Accident Lawyer Atlanta
After a car accident, you will need to spend time gathering evidence for your car accident claim, getting your injuries treated, and advocating for your rights to compensation from the accident. This can be a lot to handle if you are dealing with a lot of stress and pain from the crash.
accident lawyer atlanta
A Georgia car accident attorney can help make the process easier so that you can focus on healing from your injuries and recovering. Some of the ways our car accident attorneys in Atlanta handle cases include the following steps.
Your Atlanta car accident lawyer works on your behalf to get the maximum compensation package from the insurance company and fight against unfair practices. Those unfair practices can include tactics like:
Contact a trusted car accident lawyer who can help you with each step of the process. They can make sure your rights are protected and you are doing everything you can to build a strong insurance claim for your damages.
The central issue in an Atlanta car accident claim is the fact that you suffered injuries and damages and you deserve to have these compensated by the party who caused them. Typically, the amount of compensation you can get depends on the value of your damages and the apportioning of blame between all parties involved in your Atlanta car crash.
Your total compensation package is also impacted by the way the court views blame or fault in your accident. Georgia operates under a modified comparative negligence rule (Georgia Code 51-12-33). This law has two important effects on how you can receive compensation.
You have a limited amount of time to file your car accident claim in Atlanta. This deadline is set at two years from the date of the accident by the statute of limitations for personal injury claims (Georgia Code 9-3-33). Waiting too long to file your claim could mean that you lose the right to pursue compensation at all.
A car accident attorney can help ensure that you meet the appropriate deadline for your case. While the two-year rule applies in general, there can be additional deadlines that apply to your claim. For example, you may need to file far sooner if your case involves a driver of a government vehicle.
In many situations, if you suffered injuries during the crash, hiring a car accident lawyer is absolutely worth it. Since insurance companies work with whole teams of adjusters and attorneys, they know how to find ways to convince you your claim is worth much less than it actually is.
11 Alive reported recently that wounds from a recent motor vehicle accident in the college town of Athens, GA were tragically responsible for the death of a Gwinnett County man on Monday, February 15,
Out of the thousands of car accidents that happen each here, there are only a handful that cause a vehicle fire. Vehicle fires can turn deadly very quickly. By the time police arrive, the occupants of
I truly appreciate the hard work My lawyer Duncan and Shanita did for Me! It was definitely a lengthy process, but anytime I would have a question or concern. I would email either Duncan or Shanita and they would ALWAYS get right back with Me. My case has finally been settled and for the damages and pain i experienced from the accident, I think I got a really good amount. I would highly recommend them to anyone who finds them in this type of unfortunate situation! thank you all again, and stay safe!
Typically, both parties will attempt to negotiate for a settlement while preparing their cases for trial to keep the case from proceeding to court. If negotiations are still unsuccessful, your lawsuit will proceed to court where your lawyer will present your case. The judge or jury will then determine the amount of compensation to which you are entitled if any.
Something else to consider when considering costs is the quality of the lawyer you'll be working with on your claim. While Morgan and Morgan's fees are on par with lesser-known law firms, our car accident lawyers in Atlanta, GA, are specialists in their field. Furthermore, our lawyers are empowered with state-of-the-art technology and abundant resources to provide clients with an edge over the opposition of insurance companies.
It doesn't cost you any more to work with lawyers from one of the top-rated law firms in the nation, so why risk your financial future working with a lawyer whose main selling point is a gimmicky radio advertisement slogan?
Georgia is an at-fault state, meaning drivers that cause accidents are liable to pay for the damages. This is based on negligence. Disputes over who is at fault are common reasons people reach out to us for help. Establishing liability can be challenging in some cases. For instance, if multiple parties are involved, more than one driver can share the blame.
The goal of an insurance company is to reduce its losses and maximize profit. This frequently leads to arguments concerning who is to blame for the accident. Our goal as your law firm is to prove the other driver's liability so you can recover compensation.
Traffic law violations - Suppose one driver was exceeding the speed limit when the collision occurred. In that case, the driver who broke the law would be at fault. Generally, if police are involved, they will perform an investigation at the scene. If laws were obviously violated, the driver would receive a citation. If both drivers are ticketed, it makes things more complicated. Our car accident lawyers in Atlanta, GA, can review the specifics of your case and offer legal advice for a path forward.
Negligent driving - If one driver behaved negligently at the time of the accident, this would establish fault. For example, in cases where one driver is operating a vehicle while under the influence, they would almost certainly be at fault for any accident. Likewise, behaviors like texting while driving, racing, or driving while overly tired would indicate fault.
Improperly maintained vehicles - Broken brake lights, bald tires, worn brake pads, or burned-out headlights are all signs of an improperly maintained and dangerous vehicle. If a driver chooses to operate a vehicle that is unsafe and causes an accident, they would likely bear the burden of the expenses incurred by other individuals involved in the crash.
Rear-end accidents - There are rarely legitimate defenses to rear-ending another vehicle. Typically this is caused by following too closely or not paying attention. Exceptions to fault for a rear-end accident require evidence that the driver in front was driving erratically or unexpectedly changed lanes and slammed on their brakes, for example.
In Georgia, you're required to file a police report for all car accidents that involve any injuries, even slight ones, or when $500 or more damage is done to an individual's property. This practically encompasses any accident these days, even with no injuries. If you're outside the city of Atlanta, you should call the state highway patrol instead of the Atlanta police.
While insurance adjusters are professionals, they are also employees, and it's hard to assume they won't be biased toward their employer's interests. If an insurance adjuster concludes fault for your accident unfavorably, you have the option to hire an independent insurance adjuster. Morgan and Morgan can put you in touch with some of the most respected in the industry.
When a car accident happens, it's possible that both drivers share in the blame. For instance, suppose you're late to pick your kids up from school, so you step on the gas pedal a bit to make sure you arrive on schedule. At the same time, another driver pulls out into traffic in front of you without looking. You both collide, and here you are, looking for car accident lawyers in Atlanta, GA.
How much fault you have in the accident will determine whether you can collect compensation from the other driver. This often comes down to how the evidence is presented. When you share fault for an accident, it's crucial to have the experts at Morgan and Morgan on your side. Here's how comparative fault is handled in Georgia.
Car accident cases fall under negligence laws, where drivers owe others on the road a duty of care to exercise caution and obey traffic laws. For instance, individuals can breach their duty of care by driving erratically, breaking traffic laws, or making unsafe lane changes. When a driver causes an accident that results in another person's injury, they can be liable for the damages because they breached the duty of care.
However, as illustrated earlier, both drivers can bear some responsibility. Therefore, they will each be assigned a percentage of fault. This is generally known as comparative negligence, or in car accident cases, comparative fault.
Suppose a jury finds you equally or more at fault for the accident. In that case, you are barred from collecting compensation under Georgia law. Still, if you are found 49% at fault and the other party 51%, you can collect damages based on the 51%. That means if you were awarded $1,000,0000 for your injuries and losses, you would still be able to collect $510,000.
If everything goes smoothly, the at-fault driver's insurance will pay for your medical bills and property losses resulting from the car accident. However, the amount available for these expenses is only as much as the policy limit covers. The minimum requirements for insurance under Georgia law are $25,000 per person for bodily injury liability and $50,000 per accident. The minimum for property damage liability is $25,000 per incident.
Suppose your injuries and losses exceed that amount. In that case, you may be able to look for other insurance coverage, such as if the other driver carried any additional liability insurance. Yet, if the at-fault driver only took the minimum car accident liability insurance, it's unlikely they'll have splurged on supplementary protection.
However, if your accident involved a commercial vehicle or a driver who was operating in a commercial capacity, like an Uber driver, additional policies may be at play. This is particularly true if you were hit by a large truck. Trucking companies typically carry substantial insurance policies because accidents that involve tractor-trailers frequently cause catastrophic injuries. 041b061a72