If you were injured in a car accident, you may be struggling with far more than medical expenses. You may not be able to work. You may be feeling severe pain or confronting a life-altering condition. An accident can be traumatic and stressful, but you don’t have to bear the burden alone. If the accident wasn’t your fault, you can get help paying the costs of an accident in Stockbridge. You need to talk to a Stockbridge car accident lawyer.
Our lawyers know how to get you the financial relief you need. We have been helping accident victims for decades, and we charge you nothing unless we win you money. 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.
What are my rights if I’ve been in a car accident in Stockbridge?
If the accident was not your fault, you have a right to recover all of your costs. You may also have a legal right to additional money, to offset the impact of the accident on your life.
In most cases, this money—your financial recovery—will come from insurance. This is because state law requires all vehicle owners to have car insurance. When a driver causes an accident, their insurance must pay for everyone’s injuries and car repairs. Because of this, most accident victims can recover money from the insurance company without ever having to go to court.
How do I know who’s considered at fault in my accident?
The most important rule is not to blame yourself. If you were not breaking a traffic law, there’s a good chance the other driver is the one at fault. Accidents don’t really happen by accident—they happen when someone isn’t careful.
To be legally at fault, a driver doesn’t need to have intentionally caused the accident or hurt anyone. Ins some cases the driver doesn’t even have to have broken a law. All that is needed is that the accident was caused by the driver’s carelessness, or “negligence.” This could mean that the driver violated traffic rules or was driving drunk, but it could also mean that the driver was distracted, following too closely, or otherwise not driving safely.
Of course, some accidents aren’t caused by the driver. In some cases, an accident happens because of a faulty car part, in which case the manufacturer may be liable. Or, it may happen because of bad road conditions. You may be able to recover money even if this is what caused your accident.
How much money will my claim pay?
The amount varies. We have seen claims of $5,000 for very minor whiplash cases, and claims of $500,000 for serious injuries. Some claims can run into the millions of dollars. The important thing to know is that you have a right to recover money for three kinds of losses:
- ALL of your costs, including missed work time and medical bills
- Damages you have suffered, such as severe pain or mental anguish
- If a loved one died in the accident, you may be able to receive wrongful death damages
The purpose of all of this money is not to “make up” for the accident. Money can never erase what happened. Its purpose is to help victims recover, put their lives together, and move on as best they can.
What injuries will my car accident claim pay for?
Any type of injury is potentially covered, but it must have been caused by the accident. This means that many injuries can qualify, though there are a few that are especially common. They include:
- Whiplash
- Sprains and muscle injuries
- Fractures
- Concussions and traumatic brain injuries
- Bruising and lacerations
- Burns
- Injury caused by smoke inhalation
- The loss of a limb or other serious injuries
Some injuries are serious enough to need emergency medical treatment at the scene. But others don’t have any symptoms at first. Injuries like whiplash can take days or weeks to develop. Because of this, we urge you to ALWAYS go to the doctor right away after an accident – even if you aren’t sure if you were injured. A doctor can give you a thorough checkup and start you on treatment that can shorten your recovery time. Seeing a doctor right away also helps your insurance claim.
Should I take the money the insurance company offered?
It may be a good offer or it may not be. The best way to be sure is to take the time to talk with a lawyer. A lawyer can look over the insurance company offer and can make sure you get the full amount you are entitled to. Usually, the insurance company offer is much less than your case is worth. The insurance company offered a low amount for a reason – it wants to make a profit for itself by paying out as little as possible. If you take the insurance company’s first offer, you’ll give up your right to recover the full cost of the accident.
Car accident lawyers around Atlanta, Georgia can help you by finding out what the accident is really going to cost you. A lawyer can send you to doctors who know how to diagnose your injuries and estimate their long-term cost. A lawyer may pull in experts who can calculate things like the earnings you will lose or the cost of a disability. Armed with facts and figures, a lawyer can show the insurance company just how much your claim is worth. Having a lawyer on your team often means you receive thousands of dollars more than you would have gotten otherwise.
Talk to a Stockbridge Car Accident Lawyer for Free
Our lawyers have decades of experience getting car accident victims the money they need. We don’t charge you anything unless we win you money. Let us give you a free consultation to answer your questions and help you decide what you should do next. Call us at (404) 341-6555 or fill out the form to the right to get your free consultation today.
