When we meet with a client for the first time, the objective is to determine if they have claims worth pursuing and solid car accident lawsuits. We are well aware that the only reason accident victims hire an Atlanta car accident attorney is so they can be paid for their injuries. When we sit down for the actual consultation, we ask you to tell us your story and we ask relevant questions. We also let you ask any questions you may have about your case.
Some of the more interesting questions our clients ask have more to do with the legal process than their case in particular. Here, we will discuss some of the more common myths about car accident lawsuits our clients ask about during their free, initial consultation. We will also dispel these myths and explain how the civil courts really work.
If you still have questions about your own car accident lawsuit, feel free to contact us directly. We will schedule your initial consultation over the phone and help get the process started.
1. Most Accident Victims Walk Away With Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars
Not surprisingly, a lot of our clients assume that accident victims walk away with a ton of money. Some believe that they are entitled to hundreds of thousands of dollars. It seems as if people today have no idea that you can only demand compensation for damages you actually suffered.
Most of the complaints we file only demand a moderate amount in damages. Depending on the facts of your case and the details of your car accident lawsuit, you may be entitled to some or all of the following:
Medical Bills
You can demand reimbursement for any out-of-pocket medical expenses you experienced. Your Georgia accident lawyer will also demand that your health insurance provider be reimbursed for any monies they spent on your care.
In addition, if your doctor believes you will need future medical care, they can confirm this in their final report. Your Atlanta accident attorney will then demand a fair amount to cover this medical treatment.
Property Damage
Obviously, if your car or SUV is damaged in the crash, the defendant or their insurance carrier should pay for it to be repaired or replaced.
Lost Wages
If you miss more than a week or two from work, your lawyer can demand that you be compensated for lost wages. You can also demand that the defendant in your car accident lawsuit pay you for any lost future income you will suffer.
Pain and Suffering
Most car accident lawsuits we handle involve a demand for pain and suffering damages.
Very few car accident lawsuits we handle exceed a couple of hundred thousand dollars. Even when they do, it is usually because your health insurance carrier is entitled to money for extensive medical treatment.
2. Most Car Accident Cases Go to Trial
Despite what you may think, very few car accident cases go to trial. Nobody wants to go to trial. Not only do you risk losing, but it can take well over a year for your case to make it before a judge.
In reality, only about 5-10% of cases go to trial. Almost all of them are settled at some point. The problem is that television and movies make it look like these cases go to trial all the time. That simply isn’t the case.
3. Car Accident Lawsuits Are Decided by Juries
If you are ever involved in a criminal case, there is a chance that your case will be decided by a jury. However, when it comes to personal injury cases, it is usually the judge who decides your case. In order to demand a jury, your demand must be for a certain amount. Furthermore, most of the time, our Atlanta accident attorneys waive the option of a jury trial.
4. You Don’t Have to Pay the Health Insurance Company Back
Why anybody would think that they don’t have to pay their health insurance company back is odd. If your primary health insurance carrier paid for your medical care, they deserve to be reimbursed.
Your settlement proceeds will be earmarked for specific things. For example, a certain amount will be set aside to pay back the insurance carriers. The same is true if any other third parties are entitled to reimbursement.
5. Your Car Accident Trial Will Take Place in a Courtroom Full of Interested Spectators
One final myth that we are compelled to dispel is the notion that the courtroom will be full of people when your case goes before a judge. Unless they are waiting to hear their own case, there is no reason why people would stick around to watch your trial take place. There certainly won’t be reporters or journalists there interested in random car accident lawsuits. They have no interest in watching a civil trial for a car accident.
Reach Out to a Seasoned Georgia Accident Lawyer for Help
If you have been injured in any sort of motor vehicle accident, there’s a good chance you’re entitled to damages. While not all accident victims have a legal claim, if your Atlanta accident attorney can prove fault, you should be fairly compensated.
Of course, it all depends on the facts surrounding your case. If you were at fault, you can’t expect to sue the other driver for damages. You also can’t expect to sue somebody if you weren’t actually injured in the crash. The whole point of car accident lawsuits is to recover damages for any losses you suffered.
If your Georgia accident lawyer can’t prove that you were hurt, why would you want to file suit? Before our Atlanta accident attorneys agree to represent someone, they do a thorough review of their case. Our firm only accepts cases that have value.
What we do is offer new clients a free, initial consultation. This gives you a chance to assess our Atlanta accident attorney and see if you want to hire them. It also gives our Georgia accident lawyers a chance to see if your car accident lawsuit is worth pursuing.
If we don’t believe your claim has merit, we will let you know. If, however, it appears that you may be entitled to significant damages, there’s a good chance we’ll be willing to take you on as a client.
Call today and set up a date and time to come into the office. Or, if you prefer, you can schedule your free consultation online.
