Dealing with car accidents becomes overwhelming for the victim and their loved ones. This is because car accidents bring physical pain, emotional trauma, mounting medical bills, and property damages. In such a situation, getting help from an Athens auto accident lawyer will help you build a strong case.
It should be noted, however, that hiring an attorney is not mandatory after an auto accident. Some victims prefer to seek help from experienced attorneys so they can completely focus on healthy recovery while preserving legal rights. You can always pursue a personal injury lawsuit or make an insurance claim. You would normally be needing an expert attorney to represent your case during the process and you can hire an attorney at any time during it.
However, discussing your case immediately after an auto accident can be beneficial for the case outcomes. Your attorney will help in investigating the crash, gathering relevant evidence to establish another driver’s negligence, and negotiating with the insurers on behalf of the victim.
How Common Are Car Accidents?
Each year millions of people suffer due to car accident injuries. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released data showing 38,824 people died due to car crashes in 2020. Surviving car accidents is never easy. The injuries sustained by the victims may vary from mild to severe depending on the severity of the accident.
If you suffered the injuries due to someone else’s negligence, holding the liable party responsible for the damages is essential. You will be needing compensation to recover the financial damages caused by the accident and will be able to get the compensation you deserve sooner if you consult an attorney and file the claim.
What to Do After a Crash Explained by an Athens Car Accident Lawyer:
After a car accident, there is a time limit that you need to follow. Your Athens car accident lawyer will guide you regarding time limits and the process of filing the claim. Usually, you will have a time window of two years to file for the compensation and the time will begin from the day you survived the accident.
You should follow some steps after being involved in a car accident especially if you were hurt in the accident. These steps are significant for your claim.
Seek Medical Help:
You may never know the intensity of your injuries unless you get a complete medical checkup after an accident. Car accident injuries may take several days to surface, and if you avoid getting medical help right away, it can cause long-term damage to your health.
Moreover, delaying or denying to get the required medical assistance can go against your claim and the insurance providers may take it as an opportunity to reject your claim. It is essential to keep a record of the medical report along with receipts and prescriptions. Moreover, do not miss any appointments with your doctor or therapists.
Call the Police:
After seeking medical care, you should alert the police officials. The police report they draft will hold substantial evidence in your claim. To establish fault and liability, your attorney will need the police report and your medical report. Without a documented police report, it will be your word against the other party.
Evidence Collection:
Your attorney will help you in gathering the required evidence to prove liability. For the same reason, you should share complete details of the accident with your attorney. It includes photos and videos taken at the scene, witness statements, witnesses’ contact details, and other important information regarding the case that can be helpful for your attorney.
Consulting an Expert Attorney:
Dealing with everything on your own while recovering from injuries is not possible for you; a small mistake can change the outcome of your claim. Attorneys know how to handle insurance companies and get you the right claim.
The main objective of insurance providers is to undermine or reject your claim. They may immediately offer you a low-ball settlement which is often a small fraction of what you need to recover the damages. Speaking to an attorney will help you to begin your case right away.
Filing an Insurance Claim:
When you experience a car accident, you should immediately seek compensation. The first step is to file a claim with your insurance provider or the other driver’s insurance provider. In Georgia, the standard of comparative negligence is applied in case of a car accident.
The law states that a person who gets injured in a car accident can recover compensation only when the person was not more than 49% at-fault for causing the accident. If the injured person is found to be 50% at-fault or more, then they cannot recover monetary damages.
In case your accident occurs with an uninsured motorist, your policy may not recover your losses. You can seek the remaining compensation through a personal injury lawsuit. If you are within your state’s statute of limitation and you believe the settlement offer made by the insurance company is not fair, you should file a personal injury lawsuit.
Your lawyer will help you with the case deadlines and they will also help you in establishing the fault. To establish fault in a personal injury lawsuit, you should be able to prove that your injuries resulted in actual economic and non-economic damages.
Hiring a Professional Athens Auto Accident Lawyer:
Facing mounting medical bills while being away from work is extremely difficult to manage. Our experienced and knowledgeable personal injury lawyer in Athens is here to help you in recovering your damages. If the accident was not your fault or you only shared some fault, you deserve fair compensation to help you get your life back. It’s your legal right to seek legal counsel.
We have the right experience in handling car accident cases and we aim to obtain maximum financial recovery for you. Let us help you while you focus on a healthy recovery; our attorneys will help you throughout the case to ensure successful outcomes.