Car accidents

Common Defenses in Car Accident Cases

June 11, 2019 | by Slappey & Sadd, LLC

Many of the clients we meet with are certain that the accident was the other driver’s fault. As a result, they are shocked when the other driver turns th A statute of Lady Justice e blame on them or otherwise denies fault. First, it’s important to understand that the other driver has the legal right to dispute your claim, even if you strongly disagree. Second, you should also understand that these defenses are quite common and may not prohibit you from recovering compensation for your injuries.

If you’ve been injured in a car accident and need legal advice, the Atlanta attorneys at Slappey & Sadd can help you get the compensation you deserve. Give us a call at 404-255-6677 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation and discuss how we can help you.

The Accident Was Not Their Fault

Settling Your Car Accident Case versus Taking it to Trial

April 18, 2019 | by Slappey & Sadd, LLC

lawyer standing next to a gavel with the scale of justice behind him If you suffer injuries in a car accident case that is not your fault, you could bring a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance company. As part of the claim, your lawyer will likely submit a settlement demand package. This package includes copies of all of your medical treatment records, bills, and lost wage documentation. A copy of the police report is also typically included.

Once the insurance company reviews the demand package, the adjuster may make an initial settlement offer on your case. These initial offers are usually very low and are not meant to adequately compensate you for your injuries, suffering, pain, and inconvenience. If the car accident case does not settle, your lawyer will likely file a lawsuit on your behalf in the court system, and the case will be litigated. Upon completion of discovery, the insurance company may make additional offers to settle your case.

If the at-fault driver’s insurance company still refuses to compensate you adequately for your injuries, you and your lawyer might decide to take the case to trial. The knowledgeable Georgia car accident lawyers at Slappey & Sadd, LLC have been taking car accident cases to trial throughout Georgia, including in Fulton County, DeKalb County, Gwinnett County, Muscogee County, Newton County, Richmond County, Troup County, Walton County, and Whitfield County. Call us today for assistance with your case.

Witness Statements Are Vital to Your Car Accident Case

January 25, 2019 | by Slappey & Sadd, LLC

Red car with dented door and front fender If you’ve been involved in a car accident, witness statements can be vital to successfully recovering compensation for your injuries. A detailed, credible statement can help you settle your case or prevail at trial. They can also help confirm facts and prove details, as well as establish who was at fault in the accident. In order to make the most of your witnesses, it’s important to get them to provide a thorough and detailed statement. In this post, we’ll go over some suggestions to help you assemble a strong set of witness statements.

Get Their Contact Information

It’s really important that you get all of your witnesses’ personal contact information. You may need to contact them for follow-up questions or clarifications as your case proceeds. More importantly, you may need the witnesses to testify in the event that you have to file a lawsuit. As a result, be sure to carefully write down the following:

Asleep at the Wheel: What You Need to Know About Drowsy Driving

January 23, 2019 | by Slappey & Sadd, LLC

Time-lapse photo of street at night showing streaks of headlights and taillights Falling asleep behind the wheel is obviously dangerous – nodding off for just a moment can result in a catastrophic car accident. Unfortunately, simply driving while drowsy presents a bigger danger than you may think. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 795 people were killed in car accidents that involved drowsy driver in 2017 alone. In a recent study, AAA reported that approximately one third of drivers admit to driving while almost unable to keep their eyes open within the last 30 days. It is estimated that drowsy driving contributes to around 90,000 crashes per year, although precise numbers are extremely difficult to pin down.

Why Drowsy Driving is a Problem

Even if you don’t fall asleep, driving while drowsy can affect your ability to drive safely. Studies have show that drowsiness can affect your driving in the following ways:

Car Accident Involving Suspended Police Officer Raises Multiple Questions

January 12, 2019 | by Slappey & Sadd, LLC

A police car The Atlanta Police Department has just suspended one of its officers as a result of being indicted in connection with a car accident that occurred back in February of 2018. The officer, Dejoira Phillips, was responding to a 911 call when she collided with another driver, Lisa Williams of Atlanta. Ms. Williams lost her left arm when it was severed in the accident.

The car accident is not only a startling reminder of the severe injuries that can occur, but it also raises a number of questions that should be asked in any car accident case.

Who is at Fault?

Are You Suffering Memory Loss After Your Car Accident?

January 5, 2019 | by Slappey & Sadd, LLC

An illustration of the brain We wrote a post not too long ago about traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), many of which are caused by car accidents. One of the most common symptoms of a TBI is memory loss, which is often difficult to diagnose and can be even harder to treat. If you’ve been in a car accident and are wondering if you may be suffering from memory loss, we hope that this post gets you pointed in the right direction.

The Symptoms of Memory Loss

Memory loss can often be difficult to detect as the symptoms are mostly subjective. Even after an accident, many victims don’t want to admit to themselves that they are having memory problems, let alone anyone else. The accident may have also caused the victim to suffer from anxiety or depression as a result of the accident, which can also mask the symptoms of memory loss. Here are some common symptoms of memory loss following an accident:

Who Has the Right of Way in Georgia?

December 27, 2018 | by Slappey & Sadd, LLC

An illustration of two cars colliding Intersections can be dangerous places – traffic entering from different directions, vehicles stopping and going and making turns, often without looking. Then there are pedestrians and cyclists also entering the intersection, and sometimes in unpredictable ways. It’s no wonder, therefore, that so many car accidents occur at intersections.

When there is an accident, a dispute often arises over who had the right-of-way. The reason is simple: determining who had the right-of-way often determines who was at fault in the accident. If you were injured in a car accident while you had the right-of-way, you may be entitled to seek compensation from the other driver for your injuries and other losses. In this post, we hope to clarify some common right-of-way scenarios that may be helpful to you if you’ve been in an accident.

Four-way intersection with stop signs for all drivers: