You and your loved ones can be forever changed by an auto accident. Legal guidance can help you avoid the emotional trauma, physical injury, and financial hardships that come with an accident. Our Woodstock car accident attorneys provide dedicated and compassionate legal services to anyone injured in a Woodstock area accident. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, about 40 million Americans experience injuries that require medical attention every year. About 5.5 million of these incidents were car accidents.
Motor vehicle accidents are among the most common causes of injury. Victims of negligence often contact personal injury lawyers and file a claim. Many questions arise about the legal system.
Filing a claim is not without its challenges. You can find answers to your questions here. Here are the answers to some of your most common car accident questions. Learn what to do immediately after a car accident.
Table of Contents
- What Should You Do If Your Car Has Been Involved in an Accident?
- Need an Accident Lawyer in Woodstock?
- What Should You Do If Your Car Has Been Involved in an Accident?
- How Do You Start a Car Accident Claims?
- What are the damages in car accident cases?
- General Damages
- Special Damages
- Is my car accident case criminal or civil?
- What are the Tort Laws?
- Will my case go to trial?
- What is the Statute of Limitations in Georgia
- What is comparative negligence in Woodstock, GA
- Should I accept the first settlement offered to me?
- What is the average settlement?
- How long will it take to receive my settlement?
- What is the maximum compensation for a whiplash injury?
- What is the cost of a car accident lawyer?
- What Can an Accident Lawyer Do?
- You can get a free consultation with an accident lawyer in Woodstock
The immediate aftermath of a car accident is one of the most crucial steps that you can take. You may feel confused or even panicked after an accident. Our Woodstock car accident attorneys recommend that you follow these seven steps:
You should call the emergency services immediately. You do not know if there are any injuries on the other person. You haven’t assessed yourself yet to determine the extent of any injuries. Some injuries can occur hours or even days after the accident. Dial 9-1-1 as soon as you can to send an ambulance to the accident scene.
You should get the information of the other party after you have sought medical treatment. Along with this you should also try to preserve any evidence from the accident.
Do not let anyone touch the parts of your car on the road. You never know when something will help you in the future. Exchange information with the other driver.
You can ask for:
The name of the group is
The phone number
Your address
The license plate number
Your insurance company
This is an important step because you will need to provide these details to your insurer. This will also help if someone tries to lie and deny their involvement.
Tell the police everything you can remember about your accident. The officer will act as a witness and write a police report. This report can be used to support your insurance claim. You should be aware that the police will have limited jurisdiction if an accident occurs on your private property.
Take pictures of the damage to your vehicle to show your insurer.
Hire a lawyer. Most people make the error of calling the insurance company first before speaking with an attorney. You should speak to an attorney before you talk to anyone else. You will have solid advice about what to do and say in a situation as delicate as the settlement.
How Do You Start a Car Accident Claims?
After you have spoken with your insurance provider and contacted The Mabra Firm, a personal injury case can be filed. The process begins when you submit a summons and your lawyer sends a complaint to the party at fault.
There are exceptions, particularly if there are multiple parties involved in the accident, which can result in a multi vehicle accident. It is possible that an employee was at fault.
Your lawyer will investigate whether or not the person is underinsured. The complaint is then sent to the insurance company.
You may have to file a claim for personal injury with your insurer if the party at fault does not have insurance. Auto insurance will usually compensate you for any injuries or damages.
What is the damage part? Continue reading to learn more.
What are the damages in car accident cases?
There are two types of damages that can be awarded after a car crash: general damages and specific damages. Damages are the amount of money awarded to a party in a lawsuit. Let’s talk about these two types.
General Damages
You can claim general damages for things such as: When you file a claim, you’re suing the defendant because of negligence which caused damage to you and your possessions. It’s not that easy because there are many different types of damages to be considered.
You can be injured and still receive general damages. Damages to your personal property are not included. The defendant is responsible for compensating you for your pain and suffering.
Loss of Consortium
Pain and Suffering
Disfigurement
Mental Trauma
PTSD
General damages can cover anything that reduces your quality-of-life. Compiling a compensation amount is the difficult part.
Our lawyers can create a quick estimate for property. It can be hard to estimate the value of your health.
It may take some time to assess these damages because they are subjective. You can also experience severe mental trauma.
Do not assume that you are mentally healthy. PTSD can develop nearly 30 days after an accident, according to reports. Keep an eye out for signs such as fear of driving or getting into a vehicle.
Special Damages
This includes things like physical property or medical expenses. The defendant is responsible for any medical bills you incur if your accident sends you to the hospital.
Damages to the body include:
Vehicle Repairs
Repairs for damaged property
Insurance for irreplaceable Items
When deciding on an estimate, it’s easier to determine the damages that are specific.
You might have some questions about the law surrounding your case or the nature of an accident case. Next, let’s talk about those questions.
Is my car accident case criminal or civil?
A civil claim and a criminal case are distinguished by a few factors. Often, a criminal case is filed by the government of a state and led by an attorney prosecutor.
DUI is a criminal offense that can lead to a car accident. Driving under the influence is against the law. Lawyers treat drunk driving accidents as criminal cases.
Civil claims are handled by a law office or an independent party. They make sure the other party pays for any damages or injuries. You must provide proof (photos of the accident, police reports, witness statements, etc.). You must provide evidence (photos, police report, statements etc.) of the accident that proves your innocence.
What are the Tort Laws?
A tort is a form of negligence that results in a personal injury. These laws are in place to help the injured and wronged party receive the compensation that they deserve.
The law of negligent torts is applicable in the event of an accident involving a motor vehicle. The negligent tort law states that the accident happened because the driver failed to follow road safety regulations. To prove a negligent tort, you must have proof of injury to the body or damage to property.
You understand tort law. But do you need to go to court?
Will my case go to trial?
The majority of cases don’t end up in court. Although a court date is set, most cases are settled before the trial even begins.
Very few cases warrant a court case. This is when there’s a legal problem. If you and the defendant reach a settlement agreement, you will not have to go to court.
What is the Statute of Limitations in Georgia
A statute of limitation limits the amount of time you have to file a lawsuit. In Georgia, you only have two years to bring a lawsuit for damages or wrongful deaths. You are not eligible after that.
Was the accident 100 percent the fault of the other driver? You may still be eligible for compensation if it wasn’t the other driver’s fault.
What is comparative negligence in Woodstock, GA
The tort law of comparative negligence is applicable when both parties have been at fault. This means that you and the defendant are both held responsible for a negligent action.
Georgia is one of many states which upholds this law. In the case where there is comparative negligence a jury will determine a percentage of blame for each party.
You might be responsible for 40%, while the other person is responsible 60%. Then, each of you is assigned a certain amount that must be paid to the other party in damages.
You can find out more about comparative negligence if you want to.
Understanding what to expect from car accident settlements is also important. We will now answer some of these questions.
Should I accept the first settlement offered to me?
You will receive a call from the insurance company of the other party shortly after your accident. You will most likely be offered a settlement right away.
We advise you to not take it. The auto insurance company is trying to settle the claim for the lowest possible amount.
You should work with a lawyer at The Mabra Firm, who has experience in negotiating the best possible settlement from insurance companies.
We know the laws and statutes in place so that you receive the compensation you deserve.
Have you never been in a car accident before and don’t know how much the settlement will be? You are not the only one. Mabra is here to assist you in determining what you deserve. We will then tell you the average settlement amount.
What is the average settlement?
The amount of the settlement depends on how many damages you have caused and your case. You can expect a range of $4,000 to $80,00. You need to be sure that you are getting the best settlement possible.
This includes witnesses, statements reports, and photographs. Continue to discuss with your lawyer and read up on Georgia laws to make sure everything moves at an organized pace.
Car insurance companies are notorious for taking a long time to settle claims.
How long will it take to receive my settlement?
Insurance companies in Georgia have up to forty days to settle claims. You can expect to receive your check between six weeks and four months after you have approved their decision.
A car accident lawyer can assist you in many ways.
What is the maximum compensation for a whiplash injury?
You can expect to receive between $3,000 and $10,000 in compensation if you have whiplash symptoms.
There are different degrees of whiplash. You may be entitled to a higher settlement if you have suffered broken bones or more severe injuries.
After a settlement is reached, you will not receive the money immediately.
You can get the compensation without an attorney. Find out why hiring a car accident attorney is crucial to getting the compensation you deserve.
What is the cost of a car accident lawyer?
Woodstock lawyers are willing to take your case on a contingency basis. This means that they do not require payment up front or per hour.
They will take a percentage of the settlement or award if they win your case. If your case is unsuccessful, you will not be liable for anything.
To receive the maximum settlement allowed by law, it’s essential to work with an experienced law firm.
What Can an Accident Lawyer Do?
Working with an experienced personal injury lawyer from The Mabra Firm will ensure that your case goes as smoothly as it can.
Our local personal injury attorneys have a proven track record of maximizing compensation. We have a lot of experience in personal injury cases that involve car accidents, truck accidents and motorcycle accidents.
You don’t need to worry about laws, damages and statutes when you hire an attorney. You don’t need to worry about your case because we will handle it for you. We will work hard to maximize your claim while you focus on recovering from your accident.
You can get a free consultation with an accident lawyer in Woodstock
You can see that there are many questions that victims of accidents involving personal injuries may have. This guide is intended to provide answers. A good lawyer can make all the difference in trying to recover damages for a negligent act.
You may have been involved in a recent car accident. Do you believe that the other driver is to blame? The Mabra firm has an auto accident lawyer in Woodstock who is willing to help.
Contact us today for a no-obligation consultation. We can answer any questions you have and get you started on your path to compensation.
The Mabra Law Firm 