Peachtree Corners, GA Car Accident Lawyer

Car accidents can be dangerous. Some drivers are so severely injured that they cannot return to work, pay their medical bills, or support themselves while they recover. Insurance can be helpful to some, but for many, it falls short of providing the support they need. An attorney can help you file an injury lawsuit for fair compensation.

Initiating legal action can be a confusing process, which is all the more reason to work with an experienced attorney. If you wish to file a case, you need to do so within 2 years of the date of the accident, barring special circumstances. When you meet with a lawyer, discuss exactly what happened during and after the collision. These details may shed light on who is responsible and where we can find evidence to prove their liability. It takes time to prepare accident cases, and the sooner you get to work with a lawyer, the better.

For a confidential, free case assessment to get started, speak to our car accident lawyers at Rice, Murtha & Psoras by calling (470) 287-3070.

When to Take Legal Action After a Car Accident in Peachtree Corners, GA

It is normal for people to be hesitant about filing a lawsuit. It can be a long and frustrating endeavor, and many people are intimidated by the prospect of a court battle. These are normal concerns, and you should discuss them with our car accident lawyers. However, you should also discuss when you should begin a lawsuit if that is the right course of action for your case. Generally, plaintiffs are bound by the statute of limitations and must file their claims within a specific period of time or lose their right to sue.

According to O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33, plaintiffs have only 2 years from the car accident to file an injury case in court. At first, this might seem like more than enough time, but there is a lot to accomplish in this limited time. Many injured victims file insurance claims before exploring other legal options, like lawsuits. While this is perfectly fine, the insurance claims process can be time-consuming and might waste precious time before you sue.

Many drivers prefer to file insurance claims as a first course of action. In Georgia, drivers must file third-party claims with the other driver’s insurance company. It might be best to do this sooner rather than later. Since you are filing with someone else’s insurance, you might not know if there is a deadline by which you must file your claims. Also, if the insurance claim is denied or insufficient to cover your damages, you need to figure this out before the statute of limitations on your civil claims expires.

How Your Car Accident in Peachtree Corners, GA Might Have Happened

Car accidents stem from a wide range of causes, and numerous factors might be involved in your specific accident. Perhaps one of the most common factors in car accident cases is speed. When drivers are speeding, they are more likely to lose control of their vehicle, especially if driving in less-than-ideal conditions, like rainy weather. On top of that, speeding drivers might be unable to stop in time to avoid a collision even if they do not lose control of the car.

Ordinary traffic violations are also common. These are so common that most people have likely committed a traffic violation at some point. Turning without signaling, ignoring street signs, running red lights, and other common violations regularly lead to accidents. Tell your lawyer immediately if you noticed the other driver committing a traffic violation.

Unfortunately, intoxicated and distracted drivers are more common than ever. Even just a few drinks might impair someone enough to hinder their ability to drive. Still, a careless driver might not be intoxicated at all. Instead, they might cause a crash because they were texting or making a phone call.

We should also consider the location of your accident when we begin preparing your case. Knowing where the crash happened might help us understand where to find evidence and how the other driver likely caused the accident. Major highways around Peachtree Corners, like Route 141 or Buford Highway, tend to have higher speed limits and more vehicles, leading to more serious crashes.

Damages Available in Car Accident Cases in Peachtree Corners, GA

Damages reflect the costs, injuries, and painful experiences directly resulting from your accident. Generally, damages are divided into two broad categories: economic and non-economic. You might have a good idea of what your damages look like and what they are worth, but you should definitely talk about them with a lawyer. Your attorney can help you make sure all your damages are accounted for, and you get all the compensation you deserve.

Economic damages represent everything from the car accident that cost you money. Medical bills are often a major contributor to economic damages, especially if plaintiffs experience severe injuries. You should also factor vehicle repairs and the cost of replacing lost or damaged personal items into your damages. You may claim your lost earnings if you cannot return to work because of the accident.

Non-economic damages are more about painful experiences rather than financial costs. As such, these damages tend to be subjective, and the jury has the final say on their value. You might claim damages for the intense physical pain of your injuries, emotional distress, and even damages for psychological injuries like PTSD.

Using Evidence to Prove Your Claims in a Car Accident Case in Peachtree Corners, GA

The key to your accident case is evidence. We need as much evidence as possible to support your claims and prove that the defendant is liable for the accident. The tricky thing about evidence is that it is sometimes easy or extremely difficult to find, and we might not know which one until we get started.

A great place to start our search for evidence is the accident scene. Since the accident has likely already been cleared away, we might need to rely on photos you took. It is pretty common for drivers to snap pictures of an accident, usually to send to an insurance company. If you took any photos, they might contain important details we can sue to support your case.

We should also try to get in contact with other people from the accident other than the defendant. These witnesses may testify about what they saw and shed light on how the accident occurred. Their testimony may be extremely important if they saw the defendant do something negligent, like run a red light before crashing into you.

Talk to Our Peachtree Corners, GA Car Accident Attorneys for Help

For a confidential, free case assessment to get started, speak to our car accident lawyers at Rice, Murtha & Psoras when you call (470) 287-3070.