Car Accident Lawyer in Georgia
When we drive on the roads of Georgia, we rarely think about car accidents. Unfortunately, hundreds of motorists and passengers get into car accidents every single day. We never assume that we will be one of the victims until we find ourselves and our loved ones in a serious car crash.
Even when a car accident seems minor, you may have serious injuries and a damaged car. You wind up with medical bills and repair costs. You may lose income when your injuries make you miss work.
If you have been in a car accident through no fault of your own, do not take your situation lightly. With more than 25 years of combined experience, the Georgia car accident attorneys of Spaulding Injury Law have helped the victims of car accidents. We fight to get our clients the financial compensation they need and the justice they deserve. We have helped our clients recover millions of dollars in compensation for accidents and injuries that were not their fault.
We are proud to have an award-winning team of attorneys who use their extensive knowledge and experience to obtain the best possible outcomes for our clients.
- Attorneys Theodore Spaulding and Jeremy Hayes have been named to the Top 100 Trial Lawyers and Top 40 Under 40 lists.
- Both attorneys have been awarded 10/10 rating on the Avvo client rating service.
- Spaulding is a charter member and Mr. Hayes is a lifetime charter member of the Distinguished Justice Advocates. That organization recognizes the top one half of one percent of attorneys in the U.S.
When you or a loved one are injured in a Georgia car accident that was someone else’s fault, you deserve to be compensated by the at-fault driver or drivers. The Georgia car accident lawyers of Spaulding Injury Law are ready to help. We’re ready to pursue the financial recovery you need to get your life back on track.
Contact our firm today. We will schedule a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss the details of your case. We will explore how our legal team can help.
How Our Georgia Car Accident Lawyer Can Help You
When you’ve been in a car accident and want compensation for your injuries and damages, you don’t have to go it alone. A knowledgeable Georgia car accident attorney can help you maximize the value of your case by:
- Thoroughly investigating the facts and circumstances of your accident.
- Collecting evidence that shows how your accident occurred and who was at fault.
- Working with experts to develop opinions and reports to support a strong, persuasive case.
- Communicating with insurance companies and their lawyers on your behalf.
- Negotiating for a full and fair settlement of your claim.
- Preparing for your case to go to trial, if necessary, to obtain the compensation that you deserve.
Contact Spaulding Injury Law today about your Georgia car accident case. You’ll learn how our firm can improve your chances of getting the best possible outcome.
Determining Fault After a Car Accident
When you bring a claim for compensation against another at-fault driver, you and your attorney will need evidence that shows how that driver caused the accident. Evidence that is commonly used to determine fault in car accident cases includes:
- Accident scene photographs or video
- Vehicle damage reports
- Injury photos
- Police accident reports
- Surveillance video or dashcam video
- Eyewitness statements
- Accident reconstruction reports
When you have an experienced car accident attorney on your side, he or she can assemble the evidence that you need to prove your claim. Your attorney will obtain the police accident report from the police, send document preservation requests to insurance companies, and work with experts to help develop accident reconstructions.
How Much Compensation Can a Georgia Car Accident Law Firm Help You Recover?
After being injured in a car accident through no fault of your own, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses, including:
- Medical expenses, including hospital bills, surgeries, prescription medication, physical therapy, and long-term care
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Punitive damages, which are damages that are imposed to punish especially egregious behavior (motorist driving under the influence with a history of DUIs)
The amount of compensation that you may recover will depend on several factors, including:
- The amount of insurance coverage that is available to compensate you
- The extent of your injuries
- The amount of your property damage
An experienced car accident attorney will be able to evaluate these factors and demand compensation that maximizes the amount of your financial recovery.
Should I Call My Insurance Company After I’m in an Accident?
If you have been in an accident, contact your own insurance company as soon as possible. Most insurance policies require notification of any accident you have been in, regardless of who was at fault. If you fail to notify your insurance company within the required timeframe, your insurance company may have a basis to deny any claim for PIP benefits, collision coverage, or uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
When you notify your insurance company of the accident, be very careful about what you say. In fact, it is probably best if a lawyer calls on your behalf. It is important to remember that the insurance company may not act in your best interest. Insurance companies are a business, after all, and they will do what they must to protect their bottom line. Your insurance company may work against you in the event of a car accident.
If you call the insurance company after a car accident, they may use what you say against you. This can cause problems down the road. Though you may be obligated to notify your insurance company, it is best to do this with the help of a lawyer.
Should I Accept the Offer from the Insurance Company?
When you’ve been involved in a car accident, you may be contacted by the insurance company soon after the accident. The insurer may offer cash compensation in exchange for a settlement of any claims against the insurance company or the other drivers.
Often, the insurance company will try to save money by offering a nominal settlement in exchange for a release. However, the release will bar you from seeking any further compensation from them. You should not accept this offer without getting a thorough medical exam and speaking to a car accident attorney.
Even if you do not believe that you were seriously injured in the crash, be aware that some symptoms can take time to develop. If you take the offer without getting an exam, you may have to pay on your own for medical expenses you need down the road.
An experienced personal injury lawyer can negotiate with the insurance company and get them to pay your medical expenses, whether they were past, current or future expenses.
How Long Do You Have to File a Car Accident Lawsuit in Georgia?
When you’ve been involved in a car accident in Georgia, you have a limited period in which to file a lawsuit to seek compensation. This period is known as the statute of limitations.
- Under Georgia law, you have two years from the date of your accident to file a lawsuit for personal injuries.
- You have four years from the date of your accident to file a lawsuit for property damage, such as damage to your car.
- If you fail to file your lawsuit before the statute of limitations expires, the court can permanently dismiss your case.
Under certain circumstances, the statute of limitations can be paused, or “tolled,” for a certain period. For example, when a minor is involved in a car accident, the statute of limitations does not begin to run until the minor turns 18 years old. The court may agree to toll the statute of limitations if you were the victim of a hit and run accident and could not learn the identity of the other driver during the limitations period.
If you are involved in a car accident with a government vehicle, you must also provide the government entity with notice of your claim. This notice must usually be filed long before the expiration of the statute of limitations.
- Many municipalities in Georgia must be notified of a car accident claim within six months of the accident.
- Under the Georgia Tort Claims Act, the state government must be provided with notice of your claim within 12 months of the accident.
- Claims against the federal government must be accompanied by notice within two years of the date of your accident.
If you fail to provide the government entity with timely notice, your claim can be permanently barred.
What Can I Do to Help My Case after a Car Accident?
If you or someone involved in the accident are visibly injured or are in distress, call 911 to summon emergency medical services.
Even if no one in the accident requires medical attention, summon a police officer and have an accident report prepared. The police accident report will detail evidence and witness statements, whether any driver was cited or arrested for the accident, and possibly even the officer’s conclusion as to who was at fault for the accident. The police accident report can be critical evidence in a later car accident claim.
If not listed in the police accident report, be sure to get the names, contact information, and insurance information for the other drivers. If there were any eyewitnesses, be sure to get their contact information. You may later seek a statement from them. Remember that the longer you wait, the more likely that memories of the accident will fade.
If possible, take photographs or video of the accident, including damage to the vehicles, any skid marks on the road, the traffic controls and road lines at the scene. Also photograph the traffic, road, lighting and weather conditions. If you have visible injuries, be sure to document those as well.
Let your insurance company know of your accident as soon as possible. Your policy may require you to provide your insurer of notice of an accident within a certain time frame.
Even if you don’t feel as though you were injured in the accident, follow up with your doctor. Have any injuries diagnosed. Promptly identifying your injuries will allow you to make a more persuasive argument for compensation.
Confer with a knowledgeable car accident attorney who can help you to understand your legal rights and options for compensation. An attorney can also communicate on your behalf with the insurance companies and defense lawyers.
Talk to Our Georgia Car Accident Attorneys Now
When you or a loved one have been involved in a car accident in Georgia that was caused by another driver, you deserve to be compensated for the damages that you have incurred. Those damages may include medical expenses to treat injuries, lost wages or lost earning capacity from missed work or inability to return to work. Your expenses may also include lost quality of life, pain and suffering, and property damage.
Don’t wait another day to begin the process of seeking the compensation and justice that you need and deserve. Contact Spaulding Injury Law today to schedule a free case evaluation with our Georgia car accident attorneys. We can discuss the details of your accident, and you’ll learn more about your legal rights and options.
