After a car accident, you may be worried about what will happen next. You may not be sure how bad your injuries are, or how long you will be in pain or out of work. You may wonder how you’ll pay your rent, let alone your medical bills. But you don’t have to take on the financial burden of an accident that wasn’t your fault. If you’ve been injured in a car accident in Redan, you have rights. You need to talk to a Redan car accident lawyer.
Our lawyers have the experience you need. We’ve been winning money for car accident victims for decades, and if we don’t get money for you, we won’t charge you a thing. Let us give you a FREE consultation. Call us at (404) 341-6555 or fill out the form to the right to get your free consultation today.
Who is responsible for the costs of the accident?
The simple answer is that the driver who is “at fault” is the one who is responsible. The insurance company for the driver at fault must pay for all the costs of the accident, including everyone’s injuries and vehicle damage. This means that there is sometimes disagreement over fault.
Usually, drivers are found to be at fault because they were negligent. This is another way of saying they weren’t as careful as they should have been, and the accident happened because of this carelessness. It doesn’t matter that the accident didn’t happen on purpose – a negligent driver is still liable. Negligent driving might include a wide variety of behaviors, such as texting and driving, speeding, running red lights and tailgating.
What if the at-fault driver does not have insurance?
If they don’t have insurance, then they’re personally liable. You still have the right to recover all of the money they owe you, but it can be difficult because most people don’t have enough money to simply pay for an accident.
The law does give you options, however. This includes:
- There may be a different insurance policy that will pay for the accident. In some cases, this may even include your own policy.
- Your lawyer could request a court order so that the person must make regular payments over time. If needed, this can be backed up with a lien on their property.
Never think that you don’t have a right to have your costs covered, even (especially) if the other driver was uninsured. Driving without insurance was their own irresponsible choice, and the burden of the costs fall on them, not you.
Will my claim cover my medical bills?
Yes. All injuries related to the accident are covered, and your claim will pay all of the costs.
This includes a variety of costs such as:
- Ambulance costs and emergency room fees
- Surgeries, stitches and other types of procedures
- MRIs and lab tests
- Appointments with doctors and specialists
- Medicine
- Followup care like physical therapy
Even if you were not seriously injured, you should always get a medical opinion after an accident. This is because your body releases hormones immediately after an accident that may make you feel as though you escaped injury. Later, you begin to feel pain, stiffness or dizziness. These can be signs of a serious injury, so it is critical that you see a doctor as soon as you can after any accident. The longer you wait to get treatment, the longer it will take you to heal. And seeing a doctor right away makes your insurance claim stronger.
What costs does my car accident claim cover?
Medical costs are not the only thing covered. You can also recover money for:
- Time missed at work
- Inability to return to work
- Car repairs, body work, etc.
- Loss of property that was in the vehicle
- Any other costs directly caused by the accident
Legally, this is referred to as “special damages” and the claim will pay for them so that you don’t lose money on the accident.
Additionally, you can receive money for “general damages.” These are harder to quantify. General damages include things like pain and suffering, a permanent disability, chronic pain, or scarring. These are things that can’t be fixed by money, but money helps offset the impact they have on your life.
In many cases, the general damages can cause the insurance settlement to double or triple. This means that many car accident claims are six figures or more.
The insurance company already offered me money. How can a lawyer help me?
You should know that although most accidents are covered by insurance, insurance companies do not like to pay out claims. Insurance companies know they’ll make bigger profits if they can pay you as little as possible. Most of the time, the insurance company’s offer isn’t nearly as much as your claim is worth. And there are strings attached. If you take it, you’ll sacrifice your legal right to get anything else.
A lawyer puts an experienced professional on your team. Car accident lawyers near Atlanta, Georgia know all the insurance company tricks, and they can level the playing field between you and the insurance company. A lawyer knows how to build a strong case and get the insurance company to pay you a fair amount. Just putting a lawyer on your team can put you thousands of dollars ahead of where you’d be on your own.
Talk to a Redan Car Accident Lawyer for Free
Our law firm has built its reputation on helping accident victims get the money they deserve. We never charge a fee unless we win you money. Let us give you a FREE consultation to discuss your accident and show you how we can help—with no obligation. Call us at (404) 341-6555 or fill out the form to the right to get your free consultation today.