Dealing with a car accident, when you are or are not at fault, you will need to consult a lawyer for insurance claims and other legal matters. Here are a few things you must do when you get caught up in a situation like this.
1. Investigate Your Case
Your attorney will carefully consider all evidence surrounding your accident. This includes police reports, witness statements, medical records, vehicle damage estimates, and other factors to help ascertain its cause and support your claim.
Georgia is an “at fault” state (https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/how-does-no-fault-car-insurance-claim-work.html), meaning you must carry insurance and that if another driver caused your accident, their policy should cover losses if responsible. But sometimes, it can be unclear who was at fault if someone broke traffic laws or acted recklessly. These circumstances may lead to them trying to pin the blame on you, so having a lawyer to investigate your car accident and find out who is to blame is key for justice.
Review of police reports, interviews of witnesses, and canvassing for surveillance cameras installed at neighboring businesses or city poles can all provide your attorney with valuable resources that may prove the other driver was at fault for the crash.
2. Determine the At-Fault Party
When car accidents happen, authorities and insurance companies rely on several sources to assess who might be at fault and determine compensation amounts. Eyewitness testimony is one such source – it includes both those involved and people passing by who witnessed it happening – this statement from eyewitnesses can provide critical clues as to who might be liable and how much compensation might be due.
Police reports can also help to establish the cause of an accident. Once on scene, officers interview witnesses and take down statements while also writing reports that insurance companies use as an evaluation of car accidents.
Once their investigation is complete, your car accident attorney will prepare a claim to submit to the at-fault party’s insurance provider. They will evaluate all evidence collected during their probe and create a demand letter listing injuries sustained and financial losses experienced; it will also name those at fault for causing your crash.
3. Create a Claim
Stay at the scene of an accident as long as possible to take photos and documents of all vehicles involved, injuries sustained, and your own. Resist any urges to apologize or accept blame – doing so could jeopardize your pursuit of compensation. Refrain from discussing details regarding the crash with anyone other than your lawyer, and do not provide them with any details of it yourself.
As soon as a car accident occurs, you must contact a car accident lawyer as quickly as possible. A professional like James Murphy specializes in such things. With enough time, he may even use the playing field against manipulative insurance companies and build a strong case on your behalf for fair and just compensation for any losses sustained from this collision.
4. Collect Evidence
Engaging an attorney is important when collecting and preserving evidence critical to your claim. They will help gather copies of reports and witness statements and inform you about any important deadlines (known as statutes of limitation) applicable to your situation.
Your lawyer can also be instrumental in helping you avoid costly mistakes. An insurance company will often ask for a recorded statement. Without an attorney present, they could attempt to minimize your injuries in this statement and potentially say something damaging about yourself that undermines your claim. Your lawyer can be present during these conversations to protect you by participating in them themselves and providing all relevant information insurers need to calculate losses accurately.
After a fatal crash, the right to file a lawsuit lies with the deceased’s family members. According to Georgia law, their estate and/or relatives can recover compensation instead of their loved one. This type of suit is known as wrongful death and should be handled with assistance from a wrongful death lawyer to receive the financial settlement you are due.
5. Build Your Case
An auto accident lawyer can assist in collecting evidence to substantiate your claims, such as photographs taken at the scene of an accident, witness contact details, police reports, and medical records.
An attorney can shield you from making statements to insurance companies that could compromise your case. Insurance companies typically request recorded statements after car accidents; avoid giving one without being represented by someone present who can participate and provide guidance during this process.
As soon as a car accident has taken place, it is critical that an experienced attorney be hired immediately – according to this site. This allows them to investigate, interview witnesses, collect evidence, and negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf – which often results in higher settlement offers than could have been obtained on your own.
Lawyers can assist in filing a car accident lawsuit to seek damages for injuries suffered in an auto collision. Potential compensation includes medical expenses, property damage claims, lost wages, and pain and suffering damages. A lawyer will also advise how much your case might be worth depending on its complexity and any statute of limitations restrictions placed upon filing such suits.