adjuster	The Infinity Group		1995 - 1996

School	Degree	Major	Graduation
Cumberland School of Law, Samford University	J.D.	Law School	N/A
Northern Arizona University	B.S.	Environmental Science	1993

State / Court	Date
Alabama	1999

• Alabama State Bar Association
  American Bar Association
  National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
  National College of DUI Defense

• Top 100 Lawyers | National Advocacy for DUI Defense| 2013, 2014, 2015

• 2013 Blount County Circuit Court - Defendant charged with Unlawful Manufacturing of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree after a search of her home uncovered a meth lab. Prosecutor offered to amend the charge to Manufacturing in the Second Degree if defendant would plead guilty to a 10 year sentence. Offer rejected. Motion to Suppress Evidence filed. Trial court suppressed all evidence as the fruit of an illegal search and seizure. State appealed. The Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the suppression order. All evidence suppressed and case dismissed. 2012 Jefferson County District Court - Defendant charged with unlawful possession of marijuana and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia after consenting to the search of his vehicle at a roadblock. The defendant was offered admission into the Drug Court Program, which he reluctantly declined on the advice of counsel. Cases were set for trial. Both charges dismissed outright prior to trial. 2012 Jefferson County Circuit Court – Defendant arrested for DUI by an Alabama State Trooper. At the District Court trial, the Trooper testified that defendant was stopped for failing to maintain a single lane on the interstate, that he had a strong smell of alcohol, admitted drinking, had slurred speech and bloodshot eyes, failed field sobriety tests and refused a breath test. Defendant convicted and appealed to Circuit Court for trial by jury. First jury trial resulted in a mistrial after the jury could not agree on unanimous verdict. Case tried to a second jury with the same outcome. State elected not to try the case again. Case dismissed. 2015 Jefferson County – Homeowner suffered vandalism to her residence. Insurance company assessed the damage and offered $29,000.00 as settlement. Homeowner declined and retained counsel. Settled for $131,000.00. 2014 Jefferson County – Husband and wife injured while riding a motorcycle. $200,000.00 settlement. 2013 Talladega County – Worker injured when he fell from the roof of homeowner’s home. Homeowner negligent in the design of structure and failing to safeguard worker. $150,000.00 settlement.

• American Journal of Trial Advocacy | 1994
  
  
  Speaking Engagements
  
  WVTM Channel 13 | Alabama's New (2013) Firearms Law | 2013

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Verified Credentials	Date Verified
(1999) Licensed as Attorney in Alabama. Verified with Alabama State Bar .	February 25, 2016

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