A car crash takes minutes, but you may face pain, repair bills, and a pushy insurer for months. Our car accident lawyer in High Point can protect your right to compensation for an injury that wasn’t your fault.
Van Sant Law has served Georgia residents since 2008. Our founding attorney spent years defending insurers and trucking firms, so we know how they may handle your claim. If a careless driver hurt you, Make the Right Call and ask about a free consultation from our personal injury lawyers in High Point.
Car Crash Risks on High Point Roads
High Point is a neighborhood in Sandy Springs, in Fulton County, near Roswell Road and the High Point Road corridor. Roswell Road is the busy spine of the area. Cars turn in and out of shopping centers, gas stations, and apartment complexes all day, which can lead to T-bone and rear-end crashes.
High Point Road runs through quieter streets, but drivers often use it as a shortcut between neighborhoods and Roswell Road. Speeding, rolling stops, and drivers who do not watch for people on foot can cause serious crashes. Children walking to bus stops and neighbors out for a jog face real risk.
I-285 sits just south of the neighborhood and carries heavy traffic, including big trucks. Sudden backups and fast lane changes near the Roswell Road exit can turn a normal commute into a high-speed crash. These wrecks often involve more than one vehicle and more than one insurer.
Steps to Protect Your Health and Your Claim
Get medical care first. Wellstar North Fulton Hospital in Roswell is a Level II trauma center, and Northside Hospital Atlanta in Sandy Springs has an emergency room. Even if you feel fine, a doctor may find an injury that will cause trouble later.
From the scene, call 911 so the Sandy Springs Police Department can respond and write a crash report. You can pick up the report later at police headquarters, through the department’s online portal, or through Crashdocs.org. If no officer writes a report, you may need to fill out Georgia’s SR-13 personal accident report on your own.
As you recover, it helps to keep these items in one place:
- Photos of the cars, the road, and your injuries
- The crash report or SR-13 form
- Names and phone numbers of witnesses
- Medical records, bills, and receipts
- Letters, emails, and offers from any insurance company
Be careful when an adjuster calls. They may ask for a recorded statement or a broad medical release before your treatment is done. Once you settle, you usually cannot go back and ask for more.
What We Do in the First 72 Hours
Some of the strongest proof in a car crash case is gone within days. Here is what we typically aim to do in the first three days after you hire us.
Scene Investigation
We visit the crash site and record what we find, from skid marks and debris to signal timing and blocked views. We also check for cameras on nearby stores and homes. Video can settle questions that witnesses remember differently.
Black Box Preservation
Many vehicles store crash data, such as speed and braking, in an event data recorder. Repairs or a trip to the junkyard can wipe out that data. We act quickly to preserve it for your claim.
Witness Interviews
We contact people who saw the crash while the details are still clear in their minds. We record what they saw and how they saw it. A neutral witness can make a big difference when fault is in dispute.
Insurance Hold Letters
We send letters telling each insurer that we represent you. From then on, adjusters should talk to us and not to you. The letters also ask the at-fault side to save evidence such as video, phone records, and vehicle data.
Building a Case With a High Point Car Accident Lawyer
A High Point car accident lawyer needs to show that the other driver acted carelessly and that this carelessness caused your injuries. Common examples include texting, speeding, following too closely, and failing to yield. Sometimes an employer or vehicle owner may share the blame too.
The other side may say you were partly at fault. Under O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33, your award may be reduced by your share of fault, and you may recover nothing if you are 50% or more at fault. That is why the facts you gather early matter so much.
When the Other Driver Is Uninsured
Not every driver on Roswell Road or I-285 carries enough insurance. Under O.C.G.A. § 33-7-11, Georgia auto policies must include uninsured motorist coverage unless you turned it down in writing. This coverage may pay for your losses when the at-fault driver has no insurance or too little.
Your own insurance company also owes you fair treatment. Under O.C.G.A. § 33-4-6, if your insurer refuses in bad faith to pay a covered claim within 60 days of a demand, it may owe a penalty and legal fees. Uninsured motorist claims follow their own bad faith rules, and we can explain which ones fit your case.
Liens, Subrogation, and Your Net Recovery
What you take home depends on more than the settlement amount. Hospitals in Georgia may place a lien on your claim for unpaid care. Other doctors may agree to wait for payment until your case settles.
Your health insurer may also want to be paid back for the bills it covered. This is called subrogation. For many private health plans, Georgia law generally limits that payback unless you have been fully compensated for your losses.
We check every lien and repayment claim for errors. When the law allows, we work to reduce them so more of your recovery goes to you.
Damages in a Georgia Car Accident Claim
Every claim is different, and the value depends on your injuries, your care, and the available insurance. You may be able to seek money for:
- Medical bills and future treatment
- Lost wages and a lower ability to earn
- Damage to your car and other property
- Pain, suffering, and emotional distress
- Long-term care for lasting injuries
An early offer may not cover the full cost of your recovery. Before you settle, it helps to know your diagnosis, your treatment plan, and whether you may face limits in the future.
Fulton County Deadlines and Court Filing
Under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33, Georgia generally gives you two years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit. If a government vehicle hit you, you may first need to send a written ante litem notice. For state vehicles, that notice is generally due within 12 months under O.C.G.A. § 50-21-26.
Crashes with Fulton County vehicles generally need notice within 12 months. Crashes with City of Sandy Springs vehicles generally need notice within six months. Missing one of these dates could end your claim before it starts.
If your case does not settle, it may be filed in the State Court of Fulton County. The complaint is filed online, and the case gets a number that starts with the year and “EV,” such as 26EV002468. The other side generally has 30 days to answer after being served, and then both sides share evidence before mediation or trial.
How Van Sant Law Can Help With Your Claim
Our founding attorney, David M. Van Sant, once represented major employers, insurers, and some of the largest motor carriers in the world as insurance-defense counsel. We use what he learned to prepare for an insurer’s arguments.
In one case, we recovered an $850,000 settlement for a woman who suffered neck injuries in a T-bone collision. Past results do not predict future outcomes.
“Roswell Road through Sandy Springs carries a steady stream of turning cars, buses, and people on foot,” said David M. Van Sant, founding attorney of Van Sant Law. “When someone else’s negligence causes a crash near High Point, we move right away to preserve evidence and protect our client’s rights.”
We handle car accident cases on a contingency fee basis, are available 24/7, and offer Spanish-language services. You can sign your case electronically, or we can visit you at home or in the hospital. Our attorneys live in the communities we serve, and we have an office in Sandy Springs.
Get Help From a High Point Car Accident Lawyer
You should not have to fight an insurance company while you heal. A car accident lawyer in High Point can review your crash, explain your options, and help you act before key deadlines pass.
Contact Van Sant Law today for a free consultation about your car accident claim. We never settle a case unless the client is happy with the result; that is the Van Sant Law client satisfaction guarantee.
