According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, approximately 10% of auto accidents are caused by distracted driving. If you, or a family member, have been injured in an auto, truck or motorcycle accident in the state of Georgia due to the negligence of another, we want to ensure that you and your loved ones receive representation from an experienced team. Commercial vehicle companies and car insurance providers are interested in offering you the least amount of compensation possible.Georgia auto accident attorney Lashonda Council Rogers and the Council & Associates, LLC team are experienced in working with insurance companies, fighting for the victims of car, truck, and motor cycle accidents. We are advocates for those who will need compensation to cover potential medical bill costs and/or potential loss of income due to an inability to perform their job duties.
Negligence on the Road: How to Know if You’ve Been Injured in a Car Accident
Car accidents can be scary, confusing and costly. While most drivers in an accident usually walk away without serious injuries, others are not so lucky. If you were injured in a car accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering — but only if you can prove that the accident was the other driver’s fault. Here are some tips on how to know if you’ve been injured in a car accident due to negligence.
What Is The Definition of Negligence?
The legal definition of negligence is when someone fails to use reasonable care and causes an injury or damage as a result. In order for someone to be held liable for your injuries, their actions must have fallen below the standard of care that a reasonable person would have used in the same situation.
There are four main elements to negligence: duty, breach, causation, and damages. The first step in proving negligence is showing that the defendant had a duty to exercise care towards you. For example, all drivers have a duty to operate their vehicles safely. Once it’s been established that the defendant had a duty of care towards you, it must then be proven that they breached this duty. A breach can either be intentional or unintentional, but there needs to be proof that the party was careless. It’s not enough for there to simply be proof that the driver made a mistake; he/she has to have shown deliberate disregard for safety in order to be found negligent. Finally, it needs to be shown that the defendant’s actions caused harm and resulted in some kind of injury (physical or emotional). Depending on what happened during the accident and how badly you were hurt, it may not always seem obvious what kind of evidence will support your claim (e.g., black-and-white photographs versus doctor’s records) which is why you need a car accident lawyer to represent you.
What Should I Do If I’ve Been Injured?
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, there are a few steps you can take to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve. First, it’s important that you seek medical attention as soon as possible. Next, gather any evidence you can from the scene of the accident, including photos, witnesses’ contact information, and your own insurance information. Then, contact a car accident lawyer in Atlanta who can help you build a case and get the compensation you need. An attorney may be able to do this through negotiation with the other party, but they may also have to file a lawsuit against them. It’s always best to consult with a professional before taking any legal action on your own.
What evidence is needed to handle my car accident case?
As a car accident lawyer Atlanta, GA victims trust at Council & Associates, LLC may review with you, the more evidence you have, the better. Examples of useful evidence include photographs of your injuries, video showing the entire scene, witness statements, copy of police report, medical documentation for injuries, earning statements or used PTO/vacation hours, and other ways you experienced financial loss. If you do not have evidence except for your verbal testimony, then it will be your word against the other driver’s. Your lawyer can evaluate your case and suggest which types of evidence will be most influential.
How can I maximize on how much I get in compensation?
During the time that your claim is being handled, try to refrain from using social media. Even if your account is private and only certain people can view what you post, there are ways that the opposition can access this information anyway and then use it against you. For instance, if you claim that you broke your leg and you are unable to work because of the car accident, then you should not post that you visited an amusement park shortly after that. Do not post anything on your social media that could be misinterpreted and then used to reduce or deny your claim.
Why am I being blamed for the accident?
Insurance companies are for-profit, which means they are for making themselves money, not spending it on victims who deserve compensation. The insurance company for the other driver involved may try to blame you for the car accident, despite it being obvious that you were not responsible. The tactics insurance companies use to avoid paying money to victims can lack integrity and truth. Your Atlanta car accident lawyer can intervene and protect your best interests if you are being blamed for an accident that wasn’t your fault.
Who is going to pay for my medical bills from the accident?
If you accrued medical bills for your accident injuries, then you may be owed restitution through your insurance company or a civil lawsuit. At our law firm, we firmly believe that victims of personal injury accidents should not have to pay money for losses that they faced due to another’s negligence or recklessness. If you are concerned that you won’t be able to afford your medical bills, rest assured that we can ensure you not only get the care you need, but that you are compensated fairly for all you have been through.
When is the best time to speak with a lawyer?
Many people may not automatically think to talk with a lawyer after being in an accident. We are often told what to do when an accident happens, but not how to protect ourselves from further financial hardship. We may be the victims in a crash and accept a settlement from our insurance not realizing that we are owed so much more. Your own insurance company may still try to reduce your claim and trick you into accepting a settlement offer that barely covers your total loss. So the best time to speak with an Atlanta car accident lawyer is as soon after the accident as possible. We can advocate for you and protect you from insurance companies and other parties who don’t have your best interest in mind.
How A Lawyer Can Help Me Get Through My Injury Claim
After being involved in a car accident, it can be difficult to know what to do or where to turn. An experienced car accident lawyer can help you navigate the legal process and ensure that you are fairly compensated for your injuries. A lawyer can also help investigate the accident to determine whether or not negligence was a factor. If so, you may be able to receive additional compensation. If you have been injured in a car accident, contact a lawyer today to learn more about your rights and options.
5 Mistakes to Avoid When Building a Car Accident Case
It’s important to connect with an experienced car accident lawyer Atlanta, GA motorists trust as soon as you can after being injured in a wreck. There are many reasons why alerting the dedicated legal team at Council & Associates, LLC to your situation is a critically important move. Among them is the reality that if you have an experienced attorney on your side, you’re going to be less likely to make some unintentional missteps that could compromise the ultimate value of your case. Some of the most common missteps that car accident injury victims make include:
Number One: Posting on Social Media
As our Atlanta car accident lawyer team can attest, insurance companies and lawyers representing the interests of others in an accident are increasingly turning to social media to build their cases. Even if you are social media as settings are set to private, anything that you post, upload, or even like could be used against you as insurance adjusters evaluate your claim and opposing counsel seeks to undermine the grounds upon which you have filed a lawsuit. If you can stay off social media right now, do so. If staying off social media is not a realistic option for you, be extremely careful and how you engage on social media while your case is pending.
Number Two: Trying to Negotiate with Insurers on Your Own
The insurance industry aims to turn a profit. As a result, they train their employees to protect the bottom line of the company they work for. As a result, when adjusters interact with you, they are probably going to do what they can to get you to say something that will allow them to devalue your claim from the maximum amount of compensation that you are owed. Allowing a lawyer to interact with insurance representatives on your behalf will help to eliminate the risk that insurance tactics will compromise the value of your case.
Number Three: Admitting Blame
Chances are that you were raised to say that you are sorry when you are in the wrong. This is an admirable approach to take. However, in the aftermath of a car accident, there are still so many unknown factors that nobody involved should be admitting blame or apologizing. Doing so can compromise your ability to collect rightful compensation. It can feel counterintuitive to not apologize if you believe that you have partially contributed to your injurious circumstances. However, it is important to refrain from doing so while your case is pending.
Number Four: Waiting too Long to File
State law only allows injury victims so long before they’re barred from seeking rightful compensation. Similarly, work-related accidents that render a victim eligible for workers’ compensation benefits are notoriously time-sensitive legal matters. Don’t wait too long to take advantage of your opportunities to pursue compensation or these doors could be closed to you.
Number Five: Waiting too Long to Speak with an Attorney
Connect with the dedicated legal team at Council & Associates, LLC as soon as you can after a car accident so that we can preserve your legal options and start protecting your rights. Every minute that ticks by, evidence could be compromised in your case and your chances of securing maximum compensation are minimized. Don’t wait. Connect with our Atlanta car accident lawyer team today for personalized, client-driven guidance and assistance. We look forward to speaking with you.
