Car Accident Lawyer Marietta, GA

 

Your Dedicated Car Accident Attorneys

Each year in the United States there are hundreds of thousands or more car accidents, and if you have been a victim, our Marietta, GA car accident lawyer can help you. With nearly 40 years of combined experience in personal injury and workers’ compensation law between our attorneys, our firm is well-prepared to advocate for you throughout every step of the process. We’ll help you pursue rightful compensation for pain and suffering, hospital bills, doctor visits, therapy sessions, property damage, and more. Contact Johnson & Alday, LLC today to schedule your free consultation.

Table Of Contents

Common Car Accident Injuries

Thousands of car accidents happen each day, with many resulting in a wide range of injuries. Many of these accidents only cause a person to get minor cuts, bruises, or being shaken up, others are worse. Car accidents have been known to leave people paralyzed, major injuries to the brain, shattered bones, and even fatalities. If you or someone you know have become injured in a car accident, then it may be wise to speak with our car accident lawyer to understand what to do with your hospital bills and other accident-related expenses. Your lawyer can also help you understand more about fighting for pain and suffering. 

Our team has the knowledge and experience to advocate for you in court so you can obtain the compensation you need to get back on track. We know how to stand up to insurance companies when they try to get you to settle for an amount that is far lower than what you need and deserve after your accident. 

Compensatory Damages For Car Accident Victims

Our team can help you pursue compensation following a car accident where you sustained an injury or incurred damages to personal property, such as your car. Regardless of the level of seriousness, a car accident can have a serious impact on your life and overall well-being. Compensatory damages are intended to help make the expenses associated with your recovery less financially impactful. Our Marietta car accident lawyer can help you pursue compensation for what you have already been billed for and future expenses, such as physical therapy for injuries you sustained as a result of the accident. Compensatory damages may be referred to as “economic” or “noneconomic.”

Economic Damages

Economic damages are physical quantifiable damages. Common examples of economic damages include past or future medical expenses, lost wages and anticipated lost wages, in-home care services, rehabilitation, property damages, out-of-pocket expenses, lost earning capacity, and more. Other medical expenses that compensation can be collected for include chronic physical health issues, chronic mental health issues, surgeries, and future treatments.

Noneconomic Damages

Noneconomic damages pertain to less tangible or emotional conditions such as pain and suffering that are a result of the accident. Additionally, in the event of a wrongful death, or incapacitation that renders the victim unable to take legal action, a spouse may also be eligible to fight for compensation for personal injury damages sustained as a result of the car accident. Examples of non-economic damages include but are not limited to emotional anguish, loss of enjoyment of activities, worsening of prior injuries, pain and suffering, and more.

Steps To Take After A Car Accident

A car crash is a traumatic event that will shock you, regardless of how severe it is. However, knowing what to do after an accident can make dealing with unfortunate situations easier. Follow these steps after a car crash: 

  • Check The Health Of Yourself And Others 

Start by checking your health, the health of any passengers, and the health of the people in the other car. However, never attempt to move if it feels unsafe to do so. If someone needs immediate help, then you’ll want to call 911 and have them dispatch EMTs alongside a police car. When EMTs arrive, have them check the health of everyone present, starting with those in the most critical condition. Car crashes come in many scopes; even if you only have a couple of bruises, you may have internal injuries. Therefore, EMTs should check everyone even if there don’t appear to be any injuries. 

  • If Possible, Start Gathering Evidence 

If you’re in critical condition, then you shouldn’t think about trying to gather evidence. However, if you can move with relative ease, now might be the time to gather evidence while you wait for the authorities to arrive. Start by taking several pictures of the scene, including the damage to the vehicles, the vehicles’ license plates, any nearby property damage (such as a fallen sign, tire marks on the road, etc.), bodily injuries on yourself and others, and more.

Besides photographic evidence, evidence may also include personal and witness statements. Later on, police reports and medical reports can also count as evidence. An attorney can help you gather other evidence, like testimonies from neutral third-party experts and CCTV footage. 

  • File Your Insurance Claim

Next, you will need to file your insurance claim. When communicating with your insurance company, be careful not to say anything that could be misconstrued as admitting fault. However, you’ll still want to cooperate with your insurance company and write a statement if necessary. The other driver’s insurance company may contact you as well. Be polite but don’t help them by providing statements or “jumping the gun” for accepting an offer. If necessary, tell them to contact your attorney. 

  • Be Sure To Have An Attorney On Your Side 

Your attorney can help in various ways, such as helping you gather more evidence, advising you what to say to another party, such as the police, when to accept a settlement, etc. The right car accident attorney also won’t be afraid to go to trial, but will also provide you with realistic options. The vast majority of car accidents settle outside of the court system. However, negotiating with the insurance companies on your own can result in a very low settlement or no settlement at all. 

  • Don’t Discuss Your Case

Word can travel fast, and while you want to make sure your friends and family are okay, you should avoid discussing your case as much as possible. You can give your close family members some details just so they know what’s going on, but try to avoid going into huge depth. Additionally, avoid conversations with friends, especially in public places. 

Marietta Car Accident Infographic

What Should You Do Following a Car Crash?

Car Accident Statistics

  • According to the National Safety Council, motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of personal injury in the United States. In 2021, there were over 6 million car accidents in the United States, resulting in over 3 million injuries and 40,000 fatalities.
  • According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, motor vehicle crashes were the second leading cause of injury deaths and second leading cause of hospitalizations and ER visits in Georgia in 2020.
  • According to the University of Georgia’s College of Public Health, between 2018 and 2021, the number of suspected serious crash1 injuries have steadily increased from year to year.

FAQs

Why is an insurance adjuster calling me wanting a statement?

Our personal injury lawyer knows that after reporting the car accident to your insurance company, you will probably be contacted by an insurance adjuster shortly thereafter. An insurance adjuster is someone who is going to place value on your claim, so what you say to them is going to be important. Unfortunately, many people find that if they provide a recorded statement to an insurance adjuster, that what they say is misconstrued and used against them to limit or deny their claim. This is why getting help from a lawyer before you speak with an insurance adjuster is essential.

What are examples of evidence that I should start to gather?

The more evidence that you have for a car accident, the stronger your case is going to be. Examples of evidence that you can start gathering now include things like a copy of the police report, copies of your medical documentation related to injuries, statements from your work about missed days or lost wages because of staying home to recover, and pictures or video that you took at the scene before leaving. Witnesses can also be influential, and your lawyer can reach out to these people to get an official statement to be used in support of your case in the days to follow. 

If I had to be rushed to the hospital for injuries, how can I collect evidence?

Evidence from the accident scene is key to proving the fault of the negligent or responsible party. But if you had to be rushed to the hospital for serious injury after the accident, then you likely were not able to stay at the scene and collect evidence. Consider contacting someone that you know and trust to go to the scene for you to take pictures and gather debris or other tangible evidence. Keep in mind that simply the fact that you had to be sent to the emergency room is proof in itself that your injuries were severe enough to warrant immediate medical care. If you need someone to investigate the car accident more in-depth, don’t hesitate to reach out to a Marietta car accident lawyer from our law firm.

Is it necessary that I call the police for help?

If you do not call the police after a car accident, then an officer is not going to show up and file a police report of what happened. A police report can be a major influencing piece of evidence in your case, as it will include details related to the accident and potentially contributing factors. Depending on the severity of the collision and the area where it happened, dispatchers may not send out police if the damage was minor and no one was hurt. Otherwise, it is always strongly advised that you call 911 for help so that a report can be taken, the officer can help with the scene, and ultimately your best interests are better protected.

I don’t have visible injuries, is it okay to wait until there are symptoms to receive medical attention?

It is always recommended that you go to the doctor right away after a car accident, whether you have visible injuries or symptoms, or not. The reason for this is that most people who are involved in an accident, even one that is 15 MPH or less, can still sustain some degree of injury. And while you may not feel the full extent of your physical injuries in the moment, you may later. Delaying getting medical attention can harm your claim, so it’s better to be safe than sorry and seek a doctor’s examination the same day if possible. 

Johnson & Alday, LLC, Marietta Car Accident Lawyer

219 Roswell Street NE, Marietta, GA 30060

Contact Our Team Today

With our experience, skills, and knowledge of car accidents and personal injuries, we believe we are the right lawyers to help you with your case. We will take the time to listen to your concerns about the series of events that caused the accident. We understand the different nuances and details that may arise in these types of cases. There’s no reason for people to suffer injuries and have to pay for their accident-related expenses when they were not at fault for the accident. We offer free case evaluations for new clients. Contact us today to speak with our marietta car accident lawyer from Johnson & Alday, LLC.

Client Review

“Excellent attorney and staff who really goes above and beyond for his client, I’d trust him with anything, do not hesitate to call. I really loved the text feature was extremely convenient. They walked me through everything step by step and made sure I was welcome to call with any questions I may have. I really recommend it, helped me so much with my case and kept me updated throughout the process until everything was taken care of. I felt at ease during the whole process. Highly Recommended” – Crystal S.