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Most of us hope to go our entire lives without ever being in a car accident. Unfortunately, car accidents happen every day in Acworth, and they cause injuries ranging from pain and soreness to serious life-changing conditions. Most people who are injured in an accident assume that insurance will take care of everything—but this is rarely the case, and insurers look for any opportunity to pay less or even deny a claim. Don’t take risks after an accident. You need to talk to an Acworth car accident lawyer.
Call John Foy & Associates. Our law firm has spent more than 20 years crusading for one cause: to help accident victims and get them the money they deserve. In that time, we have proven ourselves as a powerful force that can fight off even the most aggressive insurance companies. Let us give you a FREE consultation to start getting you answers. Call us at 404-400-4000 or fill out the form to the right to get your free consultation today.
I’ve been in a car accident in Acworth. What do I need to know?
There are three big things that every car accident victim needs to know in Acworth. They are:
Determining fault is not always as clear-cut as it seems.
Georgia is a fault state, which means that all car accident claims are based on who caused the accident. The driver who is primarily at fault will be held liable, and their insurance is the one that has to pay out everyone’s costs. However, this system is not always simple. This is because:
- Georgia allows “comparative negligence.” This means that more than one party can share fault in an accident case. Here’s an example: imagine that you were speeding 10 mph over the limit, and another driver pulled out in front of you without looking. They’re clearly at fault for the accident, but since you were speeding, you might be found partially at fault as well.
- The insurance company has an incentive to dispute who is at fault. If their insured is at fault, they have to pay a substantial amount of money, and that hurts their profit margin. So their investigators or adjustor may try to make a case that YOU are at fault, even if you are clearly the victim.
The amount of money you receive is not automatic.
You would think there’d be a clear relation between the cost of your losses and the amount the insurer offers you. There’s not. Insurers routinely offer more than you think you need at first, because they want you to take it quickly. They know that the amount you actually need may be much larger over time, especially when you consider missed wages, lingering health effects, or additional treatment if the injuries don’t heal. In other words, insurers try to tempt you with quick money up front, in order to sell you short down the road.
Ultimately, the amount of money you get paid is a matter of negotiation. The better the lawyer you have representing you, the more likely you are to get the full amount you deserve under the law.
Everything you say can be used against you.
Within days after the car accident, you can expect a call from the insurer—beginning with a cheerful, “How are you today?” We all know how easy it is to respond with a simple, “Fine,” even if you’re actually in pain. But the insurer now has it on record that you said you were fine shortly after the accident.
This is just the first of many ways an insurer will try to turn your case around on you, deny your claim, or simply downgrade how much they pay—even if you need more for your costs. Never agree to a recorded statement or recorded call, and talk to a lawyer as soon after the accident as possible. Remember: once you have a lawyer, the insurer has to talk to them, not you.
If you bear these three facts in mind, you can start to advocate for your own rights and take smart steps to protect yourself. As an accident victim, the law is on your side, but you need someone on your team who knows what they’re doing from the start.
How much money can I expect to receive for my car accident claim?
Given the rules above, it’s no surprise that the amount varies tremendously from one car accident claim to another. In general, the more severely you are hurt the more money the courts will award you. But even victims of minor accidents often have a right to much more than they expect. And even individuals who have been seriously hurt have to fight to protect their claim.
In general, you can expect your accident claim to reflect the following:
- All of your medical costs (doctor visits, drug costs, tests, and ongoing treatment)
- All of your car repair or property damage costs
- All of your lost wages from missing work
- Most other hard costs you had to pay as a result of the accident
Then, the total of all those costs is multiplied to help offset your pain and personal suffering in the accident. The amount they’re multiplied by depends on how seriously the accident affected you. In a whiplash case from a rear end accident, they may be less than doubled. In a severe brain injury case, the multiplier may be very large.
We have helped clients recover anywhere from $10,000 or $15,000 for fender benders to $1,000,000 or more for serious accidents. What all of these accidents have in common is one thing: we fight to get you more than the insurance company first offers.
Talk to an Acworth Car Accident Lawyer for Free
The days and weeks after an accident are a crucial time. You need to get legal advice and make smart decisions from the start. Don’t wait—our car accident attorneys have over 20 years of experience, and we charge you NOTHING if we do not get you money. Call us at 404-400-4000 or fill out the form to the right to set up your free consultation right away.
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