Buckhead is an uptown commercial district and attracts a lot of traffic. However, this increased traffic also increases the risk of serious car accidents. If you are the victim of a car accident in Buckhead and have suffered serious injuries due to the negligence of another person, you should immediately call an experienced Buckhead car accident lawyer at Bethune Law Firm. You are legally entitled to financial compensation for your injuries and we will help you get the compensation you deserve.
How Much Does A Car Accident Lawyer Cost?
Here at Bethune Law Firm, you do not need to pay anything upfront for your car accident case. Our personal injury attorneys work on contingency fee arrangements. All the costs related to your case are recovered out of the settlement we win for you. If we do not win anything, we don’t get paid.
Give us a call at 4048757800 to know more about the contingency fee arrangement for your car accident case.
Steps To Take after A Car Accident
When you are involved in a car accident, the first thing you need to do is to try and remain calm. It is not easy but you should remember that every action you take after being involved in a car accident is going to have a serious impact on your legal case.
Do Not Flee The Scene
Do not make the mistake of leaving the scene of the accident. When you’re involved in a car accident, you need to stop. Once you have safely pulled over, it is important that you carefully check yourself for any injuries such as pain in your back, shoulders, neck, legs or other parts of the body. If there is any pain, you should immediately call for help. Don’t move until help arrives.
Call 911
Georgia law dictates that you need to report the accident to the police in case an accident has led to an injury, death or the damages exceeds $500 in value. Call 911 and tell the operator about the accident location, description of the injuries as well as the accident scene. The police officer will come and file a report of the accident. Without this police report, it will be difficult for you to claim any damages.
Exchange Information
After the accident, it is important to exchange the required information with the other driver. You should try to get complete information such as their full name, home address, telephone number, email address, date of birth, driver’s license number, license plate number of the car, registration expiration date, make, model, and year of the car, and vehicle identification number.
Document The Accident Scene
It is important that you document the accident scene as quickly as possible after the accident. If possible, create a diagram of the scene which captures the location of the car before and after the collision as well as the direction of each vehicle. You should also try to record the weather conditions, any road obstructions, time of day when the accident happened, and various other things. It is also important to take photographs and videos from as many angles as possible in order to capture the accident scene authentically. Try to capture videos and photographs of the street, traffic light locations, weather conditions, the position of the cars, and any other relevant evidence.
Never Admit Fault
When you call the cops, they are going to ask you for information. You should not, under any circumstances, admit fault. You are not going to be in a clear state of mind after the accident and therefore, you do not should not arrive at any conclusion regarding the cause of the accident. You might not know all the circumstances leading to the accident. Therefore, you should never admit fault. Everything will be clear once the police complete their investigation. If you admit fault, it could be used against you when it is time to get compensation for your injuries.
Get Medical Attention
You should also seek medical attention as early as possible. Go to a doctor even if you feel there are no injuries or the injuries seem minor. Sometimes, it takes time for injuries to show. Your medical records are going to play an important role in your claim. Therefore, it is important for you to go to a doctor as quickly as possible after the accident.
Retain A Car Accident Attorney
While it is entirely possible to handle some personal injury claims on your own, you will need the help of an attorney’s legal experience in most car accident cases. You need to realize that insurance companies do not generate profits by paying out all the claims. They are experts at denying claims. The insurance adjusters will make you believe that you are right and there is no need for you to retain an attorney. They will make a low offer and once you accept, you have absolutely no leverage.
Here at Bethune Law Firm, we regularly deal with car accident cases. We have years of experience in negotiating with insurance adjusters and we are aware of the tricks used by them to minimize the payout. We will negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf. Insurance companies try to avoid lawsuits as there are costs attached to lawsuits and this is why insurance companies try to settle the claims as quickly as possible. However, it is only going to happen if you show them that you are willing to go to trial.
Give us a call at 4048757800 to know more about your legal rights and how we can help you win the compensation you deserve for your injuries.
Why Is Having A Lawyer Important In A Car Accident Case?
You do not need a lawyer in all car accident cases. Also, it is not a legal requirement for you to retain the services of a lawyer for filing a claim after a car accident but it is better to hire a car accident attorney to protect your legal rights. Here are a few reasons why you should hire an attorney:
Meet Deadlines
You need to meet certain deadlines in order to file a claim. For instance, you have 2 years from the date of the accident for fighting a lawsuit in the state of Georgia. You might not be able to file a lawsuit once this deadline is over. Also, the deadline is much shorter in certain circumstances.
Filing A Lawsuit
Filing a lawsuit is complicated and there is a lot of documentation needed to do it right. When you have an experienced car accident attorney at Bethune Law Firm by your side, we will make sure that no mistakes are made and everything is done right the first time.
Fair Compensation
Most people are typically not aware of all the damages they are eligible for after a car accident. For instance, you might be eligible for medical bills, vehicle damage, loss of wages, pain and suffering, emotional distress and a lot more. Your insurance company doesn’t work for you and their main goal is to keep their costs to a minimum. An experienced lawyer by your side will help you recover maximum compensation for your injuries.
Proving Liability
It’s not easy to prove liability even if you have the police report and witnesses. A lot of paperwork needs to be filed in court in case you decide to file a lawsuit. When you have an experienced attorney by your side, we will gather the required evidence and make sure you are fully prepared if the case goes to trial.
Negotiating Settlement
We regularly deal with insurance adjusters and are aware of their tricks. Most personal injury cases are settled outside of court but you need to know that the offer made by the insurance company is fair and the implications of accepting their offer. We will negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf and make sure you get the maximum possible compensation for your injuries.
Trial Preparation
Preparing for a trial is not easy. It involves gathering the required evidence and filing a lot of paperwork in the right order to ensure a successful outcome. We will prepare for trial right from the outset to show the other party that we are prepared to go to trial in case they don’t make a fair settlement offer.
What Is My Buckhead Car Accident Case Worth?
No two car accident cases are the same. Many factors affect the value of a car accident case. Some of the factors that matter include the severity of the injury, fault of the driver, average medical costs for the type of injuries, loss of earnings, effect of the accident on the victim’s lifestyle and a lot of other things. Insurance companies consider a number of factors to determine the value of your case. Don’t be surprised if the offer made by the insurance company is less than the actual medical bills you have submitted.
Insurance companies try to take advantage of the situation and are likely to make a quick settlement offer as most people are in need of money after the accident. You should not accept their offer without discussing the details of your case with an experienced Buckhead car accident attorney at Bethune Law Firm.
Type Of Damages That Can Be Recovered In Buckhead, Georgia
There are 3 categories of damages that can be recovered in Buckhead, Georgia, car accident cases.
- Economic Damages: These are the damages that can be calculated objectively. Some of the examples include actual medical expenses, loss of wages, loss of future earning capacity, vehicle damage, property damage and other such things.
- Non-economic Damages: These are the damages that are subjective in nature. Some of the examples include loss of consortium, stress and anxiety, pain and suffering, and emotional distress, among others. It is challenging to quantify these damages.
- Punitive Damages: These damages are awarded rarely in car accident cases. The intent of these damages is to punish the defendant for their gross reckless conduct. In Georgia, the upper cap for these damages is $275,000.
How Is Fault Determined In Georgia?
Georgia is an at-fault state which means it must be determined who was at fault. There are certain facts that will be reviewed to determine fault such as police reports, weather conditions at the time of accident, accident scene, statement of drivers and witnesses, the physical condition of the involved cars, and various other factors.
However, insurance adjusters can be biased and this is why you should immediately call an experienced auto accident attorney to discuss the details of your case. The insurance adjusters are not going to let go of any opportunity to prove that their customers were never at fault and only you were to blame for the accident.
Give us a call at [Phone] to know more about your legal rights.
Is There A Time Limit to Filing a Claim in Georgia?
In the state of Georgia, the statute of limitations states that you have 2 years from the date of the accident to file a claim. If you do not file a claim within 2 years, it is going to be extremely challenging for you to recover any compensation for your sufferings.
What Do You Need to Do If Your Car Insurance Claim Is Denied?
Car insurance companies have the legal obligation to do business in good faith which means they cannot deny a claim for frivolous reasons. However, insurance companies regularly deny valid claims. If your insurance claim has been denied, you should immediately get in touch with a car accident attorney at Bethune Law Firm.
Insurance companies are in the business of making money but they should earn it ethically. They cannot put profits ahead of the law or your health. This is why you should give us a call at [Phone] when you have suffered a serious injury in a car accident. We will make sure that your rights are not violated and you get fair compensation for your injuries.
What If the Other Driver Does Not Have Insurance?
All states require drivers to have a minimum amount of insurance. The state of Georgia is no exception and requires all the drivers on the road to have a minimum amount of insurance. However, not everyone abides by the law. If you have been involved in an accident with a driver who does not have insurance, your claim is going to be extremely complicated. There are certain actions you can take to recover financial compensation for your sufferings but it’s a complex scenario and in such cases, you should immediately retain the services of an experienced auto accident attorney.
We have extensive experience in dealing with car accident cases and we will help you explore various legal options in such cases.
Schedule A Free Consultation With A Buckhead Car Accident Lawyer
We understand that the aftermath of a car accident can be extremely stressful. On top of experiencing the trauma of a car accident, victims often have to worry about piling medical bills and their regular expenses, especially if they are unable to go to work due to the injuries resulting from the car accident. You should not bear the burden of the negligent actions of others.
Here at Bethune Law Firm, we will do the hard work for you. We will gather the evidence and prepare the case. We are willing to take the case to trial if you do not get a fair settlement offer. We work on a contingent fee basis. You do not need to worry about any legal fees as we will recover our costs from the settlement we win for you. We don’t get anything if we do not win your case.
Give us a call today at 4048757800 to schedule a free consultation.
