Car crashes in Adams and the rest of Athens-Clarke County can happen anytime someone is careless. One moment can leave you with a damaged car, medical bills, and a long list of calls to make. A car accident lawyer in Adams can take those calls off your plate while you focus on getting better.
Van Sant Law has helped injured Georgia residents since 2008 from offices across the state, including Athens. When you are ready, make the right call to our personal injury lawyers in Adams. Your initial consultation is free.
How Common Are Car Accidents in Georgia?
Car accidents in Georgia are very common, with 384,527 police-reported crashes and 1,797 traffic deaths in 2022, according to the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. That works out to more than 1,000 crashes a day across the state.
Many of these crashes happen close to home, on roads drivers know well. Familiar roads can lead people to relax, speed up, or look at a phone, and a quiet street can turn dangerous in a second.
When a crash happens in Adams, the Athens-Clarke County Police Department will usually respond. Van Sant Law can get a copy of the report and use it as a starting point for your claim. From there, we look for photos, video, and witnesses that fill in what the report leaves out.
Can You Claim Your Car Lost Value After a Crash?
You can claim your car lost value after a crash in Georgia. A common myth is that the insurer’s repair estimate is the final word. You can push back on a low estimate, and you can ask for more than repairs alone. A property damage claim may include:
- The cost of repairs, or the car’s value if it is totaled
- A rental car while yours is in the shop
- The drop in your car’s resale value
- Personal items damaged in the crash, such as a phone or car seat
Claims for property damage generally must be filed within four years under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-31. Van Sant Law can help you gather repair records, photos, and value reports to support your claim and counter a low offer.
What Should You Say to the Insurance Adjuster After an Adams Car Accident?
What you should say to the insurance adjuster after an Adams car accident is as little as possible beyond basic facts like your name, the date, and where the crash happened. The other driver’s adjuster works for the insurance company, not for you, and the call may be recorded.
Adjusters may call within a day or two of the crash, and they often sound friendly and helpful. Before you talk with a lawyer, try to avoid these common mistakes:
- Giving a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurer
- Guessing about your injuries or saying you feel fine
- Signing a release or accepting a quick check
- Posting about the crash or your injuries on social media
Once you sign a release, you may lose the right to ask for more money, even if your injuries get worse. Our car accident attorneys serving Adams can take over every call with the insurer for you so you don’t get pulled into a settlement that’s unfavorable to you.
What Our Adams Car Accident Attorneys Bring to Your Case
Our founder, David M. Van Sant, represented major employers, insurers, and some of the largest motor carriers in the world before he started our firm. He saw how insurers value claims, and he now uses that knowledge for injured people. Martindale-Hubbell named him a Client Champion Platinum honoree in 2023, according to his bio.
Van Sant Law recovered $3.5 million in a car accident case. We also recovered $1.32 million for a client hurt in a T-bone crash. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
Getting to an office can be hard after a crash, especially with a cast, a brace, or no working car. Our team can sign your case electronically, visit you at home or in the hospital, and help you in Spanish.
Can You File a Claim If You Were a Passenger?
You can file a claim if you were a passenger, and passengers are rarely at fault for a crash. Depending on the facts, you may be able to claim against the other driver, the driver of the car you rode in, or both.
That can feel awkward when the driver was a friend or family member. Usually, though, the claim goes to the driver’s insurance company, not to the person’s own pocket, and that is what the coverage is for.
If you were riding in an Uber or Lyft, the rideshare company’s insurance policy may also apply. Van Sant Law can sort out which policies cover you and handle each claim.
Who Pays Your Medical Bills While Your Claim Is Pending?
Your medical bills while your claim is pending are usually paid first by your own health insurance or your medical payments coverage, if you have it. Georgia is an at-fault state, so the other driver’s insurer generally pays only when the claim settles, or a jury decides the case. Keep copies of every bill and insurance statement you receive.
A common myth is that you should wait to see a doctor until the insurer agrees to pay. Waiting can hurt your health and your claim, because the insurer may argue your injuries are not from the crash.
Hospitals in Georgia can also place a lien on your claim for unpaid care, under O.C.G.A. § 44-14-470. Our team can work with medical providers on these bills so they do not take more than their fair share of your recovery.
What If an ACC Transit Bus or County Vehicle Hit You?
If an ACC Transit bus or county vehicle hit you, you may need to give written notice within six months to a city or 12 months to a county, under O.C.G.A. §§ 36-33-5 and 36-11-1. ACC Transit runs The Bus and The Lift for the Athens-Clarke County Unified Government.
Because Athens-Clarke County is a unified city-county government, the right deadline may not be clear. Missing the notice can end your claim, even if the two-year lawsuit deadline under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33 has not passed.
If a government vehicle was involved, contact a lawyer quickly so the notice can go out on time. You can learn more about our team and how we work on the Van Sant Law About page.
Talk to a Car Accident Lawyer in Adams Today
You do not have to sort out insurance claims, car repairs, and medical bills on your own. A car accident lawyer in Adams from Van Sant Law can handle the claim while you heal. We work on a contingency fee basis, and your first consultation is free.
Call Van Sant Law today to talk about your car accident claim. Our team is available 24/7 and can meet you online, at home, or in the hospital. The sooner we start, the sooner we can protect your claim.
