Atlanta Car Accident Lawyer

A car accident can happen to you at any time. Even if you’re an extremely safe driver, you can’t control the actions of others on roads. Car accidents can leave you with thousands of dollars in medical bills, costly car repairs, lost work time (and wages), and emotional damages that may last for years. 

You should not have to bear the costs of another driver’s mistakes. If you were not fully at fault for your accident, it’s time to seek the opinion of a car accident lawyer in Atlanta. The experienced lawyers at John Foy & Associates can help you build a strong insurance claim to seek compensation for your damages. 

We have 20-plus years of firsthand experience to guide you through the best steps in protecting your legal rights as a car accident victim in Atlanta.

What Should You Do at the Scene of a Car Accident in Atlanta?

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  Pull Over And Render Assistance
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  Call the Police
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  Exchange Information
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  Just Give the Facts
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  Take Pictures
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  Talk to a Car Accident Lawyer

At the scene of an Atlanta car accident, you will need to take steps to protect your legal rights. If you weren’t at fault for the accident, the other driver is liable for your damages. You will need to file a personal injury claim with their insurance company to seek compensation—and what you do at the scene of the accident can help strengthen your claim.

Before the accident even happens, it’s a good idea to be prepared by:

• Keeping your driver’s license with you at all times when driving
• Making sure proof of your insurance and registration is in your car
• Keeping emergency tools like flares and orange cones in your car
• Carrying recording supplies like a camera (or your phone) and pen and paper
• Making sure your hazard lights work

It’s also important to make sure you stay current on your insurance coverage and carry Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) coverage in case an uninsured driver hits you.

There are also ways you can begin building your car accident claim at the scene of the accident. Things you can do to legally protect yourself after the accident include:

• Calling the police to report the accident
• Exchanging names, phone numbers, and insurance information with the other driver
• Taking pictures (and possibly video) of the accident scene, vehicle damage, and your injuries
• Getting the names and contact information of any witnesses
• Seeing a doctor as soon as possible
• Scheduling a consultation with an Atlanta car accident lawyer

What Can You Do to Protect Your Rights After a Georgia Car Crash?

To legally protect yourself in the days and weeks after a car accident, you will need to document the accident, gather evidence, get your injuries treated as soon as possible, and seek legal help.

Documenting the Scene

After the accident happens, you will need to:

• Call the police to report the accident and tell responding officers what happened.
• Take pictures of the accident scene, your injuries, and vehicle damage to your car.
• Avoid admitting any blame or apologizing to the other driver until you have all the facts.
• Talk to witnesses and get their names and contact information.

Each of these steps can help create a record of the car accident, which is crucial for your insurance claim.

Getting Your Injuries Checked Out

After you’ve left the scene, see a doctor as soon as you can to have your injuries checked out. Some Atlanta car accident injuries take time to fully show up, so you should see a doctor even if your pain is minor. The sooner you can get treatment and create a record that you saw someone for your injuries, the better it is for your case.

Also, keep track of all medical bills, doctor notes, and other records of your injuries and medical expenses.

Taking Notes on the Accident

Keep a record of what happened before, during, and after the car accident. Write down how the accident made you feel and how your injuries have impacted your day-to-day life. Also, record any names and contact information of people you’ve communicated with about your accident.

Getting a Car Inspection

Assess how much your vehicle damage will cost to repair (or replace, if your car was totaled). You might see a few different inspectors for an average estimate of how much your vehicle damage is worth before the other driver’s insurance company steps in.

Documenting Your Damages

Keep track of all costs associated with your car accident. Use a file or folder to save documents and notes in one place. This should include:

• Your claim number
• The insurance adjuster’s name
• All medical bills and records
• Quotes for vehicle damage repairs
• Full names, phone numbers, and addresses for all relevant contacts

Calling a Car Accident Attorney in Atlanta

Schedule a consultation with an experienced car accident attorney who can make sure you are doing everything to protect your rights after the accident. It’s easy to get taken advantage of if you don’t know how to handle the insurance company, so a lawyer can make sure that doesn’t happen. They can also help fight for the fair settlement you deserve.

If the insurance company or other driver fights against your claim, your auto accident attorney in Atlanta will be there every step of the way—even if you need to take the driver to trial.

Basically, be cautious in everything you do or say after a car accident. Avoid admitting blame, apologizing, or downplaying your damages—and get a trusted lawyer on your side who can help you take the right actions for your case. The goal is to protect your legal rights to full compensation for all the damages you face because of the other driver’s negligence that led to your accident.

What Your Atlanta Car Accident Attorney Can Do in the Days Following the Crash

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.

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.

Here are four things we can do. In the days after a car accident:

Keep in mind that you must file a claim within two years from the date of your accident. That time goes quickly, so it’s best to act now. 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.

Damages and Compensation in Atlanta Car Accident Claims

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.

How Much Is Your Case Worth?

The first step when determining how much your case is worth is to evaluate the complete list of your damages. These are split into two categories: those that affect your finances directly and those that do not.

Economic damages are the ones that directly affect your bank account, and they usually have receipts or bills attached to them showing their monetary value. Examples include:

• Medical bills (both now and in the future)
• Costs of repairing or replacing damaged property (such as your car)
• Accessibility modifications for your home made necessary by your injuries
• Lost wages as a result of missing work
• Lost earning capacity due to disability or disfigurement

On the other hand, a car crash can result in damages that aren’t tied to your money. These non-economic harms can include things like your physical pain, mental and emotional suffering, loss of consortium with a spouse, loss of enjoyment in life, and similar ills.

A car accident lawyer in Atlanta can help you compile a list of your damages, evaluate them, and determine how much you are owed by the at-fault party in your case.

What If You Share Some Blame for the Accident?

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.

1. You are not legally owed compensation for an Atlanta car accident for which you are deemed to be 50% or more responsible.
2. Your total compensation will be reduced by the percentage of blame you share for the crash.

In other words, if you are 25% at-fault for the crash in which you were injured, your total compensation package will be reduced by 25% as well. This is one reason why it’s so crucial to have an accident lawyer on your side, since they can help you compile evidence of the other person’s fault and maximize your potential compensation.

How Long Do You Have to File a Car Accident Claim in Atlanta?

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.

Is It Worth Hiring a Car Accident Lawyer?

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. 

If you accept a settlement without thinking about the full extent of your damages—current and future—you could be leaving a lot of money on the table. That means you’ll be left paying for a lot of the cost of your accident, even though you have a right to recover more.

On the other hand, studies have shown that clients who are represented by attorneys have a far higher chance at a larger compensation package than those who represent themselves. This trend holds true even after attorneys’ fees are taken into consideration. 

Plus, our Atlanta car accident attorneys work on contingency, so you don’t pay us anything until we win you compensation.

How a Car Accident Lawyer Helps

Hiring a car accident lawyer from John Foy & Associates can help you with various aspects of your claim, including:

• Investigating the scene of your car accident (and reviewing pictures taken at the scene)
• Getting a copy of the police report, medical records, and other important documents
• Talking to witnesses who were at the scene
• Determining all your damages, including medical treatment, lost wages, vehicle damage, and pain and
• suffering damages that are near impossible to calculate accurately alone
• Talking to the insurance company and negotiating a fair settlement on your behalf

It’s common for the insurance company to offer you a small settlement right after your accident. They may try to call you or send something by mail. This might be tempting as you are stressing about your bills after the accident, but it’s rarely enough to cover even a fraction of your damages. A car accident lawyer can make sure you don’t get taken advantage of.

Get a Free Case Evaluation From Atlanta Car Accident Attorneys Today

You shouldn’t be on the hook for medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages when the accident in which you were injured was not your fault. Justice demands that you get the compensation you deserve, but the legal process can be harrowing for those with little to no experience.

At John Foy & Associates, our Atlanta car accident lawyers are ready and willing to help you fight for your rights. We provide all clients with a FREE initial consultation to determine how we can assist your claim. If you’re ready to get the compensation you deserve, call our office today or fill out the free case evaluation form on our contact page.