If you’re involved in a car accident in Moultrie, GA. One of the key decisions you will have to make is choosing the right attorney. At Joe Durham Law, we have a team of experienced lawyers that will help you develop an effective strategy to pursue your compensation claim and take the right steps to prepare a compelling case.
Get in touch with us today at 229-351-5320 to schedule your free consultation.
Why Should You Hire a Car Accident Attorney in Moultrie?
An experienced car accident lawyer is knowledgeable of the complex auto laws and insurance policies in Georgia, and can, therefore, provide you with the best chance of recovering full compensation after being involved in a car accident. When you hire Joe Durham Law to represent you in your car accident case, our lawyers will:
Prepare the necessary evidence and file your lawsuit
It will be up to your personal injury attorney to collect the necessary evidence to support the claim that the party at fault was negligent in their actions, and are therefore responsible for your injuries. The evidence may include medical records, trucking company logs, photos of the vehicles, etc. though all this ultimately depends on the nature of your accident. Your lawyer might have to speak with witnesses, industry experts, and even hire accident reconstruction experts to offer insight into the exact cause of the accident.
This information will then be used to draft a legal document called a complaint. The complaint includes information regarding the accident, how the individual or the company at fault (the defendants) acted in a negligent manner, along with the amount of compensation that you’re seeking for your losses. We’ll file the complaint form in a Georgia court on your behalf, and this will mark the official beginning of your lawsuit.
Negotiating any Settlement
The defendant and their insurer might offer you a settlement amount out of court to avoid the uncertainty and costs associated with a court trial. However, insurance providers are notorious for often trying to limit the amount of compensation that they pay out to you by attempting to lower the severity of your injuries or the property damage.
Since we have dealt with auto insurance for many years before, we can advise you on when the settlement being proposed isn’t an accurate reflection of your losses. In such an instance, we’ll try to negotiate with the defendants and their insurers about the settlement terms.
Prepare your case for trial
In case we are unable to reach an agreement for the settlement amount with the insurance companies or defendants, we will proceed to prepare the case for trial, where it’ll be up to the judge and a jury to determine the amount of compensation that you are entitled to. As Joe Durham Law Firm, we are committed to taking your case to trial whenever we feel the defendants aren’t offering the proper settlement amount. In fact, we’ll do everything possible so long as it’s legal to ensure you receive the maximum compensation possible, so that you can move on with your life.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire an Auto Accident Attorney?
The good thing about personal injury cases is that you won’t have to pay us anything before we win a recovery. Your case will start with a free initial consultation, where we will help you establish whether you have a strong claim and if we are the right law firm for you. If this is the case, you won’t be billed anything until we actually win your case. We’ll get paid once you receive your final financial compensation, meaning that if we’re unable to win you a recovery, you won’t owe us anything.
Is there a Deadline for Filing a Moultrie Auto Accident Lawsuit?
Yes. Any person injured in a car, truck, or motorcycle accident in Georgia has:
- 2 years after the accident date to file a personal injury lawsuit
- 6 months after the accident to file a lawsuit against the city government or county government
- 4 years after the accident date to file a property damage lawsuit
These time limits are designed to ensure that you don’t lose your rights to sue, in case it takes longer than expected to negotiate with the insurance providers, or if the insurance providers are unable to offer adequate compensation for the injuries sustained and damages incurred.
How Do I Know if I Have an Auto Accident Case?
Keep in mind that not all injuries that result from auto accidents are grounds for a lawsuit. Only a knowledgeable and experienced lawyer can determine whether you actually have a case or not. This is why Joe Durham Law Firm offers a free initial case review to any injured driver, pedestrian, or cyclist in the city of Moultrie.
Overall, you will only be allowed to file a lawsuit if the injuries sustained are a direct result of negligence of another person. If an individual or company fails to act in a way that a reasonable individual or company would have, then their actions could be regarded as negligent.
Examples of Negligence in Moultrie
Let’s assume a pedestrian is waiting to cross a street in Moultrie. When the traffic light changes prompting him/her to cross, a speeding car runs the red light and hits him/her. In such a situation, the driver acted negligently as he/she was driving much faster than the speed limit, and was therefore unable to slow down and stop once the traffic lights changed, as a reasonable driver would have done.
In this example, the pedestrian has grounds for filing a lawsuit against the negligent driver to make sure that he’s held accountable for the resulting damage and injuries.
Are Auto Accident Lawsuits Only Filed Against Negligent Drivers?
No. There are other parties that could be considered negligent in a case where an accident occurs. As such, who you end up suing will depend on the specifics of your case. For example, a Moultrie trucking company might be considered negligent in case it allows its drivers to operate its trucks without getting enough sleep.
In a similar way, the municipality might be considered negligent in cases where they fail to offer sufficient signage and lights at intersections or dangerous turns. Car manufacturers can in some cases be considered negligent for releasing defective products into the market, such as faulty brakes, ignition switches, airbags, etc.
What Should You Do After a Car Crash?
Once you’re involved in a car accident, you might be shocked, hurt, frightened, and unaware of what to do next. And even after you’ve managed to get away from the wreckage, you might be wondering how to best handle the insurance companies and what to say. This period is very sensitive, as what you say or do here will have a tremendous effect on the success of your claim.
So, if you have been involved in an accident, remember to:
- Try to stay composed and get in the right frame of mind
- Make sure the occupants of your vehicle are ok and attend to those who are hurt
- Take names and details of any witnesses present at the scene
- Call the police and make sure they file an incident report
- Take pictures or videos of the accident scene from various perspectives (including that of the vehicles involved)
- Get medical attention. In case you don’t have medical options available, consider ER services
- Contact Joe Durham Law Firm to discuss your situation and find out more about your available options
What Damages Can You Sue For in a Moultrie Auto Accident Case?
The financial, emotional, and physical consequences of a car accident can vary greatly from one case to another. Although some people are lucky to walk away with just a few minor bruises and scratches, other people tragically end up with life-changing injuries. We always try to fight aggressively every day for all our clients that have lost their loved ones or were injured due to the negligent actions of another person.
We investigate all the aspects of your case and establish all the potentially liable parties for the accident. We can pursue compensation for the following damages based on the unique circumstances of your case:
- Future and current medical expenses
- Pain and suffering incurred
- Lost wages
- Loss of work benefits
- Reduced earning potential
- Rehabilitative costs
After the accident, you might experience a lowered capacity to earn, with a great fear of the extent of your injuries, along with the limitations of your ability to work and enjoy the things you love to do after an accident. It isn’t just about the actual pain, but also the changes to your everyday life, which is often a large and often overlooked aspects of damages.
In case the auto accident involved damage to property along with bodily injuries, compensation for both won’t necessarily have to be settled at the same time. Our lawyers can effectively come up with the most suitable strategies for making sure that you get the compensation you need and deserve.
In the unfortunate event that the accident results into a fatality, the family members can claim compensation for loss of companionship, funeral expenses, loss of future earnings, along with other costs related to the medical care via a wrongful death claim. Our attorneys fully understand the legal and emotional complexities that surround such cases, and will go out of the way to help you face this difficult time with strength and dignity.
Contact us at Joe Durham Law Firm Today for a Free Consultation
Learn more about your rights under the law. We encourage you to schedule a free consultation with zero obligation for representation. You can call a Moultrie car accident lawyer any time of the day or night at 229-351-5320. Be sure to also check out our Free Case Evaluation Form or use our free 24/7 Live Online Chat.
