If you have been involved in a car accident in Dublin, Georgia, one of the most important decisions you will have to make is finding the right lawyer.
Fortunately, Joe Durham Law Firm has a team of seasoned auto accident attorneys that will develop the best strategy for pursuing your claim and will do everything necessary to prepare a persuasive case on your behalf.
For your Free Consultation, get in touch with us today by calling 229-351-5320.
What Should You Do Immediately After a Car Accident?
If you have been in a car crash, you may be hurt, afraid, and not sure of what steps to take next. You may also be concerned about the most appropriate way to handle the insurance adjusters call and what to say too.
The steps you take immediately after being involved in an accident will most likely have a significant impact on whether or not your claim is successful.
If you have been involved in a car crash, you need to:
- Get your mind in order and compose yourself
- Check on the well-being of the rest of the occupants of the vehicle and make sure that they will be fine at least in the short-term
- Collect the names as well as contacts of any witnesses
- Take pictures of the scene of the accident from multiple angles and without forgetting to include the positions of all the vehicles involved
- Call the police and have them file an incident report
- Go for a medical checkup. The ER is always available if you don’t have any other medical options available
- Contact Joe Durham Law Firm to discuss your situation along with the different options available
Is There A Time Limit for Filing a Dublin Auto Accident Lawsuit?
Yes. Individuals injured in motorcycle, car, or truck motorists in Georgia have:
- Two years after the accident date to file a personal injury lawsuit
- Four years after the accident date to file a property damage lawsuit
- Six months after the accident date to file a lawsuit against a city or county government
The time limits provided for in law have been designed to ensure that you never lose the right to sue should the negotiations with the insurance company take longer than initially expected or the insurance company does not provide enough compensation for your injuries.
Do I Actually Have a Viable Auto Accident Claim?
You should always keep in mind that not all injuries that result from automobile accidents are ground for lawsuits. You should only leave it up to an experienced lawyer to determine whether or not you have a viable case. It is why our personal injury lawyers provide free initial case reviews to all cyclists, drivers, and pedestrians in Georgia.
You are generally only allowed to file a lawsuit in case you sustained injuries that were the direct result of another party’s negligence. If an individual or company does not act as a reasonable individual or company would have acted, then they can be considered negligent.
Example of Negligence in Dublin, GA
Assume that a pedestrian is waiting to cross the street in the city of Dublin. Once the traffic light changes and the pedestrian is prompted to cross, a speeding truck runs the red light and ends up knocking him down.
In that situation, the truck driver acted in a negligent way since he was driving at a speed higher than the speed limit and failed to slow down after the light turned red, which is what you would expect any reasonable driver to do.
The pedestrian would thus have grounds to file a lawsuit against the negligent truck driver to make sure that he is held accountable for any resulting injuries.
Why Hire an Auto Accident Lawyer in Dublin?
Georgia has complicated auto laws and insurance policies and only an experienced car injury lawyer that’s knowledgeable enough can give you the best chance of securing fair compensation after you are involved in an auto accident. If you choose Joe Durham to represent you in your auto accident case, we will:
Prepare a Case and File a Lawsuit on Your Behalf
We will collect all the evidence required to support the claim that another party’s negligence was ultimately responsible for your injuries. Evidence can include medical records, logs of the trucking company, and photos of the vehicle, but this will depend on the specifics of the accidents.
We may also consult accident reconstruction experts, witnesses, and industry professionals that can help us have a better understanding of what exactly caused the accident.
Using the information that we gather, we will produce a legal document that’s referred to as a complaint. It generally includes information relating to the accident, how the defendant (i.e. the individual or company that’s being sued) acted negligently, and the compensation that you are entitled to for the losses you suffered.
The complaint is then filed in a Georgia court and that marks the official beginning of the lawsuit.
Negotiate Settlements
The defendant or the defendant’s insurance company may attempt to offer you a settlement to avoid the uncertainty as well as the costs involved in a jury trial.
However, insurance companies will almost always attempt to limit the compensation they pay out to you by trying to downplay the severity of the injuries and damage to property.
We have a lot of experience dealing with insurance companies and can provide the best legal advice in case the settlement the insurance company is proposing does not reflect the losses you incurred accurately.
In such cases, we can attempt to negotiate the terms of the settlement with the defendant and/or the defendant’s insurance company.
Prepare the Case for Trial
If we are unable to reach an agreement with the defendant or their insurance company regarding a settlement, we will then prepare the case to go to trial where it will be up to a judge and jury to determine whether you are entitled to compensation, and if so, the amount that you should receive.
At Joe Durham Law Firm, we are fully committed to taking your case to trial in case you don’t receive a fair settlement. We will do everything in our power to make sure that you receive the compensation that you need to move on with your life.
What Damages Can You Sue For in Car Accident Cases in Georgia?
The physical, emotional, and financial consequences of an auto accident may vary considerably from case to case. In some instances, people walk away with just a few minor scrapes and bruises, while in others their lives are tragically never the same again.
We will fight aggressively each day for our clients that have sustained serious injuries or lost their loved ones because of the negligent behavior of another party.
We investigate all aspects of the case to determine who all the potential liable parties in your accident are. We can pursue compensation for the following, but this will depend on the specific circumstances of your case:
- Lost wages
- Loss of work benefits
- Suffering and pain
- Current and future medical costs
- Lower potential to earn
- Costs of rehabilitation
Your capacity to earn may be reduced and you may experience fear of the extent of the injuries you have suffered, limitations on your ability to work and do the things you love following an accident. It is not only about the pain you suffered but also the changes to your life, which is an often overlooked aspect of damages.
If the car crash involves both bodily injury and property damage, the damages for both don’t necessarily need to be resolved at the same time.
Our team of seasoned car accident attorneys will come up with the best possible strategy to make sure that you receive the total amount of compensation that’s you are entitled to and deserve.
If the auto accident results in a fatality, the victim’s family members can seek compensation for loss of future earnings, funeral costs, loss of companionship, and other costs related to medical care through a wrongful death claim. Our auto accident attorneys understand the legal and emotional complexities that such cases require and will help you face this difficult time with dignity and strength.
Are You Only Allowed to File Auto Accident Lawsuits Against Drivers?
No. In reality, the actions of several parties could be considered negligent if there’s an auto accident and the party that you end up suing will depend on the specifics of your case.
For instance, the actions of a trucking company near Dublin, GA, can be considered negligent if were to allow its drivers to drive its trucks without getting enough sleep.
Municipalities could similarly be considered negligent if they fail to provide enough lights or signage at intersections and dangerous turns. Automobile manufacturers may also be found negligent if they released defective products such as faulty brakes, airbags, ignition switches, etc. into the market.
To Get a Free Consultation Contact Joe Durham Law Firm Today!
It is always important to know what your rights are under the law. If you or a loved one has sustained injuries in a Dublin car crash, you can be sure that our team of experienced car accident attorneys at Joe Durham Law Firm are fully committed to making sure that all our clients have the best outcomes possible in their cases.
We would encourage you to set up a free consultation with our legal team to evaluate your auto accident claim in Dublin. You are free to call us at any time at 229-351-5320. Alternatively, you can use the Free Case Evaluation Form or the 24-Hour Online Live Chat.
