A car accident can be a very life-upsetting event. All of a sudden there is a lot that you need to worry about — from medical bills relating to your injuries to lost wages, property damage, and emotional distress.
In Georgia, laws are in place to help victims of vehicle accidents have an easier time dealing with the aftermath of a crash. As a vehicle collision victim in Atlanta, GA, you may be entitled to compensation for damages.
Hiring a proficient Atlanta car accident lawyer can enable you to receive maximum financial compensation for your injuries, property damage, and losses associated with the traffic collision.
At the Law Offices of Gilbert Sperling, III, P.C., we have built a reputation as a law firm that goes above and beyond to help injured victims in Atlanta, GA.
Attorney Gil is ready to help you throughout the claims process. Contact us today for a free consultation with an Atlanta personal injury lawyer.
Car Accident Statistics in Georgia
Vehicle accidents are a common occurrence in Georgia. Data from the state’s Department of Transportation shows that the state had the fourth-highest traffic accident-related fatalities in the nation in 2018.
During the year, there were roughly 350,000 traffic accidents, about 1,504 people lost their lives, and an estimated 25,000 people ended up with serious injuries. There were 115,909 motor vehicle accident-related emergency room visits and 7,608 hospitalizations.
Car accidents will likely affect every person who lives in Georgia at some point.
How Much Does a Car Accident Lawyer Cost?
The Law Offices of Gilbert Sperling, III, P.C. doesn’t charge its car accident clients any upfront fees. We understand that you might be left with massive medical bills to clear following an auto collision. You may also be trying to direct most of your energy toward recovery.
Our car accident lawyers will provide you with the legal aid you require when looking for justice for your injuries on a contingency fee basis, making the entire process smooth and worry-free for you. We will cater to all upfront costs relating to your car accident case, including court fees and documentation charges.
You will only pay us after you have been awarded your justified compensation.
What Should I Do After a Car Accident?
It’s normal to feel panicked and confused immediately after an accident. However, you should try as much as possible to be calm and take control of the situation. You should know that you need to do everything after the accident carefully.
Any missteps could curtail your ability to prove that the other driver was at-fault and get compensated later.
Here’s what our auto collision attorneys in Atlanta recommend after a crash.
Contact Police
Your first action after getting involved in a traffic accident should be to call the police. You should call the police even if the accident appears to be minor. The police could arrest the at-fault driver if the accident resulted from a violation of traffic rules, like drunk driving.
Check on Other Involved Parties
Don’t be in a hurry to leave the accident scene once you call the police. Check on the occupants of the other vehicles and provide assistance such as first aid where needed. Work with other drivers to move all vehicles off the road and give way to other road users.
Exchange Info
Ask the drivers involved in the crash to share their names, vehicle registration, and insurance details. Our Atlanta car accident lawyers will utilize this information to build a strong car accident claim and pursue maximum compensation.
Record the Scene
You are likely carrying a device capable of capturing photos and videos, like a smartphone. Use it to record the scene extensively, capturing photos and videos of the road for skids, vehicle damage, weather conditions, and any visible injuries.
Never Admit Fault
During your interactions with the other drivers or the police at the crash scene, there will be attempts to figure out how the accident occurred. Don’t apologize for anything or admit fault in any way. Avoid saying anything that can be perceived as an apology or acceptance of fault.
Seek Medical Attention
Even vehicle accidents that happen at relatively slow speeds can cause serious injuries like whiplash, which may not be detectable immediately. Make sure to seek medical attention from emergency medical personnel at the scene of the accident and a physician at the hospital.
Remember to keep records of the medical care you receive and related bills.
Call an Atlanta Car Accident Lawyer!
It’s best you call an accident lawyer immediately after the accident before you talk to any other party to get guidance on the way forward. Our car accident attorneys are always ready to help you from the moment of impact to investigations to the time you get your settlement.
The sooner you contact attorney Gil after the crash, the better.
What Is the Average Settlement for a Car Accident?
A report released by the Insurance Information Institute (III) indicates that the average settlement for a motor vehicle crash was $18,417 in 2019. Even so, the circumstances of each collision vary. You can only ascertain how much your settlement will be by talking to a competent car crash lawyer.
At the Law Offices of Gilbert Sperling, III, P.C., our attorneys have been helping out Atlanta car accident victims like you figure out the estimated value of their settlements for years.
When Should I Get a Lawyer for My Auto Accident?
You should consider hiring a lawyer if you end up with bodily injuries, damage to property, or any other losses following a car accident. This should be done as soon as possible. Our car accident lawyers near Atlanta will examine the facts of your car accident, explain to you your legal options, and aid you file your personal injury claim.
Our reputable car accident law firm will also handle all communications with the insurance adjusters on your behalf.
Why Do I Need a Lawyer?
While you can opt to represent yourself in your vehicle collision claim in Atlanta, it will be very advantageous to you if you hire an attorney. Some of the benefits of hiring a proficient auto collision attorney from Atlanta are:
Case Preparation / Filing a Lawsuit
Preparing and filing a compensation claim can have a lot of complexities, depending on the circumstances of your crash. It can be even more challenging for you to file a claim if you are injured and still recovering. Our auto accident attorneys will gather all the facts and evidence relating to your case and file the claim on your behalf.
Settlement Negotiation
Insurance companies are profit-driven enterprises that make money by settling fewer claims. You can expect insurance adjusters to try to find avenues to reject your claim or lowball you into taking an unfair settlement.
Attorney Gil has been dealing with insurance adjusters for years. We are prepared to aggressively negotiate a fair settlement on your behalf that covers all your past, present, and future losses.
Trial Preparation & Representation
If the insurance company declines your claim or fails to increase its settlement to a fair amount, our Atlanta car accident lawyers will proceed with the case to trial. Our trial lawyers will competently handle the trial and represent you proficiently in front of the judge and jury.
How Much Can I Expect to Receive for My Damages?
Several factors will influence the amount of settlement you end up with once you file your claim. They include:
- Who is at fault?
- The nature of the accident
- The amount of property damage
- The type and extent of your injuries
Talk to our vehicle collision attorneys from Atlanta today to find out the settlement amount you can expect.
What Type of Damages Can I Recover?
Georgia state law recognizes three primary types of damages awarded to vehicle accident victims. They include:
Economic Damages
The actual value of economic damages can easily be calculated because they have a clear and definite monetary value. The amount of compensation that will be offered is influenced by the extent/degree of the economic damage.
Economic damages include:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Property damage
Non-Economic Damages
In contrast, the actual value of non-economic damages (intangible damages) is nearly impossible to calculate since they have no clear or definite monetary value. Vehicle collision lawyers rely on their experience to figure out the cost of intangible damages.
Non-economic damages include:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional stress
- Loss of companionship
- Diminished quality of life
Punitive Damages
These awards are intended to punish the at-fault driver for causing the accident and act as a deterrence to other drivers. Punitive damages are awarded in instances where it’s clear that the at-fault driver was strikingly negligent or reckless, like in a DUI accident.
How Is Fault Determined?
In Georgia, modified comparative negligence principles apply when it comes to determining liability in a traffic accident. Under these principles, all the drivers involved in the accident share some blame for its occurrence. You could seek compensation for damages if you contributed less than 50% to the occurrence of the crash.
How Long Do I Have to File a Claim?
If you have a car collision compensation claim in Georgia, the statute of limitations gives you a maximum of two years from the date of the incident to file it. If the two-year statute of limitations lapses before you file your claim, you will automatically forfeit your right to seek compensation for the damages you incurred.
This means that your claim will be out-rightly rejected by the court or insurance providers.
You don’t have to miss out on filing your compensation claim just because you are still recovering. Our Atlanta car accident lawyers will take over your case, prepare your compensation claim, and file it within the stipulated timelines as you focus on recovery.
How Can a Lawyer Help Me File My Insurance Claim?
Insurance companies have established standard operating procedures for vehicle collision compensation claims in Atlanta, GA. Most of these procedures have been intentionally made complex. It takes a lot of experience dealing with car collision claims to understand the nitty-gritty of these procedures.
As a result, you are likely to end up making a mistake while filing your own claim — errors that can make the insurer dismiss your compensation claim.
By contacting the Law Offices of Gilbert Sperling, III, P.C. to take over your compensation claim case, you can rest easy knowing that highly experienced auto accident lawyers from Atlanta are spearheading your compensation claim.
We will conduct independent investigations on your car accident to unearth more evidence to support your claim. Our attorneys know all the due processes involved in filing a compensation claim correctly.
Our legal team will also lead settlement negotiations with the insurance company and get you your deserved compensation.
What Can I Do if Insurance Denied My Claim?
Although insurance companies regularly deny compensation claims, this shouldn’t worry you if our vehicle accident lawyers handle your case. We always present a concrete case that leaves almost no avenue for the insurance provider to deny your claim.
If the insurance provider rejects your vehicle crash compensation claim in bad faith, we will appeal the decision and push for mediation. If your claim is still declined, our legal team will submit a lawsuit before Georgia civil courts and push for fair compensation during the trial.
Do I Have a Case?
For an attorney to tell you whether you have a legal case for an insurance claim, they must understand the facts of your case. At the Law Offices of Gilbert Sperling, III, P.C., our legal team will comprehensively analyze your accident during the initial consultation to determine whether you have a valid case.
You may have a case if you sustain injuries and other losses due to the reckless or negligent actions of the at-fault driver.
What if the Other Driver Doesn’t Have Insurance?
Despite Georgia law mandating that each motor vehicle driver have insurance, some drivers don’t have insurance, while others have insufficient insurance. If you get into an accident with such drivers, you can turn to your insurance carrier for compensation. Your underinsured or uninsured policy may cover such losses.
How Can I Obtain an Accident Report in Atlanta, GA?
If you wish to get your car accident report from the police in Atlanta, GA, you should reach out to your local police department. You may also obtain an accident report online at Buycrash.com.
Call the Law Offices of Gilbert Sperling, III, P.C. for a Free Case Review
If you need to seek compensation after enduring injury in a car accident, the Law Offices of Gilbert Sperling, III, P.C. is your best legal partner. Our legal team will go above and beyond to seek justice for you and compensation for your accident-related expenses.
The Law Offices of Gilbert Sperling, III, P.C. has a solid reputation for protecting clients’ rights all over Georgia. Attorney Gil is ready to discuss all available remedies relating to your case.
Give our Atlanta law office a call at 404-418-7816 for a free consultation. We are here to help you.
