Being involved in a car accident is one of the most traumatic experiences in a person’s life. Between the medical bills, car repairs, the pain from the injuries, and the psychological scars from the incident, the aftermath of a car wreck can be overwhelming. Having an Lawrenceville car accident lawyer that cares about your well-being takes a special interest in your case, and can relentlessly fight for your rights is critical when seeking justice and the compensation you deserve.
The Herro Law Firm offers the best combination of personal service and client advocacy among Lawrenceville personal injury lawyers. We also offer the attention and communication you would expect from a small firm with a legal track record and acumen that equals any big firm in Georgia. Reach out to us today at (404) 433-6876 or submit the form on this page to get a free, no-obligation case review.
Car Accident Statistics
In Georgia, there were over 330,000 auto crashes in 2020. Of these, 1,588 were fatal, and a total of 1,730 people lost their lives in these crashes. About 125,000 people got injured in these accidents. This deadly trend continued in 2021, with early estimates showing a total of 1776 total traffic fatalities.
Despite being ranked as the eighth most densely populated state, Georgia ranks fourth for the highest traffic accident fatalities. The sharp rise in fatal accidents that began with the onset of the pandemic is yet to slow down. 2022 might be yet another year where deadly crashes rise from the previous year, which some in the transportation industry are viewing as a crisis.
How Much Does a Car Accident Lawyer Cost?
Understandably, many car accident victims usually have reservations about hiring an attorney due to the fear of how much it will cost them.
However, The Herro Law Firm works on what is referred to as a contingency fee basis. This means that we don’t charge you any upfront costs or require you to pay a retainer when hiring an Lawrenceville car accident lawyer. You only need to pay us when we win compensation on your behalf.
What Should I Do After a Car Accident?
Here are the steps you should take after a car wreck in Lawrenceville, Georgia.
Contact Police
The first thing you should do after getting into a car accident is to call the police, even if there are no serious injuries. This will help get paramedics to the scene, and also avoid a lot of issues when pursuing compensation for your claim.
Check on Other Involved Parties (Do Not Leave!)
It’s illegal to leave the accident scene following a crash. As you wait for the police and paramedics to arrive, check on the other people and give first aid to those who need it.
Exchange Info
Exchange relevant information with the other driver, including the names, addresses, phone numbers, insurance information, and license plate numbers.
Record the Scene
Use your phone to take pictures of the scene of the accident. Be sure to capture details such as any skid marks, damage to the vehicles, road conditions, injuries sustained, nearby road signs, and other relevant details.
Never Admit Fault
Never admit responsibility for the accident or say “sorry” for your actions as this could be interpreted as an admission of guilt and used against you by the defendant’s insurer.
Seek Medical Attention
Seeking medical attention as soon as possible following the accident is essential as there could be injuries that you might not be aware of. It also creates an official record of your injuries, which could come in handy when filing your claim.
Call a Car Accident Lawyer
Consulting with an experienced Lawrenceville car accident lawyer at The Herro Law Firm is a critical step to take following an accident. Our team will fight to protect your rights and make sure that your valuable evidence is preserved. It will also ensure you receive the maximum compensation for your case.
What Is the Average Settlement for a Car Accident?
It’s almost impossible to find a car accident settlement claim or compensation award that will perfectly reflect your case as every case is unique. Settlement amounts usually vary considerably based on the specific nature of the damages suffered. However, several estimates place the average settlement for minor to moderate crashes at anywhere between $20,000 and $30,000.
The claim’s value will largely depend on the accident severity. An experienced lawyer can use the details of your case to accurately determine what your accident settlement will likely be.
When Should I Get a Lawyer for My Auto Accident?
Not everyone that gets involved in a car accident will need legal intervention. If you only got in a mild crash, you likely won’t need to hire a car accident lawyer. However, if the crash was rather serious, amounting to $500 or more in damages, you should get a car accident attorney as soon as possible so that they can start the process of filing your claim.
Generally speaking, you should get a lawyer when the following conditions apply to your situation:
- It’s not yet clear who is at fault
- The car accident resulted in serious injuries to you or another party
- The car accident involved an underinsured or uninsured driver
- You disagree with the police report
- The accident occurred in a school zone
- You suspect the insurance company is acting sketchy about your liability concerns
- The accident involved any other road user, including other motor vehicles, pedestrians, or cyclists
Why Do I Need an Lawrenceville Car Accident Lawyer?
When it comes to car accidents, navigating the legal landscape can be daunting, especially if the person at fault for the accident is disputed. Additionally, insurance companies might try settling your claim for less than it’s worth. The following are more reasons why you need a lawyer:
Case Preparation/Filing a Lawsuit
It can be overwhelming for accident victims to shuffle between treatments and doctor visits, prepare a claim, and follow up on their case. However, when you hire a lawyer, you can focus on making a full recovery as the lawyer will handle the necessary paperwork and case preparation details. Your lawyer will also help you file a lawsuit where necessary.
Settlement Negotiations
You may be surprised that most car accident cases are solved through settlement negotiations. Only less than 5% of claims ever reach the trial stage. Your lawyer will be responsible for handling settlement negotiations with the insurance companies and will work to make sure you get the full amount of compensation to cover even the unforeseen damages.
Trial Preparation and Representation
If the settlement negotiation stage is unsuccessful, you may choose to file a civil lawsuit against the at-fault party. At Herro Law, our lawyers won’t shy away from taking your case to trial and will work relentlessly to convince the judge and jury of your innocence and maximize the chances of receiving the full settlement amount.
How Much Can I Expect to Receive for My Damages?
From our experience handling car accident cases, the value of your claim will mainly depend on the following factors:
- Hospital stays and medical costs
- Extent of injuries
- Whether there was temporary or permanent disability
- The extent of damages to personal property and vehicle
- Replacement or repair costs to your property
- Pain and suffering
- Lost income from time spent away from work
What Type of Damages Can I Recover?
Car accident victims in Georgia can recover three types of damages.
Economic Damages
Our team of experienced car accident attorneys can get you the compensation you deserve for your car and any related injuries from the accident. Economic damages are losses that can be objectively verified and won’t change based on how any party values them. They typically include compensation for:
- Past and future medical expenses, including ER visits, medications, physical therapy, rehabilitation, assistive medical devices, in-home care, and doctor appointments
- Lost wages and lost earning potential
- Property damage
Non-Economic
These are the losses that are hard to quantify and will change based on how the insurance company or jury values them. They are meant to compensate you for the intangible losses to your emotional health and your ability to enjoy life. They include:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Mental anguish
- Disfigurement, scarring, and physical impairment
- Loss of capacity to enjoy life
- Loss of consortium
Punitive Damages
If the court or jury finds the defendant to have shown egregious conduct, willful malice, fraud, or gross disregard for human life, you might be awarded punitive damages. While rarely awarded, these are meant to serve as punishment for blatant disregard for traffic laws, such as driving while intoxicated cases.
How Is Fault Determined?
Determining fault in Georgia car accident cases entails showing how the other driver was negligent. Generally speaking, all drivers have a legal duty of operating their vehicles in a reasonably safe manner. As such, the injured party in a car accident claim will have to prove the following:
- The at-fault driver (or defendant) owed them a duty of care. In this case, the driver had a duty to operate their vehicle reasonably safely.
- The at-fault driver was in breach of this duty of care when the accident occurred.
- This breach of duty of care was the direct cause of the accident.
- The accident resulted in compensable damages based on Georgia laws.
How Long Do I Have to File a Claim?
Although you have a right to pursue damages in your car accident case, the law offers a limited window in which you can do so. The statute of limitations for car accident cases (or the deadline) is two years from the date of the accident.
There are some exceptions to this rule. For instance, you are allowed up to 4 years to file a claim for loss of consortium. Contacting a lawyer as soon as possible following the accident is the best course of action, as the evidence is still fresh, which gives you the best chance of receiving the maximum compensation possible for your case.
How Can a Lawyer Help Me File My Insurance Claim?
For a claim to be successful, you often need to have extensive knowledge of Georgia’s personal injury laws, and experience handling and negotiating with insurance companies. Instead of filing the claim yourself, you should consider letting a skilled lawyer do it for you.
Here are some of the ways an Lawrenceville car accident lawyer will help with your claim:
- Organizing and reviewing evidence and records, including police reports and medical records
- Collaborating with experts like accident reconstructionists and investigators to help with strengthening your claim
- Handling communications with the defendant’s insurance company
- Negotiating a fair settlement amount
- Guiding and advising you on how to and when to resolve your claim
- Calculating your financial losses
- Make sure you don’t mistakenly share damaging or inaccurate information
What Can I Do If Insurance Denies My Claim?
Insurance companies may sometimes deny car accident claims, and they do this for a variety of reasons. If your claim was denied, you should work to quickly find out why your claim was denied and then talk to your lawyer about filing an appeal.
If an insurance company denied your Lawrenceville car accident claim, you should call us immediately at (404) 433-6876 for assistance. Our lawyers are happy to discuss your case and let you know about your options.
Do I Have a Case?
You shouldn’t doubt yourself when filing a claim. If you’ve not yet talked with a professional, never talk yourself out of having a claim. Many people end up blaming themselves for the accidents or thinking that collisions are normal, even if it wasn’t their fault.
Keep in mind that the law sees it quite differently. Most accidents happen because one party was negligent, careless, or broke the law. If this was the case, then you have a valid case.
What if the Other Driver Doesn’t Have Insurance?
Well, you have two options if you want to recover compensation. First, if you have uninsured motorist insurance coverage under your current insurance policy, then you can apply for compensation for any damages and injuries the uninsured driver caused, including hit-and-run drivers.
Secondly, you could sue the at-fault driver for the accident if you don’t have uninsured/underinsured coverage. However, this option would require that you first establish that it’s worth your time and resources to sue the at-fault driver.
How Can I Obtain an Accident Report?
Your car accident report will be available a few days following the crash at the local sheriff or police department that responded to your crash. You could also pick up the report at the nearest Georgia State Patrol office to the scene of the crash, or buy it online at BuyCrash.com, which is a service that contracts with the GDOT.
Get a Free Case Review With an Lawrenceville Car Accident Attorney!
If you or a loved one was injured in a car accident in Lawrenceville, Georgia, the legal team at The Herro Law Firm can help. We have been helping clients seek financial compensation for injuries, property damage, and other damages suffered in car accidents for decades now, and we can help you get started right away.
Get a free case review by calling us at (404) 433-6876 or submitting the form on this page.
