According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, traffic collisions are the state’s leading cause of injury-related deaths and the second leading cause of emergency room visits and hospitalizations. If you were one of the many Georgians injured in a car accident, you might have heard advice from friends and family to hire an attorney. You may ask, why do I need an attorney? What does a car accident lawyer even do?
The experienced Georgia car accident attorneys at Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC help clients throughout Georgia in the difficult aftermath of an accident. On this page, we’ll explain what that help entails. Read on to learn more, and don’t hesitate to contact us for a free consultation with a Gwinnett County car accident lawyer.
Counsel and Guide Our Injured Clients
In the moments and days after a car accident that wasn’t your fault, you might feel overwhelmed financially, physically, and mentally with the burden of your injuries. How will you possibly get through this difficult time? The answer is: with the help of an experienced attorney like David Brauns, at Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC. Our personal injury attorneys advise clients on their legal options and guide them through the often confusing legal process, empowering them to make informed decisions about their cases. We also help them find reputable repair shops for their damaged vehicles and medical specialists for their injuries.
Remember, your choice of an attorney is an important one. We always recommend interviewing a few different attorneys before you make a selection. Pick an attorney with extensive experience handling car accident cases like yours, an approach and personality that make you comfortable, and the intangibles you can trust.
Investigate Your Case
Immediately following the accident, a car accident attorney should thoroughly investigate the underlying incident. Doing so often involves:
- Taking photos or videos of the accident scene
- Requesting a copy of the Georgia motor vehicle crash report
- Interviewing eyewitnesses of the accident
- Reviewing medical records and bills
- Consulting with medical experts, crash recreation experts, and others
- Retrieving surveillance footage of the accident from nearby businesses or homes
- Obtaining evidence from opposing parties, such as phone records
Once compiled, your attorney will analyze this evidence to prepare a compelling case that establishes:
- What happened
- Who was to blame
- The losses you suffered as a result
- Why the at-fault person is obligated to compensate you
Negotiate with Insurance Companies
Almost no one likes to deal with insurance companies. Fortunately for our clients, founding partner David Brauns began his career as an insurance defense attorney. That means he knows how insurance companies work, how they evaluate car accident liability claims, and how to pursue the maximum compensation for his clients.
When you hire a car accident lawyer like those at Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC, you hand off all the back-and-forth negotiations to your attorney. Doing so can be especially helpful because insurance companies are highly motivated to avoid liability so as to protect their profit margins – and have been known to pull out all sorts of tricks to that end. For example, an insurance company may call you “just to check on you” when, in fact, they are trying to catch you at a vulnerable time, saying something that they can use to deny your claim or lessen their settlement offer. If you get a call from an insurance company, you can instruct them to speak only to your lawyer. From there, we will handle the negotiation and vigorously pursue a full and fair settlement from them.
Advocate Aggressively for Your Interests
If the insurance company refuses to offer an adequate settlement, a car accident attorney can take your case to trial instead, where they will advocate for you before a judge or jury. Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC does not shy away from litigating a case in court, and our case results demonstrate our resolve to achieve the best possible outcome for you through whatever legal path is necessary. That said, your attorney should consult with you regarding how you wish to resolve your case. They work for you, not the other way around.
Pursue Compensation for Your Injuries and Losses
After a car accident, you likely have a lot of bills to pay, and you may not have the money to pay them – especially if your injuries prevent you from working. A car accident attorney can pursue compensation, or damages, for your injuries and associated losses. In Georgia law, there are three types of damages:
- Special damages (also called economic damages) have clearly defined amounts. Examples of special damages include medical expenses, lost wages from time missed at work during your recovery, and property losses, such as repairing or replacing your car.
- General damages (also called non-economic damages) do not have a fixed value but nonetheless represent real and significant losses. Examples of general damages include pain and suffering, emotional anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, and disfigurement.
- Punitive damages are meant to “punish, penalize, or deter” the at-fault party from engaging in flagrantly dangerous behavior in the future. They are not awarded in all cases and are subject to a cap of $250,000.
Meet Important Deadlines
The statute of limitations for personal injury cases in Georgia is two years. That means if you were injured in a car accident, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party. If you try to file suit after the statute of limitations has ended, the defendant will likely move to dismiss the case as untimely, and if the judge agrees, you will lose your chance to demand compensation through the courts.
Time management skills are an essential job requirement for attorneys, and they can handle the various aspects of a case while keeping one eye on the proverbial clock.
Contact Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC Today
Now that you know what a car accident lawyer does, should you hire one? If you were injured in a car accident in Georgia, the answer is likely yes. Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC strongly urges you to consult with an experienced attorney as soon as possible. Contact us today for a free consultation with a knowledgeable car accident lawyer.
