Car Accident Lawyers in Atlanta

You should always let your insurance company know about accidents right away. It is also a good idea to contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Georgia law says that if you want to file a claim for compensation against another driver, you have up to two years from the date of the accident, in most cases.

However, as time passes, it may become more difficult to gather documentation and evidence to support your claim. If the accident involved a government vehicle, there are additional time limits and requirements you’ll need to meet to recover compensation. Your personal injury lawyer can help ensure you meet all required timelines to file your claim.

Medical expenses after a car accident can be significant. Unfortunately, your health insurance policy may not provide adequate coverage to meet your needs and the bills can add up quickly. If the other driver or another party was negligent, reckless, or careless, and their actions led to the accident, you are entitled to pursue compensation for your medical expenses.

However, you will need to prove liability to receive the funds you are owed. Your car accident lawyer will work to help ensure your claim includes all your medical expenses and will fight to help you obtain the compensation you deserve.

In addition to medical expenses and lost income, your personal injury claim may include damages designed to compensate you for pain and suffering. Pain and suffering are not easy to calculate. In some cases, a scale of 1-5 is used as a multiplier for your known, economic damages.

With this scale, a rating of 1 may be used for accidents with relatively minor injuries and 5 is reserved for catastrophic damage. In other situations, insurers may assign a per diem amount for every day of the victim’s medical care.

It may be helpful to keep the following items on your person or in your vehicle so you have them in the event of an accident:

• Your valid driver’s license to prove your eligibility to drive
• Car insurance card to show you have coverage
• Motor vehicle registration to demonstrate ownership
• Flares, cones, or other emergency tools that could make your vehicle more visible in the event of a crash
• Paper and pen to document the scene and record contact information from the other driver and witnesses to the accident

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.

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.

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.