Sandy Springs Car Wreck Attorney

PRACTICE AREAS

Have You Been Injured in a Car Wreck?

A car wreck can turn your life upside down within moments, mainly when it results in serious injuries. Georgia drivers have two years from the injury date to file a claim against the other driver if their negligent actions caused the crash. Even if you think your actions may have contributed to the car wreck, Georgia allows you to sue for damages if your responsibility is 50 percent or less.

Recovering from significant injuries after a car accident takes time and resources. You may be looking at a stack of medical bills right now, wondering how you will pay them since you will be home from work for a while. Sandy Springs Car Wreck Attorney Mark Thomas is available to evaluate your case and provide answers to your most pressing questions. Call our office today at 404-999-3258.

First Things First: Seek Medical Attention

The shock of an accident can make it challenging to think clearly. However, you must call 911 or go to the nearest urgent care clinic if you believe you have sustained any injury. The same is true of your passengers. As an experienced Sandy Springs car wreck attorney, we recommend that you go to the emergency room or an urgent care clinic even if you are uncertain that your injuries are serious. Doing so lends credibility to your case if you decide to file a personal injury lawsuit later.

Exchange Information with the Other Driver

If you are physically able to do so, get the name, contact information, and insurance details from the vehicle’s driver that struck your vehicle. Resist the urge to accuse the other driver of causing the accident or accepting blame yourself. This is something the insurance companies and possibly attorneys for both parties can determine later.

Someone also needs to call the police to report the accident, even if it seems minor. A police report provides legal written documentation of the date and time of the accident and the circumstances that caused it. Take pictures if you have a camera available and jot down any details while they are still fresh in your mind. While specific information may seem unimportant now, your insurance agent and attorney could need them later.

Avoid Signing Any Documents from the Other Party's Insurance Company

Remember that insurance companies are in business to make money. The insurance agent representing the other driver does not have your best interests at heart and wants to minimize the claim as much as possible. One common tactic of insurance companies is to ask you to sign a release or authorization of your medical records.

This medical records release form gives the insurance agent authority to comb through all your medical records, not just the ones about the accident. The agent will look for anything that could justify pinning the accident on you, such as a previously treated health condition. If your case ends up in court, you could find yourself obligated to discuss private health matters. The best way to avoid this scenario is to refuse to sign the form, but Sandy Springs Car Wreck Attorney Mark Thomas can still assist you if you have signed it.

Another common insurance company tactic is to pressure you to accept blame and drop the claim against its client. Even if the insured person takes responsibility for the accident, you can expect a low offer from the agent. The hope is that you will accept it without further negotiations, whether the settlement is enough to meet your needs or not.

Types of Compensation You May Receive After a Car Accident

Sandy Springs Car Wreck Attorney Mark Thomas always attempts to negotiate with the other party’s insurance company first. You receive a settlement if they reach an agreement and both parties consider the case settled. When negotiations break down, the other party typically retains a lawyer to defend them against your demand for compensation. The two attorneys will attempt to negotiate as well. Personal injury cases only proceed to court when the attorneys cannot reach an agreement between them.

You are eligible to receive certain types of damages, whether your case settles in or out of court. These include:

Payment of medical expenses, including an allowance for anticipated future medical costs.
Payment for property damage, including your vehicle and items inside it, such as a child’s car seat or laptop computer.
Lost wages during your recovery and anticipated future lost wages. When awarding this category of compensation, attorneys and juries also consider the loss of earning potential, promotions, and other benefits you missed because you could not work. If your injuries are so severe that you can never return to work, the settlement will include your lifetime loss of earning potential.
Compensation for ongoing pain and suffering. This category can cover both physical and emotional trauma you have suffered due to the car accident.
Punitive damages in cases where the other driver’s conduct was so reckless that it showed complete disregard for your safety.

As your Sandy Springs car wreck attorney, Mark Thomas cannot guarantee you will receive each of these categories of compensation or the size of your settlement. Despite this, you can always depend on him to present compelling evidence and persuasive arguments on why you should receive the highest possible compensation for injuries caused by another party’s negligence.

Why Should You Hire a Sandy Springs Car Wreck Attorney

Georgia law does not obligate you to have an attorney represent you in a personal injury lawsuit, but it is undoubtedly in your best interest to do so. Working with Mark Thomas means that you benefit from his years of experience handling similar cases. Several legal studies have proven that people who hire an attorney walk away with larger settlements.

Sandy Springs Car Wreck Attorney Mark Thomas is on your side and our team is available to discuss your case .Please contact Sandy Springs Car Wreck Attorney Mark Thomas today at 404-999-3258 to request a professional assessment of your car accident case.