Lawrenceville Car Accident Lawyer

Car accident injuries can have lasting physical, emotional, and financial impacts. They might seem minor at first, but can develop into serious long-term conditions or years of pain. More severe injuries can easily run medical bills into the tens of thousands of dollars or worse.

If you were injured in a vehicle collision, you need to speak to a good lawyer. When you work with a reputable car accident lawyer in Lawrenceville, you’ll have an experienced legal professional helping you recover the fullest possible amount of compensation for your injuries.

What Can I Do to Protect My Rights After a Car Accident?

To legally protect yourself 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 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 Lawyer

Schedule a consultation with an experienced car accident lawyer 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 lawyer 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.

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 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.

What to Do After a Car Accident

The steps that you take directly after a car crash could make the difference in your case. By gathering any evidence you can and talking to the right people, you may be able to secure a better settlement. After a car accident, you should:

• Make sure you’re alright: If you or a passenger are injured, call an ambulance immediately. If possible, move your car to the side of the road and make sure you are no longer in any danger.
• Collect evidence: Take pictures of the scene, including damage done to your vehicle and that of the other parties. Interview witnesses and write down anything you can remember happening before, during, and after the accident.
• Report your accident: Making a police report is essential for any car accident claim. If police arrive at the scene, they will likely make a report that you can obtain. If not, you can file a report at your nearest police station.
• Go to the doctor: Even if you don’t think you were hurt in the crash, you should still go to the doctor at your earliest convenience. Medical problems may be underlying and need professional diagnosis. Make sure to save any documents and bills you receive from the doctor.
• Don’t tell anyone something they don’t need to know: The other party, their insurance adjusters, and their lawyers may try to ask you questions. Be polite, but only give them the bare minimum of information. They will take what you tell them and try to use it to decrease your settlement.
• Contact a car accident lawyer: Once you’re ready, get in touch with a car crash attorney who can help you with your claim.

How Can a Lawrenceville Car Accident Attorney Help Me?

Many drivers make the mistake of thinking that in the event of an accident, the insurance company will take care of everything. Unfortunately, this is rarely the case.

Insurance companies are driven by profit, and their interest is to pay you the smallest amount possible—even if it’s not enough to cover your care and other expenses. To do this they will use a variety of tricks, including:

• They may call you and ask “friendly” questions, such as whether you’re feeling better. Anything you say will be used against you in your claim.
• They may offer fast cash as soon as you report your accident—before you know how much the injury will really cost you. If you take this money, you sign away your rights to anything else.
• Alternatively, they may drag their feet for months before processing your claim at all. They do this so that financial pressure will build up, hoping that you will take any offer they finally make.
• In some cases, the insurance company may even try to blame you for an accident that clearly wasn’t your fault—or challenge the severity of your injuries.

If you have no legal representation, fighting against these tactics is hard. Insurance companies have an army of lawyers and they know that most victims don’t have the background or expertise to fight a complicated legal claim.

Getting a car accident lawyer in Lawrenceville will level the playing field. In many cases, simply having a lawyer take your case over is enough to immediately get a higher offer.

What Costs Can I Recover in a Car Accident Claim?

As a general rule, nearly any expense or loss caused by a car accident can be covered by your claim. The most common costs include:

• Medical bills
• Medication
• Car repairs
• Lost work time/lost wages

Additionally, if the accident caused a serious loss—such as permanent injury, a disability, severe physical pain, or even the death of a loved one—you could potentially win a much larger recovery. No amount of money can ever make up for these types of losses, but it can help ease your financial burden during this difficult time.

How Do I Know If I Have a Valid Car Accident Claim in Lawrenceville?

The rule is not to second-guess yourself. Never decide that you don’t have a claim unless you have spoken to a professional. Many people think of collisions as pure accidents, or even blame themselves for their injury. But the law doesn’t see it this way.

Most car accidents could have been prevented and happened only because one party or the other was inattentive, careless, or broke a law. This is called negligence, and if the other party was negligent, you have a valid case. Successful claims come from all types of car accidents, including:

• Head-on collisions
• Rear-end collisions
• “T-bone” accidents
• Fog, rain, or dangerous road conditions
• Distracted driving
• Drunk driving
• Defective tires
• Whiplash injuries

Even if the other driver is uninsured or fled after a hit-and-run accident, your Lawrenceville car accident attorney may still be able to help you recover money.

Do I Have to Go to Court for a Car Crash?

It’s not common. Occasionally, if the insurance company absolutely refuses to negotiate, going to the local courts may be the best option. If this happens, your car accident lawyer in Lawrenceville will advise you as to whether your case is likely to win at trial. And they will handle everything if you choose to go forward. In most cases, however, no trial is ever needed.

Insurance companies will pay if your lawyer can present a strong enough case. Your attorney will launch an investigation into your accident, drawing on police reports, witness testimony, and expert medical opinions to show exactly what happened and what it will take to help you recover. This is often all it takes to get the insurance company to offer a fair settlement.

Is It Worth Getting an Attorney for a Car Accident?

After a car crash, you may be tempted to let it go and not go through with a claim. This is a personal choice, but in the event that you were injured or your property was damaged, a negligent driver shouldn’t get away with recklessness. Plus, you could get much-needed payment for medical bills and repairs.

You may also want to take on your case alone, but that would most likely make the process much more difficult. Insurance companies will try to trick or bully you out of a fair settlement in order to save themselves money. On top of that, the legal process can be complicated and confusing, making it difficult to know what to do to get the compensation you’re owed.

How Much Does a Car Accident Lawyer Cost in Lawrenceville?

Ideally, you should pay anything out of pocket for legal representation. By selecting a Lawrenceville car accident attorney that works on a contingency-fee basis, you could expect a payment structure that includes:

• Free consultations
• No upfront payments
• No payment unless you win your case

If your attorney successfully recovers money for you, their fee is paid as a percentage of what you win. You keep everything else. You get fair legal help without the risk.

What is a Good Settlement Offer for a Car Accident in Georgia?

The amount of compensation you receive in a car accident settlement can vary widely, and depends on the extent of your damages and the amount of fault that you had in your accident. A good settlement will reflect your economic and non-economic damages and the amount of liability played by you and the other parties involved.

Georgia is a comparative fault state, which means that the amount of negligence you displayed leading up to your accident affects your compensation. According to the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (OCGA) § 51-12-33, the percentage of fault attributed to you will be taken out of your settlement.

A skilled Lawrenceville car accident attorney will be able to gather evidence to show that the other party was at fault for the accident. By proving that you were not at fault, your lawyer could help you secure the compensation you deserve.

Is There a Deadline to File my Car Accident Claim in Lawrenceville?

Yes. Courts in the City of Lawrenceville use deadlines set by both state and federal law. The exact deadline will depend on the specifics of your case. However, as a general rule:

• Many car accident claims have up to two years to file, according to OCGA § 9-3-33.
• Other cases only give you a matter of weeks from the date of the accident.

If you miss the deadline, you generally lose your right to any financial recovery at all. This is why it’s so important to speak to a good lawyer immediately.

Talk to a Lawrenceville Car Accident Lawyer for Free

John Foy & Associates has been winning car accident cases for over 20 years. In that time, we have risen from a small local law office to one of the largest and most respected firms in the state. Let us give you a free consultation and show you what we can do for you.

Hiring a Lawrenceville auto accident lawyer means having someone in your corner with the experience and skill to guide you. Our personal injury law firm has helped victims in Lawrenceville and all throughout Georgia. You don’t have to try to recover alone.