Articles Tagged with Atlanta Car Accident Lawyers

images-4When you are injured in a car accident, it can be challenging to navigate the legal system. Additionally, the financial ramifications of a serious accident can be devastating. And the worst part is you may have no idea where to start seeking compensation for all the costs associated with your injury. A personal injury attorney can help you regain financial footing after an accident.

However, choosing an Atlanta car accident lawyer is more complicated than reviewing their credentials and rates. To help you get started, here are some tips on how to choose the right attorney for your case:

Ask About Their Experience

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When people are involved in motor vehicle accidents and suffer injuries, they are right to immediately wonder how much financial compensation they can recover from a negligent party. If the person suffering injuries was not wearing their seatbelt at the time of a collision, then they are also right to wonder how that might impact their ability to recover compensation.

The truth is that any person involved in a motor vehicle accident will have the right to file a claim for their injuries, but most claims are going to be third-party claims with insurance companies that will be investigated and scrutinized. When an insurance company concludes that a person was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of an accident, they may try to minimize their settlement offer or even deny the claim completely. For this reason, you should always speak with an Atlanta car accident lawyer after a crash.

How Car Accident Claims Get Handled

need-lawyer-car-accident-300x157If a negligent motorist leaves you injured in a car accident, you have a lot on your mind. You have your injuries and medical care to concern yourself with – in addition to the lost income you may be experiencing as a result of those injuries. It is a lot, and the last thing you may want to take on is the additional effort of finding and hiring a car accident attorney. The good news is that a car accident lawyer can take the burden of dealing with the insurance company off your shoulders – while capably negotiating for a favorable claim resolution. The sooner you reach out for professional legal counsel, the sooner you can focus on your recovery – with the peace of mind that comes from knowing you have a skilled Atlanta car accident lawyer on your side. 

The First Order of Business 

If you have been injured by another driver’s negligence, the first order of business is obviously obtaining the medical attention that you require. The fact is that you can be seriously injured without recognizing you’ve been harmed. The shock and adrenaline rush that accompany violent car accidents can mask the initial pain and early symptoms you experience, and some injuries – such as traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and spinal cord injuries – can be asymptomatic in the beginning. After seeking medical care, the most important step you can take is reaching out to a seasoned car accident lawyer. 

close-up-of-two-cars-damaged-in-road-traffic-Y5DTMJR-e1620907538720-300x169Being injured by another motorist’s negligence puts you in a very vulnerable position. You are facing medical bills, may be experiencing lost wages, and are enduring physical and emotional pain and suffering. It’s a lot, and achieving your most complete recovery will likely be based on your ability to obtain a fair settlement. The best way to help ensure your recovery and protect your claim is with an experienced Atlanta car accident lawyer in your corner. 

Your Car Accident Claim

Your car accident claim will address the losses you experience as a result of the other driver’s negligence (what the law calls your damages). Your covered losses can include all the following:

A woman on the phone in front of a car accidentIn many car accident cases, it’s clear whose fault the wreck was. In instances like these, insurance companies often make settlement offers as soon as they can, hoping to resolve claims quickly and cheaply. If you have received an offer for a car crash before you have had a chance to talk to an attorney, it’s highly advisable that you speak to an Atlanta car accident attorney before you accept it. Read on to learn why.

Initial Offers are Almost Always Low

Insurance companies are in the business of making a profit. They do this by bringing in more than they pay out, so they are financially incentivized to settle your case for as little as possible. The insurance company has nothing to lose by making you a lowball offer in hopes that you will just accept it and move one.

An hourglassThere is no one set timeline for when your personal injury case will settle. It all depends on the individual facts of your case. The more complex the facts, the longer your case could take. The short answer is that a car accident settlement can take between several weeks to several years. Here are some factors that could determine how quickly you could settle your case.

Liability May Be Disputed

The first thing that an insurance company must do before it even begins to talk about settling a case is to determine who was responsible for the accident. Both drivers may say that it was the other driver who was at fault, and the insurance companies must consider the factual record to reach the decision. This may require an extensive investigation by claims adjusters who want to examine physical evidence and speak to the drivers multiple times. While most liability determinations are made within two months, there is nothing that binds an insurance company to that timeline.

a model of a human spineIn many accident cases, the people involved feel “fine” immediately afterward. A day or two later, they’re still stiff and sore. Sometime after that, they start experiencing significant pain. In those situations, many people worry that they cannot pursue a claim since they didn’t seem injured at the time of the accident. Fortunately, this is not the case – you can still pursue a claim even if your injuries were not immediately apparent. 

Delayed Injuries Are Very Common

Thanks to the safety features that are standard in modern vehicles, many people are able to literally walk away from a car accident. Unfortunately, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you weren’t injured. The tremendous forces exerted on your body in a car accident can result in serious injuries that aren’t always immediately apparent: 

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The car accident attorneys at Slappey & Sadd have been working with car accident victims in the Atlanta area and across the state of Georgia since 1992. We have the knowledge and experience to hold negligent drivers and their insurance companies accountable. If you’ve been in an accident and don’t know where to turn, call us at 888-474-9616 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case. 

Rear-End Accidents Involve Intense Forces

Most rear-end accidents involve one vehicle that is moving and one that is stopped or moving significantly slower. As a result, the forces involved can be tremendous, particularly if the vehicle is traveling at a high rate of speed. The larger the vehicle and the faster it is traveling, the greater the force exerted on the vehicle that is rear-ended. For this reason, rear-end accidents involving trucks can be especially dangerous. 

A traffic jam in winterCar accidents involving multiple vehicles can be extremely complicated when it comes to pursuing a claim for your injuries. While you can suffer the same injuries as in a car accident with only one other vehicle, the similarities often end there. If you’re injured and need compensation, the best thing you can do is talk with a personal injury attorney who handles multiple car accidents. 

The car accident attorneys at Slappey & Sadd have the knowledge and experience you need if you’ve been injured in a multiple car accident. We provide aggressive legal representation to people in the Atlanta area and across the state of Georgia so that they can get the compensation they need. If you’ve been injured in a car accident, schedule a free consultation with one of our attorneys by calling 404-255-6677 or contacting us online

Determining Who Is At Fault

Time-lapse photo of street at night showing streaks of headlights and taillightsThe title of this post may be stating the obvious, but construction sites do present very real dangers for the public at large. It’s helpful to remember that the construction company has an obligation to maintain the area in order to minimize these hazards to motorists and other passers-by. Unfortunately, lapses occur and injuries happen.

Car Accidents

You may drive through a construction zone every day, perhaps even more than one. Construction on our roads and highways can create a number of hazards for motorists. They can cause accidents involving multiple vehicles, or an accident with just a single vehicle. Here are some of the conditions present in a construction zone that could lead to a car accident:  

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