No two car accidents are the same. But all of them, even the most minor, can carry major expenses. Car accident victims in Smyrna often find themselves with long-term pain, serious injuries, hospital bills and ongoing medical needs. In some cases they may not even be able to return to work. If you have been injured in a car accident that wasn’t your fault, you are not alone—and you may be entitled to a large financial settlement. You need to talk to a Smyrna car accident lawyer.
Let our legal team help. We have dedicated our entire careers to helping accident victims, listening to their stories, and helping them get every dollar they’re entitled to—even when the insurance company doesn’t want to pay. We don’t charge anything if we can’t win you money. 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.
What should I do after a car accident in Smyrna?
After an accident, you need to advocate for yourself, protecting both your physical recovery and your legal rights. That means there are things you should do both at the scene and after the fact.
At the scene of the accident:
- Get emergency medical help if you or anyone else need it
- Always call the police, even if the other party says they’d rather not get them involved
- Exchange basic information with the other driver, including insurance info and contact information
- Talk to witnesses (if any) and ask them for their contact info
- Take photos of the scene, your car, any injuries, and what happened
- Take a video of the other driver if they are aggressive, intoxicated or disposing of evidence
- Tell police if you believe the other driver was intoxicated or distracted
Afterward, you should take some additional steps:
- See a doctor, even if you don’t believe you’re seriously injured
- Report the accident to your insurance company
- Do not give a written or recorded statement to the insurers until you have talked to a lawyer
- Call a lawyer and schedule a consultation
How much money can I win in a car accident claim?
It depends on what happened. Some car accident claims will only pay out $10,000 or $20,000. But many end up $100,000 or more, or even millions. The important thing to understand is that Georgia does not place a cap on how much you can recover. The amount is supposed to be enough to cover the full impact of the accident, no matter how much that may be.
The law does, however, have very clear limits on what kinds of losses you can be paid for. They fall into two main groups: general damages and special damages.
- General damages are things like pain, emotional suffering, or the impact of serious losses like permanent injury. It’s impossible to put a true dollar value on these types of losses, but the law still allows you to recover money for them.
- Special damages are the actual dollar costs of the accident. This includes all immediate and long-term costs such as lost work time, medical costs, long-term care, car repairs and more.
Unfortunately, insurance companies will try to reduce both of these types of damages. They may offer you an amount that doesn’t include some of your actual expenses, like the future medical treatment you will need. And they will almost never offer much for your pain, suffering and other intangible losses unless you fight for it. This is one of the most important reasons to get a lawyer.
Remember, you may still be facing the effects of your accident 5 or 10 years from now—or for life. The money from your settlement is supposed to offset this long-term impact. Never accept less than the full amount you deserve.
Will I have to go to court?
Not usually. Most of the time, once a lawyer is on the case the insurance company will change their tune and come to the bargaining table. A good lawyer will put together solid evidence, present a strong case, and get you more money without ever going to court.
Occasionally an insurance company will be stubborn. If that happens, we can advise you on whether it’s worth it to file a car accident law suit in Atlanta, Georgia.
Who is considered to be “at fault” in Smyrna?
Like all of Georgia, Smyrna bases liability in a car accident on who was at fault or caused it. However, the rules for fault are complicated, and it can be hard to know who is truly at fault.
In general, there are four main ways someone can be at fault:
- They broke a traffic law.
- They were intoxicated.
- They were distracted.
- They were “negligent” or careless.
Negligence is often the most important one. Negligence is simply a legal term that means the person should have been careful, and they weren’t. A driver can be negligent even if they weren’t breaking any laws. This is what makes assigning fault so complicated.
The most important thing to remember about fault is never blame yourself and never accept blame that isn’t yours. The other driver will often try to blame you for their own mistakes, and insurance companies are eager to go along with this. Don’t let them—let your lawyer protect you.
Car accidents are almost never truly “accidents.” They could have been prevented if someone was more careful. Let that person be held responsible.
Talk to a Smyrna Car Accident Lawyer for Free
No one should have to face a car accident without legal help. That’s why we offer a FREE consultation—and we never charge anything if we can’t win you money. Don’t risk dealing with the insurance company on your own. Call us at (404) 341-6555 or fill out the form to the right to get your free consultation today.
