Car Accident Lawyers in Atlanta

You may be hurt, confused, and scared after a car crash. In stressful situations, it's easy for panic to take over, making it difficult to think clearly.

The following are reminders of what to do after an accident:

• Stop your vehicle and safely pull over to a spot off to the side of the road.
• Call law enforcement and immediately report the accident.
• Scan yourself for visible injuries, and, if possible, assist anyone injured, but only if you can do so safely.
• Turn on your hazard safety lights.
• After things have calmed down, collect the other involved drivers’ names, addresses, license plate numbers, and insurance information; provide yours, as well. If you feel uncomfortable or concerned for your safety, stay in your vehicle until law enforcement arrives and share the necessary information with the officers directly.
• If, for whatever reason, law enforcement is not called to the scene, you should complete a Personal Report of Accident. This form is for your personal use and is a place to record as much information as possible about the crash immediately after the incident and while details are fresh in your memory. This completed form may help you later if accident liability is an issue. It also provides helpful information for your Atlanta car accident law firm.

If you have your cell phone, use the camera to take pictures of everything you can at the accident scene, including all angles of your vehicle and the other vehicles involved in the crash. You should also take photos of any skid marks and broken vehicle pieces. If possible, you should get any witnesses' names, numbers, and addresses. Try to get their recollections and observations.

In any vehicle or tire case, let the responding officers know that you wish to have the tire(s) and vehicle preserved by an investigator. They will help you appropriately deal with the insurance company. The goal is not to let the insurance company remove the evidence before it is recorded correctly.

Collecting and preserving evidence from a car wreck will help you and your legal team evaluate and pursue legal claims that may arise. Hiring an accident reconstructionist or other experts to recreate and analyze the crash might also be necessary to help determine liability. The more evidence you have, the better.

At Van Sant Law, we provide advice to drivers about how to stay safe on the roads. This advice is particularly beneficial to young, inexperienced drivers.

The following are tips to reiterate to the new drivers in your house:

• Ensure the vehicle is adequately maintained. Chances are that you will have to help your new driver with this ongoing task. Like all vehicles, the one your child drives should be maintained properly and regularly. If your new driver “accidentally” backs over the mailbox or into a pole, encourage them to tell you, no matter what! It is important always to inspect a vehicle after any fender-bender to ensure that it is safe. Remind your child to check for flashing lights on the dashboard, as that typically means maintenance is needed. Also, inspect any odd sounds as soon as possible.
• Be aware of and follow the rules of the road. This advice is self-explanatory, but it is always a good idea to remind your new driver to pay attention when driving.
• Avoid aggressive drivers and tailgating. Remind your new driver that they will encounter aggressive drivers on the road. Getting caught up in a road rage incident is not worth it. Moreover, advise your child that tailgating is dangerous and can lead to serious car accidents.
• Avoid distractions. This advice may be the most important to impart to your new driver. In addition to drilling it into their head that distracted driving, especially texting while driving, is a surefire way to get into an accident that can result in instant tragedy, it is critical to provide a good example to your children. Actions do speak louder than words. Remind your new driver to stay focused on the road by avoiding phone use, programming the GPS, or adjusting the stereo. This behavior is crucial for safety, even if the vehicle has features like Tesla's Autopilot, as distractions can pose risks.

Hiring an Atlanta car accident attorney has many benefits. At Van Sant Law, we can assist you with every step of the process following a car crash.

You have nothing to lose by meeting with our Atlanta car accident lawyers and legal team to discuss your case. Initial consultations are free. Contact our firm today to schedule a complimentary evaluation to discuss how we can help you pursue the compensation you deserve.

Hiring an attorney after a car accident may feel uncomfortable. However, the results could be well worth it for several reasons. Your car accident lawyer can fiercely advocate for you, helping you fight for the compensation you deserve.

While the insurance company may propose a settlement, it is in their best interest to offer you less than what your claim is worth. That means you could be short-changing yourself. Retaining an experienced attorney can help you through a difficult and stressful claims process. In addition, a knowledgeable accident lawyer will understand what your claim is worth and can fight for your right to pursue just compensation.

Statistically, accident victims who retain personal injury attorneys obtain more compensation than those who choose to work directly with the responsible parties or their insurance companies, even after factoring in attorneys’ fees.

Van Sant Law works on a contingency fee basis, and we are only paid if we obtain a settlement or verdict in your favor. Thus, you are not responsible for out-of-pocket costs. Whether your accident involved a Ford, Toyota, Chevrolet, or any other vehicle, our dedicated legal can advocate for your interests throughout the process.

Yes. After being injured in a car accident, it is understandable that you may not feel like hiring an attorney immediately. However, waiting too long to seek legal representation poses risks. Claims for compensation related to injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident in Georgia are governed by the applicable statute of limitations. Put simply, if you wait too long to file an auto accident claim, you might not be entitled to anything because too much time has elapsed.

Under Georgia law, the statute of limitations for auto accident claims is two years from the incident date. In some cases, shorter timeframes may apply, such as when the responsible party was driving a vehicle for a government entity (i.e., municipality, county, state, etc.) Contacting an attorney as soon as possible after an injury accident can help you meet all applicable filing deadlines for your claim.

Generally, the driver responsible for the accident (or their auto insurance provider, if applicable) is responsible for paying for injuries you and your passengers sustained. Your auto claims attorney can help you identify responsible parties and the types of economic and other damages you may be entitled to.

The compensation you may receive will depend on the facts and circumstances of the crash. The responsible parties should generally pay for your medical expenses related to the accident, lost wages, loss of future earning capacity, pain and suffering, and costs associated with damage to your vehicle. You may also be entitled to compensation for loss of companionship, wrongful death, and even punitive damages designed to punish reckless drivers.

The amount of money your auto accident case is worth will depend on several factors. Your attorney can work closely with you to identify your economic and non-economic damages.

Calculable expenses you incur from the accident are categorized as “economic” damages.

These damages include costs such as:

• Vehicle repairs or replacement
• Medical expenses (those you incurred immediately after the accident, as well as expenses you are expected to face in the future as a result)
• Lost wages if you are unable to work for some time or have to work a modified schedule while you recover from your injuries
• Potential loss of future earnings due to your injuries
• Costs related to modifying your home for accessibility

Victims of car accidents often have what can be referred to as “non-economic” damages. These are not as easily quantifiable as economic damages but are just as (if not more) important.

For example, your attorney may fight for compensation for your pain and suffering, including physical, mental, and emotional harm related to the accident. This category of damages also includes loss of enjoyment of life and loss of consortium with your spouse. Your attorney can work closely with you to quantify your injuries and the damages you may be entitled to receive.

Sometimes, accident victims think they are obligated to provide statements to the other party’s insurance adjuster. However, there is no such requirement. In fact, giving a statement to the other party’s insurance company could jeopardize your ability to obtain full and fair compensation for your losses.

The full extent of your injuries may not yet be apparent. What’s more, you could accidentally implicate yourself in your statement. As a best practice, let your personal injury attorney handle all communications and negotiations on your behalf.

Georgia applies a modified comparative fault system with a 50 percent bar. Under this system, you can receive partial damages even if you were partly at fault, as long as you were less responsible than the defendant you are filing your claim against. Thus, if you are 25% at fault for the accident, your potential compensation would be reduced by 25%. However, you cannot recover damages if you are 50% or more responsible for the crash.

Your car accident lawyer can gather evidence to demonstrate the other party’s fault and work toward pursuing a favorable result for you.