A car accident can turn your life upside down—and medical bills are just the beginning. You may be out of work and struggling with pain. You may be facing medical procedures and months of therapies. But you don’t have to deal with this by yourself, and you don’t have to pay for an accident you didn’t cause. The law allows you to recover money. You need to talk to a North Druid Hills car accident lawyer.
Our lawyers have decades of experience getting car accident victims the financial help they need. We never charge you for our services unless we get money for you. Let us give you a FREE consultation. Call us at (404) 341-6555 or fill out the form to the right to get your free consultation today.
How do I file a car accident claim in North Druid Hills?
Georgia law helps car accident victims by requiring all car owners to have insurance. If you are injured in an accident, there will probably be an insurance policy that will cover your injuries as well as the damage to your car. Most car accident victims recover their costs through an insurance claim and never have to file a lawsuit. However, it’s often not as simple as simply waiting for the insurance money. This is for two reasons:
- Insurance companies often offer far less than what you really deserve—and less than you are entitled to under the law.
- In some cases, the insurance company may try to blame you for the accident, or even claim you are making up the injury.
You have the right to have a lawyer represent you, and doing so can make it much easier to get the money you need. Your lawyer can not only bargain with the insurance company on your behalf, they can also do the legal work for you—and assemble a strong case proving what happened.
Does fault matter in a car accident in North Druid Hills?
Yes. In Georgia, all car accident cases are decided based on “fault.” The driver who is “at fault” is legally liable for all the injuries and property damage that happened in the accident. Because the person who is at fault must pay, fault is an issue in all car accident claims.
The driver who is at fault was usually negligent. All drivers have a duty to use a reasonable amount of care when they’re on the road, including obeying traffic laws and using safe driving behaviors. When drivers don’t live up to this duty, they are negligent and they must pay the cost of the accident – even if they didn’t mean to hurt anyone. Behavior that might be negligent includes distracted driving, drunk driving, aggressive driving and tailgating.
What if I was injured in the car accident?
Your car accident claim will provide the money to pay all of your medical costs. This is one of the most important aspects of car accident law—making you “whole” for the losses you have suffered because of your injury.
The types of medical costs we typically see covered include:
- Doctor visits
- Hospital stays
- X-rays and tests
- Medication
- Surgery or medical devices
- Physical therapy or other forms of care
If your accident was severe, you may have been taken to the hospital in an ambulance (which is also covered). However, many accident victims don’t realize they’ve been injured until hours, days or weeks later. You may develop nagging pain, stiffness or dizziness that can escalate into a serious condition. We recommend that you see a doctor as soon as possible after any car accident. A doctor can identify any injuries and recommend treatment. Seeing a doctor also shows the insurance company that you took your injuries seriously.
What other costs am I entitled to?
Beyond medical care, you have a legal right to recover money for two other kinds of damages:
- Other costs, like car repairs, damaged property and missed work time
- Money for major losses related to the accident
These losses include things like chronic pain, changes to your life, and disabilities. When you have suffered these types of conditions, it means the accident has caused an irreversible loss. The law provides money even though the injury cannot be fixed, as a way to help you put together your life and remain financially strong after the accident.
How do I know if I need a car accident lawyer?
You’re never required to get a lawyer to deal with a car accident. However, it’s often in your best interest.
A lawyer can help you get ALL the money you deserve. You may think the insurance company is being helpful by making an offer right away, but that’s not really what’s going on. The insurance company is hoping to settle your claim quickly and cheaply so it can keep more profits for itself. Its offer is almost certainly far less than your claim is really worth, and if you take it, you’ll give up your rights.
An Atlanta, Georgia car accident attorney knows how to get the insurance company to pay. At our firm, we start every case by investigating your injuries and how they happened. We can send you to doctors who will estimate what the accident will cost you. Just this simple step can convince the insurance company to offer you far more than they were originally willing to give you.
Talk to a North Druid Hills Car Accident Lawyer for Free
Our law firm has a decades-long track record of helping car accident victims recover money for their injuries. We’d like to help you too, and we won’t charge you unless we win money for you. Let us give you a free consultation to talk about your claim and answer your questions. Call us at (404) 341-6555 or fill out the form to the right to get your free consultation today.