Collisions on public roads remain the most common source of personal injuries in Georgia, and crashes can cause more than just broken bones and bruises. Regardless of the total amount of damages you plan on asking for, you will need to prove someone else was liable for the incident.
A Dunwoody car accident lawyer is ready to help from day one. One of our skilled personal injury attorneys can gather the evidence needed to prove liability for a collision, measure how that event has impacted your life, and demand the full compensation you need to make up for your losses.
Car Accident Negligence Under Georgia Law
A person could be held liable for an auto collision even if it was a complete accident, but driving is an inherently dangerous activity and Georgia law says that a person is still responsible for their actions behind the wheel. To secure compensation, the plaintiff and their attorney must prove negligence on the part of the defendant.
A negligence case places the burden on an injured person to show that someone else’s actions were the primary source of their losses. In addition, they must be able to connect their losses to this specific incident. A Dunwoody car accident attorney is valuable in proving both concepts.
A driver may be at fault for a crash in a few different ways. Many drivers will be negligent because they violated a rule of the road, such as:
- Speeding over the limit
- Driving though stop signs or traffic lights
- Texting while driving
- Driving while intoxicated
Other situations may require a jury to evaluate the actions of all people involved in the crash. Georgia uses a concept called modified comparative negligence to examine the choices of both plaintiffs and defendants. Under the Official Code of Georgia Annotated § 51-12-33, a court that believes a victim to have been more than 50 percent to blame for a crash cannot award them any compensation. If this blame amounts to less than half, the court will reduce the compensation by that percentage. An attorney can make the case that the defendant was more than 50 percent liable for the vehicle crash.
Seeking Fair Compensation For Injured Driver
If another driver is on the hook for the injuries, they must provide payments to the plaintiff. In most cases, this involves a claim through an insurance policy. Many car accident cases will settle before they go to trial so this is where a persuasive attorney can be incredibly valuable. If the insurance company contacts a person to talk about the accident and offer a quick settlement, that person should tell them nothing and refer them to legal counsel.
In addition to verifiable losses, these cases can demand payment for emotional traumas, lost quality of life, and permanent scarring or disability. A Dunwoody motor vehicle accident lawyer works to place an accurate value on a case and demand appropriate payments from negligent drivers and their insurance companies.
Contact a Dunwoody Car Accident Attorney to File a Claim
Traffic collisions are a leading cause of injuries, and can also reduce your quality of life and ability to support your family. After calling for medical attention, you should contact Childers, Schlueter & Smith immediately to learn what your next move should be.
A Dunwoody car accident lawyer analyzes all aspect of your crash to determine your odds of success. Schedule a free consultation to learn more about the need to prove fault, how to measure your losses, and win damages that you deserve.
