Lots of people are on the road almost every day. People drive so frequently that they sometimes forget how easy it is to be hurt in an accident. Unfortunately, car accidents are common occurrences that may lead to severe injuries and steep costs for victims. If you were hurt in a car crash, speak to an attorney about your legal options today.
You should reach out to a lawyer as soon as possible, as your time to file a civil case for damages is limited. However, under special conditions, we may be able to buy extra time. After the accident, you should try to take steps to preserve evidence and detail while you wait for help. Taking photos and recording videos at the crash scene may be more helpful than you realize. We need this and other evidence to prove your damages, including injuries, medical bills, physical pain, and a range of other expenses.
For a free, private evaluation of your claims, call our car accident lawyers at Rice Law at (470) 287-3070.
When to Speak to an Attorney About Starting a Car Accident Case
It is generally advisable to consult an attorney for assistance as soon as possible. Our car accident lawyers must file your case before the closure of the statute of limitations. Under O.C.G.A § 9-3-33, personal injury plaintiffs have 2 years from the day of a car accident to file a case in court. If this time closes and nothing has been filed, you might be time-barred from ever filing the case.
You might have difficulty filing your case for reasons out of your control. In that case, you may have the statute tolled, and you may have additional time to file based on your circumstances. For example, under § 9-3-90(b), plaintiffs who were minors when they were injured may have 2 years to file their cases from when they turn 18, not necessarily from the day of the accident.
We should also consider possible insurance requirements if you file an insurance claim for your injuries. Many injured victims pursue insurance claims first and file lawsuits if insurance is insufficient or their claims are denied. As such, we should leave ample time to file your case in case your insurance claim does not work out.
What to Do After a Chamblee Car Accident
What happens immediately after a car accident may help or hinder your case, depending on the steps you take.
First, you should call for help immediately. You or someone else at the scene should call 911 and have emergency medical personnel and the police dispatched to your location. Even if you do not think your injuries are that serious, you should still go to the hospital as soon as possible. Talk to the police about what happened when they arrive, and get to a doctor right away.
While you wait for help, take this opportunity to document the scene. Take pictures of the damaged vehicles, including license plates, and the surrounding area. If possible, you may also record videos of the area. These photos and videos may be useful in an insurance claim or a lawsuit, as they can help you prove how bad the accident was and the extent of certain damages.
Finally, make sure you exchange information with the other drive. We need basic information about them (e.g., name, contact information) so we can file an insurance claim or include them in a lawsuit. You should also be prepared to give them your information.
Damages You May Claim in a Car Accident Civil Case
Vehicle accidents tend to take a serious toll on victims, and you may have significant damages to claim, and our legal team can help you.
First, you might have serious injuries that need urgent medical attention. Unfortunately, medical care rarely comes cheap. Your hospital bills may be enormous, and the person responsible for the crash should be responsible for them, not you. If your medical needs extend beyond the duration of your lawsuit, we can estimate and claim the cost of reasonably expected future medical care.
We should also think about the extent of any property damage and lost income. Your vehicle and various personal items inside it might be destroyed, and replacing everything may be very costly. Similarly, your injuries might prevent you from working, and you might lose income as you recover. The longer it takes to recover, the more income you might lose.
You might also experience certain non-economic injuries that may not be proven by how much they cost. Instead, these damages revolve around subjective personal experiences that are often quite painful to endure. Your distress, suffering, physical pain, and similar experiences may be grounds for significant compensation.
Evidence to Support Your Claims in a Chamblee Car Accident Case
You cannot get any financial compensation unless we prove your claims with evidence. Exactly where we find this evidence and how we obtain it will vary based on your circumstances.
As mentioned before, many drivers take photos and record videos of the accident scene while they wait for help to arrive. Often, this is for insurance purposes, but your recordings may also be admitted into evidence in a court of law.
In many cases, photos can help prove damages, as they may show the extent of things like vehicle damage. We might also obtain security camera videos or dashcam footage that shows exactly how the accident occurred.
Car accidents often occur on busy roads or highways where other drivers, passengers, and pedestrians may be present. Some of these people might stop to help, or they might report the accident to the police, and their names may be included in the police report. Whatever the case might be, they may act as witnesses in your case and provide valuable testimony about what they saw.
Contact Our Chamblee Car Accident Attorneys to Start Your Case
For a free, private evaluation of your claims, call our car accident lawyers at Rice Law at (470) 287-3070.