Like most other states, Georgia is considered an “at fault” state. This means that the person found to be at fault in an automobile accident is the one whose insurance company pays for everything. Some states are “no-fault” states. In those states, your insurance will pay for all the damage, regardless of who is to blame. As an “at fault” state, it’s important to establish who is to blame for a car accident in Atlanta to avoid wasting time and money. To do this, you will need a car accident attorney.
How to Tell Who is at Fault in a Car Accident in Atlanta
According to our car accident attorneys, several factors in a car accident will almost always make a person at fault or responsible for the crash. Call the police and make sure you get a copy of the police report, which may describe one of several accident types:
Rear-End Collision Fault
If you run into the back of another driver, chances are you will be found to be the cause of the accident. Driving defensively and leaving plenty of stopping space in front of you will prevent these types of accidents. If the car in front of you stops abruptly, you must be prepared to brake and avoid hitting them from behind.
Fault in Left-Turn Accidents
Here’s another common scenario. If you are making a left turn and collide with someone that is driving straight from the opposite direction, there’s a high probability that you will be charged with the accident. There are always extenuating circumstances that may change who is at fault. For instance, the two parties may share the blame if the driver with the right of way was speeding excessively, ran a red light, or behaved in another negligent manner.
Disobeying Georgia Traffic Laws
Accidents that occur in intersections or when changing lanes are often a result of a violation of a traffic law. If you hire a car accident attorney to handle your case, they will examine all state traffic laws, to see if any laws were broken. Your attorney will determine whether the other driver was negligent, and therefore, to blame for the collision and damage that occurred during the accident.
What To Do After a Car Accident That Was Not Your Fault
If you are involved in an accident, you should take several precautions to protect yourself and avoid being found at fault. Your actions after an accident may affect whether your insurance company is responsible for paying for everything.
Your first step after an accident is to get a copy of the police report. All the information regarding the accident will be on the report. If Georgia Highway Patrol, emergency workers, or a local police department responded to the scene of the accident, there should be a written report. You may not think this is important, but it can help your case.
Hire a personal injury lawyer that specializes in traffic accidents in the Atlanta area. Having a car accident attorney on your side can make all the difference in the world. Get representation that knows the system. Give them the police report, and they will determine if any laws have been broken. Experienced attorneys can sometimes even determine fault by the location of the damage.
Seek Legal Representation From Spaulding Injury Law After A Car Accident
Being in a car accident is always going to cause some turmoil and confusion. Remember that the insurance companies (yours included) are in business to make money as their priority. After you file a car accident insurance claim, they will try to get you to make a quick settlement to keep their payments to a minimum. Get legal advice from a car accident lawyer, and rest easier knowing that you have an ally to help you get through the process of filing a liability claim.
