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Why Should I Hire A Lawyer After Getting Into a Car Accident in Georgia?

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What are the Benefits of Hiring an Accident Lawyer in Carrollton, GA?

Hiring an experienced good Georgia car accident attorney makes a lot of sense if you’ve been seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident. But how do you go about finding appropriate legal representation? You’re in the midst of a difficult situation, and you may be tempted to simply go online and contact the first law firm appearing on the search engines. Resist that temptation – your entire case depends on doing your research and finding a qualified firm that shares your values and has the capacity, knowledge, negotiating chops and courtroom skills to advocate aggressively on your behalf

Understanding Legal Representation after a Car Accident

  • After a car accident, a lawyers role is multifaceted.  A good lawyer will be able to listen to your description of the events, and evaluate the evidence to come up with a gameplan to maximize your recovery.

How Can A Carrollton GA Accident Lawyer Protect your Rights?

  • A lawyer will help protect your rights in multiple ways.  They will first ensure the proper parties have notice of the incident.  They will also ensure any deadlines, or statutes of limitations, are not violated.

What Steps Should I Take After a Car Wreck in Carrollton, GA?

Car accidents happen every day in Georgia, even to safest drivers. The first thing to do is to try and remain calm.   Keeping a calm will help you document the accident and accurately.

Follow the following steps after a crash to set yourself up for the best possible outcome.

Immediate Actions to Take

  1. Check for injuries and move to a safe area.
  2. Call 911 so a law enforcement officer can complete a report.
  3. Exchange information - This should include the other drivers name, address, and phone number, as well as any passengers in the vehicle. Also collect the other drivers auto insurance information, specifically the company name and policy number.

Documenting Evidence

  • Take pictures or videos of the accident site, as well as any damage to the vehicles.
  • Write down your recollections of any details regarding the accident. This should include the time of day and weather conditions.

Seek Medical Treatment

  • Seek medical treatment for any injuries. Even if you think an injury is minor and will resolve on its own, it is super important to have documentation regarding any injuries and medical treatment you may receive for those injuries.

How Can a Carrollton GA Accident Lawyer Assist in the Claims Process?

Filing an insurance claim can be a dauting task.  From knowing if you can trust the insurance company, to knowing what information to provide is alot to ask for someone who has been injured.  An accident lawyer can handle all of this for you.

Understanding the Complexities of Filing an Insurance Claim After a Georgia Car Accident

It is important to remember that auto insurance companies (most anyway) are private businesses or corporations whose main goal is to make a profit for their shareholders.  Insurance companies are not charitable entities and do not have your best interest in mind.  Common tactics employed by insurance companies include:

  • Denying claims outright - Some insurance companies simply make it a policy to outright deny as many claims as they can possibly get away with, which naturally is a great way for them to save big. Some insurance companies go so far as to reward the employees who deny the most claims.
  • Delay, Delay, Delay - Another tried and true tactic is delaying the process to the point that many people simply give up (meanwhile, insurance companies make money off the interest and investments they are required to hold to pay out claims). Sometimes giving up is just the easiest path—and if you’re injured in a car accident, you may not have much fight left in you.
  • Speaking in legalese - Contracts of any sort are well known for how hard they are to understand, but car insurance policies often intentionally include legal jargon intended to confuse policyholders. Some insurance companies also incorporate obscure coverage clauses that policyholders don’t understand until it’s too late.

Ensuring Fair Compensation

Once you've obtained appropriate documentation, your lawyer will submit a settlement demand package. This will include a letter explaining what happened and how it impacted you, plus plenty of documentation to back up your allegations. After the demand package is reviewed, there will likely be some negotiations with the insurance provider. The insurer may claim that the demand is too high, given the extent of the injuries - but this can be negotiated until a settlement that both parties find acceptable is reached. Further complications may occur due to Georgia's modified comparative fault approach, in which the negligence of both parties is considered.

What types of Compensation are Available After a Car Accident in Carrollton, GA?

The most common types of compensation following a car accident include:

Medical Expenses

Medical bills can add up quickly in the aftermath of a car accident. In addition to sometimes lengthy hospital visits, victims may require ongoing rehabilitative care. A variety of immediate and ongoing medical expenses may be covered by compensatory damages.

Lost Wages and Future Earnings

If the injuries that occurred during your Georgia accident have left you unable to carry out your usual duties at work, you may be eligible for remuneration of lost wages.

Pain and Suffering:  Damages for Emotional and Physical Distress

The suffering caused by a car accident goes far beyond physical pain. Emotional trauma is also common, with many car crash victims experiencing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorders years after the accident occurred. Pain and suffering damages recognize this and compensate victims accordingly.

How Can I Choose the Right Carrollton GA Accident Lawyer for My Case?

Before calling up firms to schedule consultations, stop and clarify what you need out of the relationship and what you expect. Fill in this blank: “I need a Georgia car accident attorney because ______.” Maybe you just crave fair compensation for your injuries. Maybe you need insight into what to do if the other driver lies or takes action against you. Maybe your goal is to get this off your plate ASAP, so you can finish a big work project.

Next, spell out your standards. What do you expect from your team? Maybe you need to hire someone within 15 miles of your house. Maybe you want to be sure the firm will treat you as an individual and really spend time with you. Maybe you want to find the most aggressive possible car accident lawyer.

Evaluating Experience and Expertise

Before choosing a firm, interview prospective lawyers in person. Have a list of questions to ask. These might include:

  • Why do you and your team practice personal injury law? What drew you to this field?
  • What are your firm’s strengths? What makes your team special?
  • What are your weaknesses? Why wouldn’t someone hire you?
  • What sort of experience do you have with cases similar to mine?
  • What charges can I expect? (Most car accident lawyers take cases on a contingency basis, but not all do. Some firms bill for things like photocopying and postage. You may need to pay fees for medical and other experts to review the case. Get clarity.)
  • How often can I expect updates on my case?
  • How long do you guess my case will take? What are potential challenges that could arise?
  • What’s your process for handling cases like mine?
  • Once you have asked these and other relevant questions, spend time deliberating. Pay attention both to the technical information you’ve obtained as well as to your intuition about the firm. Sometimes, our gut instincts pick up on key factors that our conscious minds neglect.

What Sets SWS Accident & Injury Lawyers Apart from other Carrollton GA Firms?

SWS Accident & Injury Lawyers have successfully represented for more than 30 years.  Some of the reasons our clients have trusted us to represent them include:

A Commitment to Personal Relationships

We pride ourselves on having personal relationships with all of our clients. By building a relationship, it allows us to understand your needs and make sure you are comfortable with everything involving your case.

Track Record of Success: Demonstrating Our Ability to Secure Favorable Outcomes

Our track record of obtaining high judgments and settlements for our clients is unmatched.  A few examples of our recent wins include:

  • $7.95 million dollar settlement in a work accident involving a traumatic brain injury.
  • $3 million settlement for an individual crushed by a frontloader.
  • $1.6 million dollar settlement for individual injured in a car accident.
  • $1 million dollar settlement for car accident involving a dump truck.

Client Reviews and Insights

Nothing we can write here will speak as loudly as the words of our own clients.  So don't take our word for it, check out reviews and testimonials from past clients by clicking the link here.

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