A car accident can throw your life into disarray. If you were injured in a crash that wasn’t your fault, a Union City personal injury lawyer can help you recover damages.
Van Sant Law has been representing Georgia residents since 2003. If you were hit by a negligent driver, a car accident lawyer in Union City can help you secure the compensation you deserve.
How a Union City Car Accident Lawyer Can Help
Insurance companies aim to pay as little as possible to accident victims.
A Union City car accident lawyer can help you build a strong claim by:
- Investigating the accident: A lawyer can gather police reports, witness statements, medical records, and any available video footage to build a strong case.
- Determining the value of your claim: A lawyer can calculate both your current and future damages, so you don’t settle for less than your case is worth.
- Handling insurance adjusters: A lawyer can manage all conversations with adjusters and work to negotiate a fair settlement.
- Taking your case to court: If a fair settlement isn’t offered, a lawyer can file a lawsuit and represent you at trial.
How Much Does a Car Accident Lawyer Cost in Union City?
The car accident lawyers at Van Sant Law work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t pay anything up front. Instead, your attorney will receive a predetermined percentage of your settlement or verdict.
If you don’t recover compensation, you won’t owe us anything.
What Types of Damages Can I Recover?
If you were injured in a car accident, you may be entitled to several types of compensation, including:
- Medical expenses: You can recover the cost of emergency care, hospital stays, surgeries, physical therapy, medications, and future medical treatment.
- Lost wages: If your injuries prevent you from working, you can recover the income you have lost.
- Loss of earning capacity: If your ability to earn a living is permanently affected, you can seek compensation for future lost income.
- Property damage: You can recover the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle and other damaged property.
- Pain and suffering: You can pursue compensation for physical pain and emotional distress caused by the accident.
- Loss of enjoyment of life: If your injuries prevent you from participating in activities you once enjoyed, you can include this loss in your claim.
- Punitive damages: In cases involving reckless or malicious conduct from the at-fault party, you may be able to recover additional damages.
How Long Do You Have to File a Car Accident Claim in Georgia?
In Georgia, the statute of limitations for most car accident claims is two years from the date of the accident. If you don’t file a personal injury lawsuit before this deadline, you will likely forfeit the right to recover compensation.
Waiting too long to file your claim can also result in the loss of witness testimony, surveillance footage, and other important evidence, which is why it’s crucial to reach out to a car accident attorney in Union City as soon as possible.
How Do You Prove Negligence?
To prove negligence in a car accident case, you must provide evidence of:
- Duty of care: The other driver had a legal responsibility to operate their vehicle safely.
- Breach of duty: They failed to meet that responsibility by acting carelessly or recklessly.
- Causation: Their actions directly caused the accident and your injuries.
- Damages: You suffered measurable losses, such as medical expenses or lost income.
Evidence like traffic camera footage, eyewitness testimony, and accident reconstruction can help establish who is at fault for your crash.
How Does Comparative Negligence Work in Georgia?
Georgia follows a modified comparative negligence rule.
This means:
- You can only recover damages if you are less than 50% at fault.
- If you are partially at fault, your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault.
- If you are found to be 50% or more responsible, you cannot recover compensation.
What Causes Car Accidents in Union City?
Most car accidents can be traced back to negligent behavior.
Common causes include:
- Distracted driving: The use of a phone or GPS can divert a driver’s attention from the road.
- Speeding: Driving above the speed limit increases the risk of a serious crash.
- Impaired driving: Alcohol and drugs impair a driver’s judgment, reaction time, and coordination.
- Reckless driving: Aggressive behaviors like tailgating, weaving between lanes, and road rage contribute to accidents.
- Violations of traffic laws: Running red lights and ignoring stop signs are leading causes of crashes at intersections.
- Fatigued driving: Drowsy drivers can be just as dangerous as impaired drivers.
- Poor weather conditions: Rain and reduced visibility can make roads more hazardous, especially if drivers fail to adjust their speed.
Common Injuries in Car Accidents
Car accidents can cause a variety of injuries, including:
- Whiplash and neck injuries: Sudden movement can strain or damage soft tissue in the neck.
- Back and spinal cord injuries: These can range from herniated discs to spinal cord damage that causes permanent paralysis.
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI): Head injuries can affect memory, cognition, and overall brain function.
- Broken bones: Fractures are common in high-impact collisions.
- Internal injuries: Damage to internal organs can be life-threatening.
- Soft tissue injuries: Sprains, strains, and bruising can cause significant pain and limit mobility.
- Psychological injuries: Anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can develop after a serious accident.
Steps to Take After a Car Accident in Union City
What you do after a car accident can impact your ability to recover compensation.
Be sure to:
- Notify the police: A police report can provide an objective account of the accident for your case.
- Document the scene: If you can, take photos of the vehicles, road conditions, and any visible injuries.
- Trade information: Get contact and insurance information from all parties involved in the crash.
- Seek medical attention: Your health should come first. Even if you feel fine, get checked by a medical professional.
- Avoid admitting fault: Stick to the facts when speaking to others at the scene, as well as insurance adjusters.
- Contact a lawyer: An attorney can help you avoid costly mistakes and put together a strong claim.
Consult a Car Accident Attorney in Union City
If you or one of your loved ones was injured because of someone else’s negligence, the experienced legal team at Van Sant Law is just a phone call away. A Union City car accident attorney can investigate your crash, assist with your claim, and fight for a fair settlement on your behalf.
Book a free consultation to learn more about your legal options.
