Forest Park Rear-End Collision Lawyer

Rear-end collisions can happen so quickly and easily. One moment, you’re stopped at a red light or a stop sign. The next, a negligent driver slams into the back of your vehicle. Rear-end accidents may seem like simple fender benders, but they often turn into something worse.

Injuries, medical bills, and other damages stemming from rear-end crashes can be much more expensive than you think. If someone else was responsible for your accident, they should be held liable for their carelessness. A car accident attorney in Forest Park from John Foy & Associates can help with that.

What to Do After a Rear-End Accident in Forest Park

Even if your rear-end accident does not seem serious, you should still make sure that you are safe and alright. If you need immediate medical attention, call an ambulance. You should also pull your car to the side of the road if there is heavy or fast-moving traffic.

If you have the chance, there are some things that you can do to help ensure that you get maximum compensation for your rear-end collision. After your accident, you should:

• Call the police and get a report. You won’t be able to file your claim without an official accident report. If you aren’t given one, you may be able to get one from the Forest Park Police Department or your nearest police station.
• Get the other party’s information. You’ll need their address, contact information, the name of their insurance company, and license plate number for your own insurance purposes and so that your attorney can contact them.
• Talk to any witnesses and get their contact information. Having a witness statement will make your claim much stronger. Just be careful what you say to them and make sure you don’t admit any fault in the accident.
• Take pictures or video of the scene of the accident. Some evidence does not stick around very long. Take your own pictures of the damage done to your car and the other party’s, as well as any other details you think are important.
• Write down your own record of events. You would be surprised how memory can fade or warp over time. As soon as you can, write down what you remember happening.
• Don’t sign anything or tell the insurance company anything they don’t need to know. Insurance companies will try to lowball you and use your words against you so that they can save money. Don’t sign anything they give you until you have a lawyer helping you with your case.
• Contact a Forest Park rear-end accident attorney as soon as possible. With the insurance company and the other party’s lawyer working against you, there are plenty of opportunities to lose your chances of compensation. A lawyer can protect you.

If you’re not sure whether you should get an attorney, you can get a free consultation with someone in a law firm who can talk to you about your situation. 

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How a Rear-End Collision Lawyer in Forest Park Can Help

Attorneys don’t just argue in court. The job of a lawyer spans a wide range of services–our team wants to protect your rights in every aspect of your car accident claim.

The first thing that a rear-end collision attorney in Forest Park will do for you is listen to your story. At your no-fee initial consultation, your lawyer will assess your situation and tell you what the next steps should be to get you the compensation you deserve. Once you agree to hire them, they’ll get to work.

To ensure your chances of a fair rear-end accident settlement, your lawyer will:

Investigate Your Accident and Gather Evidence

To have the strongest possible claim, you will need the clearest possible evidence. While you can gather some yourself at the scene of your accident, your lawyer will know where to look for more documents and details that support your side of the story.

Evidence in a rear-end accident case can include:

• Footage of the accident
• Driving records
• Criminal records
• Medical diagnoses
• Witness statements
• Analysis from accident reconstruction experts

Calculate Your Damages

Also essential for any accident claim is calculating exactly how much you’re owed by the at-fault party. To do this, your lawyer will have to sift through medical records, receipts, bills, and other documents to show how much money you had to spend after your accident, and how much you’ll have to spend in the future.

Negotiate With the Insurance Company

The other party’s insurance company will want to pay you as little as possible. To that end, they will try to trick you, bully you, and twist your words to reduce your compensation. A skilled attorney will be able to negotiate with them and protect you.

Represent You in Court If Your Case Goes to Trial

The truth is that most accident claims don’t become actual lawsuits. Instead, they are settled outside of court and both parties avoid a lengthy legal battle. In some rare instances, though, negotiations fall through and claims go to trial.

If that happens, your lawyer will stick by your side and make sure your rights are held up in court. They will use their years of experience and every skill in their arsenal to fight for you.

Compensation You Can Get for a Rear-End Collision

Compensation in car accident cases like yours is based on specific damages that the other party’s negligence caused. These damages can be both economic (financial costs) and non-economic (costs to your quality of life). Without knowing your damages, it’s impossible to say how much compensation you could get from your rear-end collision case.

Damages in rear-end accidents can include:

• Medical Expenses
• Repair bills
• Property damage
• Payment for physical therapy and other future treatment
• Pain and suffering
• Mental trauma
• Wrongful death

When your attorney calculates your damages, they won’t just include those that you’ve suffered since your accident. They’ll also take into account what you will have to pay in the future, so you don’t have to worry about where you’re going to get the money.

The average compensation for car accidents varies widely, so the best way to get a good idea of how much you may be able to get from your claim is to consult with a trained attorney. A lawyer from John Foy & Associates can evaluate your case and tell you what size your settlement will likely be.

Georgia’s Statute of Limitations for Rear-End Collisions

Victims of car accidents and other negligent actions are bound to a deadline called the statute of limitations. The statute of limitations outlines how long you have to take action. In Georgia, the statute of limitations for people injured in rear-end accidents is two years, according to the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (OCGA) § 9-3-33.

Two years may seem like plenty of time, but it can go by more quickly than you expect, especially when you’re preoccupied with recovering from a car crash. Plus, there are some circumstances in which your deadline could be much tighter–possibly weeks.

That’s why you should get in touch with a Forest Park rear-end collision lawyer as soon as you can. The sooner we can get to work on your case, the better your chances are of getting your full settlement.

Forest Park Rear-End Collision FAQs

• Should I Sue After I Was Rear-Ended?
• Should I See a Doctor for a Rear-End Collision?
• What Is the Most Common Injury in a Rear-End Crash?
• How Much Is a Rear-End Collision Settlement Worth?

Should I Sue After I Was Rear-Ended?

Rear-end collisions happen every day, and sometimes, they can be simple accidents. Even if the other person was at fault, you may be hesitant to make a claim against them because you don’t want them to pay too much for their mistake.

We understand your hesitation, but if you have reason to believe that the other party was in any way at fault for your damages, you should at least talk to a lawyer. Medical bills become very expensive very quickly, and you shouldn’t have to pay for something someone else did. Plus, it’s likely that the other party’s insurance will pay for most of your compensation.

With our lawyers, you don’t have to worry about whether your compensation will be enough to pay lawyer fees. That’s because our firm works on contingency, which means we don’t take any payment until you win your case. And even then, our fees will only come out of a portion of your settlement.

If you’re not sure whether it’s worth suing for your rear-end collision, you can always talk to one of our car accident lawyers. They can talk through your case with you and tell you what your options are for getting compensation.

Should I See a Doctor for a Rear-End Collision?

Yes, you should almost always see a doctor after a rear-end collision, or any other car accident. Even if you don’t think you’re particularly hurt, you should get medical help. Injuries from rear-end accidents can be hard to notice, but if they go untreated, they can lead to complications down the road.

It’s fair to worry about the medical bills that you face when going to the doctor for a minor injury that may heal by itself. However, letting an injury go untreated can actually become more expensive in the long run. Plus, if you have a successful personal injury claim, you can recover the costs of your visit.

What Is the Most Common Injury in a Rear-End Crash?

The most common injury that occurs in a rear-end collision is whiplash, which occurs when your head is quickly moved backward, then forward. Symptoms of whiplash can include stiffness or soreness in the neck, headaches, and dizziness. 

If you experience any symptoms of whiplash, you should see a doctor as soon as possible. Whiplash is not necessarily serious, but signs of whiplash can sometimes be symptoms of something more severe, like broken bones or spinal injury.

How Much Is a Rear-End Collision Settlement Worth?

There is a wide range of potential numbers for your rear-end collision settlement. Depending on the extent of your damages, you may be able to expect thousands of dollars, or potentially millions. There is no one number that we can give to set your expectations.

There is a way to find out how much you could get from your settlement, though. By getting a free consultation with a Forest Park rear-end accident attorney, you could find out how large your settlement is likely to be. 

Talk to a Rear-End Collision Attorney in Forest Park Today

The recovery process after being rear-ended can be confusing. How serious should you take your damages? Should you sue the other party? Who was at fault? The Forest Park rear-end collision lawyers at John Foy & Associates can answer your questions and help take some of the burden off of your shoulders.

Call or contact us online to get your FREE initial consultation with a member of our team. Our attorneys are on call for you and available to talk 24/7.