The aftermath of a car accident in Dunwoody, Georgia is often expensive and devastating. Car accidents often not only result in serious injuries but are also extremely stressful for the victims as they not only have to deal with their injuries but also worry about the ever-increasing medical bills. This is why you should immediately get in touch with an experienced Dunwoody car accident lawyer at Bethune Law Firm.
Here at Bethune Law Firm, our car accident attorneys have years of experience. We can help you get the compensation you deserve for your injuries, pain, and suffering. Our lawyers will investigate the accident in detail and help you file a claim against the negligent driver after evaluating your damages.
Give us a call at (404) 875-7800 to schedule a free consultation.
How Much Does a Dunwoody Car Accident Lawyer Cost?
Here at Bethune Law Firm, we work on a contingency fee basis. It simply means that you do not need to pay anything upfront. Our costs will be recovered from the settlement we win for you. We only get paid if we win.
What Should I Do After a Car Accident?
You won’t be in the right frame of mind when you are involved in a car accident but you need to remember that the steps you take right after your accident are not only going to have a major impact on your health but also on your legal case. Everything that you do and say after being involved in a car accident is going to affect your legal case. Here is a list of some of the important steps and actions you should take after a car accident in Dunwoody, Georgia.
Call Police
It is important that you do not leave the scene of the accident. In the state of Georgia, you should immediately call 911 when you are involved in an accident that results in an injury or death. It does not matter who is at fault. As per Georgia code 40–6–273, the accident needs to be reported to the police in case it has resulted in an injury, death or the damage exceeds $ 500.
The important thing is you should call the police and have them write the report. The police report is the first piece of evidence in the case. Once the police officer has written the report, ask them how to go about getting a copy of the report for your own records. Processing of the report takes anywhere from 3 to 5 days. In case a police report is not filed at the time of the accident, it can be challenging for you to claim any damages.
Check on Other Involved Parties
You should also check with the other parties involved in the accident and exchange your contact information such as their name, email address, home address, phone number, driver’s license number, VIN, vehicle information, policy number and insurance company. Also, exchange your own contact information as well as the details of your insurance.
Record the Accident Scene
You need to document all the details about your accident. Take photographs with your phone. Record the weather conditions as well as the road conditions. Take photographs from many different angles to establish the accident scene. Capture the damage to your car as well as the damage to the other cars. Also, document your injuries.
Do Not Admit Fault
Once the police officer arrives at the scene, they will ask you about your side of the story. It is important that you do not admit Fault. You do not really know what caused the accident. The real cause of the accident will only be clear after the police investigations are completed. This is why, you should never admit fault and let the police officers do their job.
Seek Medical Attention
It is important that you immediately seek medical attention after the accident. Even if you are feeling alright or you think that your injuries are minor, you should go see your doctor at the earliest. Some injuries are internal and the adrenaline rush after the accident might have prevented you from feeling the effect of your injuries. Therefore, it is important that you get examined by a doctor. Your medical records are going to play an important role in your claim. Therefore, do not delay going to the doctor.
Call a Dunwoody Car Accident Lawyer
It is important that you immediately get in touch with an experienced car accident attorney after the accident. Here at Bethune Law Firm, we have helped many victims of car accidents receive fair compensation for their injuries. Do not presume that the insurance company is on your side.
They will use every trick in the book to delay or deny your claim. Therefore, it is important that you seek experienced legal representation. It is important to remember that Dunwoody car accident lawyers at Bethune Law Firm work on a contingency fee basis. Also, consultations are free and it won’t be wise to not take advantage of free consultations.
Give us a call at (404) 875-7800 to schedule a free consultation.
Why Do I Need a Dunwoody Car Accident Lawyer?
There is no legal obligation for you to retain the services of a Dunwoody car accident lawyer after a car accident but there are several reasons why you should hire one quickly.
Meeting Deadlines
In a car accident case, you need to meet several deadlines as per the statute of limitations. In the state of Georgia, the statute of limitations states that you have 2 years from the date of the accident to fight your case. There are other deadlines involved in such cases depending on the type of insurance or if a government entity is involved. In some cases, the deadline can be just 6 months.
Gathering and Preserving Evidence
It is important to gather and preserve the evidence as it doesn’t last very long. Take the example of surveillance camera footage. If there was a surveillance camera near the accident scene, it could be crucial to prove who was at fault but most businesses record over the footage within a week or even within days. There is also the roadway evidence that involves the debris of the car accident, skid marks, and other such things. This is why it is important for a Dunwoody car accident lawyer to visit the scene of the accident as quickly as possible in order to preserve this evidence.
Witnesses
It’s important to speak to witnesses immediately after the accident as memories don’t take long to fade. Some witnesses might have clear memories of the accident but it is important to reach out to them quickly before their memory fades. An attorney can motivate the witnesses to give a verbal or written statement.
Case Preparation/Filing a Lawsuit
A car accident case is complex. A lot of evidence and medical records need to be gathered and presented in order to prepare the claim. While most car accident cases are settled out of court, at times, victims are forced to file a lawsuit. You will need experienced legal representation if you need to file a lawsuit to get the compensation you deserve for your injuries.
Settlement Negotiation
Insurance companies make billions of dollars of profit each year. They use all the tricks in the books to delay or deny the claim. Here at Bethune Law Firm, we have been dealing with insurance companies for years and are aware of the tricks used by them to deny fair compensation to car accident victims. Also, the insurance company should know that you are ready to go to trial in case they do not pay you the full compensation. We will negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf and help you get the compensation you deserve.
Trial Preparation/Representation
A car accident case isn’t likely to go anywhere in case the lawyer isn’t prepared to take the case to trial. Even if you are willing to settle the case, it is important to let the other party know that you are willing to go to trial and this is where the Dunwoody car accident lawyer from Bethune Law Firm can help you. We are prepared to take the case to trial and help you win maximum compensation for your injuries.
How Much Can I Expect to Receive for My Damages?
There is no standard answer to this question. Every case is different and the settlement value is also going to be different for each case. There are a number of factors that affect the value of a car accident settlement. Some of the factors that matter include:
- The severity of the accident
- Amount of available insurance
- Time taken for receiving the first medical treatment after the accident
- Severity and permanency of the injuries
- Type of treatment for the injuries
- Time taken for treatment of injuries
- Medical expenses
What Type of Damages Can I Recover?
Damages in car accident cases in Georgia can be classified into 2 categories as defined below:
Economic Damages
These are the damages that can be independently verified with the help of estimates, invoices, assessments, and various other monetary statements. Some of the common heads in this category include loss of earning capacity, loss of wages, medical expenses, property damage, and other such things.
Noneconomic Damages
These are intangible losses such as loss of consortium, inconvenience, emotional distress, stress and anxiety, pain and suffering, and other such things. It is difficult to quantify these.
Punitive Damages
As the name implies, punitive damages might be ordered by the court in addition to general damages. These are designed to punish the defendant for malicious or negligent behavior. In the state of Georgia, punitive damages are capped at $275,000 and 75% of the damages are required to be paid to the state treasury.
How is Fault Determined?
Georgia is an at-fault state. It simply means that blame needs to be assigned in every car accident. It is also known as a proportional comparative fault where a percentage of the blame is assigned to each party involved in the accident. In case a driver is found to be 50% or more at fault, they are not awarded any compensation. If both the drivers are found to be equally at fault, none of the drivers is awarded any compensation.
Only the driver who is less than 50% at fault can be awarded a monetary recovery. The proportion of fault might be clear in some cases but in most cases, it can be difficult to determine. In cases where the proportion of fault is not clear, insurance companies might choose to use their own investigators in order to protect their own interests. This is why you need to have a skilled Dunwoody car accident lawyer by your side to gather the required information and evidence and to help you win the compensation you deserve for your injuries.
How Long Do I Have To File a Claim?
In the state of Georgia, you have 2 years from the date of the accident to file a claim. It is important to keep in mind that the statute of limitations has some exceptions depending on the type of insurance and the parties who were involved in the accident. In some cases, there are only 6 months to file a claim.
What Can I Do If Insurance Denied My Claim?
Everybody assumes that the insurance company is going to approve their claim. Unfortunately, a number of frivolous reasons are used by insurance companies to deny valid claims. It does not mean that you should forget about the compensation you deserve. In case your claim has been denied by the insurance company, you should immediately consult with a Dunwoody car accident lawyer at Bethune Law Firm.
We know how to analyze the situation and we will fight for your rights. The insurance company is going to provide instructions on how to appeal when they deny a claim. When you file an appeal, the insurance company has to reply within a particular time frame. For instance, they have 72 hours to respond in case of urgent care claims.
Give us a call at (404 875-7800 to schedule a free consultation. We will help you explore your legal options when your claim has been denied by the insurance company.
What If the Other Driver Does Not Have Insurance?
All drivers in Georgia are required to have proper insurance. They need to have a policy covering bodily injuries of at least $50,000 per occurrence and $25,000 per person. Also, the insurance policy should cover $25,000 in property damages. However, it does not mean that all the drivers on Georgia roads have automobile coverage. If you have been involved in an accident with a driver who doesn’t have insurance, things become a lot more complicated. There are a number of legal options available to you such as filing a claim against the person directly.
In such complex cases, Bethune Law Firm can help. We have extensive experience in helping victims of car accidents and we will fight for your rights. We will handle negotiations with the insurance company on your behalf. We will investigate your claim in order to determine the party who should be held financially responsible.
Contact a Dunwoody Car Accident Lawyer Today!
Car accidents are expensive, frustrating, and stressful. On top of dealing with your injuries, you also have to worry about dealing with insurance claims. Matters become more complicated in case your claim is denied by the insurance company. This is why you should immediately get in touch with an experienced Dunwoody car accident lawyer at Bethune Law Firm when you’re involved in a car accident. We have extensive experience in negotiating with insurance companies and helping our clients receive the settlement they deserve.
We work on a contingency fee basis which means you do not need to pay anything upfront. We will recover our costs from the settlement we win for you. We don’t get paid unless we win your case. Give us a call at (404) 875-7800 to schedule a free consultation for discussing the details of your case.
