Have you been badly hurt in a car accident in Albany, Georgia? If so, you’re likely facing expensive medical bills and painful injuries that make it hard to work or enjoy life as you once did. You should not have to pay the price of an auto accident someone else caused — and Parker Trial Law wants to see to it that you don’t have to.
Since 2016, our firm has been dedicated to protecting the rights of serious injury victims in Albany and across Dougherty County. We understand that you’re likely feeling lost right now, and our team is committed to guiding you through every step of your car accident claim. Contact us today to speak with a compassionate Albany, GA, car accident lawyer and find out what your case could be worth.
Benefits of Hiring an Albany, GA, Attorney for Your Car Accident Claim
Hiring an Albany, GA, car accident attorney offers several key benefits for your car accident lawsuit, including:
- Personalized Representation – Parker Trial Law’s attorneys understand that life is often hard after a motor vehicle accident. We’ll treat you like family because that’s what you deserve during this difficult time, and we’ll stay in touch after your case to see how you’re doing.
- Local Knowledge – Our law firm has deep roots in Albany. We know the courts and the judges likely to hear your case and how to appeal to local juries. This knowledge can give us an edge at trial.
- Trial Experience – Our legal team doesn’t settle a car accident case when it’s convenient. Instead, we prepare for trial from the outset. This preparation tells insurance companies that we’re serious about seeking the maximum compensation for our clients, which can motivate them to offer a fair settlement faster.
What to Do After a Car Accident
After a vehicle accident, there are several critical actions you should take to improve your chances of receiving compensation for your medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, and vehicle repair/replacement costs:
- Report the Accident – Always report the car wreck to local law enforcement. Their accident report may be necessary for filing your initial auto insurance claim.
- Gather Evidence – If possible, take photos of the accident scene, damaged vehicles, and visible injuries.
- Collect Contact Information – Get the names and contact information of everyone involved in the accident and any witnesses.
- Seek Medical Care – Even if you feel fine, you should let medical professionals check you for injury. They may be able to diagnose an underlying injury before obvious symptoms appear, allowing you to begin treatment earlier.
- Consult a Car Accident Attorney – Speak to a car accident attorney in Albany, GA, as soon as possible after the accident. The sooner you speak to an attorney, the better they can protect your legal rights.
How We Investigate Car Accident Cases
A thorough investigation is essential to building a strong auto collision case. At Parker Trial Law, we go to great lengths when investigating the accident that caused your injuries. Our process often involves:
- Reviewing Accident Scene Evidence – We review the accident scene evidence you gathered immediately after the incident and visit the scene to gather additional evidence that may still exist.
- Collecting Eyewitness Statements – We follow up with eyewitnesses to collect their statements, which could corroborate your version of events.
- Accessing Traffic Camera Footage – When possible, we seek access to traffic cameras that may have caught the accident or the events leading up to or immediately after it.
- Hiring Expert Witnesses – In some cases, we hire medical professionals, financial experts, and car crash reconstruction specialists to testify on the case’s technical aspects.
Compensation You Could Recover in a Car Accident Claim
The financial impact of a car accident injury can be devastating. When you file an injury claim, you can seek various forms of car accident compensation, including:
- Medical Expenses – Your medical expenses include bills for surgeries, medical treatments, hospital stays, medical devices, prescription medications, and physical therapy.
- Lost Wages – If your injuries impact your ability to work in the short or long term, you can seek compensation for your lost wages or loss of future earning potential.
- Disability Accommodations – If your injuries leave you disabled, you may be able to seek compensation for home and vehicle modifications necessary to accommodate your disability, such as ramps or lifts.
- Pain and Suffering – You can seek compensation for the physical pain and emotional suffering you experience due to your injuries.
- Property Damage – You can seek compensation for your damaged property, including vehicle replacement or repair.
Parties Who Could Be Held Liable for a Car Wreck in Georgia
In Georgia, several parties may be liable for your injuries, depending on the circumstances of the accident. Some of the most common liable parties in auto wrecks include:
- Other Motorists – The driver who hit you could be at fault if they were negligently operating their vehicle, such as speeding or driving while distracted.
- Motorists’ Employers – If the driver who caused the accident was on the job, such as if they were making deliveries, their employer may also be liable for your injuries.
- Vehicle Manufacturers – If a vehicle part failure contributed to the accident, the manufacturer may be liable under product defect liability for defective design or manufacturing.
- Government Entities – The government entity responsible for designing or maintaining the roadway where the accident occurred could be liable if bad repairs or missing signage contributed to the crash.
The experienced car accident attorneys of Parker Trial Law can help you identify all liable parties in your case so you have a better chance of receiving the maximum compensation you deserve.
Could You Recover Compensation if You’re Partly to Blame for a Car Accident?
You can recover compensation for your injuries even if you’re partly to blame for the car accident. However, Georgia’s modified comparative negligence law will reduce your compensation in accordance with your degree of fault. That means if you were 10 percent at fault, you would only receive 90 percent of the awarded compensation. Georgia’s specific version of comparative negligence also bars anyone who is 50 percent or more at fault for the accident from recovering compensation.
It’s essential that you speak to a qualified Albany, GA, car accident attorney as early as possible so they can begin working on your case and collecting evidence showing that you were not at fault for the accident.
How Long Do You Have to File a Car Accident Lawsuit in Georgia?
Per Georgia Code Section 9-3-33, the statute of limitations for most personal injury claims, including those arising from car accidents, is two years. You must file your injury claim within this period or risk the courts barring you from seeking compensation for your injuries.
However, there is also a “discovery rule,” which could delay the start of the statute of limitations if you didn’t know you had an injury or didn’t know the at-fault driver’s identity. This discovery rule can be particularly important in hit-and-run cases.
It’s best to contact a lawyer from Parker Trial Law right away after a motor vehicle accident. Our law firm can handle your claim efficiently and file all the legal paperwork on time.
Common Types and Causes of Car Accidents
There are many types and causes of car accidents. Some of the most common are:
- Distracted Driving Accidents – Drivers who are looking at their phones, eating, or engaging in other distracting activities are more likely to cause accidents.
- Drunk Driving Accidents – DUI is a serious offense in Georgia because intoxicated drivers put themselves and those on the road around them in danger.
- Uninsured Motorist Accidents – If an uninsured motorist crashes into you, you may need to file an uninsured motorist claim with your insurance provider.
- Uber/Lyft Accidents – Whether you’re a passenger in or were struck by a rideshare vehicle, the driver may be liable for your injuries.
- Hit-and-Run Accidents – Uninsured motorist claims also work when the identity of the at-fault driver is unknown, such as in hit-and-runs.
- Left Turn Accidents – These accidents happen when a driver turning left at an intersection doesn’t yield the right-of-way to oncoming traffic.
- Head-On Collisions – These are some of the most serious accidents, leading to the most severe injuries or even death.
- Rear-End Collisions – These collisions often happen when a leading driver suddenly slams on the brakes or a trailing driver doesn’t react in time to a change in traffic flow.
- T-Bone Collisions – These accidents occur when one vehicle strikes the side of another. They typically occur at intersections and may result from left-turn accidents.
Typical Injuries Resulting from an Auto Collision
Auto collision victims can suffer from a wide variety of injuries. Some of the most frequently reported injuries include:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries – TBIs result from blunt force trauma to the head and may result in permanent physical or cognitive impairment.
- Spinal Cord Injuries – These injuries may result in paralysis or other permanent disabilities.
- Whiplash – Among the most common car accident injuries, whiplash results from neck muscle strain after an impact.
- Broken Bones – Wrists, ribs, and legs are the most common broken bones in car accidents.
- Lacerations – Broken glass and other sharp objects can cause lacerations in car accidents.
- Internal Injuries – Some of the most dangerous injuries suffered in car accidents are internal injuries that may worsen before symptoms appear.