Georgia Auto Accidents Attorney
The emotional and physical pain and suffering from a serious car accident can be overwhelming, not to mention the financial burden it places on the whole family. You have the right to talk to a lawyer before you talk to an insurance company, but you can also fight the insurance company on your own. Make an informed choice. The moments following a car wreck can be confusing, painful, and stressful. You could be left with mental or physical injuries from the accident and questions on the best way to move forward.
The experienced attorneys here at The Jewkes Firm are invested in your case. Our seasoned car accident attorneys are dedicated, compassionate, and experienced lawyers litigating cases that involve injuries ranging from minor damages to fatalities. We manage all legal aspects of your case and remain in constant contact with you. Our innovative legal services are customized to your case and fully supported in aggressive pursuit of your best possible outcome.
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If You've Been In A Car Wreck Contact Us For A Free Consultation
If You've Been In A Car Wreck
Things to Do After a Car Accident
All car accidents are unique; nevertheless, this list incorporates important steps to take in common scenarios.
1. Stay at the Scene and Exchange Information with other Driver
Exchange your insurance coverage and registration information with the other driver. This is vital, regardless of who is the at-fault driver. You will need their insurance company’s information for a later step in the insurance claims process. Exchanging information also alerts you as to whether or not the other driver has an insurance policy.
2. Seek Medical Assistance
If you’re involved in a car accident, it is vital that you seek prompt medical attention. Even if you do not feel injured at first, it is still a good idea to get checked out by a doctor, either by your primary physician or at an urgent care or emergency room facility.
3. Call the Police
If the collision injured either you or the other driver, call the police immediately. This is mandatory in the state of Georgia in all accidents resulting in injury or death, regardless of who appears to be the at fault driver. After law enforcement writes their report, ask the officer(s) on scene how you can obtain a copy for your own records in order to file an injury claim. The police report acts as the first piece of evidence gathered in your case.
4. Gather Evidence
Ask every witness what he or she witnessed. Get their names, phone numbers and addresses. Ask if they would be willing to have you record their answers on your cell phone. Witness recollection can be lost very quickly; therefore, it is important to get witness statements as promptly as possible.
Take pictures that clearly show the extent of the damage. Take photographs of the vehicles, the people involved, your injuries and the area surrounding your accident. Photographs could prove invaluable is court or in settling your claim.
5. Keep Track of Medical Treatment
If you believe that you have been injured in an auto accident it is imperative that you see a medical professional for your own health and to document your injuries. Keep all bills and records from your medical visits. Note any doctors, therapists, physical therapists, chiropractors and other medical professionals that you receive treatment from, and all referrals to other caregivers.
Additionally, keep a written record of how your injuries have impacted your daily life in order to prove pain and suffering. Include items such as: difficulty with sleep, difficulty performing daily household activities, inability to drive a car, inability to exercise, missed work, how the injuries have affected your relationships, mood and any other important change caused by the accident.
6. Contact an Experienced Car accident Lawyer in Georgia
Possibly you can settle your own case without hiring an attorney. However, sometimes it makes more economic sense for people to handle their own claim rather than hiring a professional legal counsel. In fact, automobile wrecks involve complicated issues related to auto insurance, liability, lien rights of hospitals and doctors, reasonable compensation, etc. Jewkes Law Firm, LLC, offers free and quick initial consultation for car accidents claims.
GEORGIA PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER NEAR ME
Factors that Affect Car Accident Personal Injury Claims
Even the most clear-cut auto accident cases become intimidating when you start discussing how much compensation is appropriate. Factors that can influence the amount of a settlement include:
Fault and Liability
Georgia is a modified comparative negligence state. You will probably be entitled to recover all of the costs of your damages if another person is solely responsible for causing your collision, but, the damages awarded will be reduced by your percentage of responsibility.
See: O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33.
If a jury determines that you were 49% at fault, then you can collect compensation equal to 51% of the damages.
Severity of Your Injuries
Depending on the severity of your injury, you could receive more compensation. For instance, if you had a neck injury that was serious and required more visits, treatments, surgeries, and medication, then you could receive more in your settlement.
Your Statements After The Car Accident
Your actions following a car accident can have a significant impact on your injury claim. Seeking immediate medical care for your injuries is a step you can take to protect your right to fair compensation for damages.
For instance, if you tell the first responders that you are “fine” after the car accident and do not see a doctor for days or weeks after the crash, the insurance company is likely to argue that the accident did not cause your injuries.
Avoiding discussing the accident with anyone except a car accident lawyer is generally in your best interest.
Sustaining Permanent Damage from the Collision
Injuries with permanent consequences typically result in higher settlement amounts because the costs of ongoing treatments and accommodations may be massive. A victim may require in-home care or assistance because of their injury. Similarly, serious injuries can impact long-term earning potential for victims, as well.
However, in many cases, the greatest single factor determining the amount of your recovery is whether you have professional representation. Studies show that plaintiffs who have representation recover much more in damages, even after deducting attorney fees, than plaintiffs who attempt to represent themselves.
Damages that Can Be Awarded in A Car Accident
When another individual or entity causes an accident, you may have the right to recover compensation for your losses. The damages you can collect for a car accident will depend on the specifics of your case and the losses you suffered. It might also depend on the other party’s level of negligence.
The following types of damages are common in personal injury cases following car accidents. Keep in mind that this list is not exhaustive, and you could pursue financial recovery for practically any cost you incurred that relates to the accident.
1. Medical Expenses:
The more extensive the injuries you suffered after your car accident, the heftier your medical bills will become. You can typically recover the costs associated with your physical recovery in an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit.
These can include compensation for expenses such as:
- Hospitalization costs
- Doctor’s visits
- Ambulance rides
- Rides to and from the hospital
- Surgery costs
- Medical device costs
- Therapy or rehabilitation bills
- At-home care costs
2. Lost Wages:
If your injuries following the accident prevented you from working, you could recover the wages and bonuses you could have earned, or the promotions you could have received.
Sometimes, car accidents leave victims permanently disabled and unable to work in the same job as before, or unable to work at all. You can also receive an award to account for this change in your employment and reduced earning capacity if you had to take a lower-paying job.
3. Property Damage:
If you had to repair your car, you might recover compensation to cover the bills. If the insurance company declared your vehicle a total loss, you might qualify for compensation to replace your vehicle.
If you could not drive your car following the accident, and you used public transportation, taxis, or ridesharing companies as a result, you might be able to recover compensation for those expenses as well.
4. Pain and Suffering:
Pain and suffering , as a noneconomic damage, can account for basically any way that your injuries negatively impact your life. Pain and suffering damages can include compensation for the following:
- Mental anguish
- Physical pain
- Disability or disfigurement
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of enjoyment of life
5. Funeral and Burial Costs:
If a loved one died in a car accident, you might be able to recover damages from a wrongful death lawsuit. In a wrongful death suit, you could recover any of the expenses listed above that apply to your case, along with any expenses related to your loved one’s passing, including:
- Funeral expenses
- Burial costs
- Loss of financial and emotional support
- Loss of guidance
- Lost income or saving capacity
6. Punitive Damages:
These are awarded by a jury or judge when the defendant (person responsible for causing the accident) exhibited gross negligence or intentional misconduct – a recklessness that the court wants to punish in order to prevent others from exhibiting the same behavior in the future.
A successful auto accident lawsuit depends on whether you can prove liability in court. Proving liability may be trickier than you think. Even if the police and witnesses reports state the other driver was at fault, proving that they were careless enough to breach a duty of care to you can be tough.
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Potential Evidence You Need to Provide
Whether you’re filing a case in court or filing a claim with the insurance company, it’s vital that you gather as much evidence as possible. The more documentation you have to support your losses, the more likely you are to get a settlement that covers your injuries and property damages.
Strong evidence in a car accident case includes:
Police Reports.
Law officers are required to fill out an accident report whenever they attend to an accident scene. You may have to pay a fee for a copy of the police report, but the cost is usually minimal—and it’s worth it, if the police officer made any observations that help your case. If the officer’s report says you aren’t at fault, you have a good chance at compensation.
Eyewitnesses.
The police report may include the names and contact information of the other driver as well as any witnesses that were at the scene. Any one of these people may be called to give their testimony regarding what they saw at the crash scene.
Pictures.
Pictures are invaluable to your case. Common photos include the position of the vehicles after the crash, the damage done to both vehicles, the appearance of skid marks, the position of road signs and trafic lights, and photos of your injuries.
Medical Reports.
You should have copies of all of your medical bills, including receipts for amounts both due and paid. You should also have copies of medical procedures, scans, tests, and treatment beginning on the day of the crash to the current date.
Estimates for Property Damage.
It’s important to have all records relating to the damage to your vehicle, not just a repair estimate and car rental receipt. Some supporting evidence many people overlook is documentation of the condition of the vehicle before the crash, such as recent upgrades or improvements that increased the value of the car. Car maintenance records can also help prove that your car was in good working order and the crash wasn’t caused by a problem with your vehicle.
Personal Items.
If your case goes to court, personal items may be admitted as evidence to show the extent of your loss, such as clothing you were wearing at the time of the accident, or the recording of your police calls.
Strong evidence in your case is not only required to prove you weren’t at fault, but also impact how much you’re awarded in your claim. A forgotten out-of-pocket expense will leave you with less than you deserve for your medical costs, while doubt regarding fault may cost you thousands in pain and suffering damages
It is highly advisable that you enlist the services of an accident attorney who is experienced in personal injury claims. An experienced accident lawyer can provide references to cases and citations that support your cause.
GEORGIA PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER NEAR ME
Contact a Georgia Car Accident Personal Claim Attorney!
If you have additional questions or you would like to schedule a free consultation regarding an auto accident, an experienced accident lawyer from our lawyers can help. We are committed to protecting victims’ rights, and you can rest assured that our attorney will handle your case with the due care it deserves.
Investigation of your case
Our legal team can research your accident thoroughly and discover all at-fault parties. In complicated or multi-vehicle accidents, we may use expert witnesses such as accident reconstruction experts to fully understand an accident and explain how your injuries and losses are the direct results of someone else’s negligence.
Negotiating with insurance companies
Dealing with insurance companies can be frustrating and full of potential pitfalls. Our car accident attorneys can protect your legal rights and pursue the compensation that you need.
Estimating current and future damages
While you may know the extent of your present medical bills and out-of-pocket costs, calculating your non-economic damages such as pain and suffering and estimating future losses can be challenging. An experienced car accident attorney knows how to calculate future damages and assess non-economic damages, which can protect you from leaving money on the table.
We understand how important it is to allow you the time and energy necessary to heal without the additional financial hardship and emotional stress that accompanies automobile accidents. Our expertise is in working with insurance companies and navigating the legal complexities to fight for the compensation you deserve.
If you are successful in your claim, the financial compensation you receive can be used to pay your medical costs, cover for possible lost wages due to an inability to work, and pay to repair property damage.
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Frequently Questions?
Do I need a personal injury attorney?
The Jewkes Firm is well-versed in effectively challenging major insurance companies on your behalf to secure the highest settlement permissible by law. Our primary objective is to ensure your optimal recovery. It is only after this point that we assess the worth of your case.
What is the deadline for filing an injury case in Georgia?
The timeframe for filing an injury case, also known as the statute of limitations, can vary significantly. As per OCGA §9-3-33, you are granted a two-year period from the date of your injuries or the passing of a family member to initiate your personal injury claim.
What is the cost to hire a personal injury attorney?
There is no upfront cost associated with hiring a personal injury lawyer. Our fees are based on a percentage of your settlement, meaning you only pay if we successfully recover compensation. Our top priority is ensuring your well-being and helping you return to your normal life.
What damages can you recover from a personal injury?
A personal injury lawyer aims to establish negligence and seek restitution for the harm caused by the liable party. Additionally, you may be entitled to compensation for funeral costs, medical expenses, and income lost if you are a family member of someone who died as a result of an injury.
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