Marietta Car Accident Lawyer

If you’ve suffered pain or injuries from a car accident in Marietta, you need to speak to a lawyer.  All injuries, even those that seem small at first, can potentially develop into more serious conditions or ongoing pain—with steep medical costs.  More severe injuries can sometimes carry costs of $100,000 or more.  No insurance company is eager to pay out these costs, and many will seek to pay you far less than you need.  Don’t allow yourself to be left with the bill for an accident that wasn’t your fault.  Talk to a Marietta car accident lawyer. 

John Foy & Associates can help you.  We have been assisting car accident victims for over 20 years and have a long history of winning cases.  Our firm exists exclusively to help people who have been injured and their families, and we have built up a reputation as one of the most respected and effective law firms in the state.  Let us give you a free consultation and discuss your case.  Call John Foy & Associates at 404-400-4000 and get your free consultation today.  

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.

Who’s at fault in a Marietta car accident?

Georgia is what’s called a “fault state” for car accidents.  That means that whichever driver caused the accident will be held responsible for the costs of everyone who was hurt.  Usually their insurance company will pay these costs for them, so no one pays anything out of pocket.  This system works well, but it requires the insurance companies to follow complicated rules about who is at fault. 

In some cases these rules are easy to understand.  For example:

• In a rear end collision, whoever was in back is usually at fault (but not always)
• A DUI driver is almost always considered at fault for any accident they’re involved in
• A driver who violates traffic laws, like running a stop sign, is likely to be considered at fault for the accident
• Factors like talking on a cell phone or texting while driving are also considered when assigning fault

But there are exceptions to all of these rules.  For example, if you were texting while stopped at a red light, and someone slammed into you from behind, the fault is almost certainly with them—not you. 

The key to every car accident claim is what’s called “negligence.”  Essentially, the law asks if anyone was acting in a negligent or careless way.  If they had been more careful, could the accident have been prevented? If the answer is yes, then that person is likely at fault for the accident. 

What costs are covered in a Marietta car accident claim?

The City of Marietta allows the victim in a car accident to recover up to 100% of all of their costs.  In other words, if the accident wasn’t your fault you should be able to walk away with no medical debt and no costs. 

The costs we see most often in car accident claims include:

• Hospital bills and other medical costs
• Medication
• Rehabilitation such as physical therapy
• Reimbursement for lost work time caused by the accident
• Car repairs

Other damages are also considered.  If you suffered serious physical pain, a disability, or another major loss because of your accidents, you could be awarded a substantially higher amount of money.  Clearly, this money will never make up for what happened.  But it may help you and your family stay afloat financially as you wrestle with the aftermath. 

Do I have a valid car accident claim?

It’s hard to be sure until you speak to a lawyer.  Car accident claims have dozens of variables, and a good attorney who has spent years working on these cases will be able to tell you how strong your claim is.  They can also give you a sense of how much your financial recovery might be worth.  At John Foy & Associates we believe every car accident victim should have access to this kind of professional opinion.  That’s why we never charge for consultations.  

In general, any kind of car accident can become a valid claim.  We have helped victims of:

• Head on accidents
• Rear end accidents
• Distracted driving
• Semi truck accidents
• DUI drivers
• Bad driving conditions (fog, rain, etc.)
• Tire failure
• Whiplash
• Hit and run accidents
• Uninsured motorists

Do I have to go to trial for a car accident case in Marietta?

Not typically.  In some cases, if the insurance company refuses to negotiate, we may recommend taking your case to trial in the local courts.  We base this recommendation on how strong your claim is and whether we think you are likely to win.  If you do choose to go to court, we will handle the whole process for you. 

But most car accident cases never go to trial.  They’re usually resolved through simple negotiation.  At John Foy & Associates, we will launch our own investigation of your accident and assemble hard evidence for every detail.  This allows us to hit the insurance company hard at the bargaining table.  In many cases this is all it takes to get them to make you a much higher offer. 

How much does it cost to hire a Marietta car accident lawyer?

We don’t think you should have to pay anything out of pocket. 

Our mission is to help people who were injured.  That’s why we make legal help as accessible as possible.  It’s also why we don’t charge hourly fees.  Instead, our promise is simple:

• Every consultation is free
• You pay us nothing out of pocket, ever
• You pay us nothing unless we win you money

We prefer this approach because it allows you to get legal help with absolutely no risk.

Talk to a Marietta Car Accident Lawyer for Free

Any injury can be painful, frustrating and emotional.  Don’t face it alone.  John Foy & Associates can give you a free consultation to help you understand your rights and get the money you deserve.  Call us at 404-400-4000 or fill out the form to your right and get your FREE consultation today.