When we leave home for work or school, the last thing we think about is getting into a car accident. Despite growing safety concerns, the number of auto accidents in Georgia continues to increase every year. If you experience a car crash in Albany, GA, call the police to report the incident and seek immediate medical treatment. Even if you don’t think you’re hurt, it’s important to get checked out.
You could have internal injuries or other injuries that aren’t obvious at the time of the accident. If your medical examination reveals you were harmed your next step should be to contact an Albany car accident lawyer.
Our attorneys will use the police documents and medical reports to prove you were not at fault for the accident and were injured due to it. We negotiate with the insurance companies for you to make sure your medical bills and any other damages that occurred in the accident are covered.
If you have been injured in a car accident, call Joe Durham Jr., PC at (229)351-5320 to receive a risk-free case review. You can speak with our experienced personal injury attorneys in Albany, GA, and have any of your questions answered. Get the compensation you deserve for your damages.
A Car Accident Attorney Can Deal with the Insurance Company
If you’re in an uber accident or car accident due to somebody else’s negligence, you need to file an insurance claim. Your claim is going to be for property damage, medical bills, and any out of pocket expenses. When you file your claim, include a copy of the police report.
Hopefully, the insurance company will approve your claim and pay your claim in full. However, more times than you may think, the insurance company denies your claim. If this happens to you, you need a car accident attorney.
A car accident lawyer at Joe Durham Jr, PC can deal with the insurance company so you do not have to. He will find out why your claim was denied and try to get it approved. Some of the reasons your claim may have been denied include:
- The policy wasn’t valid. It may have lapsed or been canceled for non-payment.
- The claim wasn’t filed properly.
- The insurance company believes you were the party at fault.
- The insurance company does not believe you were injured. Alternatively, they may believe your injuries were caused by something other than the accident.
Regardless of the reason, our attorneys will try to get your claim paid, though keep in mind if the policy was not valid, there is little we can do to do that. You will have to file a claim under an uninsured motorist’s program or take legal action against the driver directly.
Auto Accident Lawyers Handle All Types of Cases
Most accidents are minor. The drivers and passengers walk away from the scene with no injuries. However, there are times when an accident causes serious injuries or even death. Most of the car accident fatalities in Georgia involve speeding. The only type of accident that causes more injuries and deaths is impaired driving. The troubling thing is that both of these types of accidents are 100% preventable.
Our attorneys handle all types of car accident cases including bicycle accidents or even truck accidents. We have decades of experience going after insurance companies and individual defendants for damages related to car accidents. They will go to bat for you to get you the compensation you deserve.
Some of the Most Common Types of Accidents Include:
Speeding
Accidents caused by speeding are the most dangerous kind. Because of the speed involved, the impact when the cars hit is tremendous. Depending on how fast they are going, the passengers can be crushed or thrown from the car. Some of the injuries caused by speeding are:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head injuries
- Internal injuries
Impaired driving
Despite stories on the news about deaths caused by drunk driving, it still happens all the time. People drink and get behind the wheel of their car with no regard for innocent people on the road. With today’s opioid epidemic, there are even more accidents due to impaired driving than ever before.
People are selfish. There is simply no excuse for impaired driving in this day and age of ridesharing. If the other driver is convicted of drunk or impaired driving, your Albany car accident lawyer will use this in your civil case.
Head-on collisions
When one driver slams into another car head-on, the consequences can be deadly or if one of the drivers is on a motorcycle. Usually, this type of accident involves one car swerving into oncoming traffic at a high rate of speed. The victim has no idea the car is coming so they are taken totally by surprise. There is no way to prepare for a head-on collision. The injuries associated with a head-on collision may include:
- Head injuries
- Broken bones
- Burn injuries
- Facial disfigurement
Rear-end accidents
This type of accident is the most common. Thankfully, most rear-end accidents don’t result in major injuries. However, they do still cause property damage and minor injuries. Whiplash is a very common injury from rear-end accidents. Whiplash is almost impossible to prove. The only way to convince a jury of whiplash is to have a doctor testify to your injuries. This is why it’s always important to seek medical treatment following a rear-end car accident.
What Should I Do After a Car Accident?
Being involved in a car accident is a scary and often traumatizing experience. Unfortunately, how you behave in the immediate aftermath can have a large impact on whether you are able to successfully file a claim for compensation. Immediately following an accident, you need to remember several things that will protect your interests moving forward.
- Follow all applicable laws by stopping the vehicle at the scene of the accident and calling police if someone was injured, died, or over $500 in damage was done.
- Make sure any damaged vehicles are moved from the roadway and, if possible, render assistance to anyone injured in the accident
- Provide information like name, address, registration, driver’s license, and proof of insurance to all parties involved and to the responding officer.
- Answer the police officer’s questions about the accident in a polite, direct manner, while also making sure to avoid admitting fault of any kind.
- Obtain medical care. This is vital to being able to file a successful claim, as your injuries need to be documented by a professional.
- Contact your insurance company and alert them about the accident.
- Call a Georgia car wreck lawyer!
How Much Does a Car Accident Lawyer Cost
Many people are hesitant to contact an attorney after a car accident because they are worried about how much a lawyer will cost them. However, our car crash attorneys operate on a contingency basis, meaning you only owe us if we win your case. At that point, you will owe us a previously agreed-upon percentage.
The range of the fee will be based on how much work we had to put in; if a settlement with the insurance company was agreed to prior to any court proceedings, the percentage will be smaller than if it had proceeded to court. Not only does this pay structure mean that you only pay for an attorney if you are getting a settlement, but it also means your attorney has a vested interest in your case, as their pay is based on how much money they are able to get you.
How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Claim in Georgia?
Under Georgia Code 9-3-32 and 9-3-33, victims of car accidents have between 2 and 4 years to file their claim. The range comes from what the claim is for, if it is for injuries to your person, you have 2 years, while the claim for property damages can be filed within 4 years.
Because of the variance in the statute of limitations based on what the claim is seeking compensation for, contacting an Albany car accident lawyer immediately after the accident provides the victim with the best chance to ensure that their claim is filed within the appropriate time limit and that it seeks compensation for the appropriate damages. If you have questions about whether you can still file a claim for your car accident, contact Joe Durham today for a free consultation.
What Kind of Damages Can an Albany Car Accident Lawyer Get Me?
If you’ve been involved in a car accident in Albany, Georgia, you are entitled to certain damages. Any losses you suffer as a result of an accident must be documented. Our auto accident attorney will pursue the insurance company for all of the damages you have suffered. If the other driver has no insurance, we will pursue the driver personally.
We will demand that you be compensated for all of your losses. Some of the damages our auto accident attorney will demand are easy to measure. These include:
Lost Wages
You will be compensated for any time you missed from work. Depending on the severity of your injuries, you could miss a significant amount of work. Even if you took a vacation or sick leave to cover your time, your lawyer can demand that you be compensated.
Medical Bills
Your lawyer is going to demand that all of your medical bills be paid. This includes bills that you have already paid and any bills that may arise in the future. Your attorney can hire experts to testify to the care you will need for months or years to come.
Property Damage
Most accidents cause some property damage. Your car may need to be repaired. It may be completely destroyed. Either way, you are going to get compensation for the damage. Our lawyer will list any property damage in your claim or lawsuit.
Pain and Suffering
Georgia allows you to claim pain and suffering damages for your accident. The amount you will receive for pain and suffering depends on the following:
- How much pain were you in following the accident?
- Have you experienced depression or anxiety as a result of the accident?
- Are you expected to be in pain going forward?
- How serious were your injuries?
Hopefully, your attorney will be able to negotiate a settlement with the other driver’s insurance company. If not, he will have no choice but to file a lawsuit. He will list all of your damages in your lawsuit complaint. It’s important to remember that it is not your car crash attorney’s job to make you rich. It is his job to make you whole. You can only demand damages for injuries you have actually suffered. You will have to provide proof of your damages.
Contact a Car Accident Lawyer
If you’ve been in a car accident, you will need to contact a car accident attorney. You are going to need an experienced professional by your side. Contact Joe Durham Jr., PC today to schedule your initial consultation. The consultation is free. It gives you a chance to discuss your case with a skilled auto accident attorney. You can get an idea of just how strong your case is. You can also find out how much your case may be worth. For your initial consultation, bring:
- A copy of the police or accident report
- Contact information for any eyewitnesses
- Pictures of the accident scene
- Medical records related to your injuries
- Contact information for the other driver’s insurance company
- Correspondence you have received from the other driver’s lawyer or insurance company
It’s important that you don’t attempt to deal with the defendant alone. The experienced lawyers for car accidents at Joe Durham Jr., P.C. will prove invaluable. You can bet the insurance company is going to have a knowledgeable Albany car accident lawyer defending them, so you need to have one as well.
You need to protect your rights and make sure you get all the compensation you deserve. Our Albany personal injury firm will fight to get you every dime you deserve. Call our offices today and remember, the initial consultation is FREE and you pay nothing until we settle your case.
Coming from Albany State University, GA: Get on GA-3 N/GA-300 N/US-19 N (1.8 miles). Head north on Sands Dr toward E Oglethorpe Blvd. Turn right at the 1st cross street onto E Oglethorpe Blvd (1.4 miles). Turn left to merge onto GA-3 N/GA-300 N/US-19 N toward GA-133 N. Continue on GA-3 N/US-19 N to Nottingham Way. Take exit 7 from US-82 W (6.7 miles). Merge onto GA-3 N/GA-300 N/US-19 N (4.7 miles).
Continue onto US-82 W (1.6 miles). Take exit 7 for Nottingham Way. Follow Nottingham Way, Stuart Ave and Old Dawson Rd to your destination (1.7 miles). Use the left 2 lanes to turn sharply left onto Nottingham Way (0.6 miles). Turn right onto Stuart Ave (0.7 miles). Continue onto Old Dawson Rd. Turn left onto Lafayette Plaza Dr. Turn right and our office will be on your left.
Coming from Southwest Georgia Regional Airport: Head northwest toward Newton Rd (0.2 miles). Turn right onto Newton Rd (0.7 miles). Turn right onto Oakhaven Dr (1.8 miles). Continue onto S Westover Blvd (5.7 miles). Turn right. Turn right and our office will be on your left.
Coming from Dawson, GA: Take E Lee St to Rountree Dr SW (0.2 miles). Head west on E Lee St toward N Main St. Turn left onto Roundtree Dr SW. Follow US-82 E to Dawson Rd in Lee County (16.8 miles). Continue onto Rountree Dr SW (0.4 miles). Continue onto US-82 E/Forrester Dr SE, pass by Hardee’s on the right (16.4 miles). Continue on Dawson Rd to your destination in Albany (1.4 miles). Keep left to continue on Dawson Rd (0.6 miles). Turn right onto Pointe N Blvd (0.5 miles). Turn left onto Old Dawson Rd (0.2 miles). Turn right onto Lafayette Plaza Dr. Turn right. Turn right. Our office will be on your left.
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