Car Wreck

PRACTICE AREAS

No one wants to be involved in a car wreck. And, no one wants to go through the legal process of suing another driver for damages. However, if you’ve been hurt as the result of someone else’s mistake or negligence, you’re entitled to recover the significant costs of medical treatment and the money you would have earned at your job if you hadn’t had to take time off due to your injuries. We understand that you’d probably like all of this to go away, but unfortunately, it’s not going to do that. The next best thing is to get compensation so that you don’t have to wake up at night worrying about how you’re going to pay your bills.

What Should You Do After You've Been Injured In a Car Wreck?

The first thing you need to do if you’ve been in a car accident is to seek medical attention for yourself or anyone else who appears to have been injured. Next, someone needs to call law enforcement to ensure that a report is on file and help deal with the damaged vehicles. Limit your conservations with the other driver to your contact and insurance information. If you can, document the accident scene with images and jotting down what happened while it is fresh in your mind.

Did You Consult With an Attorney?

If you’ve been injured in a car accident, you need an excellent personal injury attorney to represent your interests. You might think that your case is too minor to bother us with or that you can represent yourself. This is faulty thinking. No case is too insignificant for you to get the compensation you deserve and during the stressful time following a car wreck is no time to teach yourself the nuances of presenting your case to the court. After all, you wouldn’t try to re-wire your house; you’d call an electrician. The same logic applies to the law. We have the training, experience, and resources necessary to move your case along quickly and successfully.

Having legal representation will keep you from being taken advantage of by the other party’s insurance company. Remember, no matter how friendly the insurance representative may be, there are working for the “other side” and are likely compensated for keeping the settlement as low as possible. In general, people who don’t work with a lawyer after a car accident receive less money for damages. If you’re worried about how you’ll be able to pay our bill, especially now with medical bills coming in, don’t worry; we don’t charge you a dime unless (and until) we are able to collect money on your behalf. In the rare case that we don’t feel you need a lawyer, we’ll tell you.

Did You Sign a Release or Authorization From an Insurance Company?

Ideally, the answer to this is no. When it looks likely that you’ll be seeking damages for your injuries, the other driver’s insurance company will often try to get you to release your medical records. This is not in your best interest. Once the insurance company has this authorization, they can pour through your private medical records, not just about the accident, but for your entire life. They will likely try to say that your accident injuries were the result of a previous health issue. If you have already signed this type of document, let us know, and we’ll still do all we can to get compensation for your medical and other accident-related expenses.

What If The Car Wreck Was Partially My Fault?

In many car accidents, there are contributing actions from both drivers that led to the wreck. For example, maybe you were going slightly over the speed limit when the other driver ran a red light and hit your vehicle. In this type of situation, the other driver’s lawyer will likely argue that you were at least partially responsible for the accident and try to discount the amount of damages you receive. The State of Georgia uses a system called “comparative negligence”. This means that you can be awarded damages if you can show that you bear less than 50 percent of the accident’s responsibility.

Types of Compensation Due to a Car Wreck

Each situation and every car accident is different. However, if you were injured due to someone else’s negligence, you can seek compensation from the other party to pay for your losses. This includes past and future medical bills associated with your injury and personal property loss, such as damage to your car and other personal possessions. You may also be able to seek compensation for the money you would have been paid at your job if you hadn’t been injured and even future earnings if it’s deemed that you won’t be able to return to your former job due to your injury. In extreme circumstances, where the at-fault driver is deemed to be grossly negligent, you may be awarded punitive damages, compensation over and above your expenses, and lost wages.

The Statute of Limitations

In Georgia, you have two years from the date of the wreck to file a personal injury lawsuit and four years for a property damage lawsuit. Don’t wait around if you have been injured in a car wreck. You need to seek immediate legal advice and allow us to begin working on your behalf as soon as possible, but in many cases you may be able to revisit an incident for up to two years after it occurred.

Working With Mark Thomas, Personal Injury Lawyer

If you or someone you care about has been hurt in a car accident, you owe it to yourself to get the best representation possible. Mark Thomas and his staff are not just compassionate; they have the experience, the training, and the contacts to make things happen to get you the compensation you need to pay medical bills and take care of your family. To learn more about working with Mark Thomas and schedule a free, no-obligation assessment of your case, contact our law offices at 404-999-3258.