Have You Been Involved In A Car Accident?
Injury and death from car accidents are a leading cause of injury in America. If you or someone close has experienced such an event, it’s important that they seek legal representation as soon possible. An experienced attorney knows how best navigate the legal process and get the outcome you deserve.
At Fitzpatrick Law Firm, our team of experienced car accident lawyers has helped countless accident victims get the compensation they need to move forward with their lives. We understand the devastating effects car accidents can have on victims and their families, and we will work tirelessly to get you the best possible outcome. Contact us today for a free consultation. We will review your case and advise you of your legal options.
What Steps Should You Take At The Scene Of A Car Crash In Buckhead, Georgia?
If you’re involved in a car accident in Buckhead, there are a few things you should do to ensure everyone’s safety and to protect your legal rights.
Move To The Side Of The Road
If you can, move your vehicle to the side of the road. If you can’t move your vehicle, turn on your hazard lights. This will make it easier for other drivers to see you and avoid hitting your vehicle.
Check For Injuries
Once you’re out of harm’s way, check yourself and your passengers for injuries. Even if there don’t seem to be any serious injuries, it’s always best to get checked out by a medical professional as soon as possible after an accident.
Call The Police
Even if there are no injuries and the damage to the vehicles appears to be minor, you should still call the police. The police will create a report of the accident, which can be helpful if you need to file an insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit.
Exchange Information With The Other Driver
Get the following information from the other driver:
Name
Address
Phone number
Insurance company name and policy number
Don’t Discuss The Accident With The Other Driver
You should avoid discussing the accident with the other driver, as anything you say could be used against you later. If the other driver wants to discuss what happened, politely tell them that you’d rather wait until the police arrive.
Take Photos Of The Scene
If you have a camera or camera phone, take photos of the scene of the accident, including any damage to your vehicle and any injuries you or your passengers have suffered. These photos can be helpful evidence if you need to file an insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit.
Get The Name And Contact Information Of Any Witnesses
If there are any witnesses to the accident, get their names and contact information. Their testimony could be crucial if you need to file an insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit.
See A Doctor As Soon As Possible
Even if you don’t think you’re injured, it’s important to see a doctor as soon as possible after an accident. Some injuries, such as whiplash, may not become apparent until days or even weeks after the accident.
Hire A Car Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, you need an experienced car accident lawyer on your side. The lawyers at The Fitzpatrick Firm have been helping accident victims get the compensation they deserve for over 20 years. We know how to deal with insurance companies and we’re not afraid to take your case to court if necessary.
Buckheads’s Most Experienced Car Accident Lawyer
Car accidents can be devastating and even injuries that may seem minor can cause serious chronic pain and disability for years. You may spend years grappling with medical bills and lost wages as you try to recover from your injuries.
However, if the car crash was caused by someone else’s negligence or actions, you have the right to recover compensation for your pain and suffering.
When you need a car accident attorney in Buckhead to fight to secure fair compensation and help you move forward after an injury, reach out to The Fitzpatrick Firm.
Our experienced team has a proven track record for successfully supporting our clients and standing up to the insurance companies to secure fair settlements.
Why You Need A Car Accident Lawyer For Your Case
After you or a loved one are injured in a car accident and you were not at fault, it’s important to secure an experienced Buckhead car accident lawyer immediately. In Georgia you have a two-year statute of limitations for pursuing personal injury claims, and once that time has passed, you can’t get it back.
Just as important, you need a lawyer to advocate for you and protect your rights. Insurance companies are only looking to protect their profits and not help people who were injured.
A Personal Injury Lawyer Will Get You The Compensation You Deserve
Insurance companies may try to offer a minimal settlement that doesn’t factor in the extent of your pain and suffering, or they often try to prevent a payout altogether by painting the accident as your fault or insinuating that you weren’t seriously injured.
Having an experienced auto accident lawyer in Buckhead who knows your rights and understands how to maneuver the complex legal process to take the fight to the insurance companies can lead to a more favorable outcome.
We can guide you through the necessary paperwork, investigate your case, and gain witness testimony to strengthen your claim.
How Our Buckhead Car Accident Attorneys Will Take The Pressure Off You
Many things happen after a car wreck. Can we fix our cars? Who is going to pay my medical bill? Can I go without getting paid for a month, or two at the least?
Our lawyers will answer these questions so that you can begin your recovery journey. When you select the Fitzpatrick Law Firm, we will help you with the personal injury claims process.
This includes:
- Filing the police report
- Gathering evidence
- Taking pictures of the car accident scene
- Hiring experts, when necessary
- Contacting witnesses
- Preparing and filing legal documents
- Negotiating with the insurance company on your behalf
- Pursuing a settlement or taking your case to court, if necessary
Your Buckhead car accident lawyer can take all of this off of your plate so that you can focus on healing from your injuries. We have over 30 years of combined legal experience, we know what it takes to win your case, and we are here to help you every step of the way.
Serious Car Accident Injuries And Damages We Recover
- The spinal cord, back, and neck injuries
- Broken bones and fractures
- Brain and head injuries
- Loss of Life or Death
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Punitive Damages
- Disfigurement
- Intentional infliction of emotional distress
- Property damage
Buckhead Car Accident Attorney FAQs
If you've been in an auto accident, read our complete guide to car accidents.
How can a lawyer help you after a car accident?
Even though the law allows self-representation, you lack the knowledge and experience required to successfully negotiate with an insurance company. Google cannot provide you with all the answers you need to build up a strong case. Our Buckhead car accident attorneys will answer all your questions because they constantly stay up to date on recent amendments to the law for car accidents and insurance claims.
If you have suffered severe injuries, then you need plenty of time to receive medical care. Trying to win a case by yourself while dealing with the stress of the unknown affects your health and recovery time. Why do you need an attorney? Because negotiating and litigating personal injury cases take plenty of time and can get messy especially when there is a dispute as to liability. A long, drawn-out process can affect your health and results.
How long after an accident can you sue in Georgia?
In Georgia, most vehicle accident victims have a period of two years to file a suit (GA Code § 9-3-33 (2014)). This duration allows all injuries sustained during an accident to manifest and appropriate legal action to be taken.
However, waiting for too long affects your chances of recovery because the evidence of the car crash may disappear with time. The at-fault driver’s insurance company can dispute liability if you provide a statement that’s inconsistent. If you fail to secure the evidence in your case and wait too long to hire an attorney, you’ll face an uphill struggle in court.
The best time to hire a personal injury attorney is immediately after an accident. Why? Because you’ll produce highly accurate statements when the incident is fresh in your mind.
Also, a thorough medical diagnosis can stop the insurance company from disputing your injuries. These are all key to preparing to receive a fair and just recovery for your injuries.
After reporting the car accident, you may receive phone calls from the other driver’s insurance company. You should not give a statement without first consulting with an attorney from The Fitzpatrick Firm, LLC.
If you are confused or unsure about some aspects of your car accident or personal injury, you may make a statement that could hurt your ability to make a recovery.
Hiring an Buckhead car accident attorney from The Fitzpatrick Firm, LLC enables you to get the best compensation and recovery by letting someone well-versed in insurance laws do the talking on your behalf.
How long do you have to get an injury checked out after an accident?
You should seek medical attention immediately after a car accident. Immediate medical care is key to the proper diagnosis and documentation of injuries.
If you fail to seek immediate medical care, your injuries may go undiagnosed. Also, the insurance company may use any gap in treatment to minimize your recovery. Thus, it is imperative that you seek immediate medical care and hire an experienced personal injury lawyer.
Should you still go see a doctor after a minor car accident? Yes, you should. A car accident puts the mind in a traumatized state. In order to cope with the high stress of the situation, your brain produces adrenaline and other hormones.
That’s why you may not feel any injuries on your body because the combination of hormones hinders your nerves from transmitting pain signals from injured body parts. What may appear as a minor car accident injury may manifest itself as a major injury to your body in the days, weeks, or months to come.
How much do you get for pain and suffering in a car accident?
There is no amount of money that can truly calculate the lasting trauma caused by a car accident. Pain and suffering are legally determined by the enlightened conscience of impartial jurors. There is no mathematical formula for calculating pain and suffering.
However, your award should account for impairment of bodily or physical faculties, the loss of one’s ability to work and labor, mental anxiety, the dread of physical suffering, and any suffering reasonably certain to continue in the future.
Such loss or impairment of any power or faculty is a matter of compensation and may be considered in determining damages for pain and suffering.
How long does it take to settle a car accident in Georgia?
Each case is different and the process can move slower or faster depending on the complexities of the case. Our firm will generally not send a demand to an insurance company until we know the full extent of your injuries and have thoroughly investigated the case.
You would never want to accept a settlement on a life-changing event like a personal injury until you know exactly how your life will be affected moving forward. Once the case is settled, you’ll receive the settlement within weeks.
If you only sustained minor or major injuries, get a car accident attorney immediately and start building your case. At The Fitzpatrick Firm, LLC, we have the reputation needed to get you the best recovery.
How much does an accident lawyer charge?
The typical legal fees in Buckhead, GA range from 33%-40% of your total compensation. If you receive a settlement check worth $100,000, your car accident lawyer would get approximately $33,000-$40,000.
The good news is that you’ll pay this amount only after your car accident lawyer confirms that you’ve received a recovery. Thus, you don’t need to worry about how to pay legal fees.
There may also be pre-court expenses that vary with each case. These expenses cover the costs of obtaining medical records, CCTV footage of the accident scene, and compiling your medical bills plus financial statements for compensation.
We will cover all of these costs for you when we take your case so you don’t have to incur the initial expense. Again, no expenses will be deducted until we make a recovery in your case.
What is the average settlement for a car accident in Georgia?
In Georgia, the average car accident settlement is $21,600. This includes both property damage and bodily injury claims.
The average settlement for property damage claims is $5,900, while the average settlement for bodily injury claims is $15,700. These numbers are based on data from the Insurance Information Institute.
When making a car accident claim in Georgia, it is important to keep in mind that each case is unique and settlements will vary depending on the facts of the case.
For example, settlements will be higher if there are multiple injuries or if the accident resulted in death.
If you have been involved in a car accident, it is best to speak with an experienced car accident attorney to discuss your specific case and find out what you can expect in terms of a settlement.
Is Georgia a fault state for car accidents?
Georgia is not a fault state for car accidents. This means that if you are in an auto accident, your accident insurance will not cover your car if you are at fault.
If you are at fault for the accident, you will be responsible for repairing or replacing the other car.
In a no-fault state, each driver’s own car insurance company covers their own damages and injuries regardless of who caused the accident. This type of insurance is designed to prevent drivers from suing each other after an auto accident. Georgia is one of twelve states that have no-fault car insurance laws.
Can you get compensation if the accident was your fault Georgia?
In the state of Georgia, car accident victims may be able to receive compensation even if they were at fault for the auto accident.
This is because Georgia follows a “modified comparative negligence” rule, which allows victims to recover damages as long as they were less than 50% at fault for the auto accident.
For example, if a victim was rear-ended by another car and sustained $10,000 in damages, but an investigation found that the victim was 20% at fault for the car accident because they were not properly maintaining their brakes, the victim would still be able to recover $8,000 from the other driver.
Choosing The Fitzpatrick Firm As Your Buckhead Car Accident Lawyer
We understand that choosing a car accident lawyer can be overwhelming when there are so many lawyers all promising they will win your case.
At The Fitzpatrick Firm, we are dedicated to providing every client with compassionate, personal attention while we do everything we can to win your case and maximize your compensation for your pain and suffering.
Our team understands that as you recover from an accident and heal from your trauma, you need someone you can count on. That’s why we’re on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide guidance, answer questions, and help you through this challenging ordeal.
While we will strive to negotiate a fair settlement, we aren’t afraid to take your case in front of a jury and fiercely litigate on your behalf.
Award-Winning Atlanta Injury Law Attorneys
Schedule A Free Car Accident Case Review With Our Car Accident Attorneys
If you or a family member have been injured in an auto accident, let our Atlanta car accident lawyers fight for your rights. Contact one of our attorneys immediately to get your best chance at recovering money for your injuries.