Lithonia Car Accident Lawyer

If you or someone you love has been hurt in a Lithonia car accident, you need to talk to a lawyer. Even an injury that looks minor can end up costing far more than you expect, and the insurance company will not want to pay you the full amount you need. 

More serious accidents can cause medical bills totaling tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars. A good Lithonia car accident lawyer can help you get the financial settlement you deserve if you’ve been hurt by an irresponsible driver.

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 Should I Do If I Was Injured in a Car Accident in Lithonia?

The best thing you can do is to look out for your rights from the beginning. Even at the scene of the accident, there are basic steps you can take to protect yourself:

• Take photos. Get pictures or a video of the damage to the cars and the overall scene of the accident. This footage can serve as evidence later on. Also, take images of your injuries, if you can.
• Don’t pretend you aren’t hurt. Many accident victims will put on a brave face and downplay their injuries, while others don’t fully feel the pain at first because of the adrenaline but could still have a serious injury. Don’t tell anyone you’re “fine” until you see a doctor. 
• Speak to witnesses. Anyone who saw the accident could prove to be a valuable witness later on. Talk to bystanders and ask for their contact information if they saw the accident. 
• Always call 911. In many accidents, one driver will say, “Let’s work this out between you and me.” This is always a bad idea because if you don’t call the police, you have no official accident report of what happened and it’s very hard to initiate an insurance claim.

Most importantly, talk to a lawyer as soon as possible after you’ve seen a doctor. An insurance company may approach you for a statement. Never sign something from the insurance company unless you have spoken to a legal professional. 

What Can a Lithonia Car Accident Lawyer Do for Me?

Your lawyer is your ally and will deal with the insurance company for you. Insurance companies do not want to pay out your claim, even if you were badly injured, and when they do pay, they want to give you as little as possible. Their only concern is their bottom line. 

An insurance adjuster may put on a friendly and sympathetic face, but don’t be fooled. Some of the tactics we’ve seen insurance companies use include:

• Rushing you to sign paperwork before you’ve gotten full treatment for your injuries
• Delaying your claim to put financial pressure on you
• Calling with confusing or misleading questions and then using your answers against you
• Referring you to a doctor who doesn’t have your best interests at heart

Every insurance company has a team of lawyers. Their job is to use the law to pay you as little as they can, even if it doesn’t cover your medical costs. When you have a Lithonia car accident lawyer of your own, you even the odds. It’s very difficult to negotiate a reasonable settlement without a lawyer. 

What Damages Could I Recover After a Car Accident in Lithonia?

In the City of Lithonia, you can recover up to 100% of all the costs related to your accident. This could include:

• Medical expenses
• Medication
• Physical therapy or rehabilitation
• Any lost wages caused by missing work
• Car repairs

You could also be awarded a substantial amount of money if you suffered a serious loss like a disability or severe physical pain. These are non-economic damages, one of which is “pain and suffering”. This is a major component of many car accident claims.

This extra money cannot make up for what happened to you, nor can it reverse it. But it can help reduce the financial impact and grant you stability and peace of mind as you move forward. Thus, it behooves you to find a lawyer to help you recover as much as possible.

How do I Know If I Have a Valid Claim?

The best way is to talk to a lawyer. An experienced car accident lawyer in Lithonia will have worked on car accident cases like yours before, possibly dozens of times or more. They will have a clear sense of how strong your claim is and how likely you are to win. 

As a general rule, however, if you were hurt in an accident and it was not your fault, or not entirely your fault, you have a claim. Some types of accidents we have successfully represented include:

• Head-on crashes
• Rear-end accidents
• Whiplash cases
• Accidents involving faulty tires
• Drunk driving/distracted driving accidents
• Hit and run
• Uninsured motorists

More important than the actual injury is proving negligence. If we can show an insurer or a court that someone else acted in a way that caused you injury, that is how you win your case. Only then can we turn to the specifics and negotiate for how much you can get.

Do I Have to Go to Court?

Not usually. If the insurance company refuses to negotiate, or will not offer a reasonable amount for the costs you face, we may recommend bringing your case all the way to the local courts. If this happens, we will represent you every step of the way and make the process as easy as possible. 

However, most car accident cases are resolved with a settlement, which is an out-of-court agreement. This is our goal in nearly every case. We will start out by investigating your accident and getting you the best medical diagnosis possible. 

We’ll then document all expenses to get you back to the best possible health and put this case in front of the insurer. Often, we can drive them to the bargaining table and get you a larger recovery on the spot. 

What Is the Deadline for Filing My Car Accident Claim in Lithonia?

Lithonia courts use deadlines known as statutes of limitations, which are set by state and federal law. These deadlines are strict: if you miss one, you lose your right to recover any money at all. 

The exact deadline will depend on the specifics of your case. There are cases that have up to two years, and others that have only weeks. These deadlines are why it’s so important to talk to a lawyer immediately. 

What If I’m Partially at Fault?

First, that’s up to the court to decide, not you. But if you are partially at fault, here’s what happens. In Georgia, as long as you are under 50% at fault then you can get compensation. This is known as comparative fault.

Your award will be reduced by the percentage of your fault in a case. In accidents involving more than two drivers, questions of comparative fault can become complicated fast. It’s best to let your Lithonia car accident attorney handle the details of negotiating.

This rule is also why you should never claim an accident is your fault at the scene. An insurer will use your statement to push for a denial of your right to compensation. If you didn’t have a lawyer on your side, you could be left with nothing.

Who do I Sue If the Other Driver Is Uninsured?

Uninsured motorists do make things more complicated. Nevertheless, there are still ways to get compensation. The most common route is to make a claim on your own insurance under your uninsured motorist policy. We encourage you to carry more of this coverage than the minimum.

A car accident attorney in Lithonia can still help you create your case to the insurer to maximize your compensation. The insurer will pay you, then try to go after the other driver to get their money back in a process called subrogation.

Filing an uninsured motorist claim may raise your premiums slightly, but nothing near as high as it would if you were the at-fault driver. If you suspect the other driver is uninsured, be sure to get contact information or a plate number before you leave the scene.

Speak to a Car Accident Lawyer in Lithonia for Free

John Foy & Associates was founded for one reason: to help the victims of accidents. When you call us, we will give you a free consultation wherever is most convenient for you. We’ll help you understand your case, your legal rights, and what the law says—with no obligation.

We work exclusively for the victims of accidents, never for the insurance companies. Let us help you. When you call, we will give you a free consultation to discuss your case and your legal options. Call John Foy & Associates and get a free consultation today.