Atlanta is a bustling city with many vehicles on the roadways. Unfortunately, when drivers act carelessly behind the wheel, accidents inevitably occur. The consequences of traffic crashes can range from minor property damage to severe or even fatal injuries. All it takes is one moment of inattention to cause a life-altering vehicular accident. In 2016, 1,554 accidents proved deadly in the State of Georgia alone. When these incidents are caused by the negligent actions of individuals, justice must be served.
We know that being involved in an accident can be difficult, as you or a loved one are forced to deal with abrupt consequences which could include physical injuries, medical bills, property damage, missed time from work, and the emotional distress that comes with it all. Having all of this thrown at you at one time can be extremely overwhelming, but you are not alone. If you sustained harm in an automobile crash, speak with a skilled attorney about a potential claim for financial compensation. An Atlanta car accident lawyer at the Gunn Law Group could review your legal options and help hold the negligent parties accountable.
There are many different types of motor vehicle collisions commonly seen in the Atlanta area. Many of these accidents are avoidable if not for the negligence of drivers, car manufacturers, city workers, or mechanics. Working with an experienced local attorney is the best way to determine if another person’s negligence played a role in an auto collision. A diligent lawyer could investigate the car crash to determine the cause.
Many crashes in Atlanta occur because of driver errors, such as the following:
A dedicated attorney could investigate a car wreck in Atlanta for evidence of driver errors or negligence. This process may involve reviewing the police reports and eyewitness testimony, examining the accident photographs, and visiting the crash scene to look for skid marks and other evidence. The legal team at our firm knows how to use the correct procedural channels to access important information in a car crash case, such as the driver’s medical and cellphone records.
Sometimes, crashes occur even if all drivers act safely and responsibly. Some cars or car parts have inherent manufacturing defects that can affect their safety and lead to crashes. Other times, previously safe car parts can wear down or break over time.
To prevail in a suit involving a mechanical fault, a crash survivor should work with a seasoned legal professional. An Atlanta attorney who understands product liability law could examine manufacturing logs and testing protocols to see if the vehicle’s manufacturers observed industry standards. A lawyer could also check to see if a car maintenance company or repair shop could be at fault for the crash.
Bad weather can lead to slippery roads and poor visibility. Potholes and poorly marked construction zones can also lead to crashes. In some situations, a car accident survivor could pursue a claim against the government agency in charge of maintaining the roads if the roadways remained in a dangerous condition for an unreasonably long period of time. An experienced Atlanta attorney could advise a traffic collision victim on pursuing a legal claim against the city.
The very first step that needs to be done after an accident is to call the police. Having a police report means you have a record that someone else was liable for an accident that happened on a particular day, which can definitely help your case.
After that, go to the hospital or seek treatment immediately if you’re injured. The name of the game is documentation; if we get in front of a jury, we’ll have to prove that there were injuries, and those injuries were caused by this accident. Your medical records need to be able to show that you were injured on this day, what was injured, and the actions you took to treat that injury. It starts with your first day of treatment to demonstrate you were injured from the particular event, which in this case, is a car accident. Typically, it needs to be a hospital record or a doctor you visited in close proximity to the date on which you were injured.
Although these two terms are almost interchangeable, let’s look at this as a two-pronged question. Let’s start with getting hit by an uninsured driver. As I always tell my clients, it’s very important to protect yourself in case of the event that you’re hit by an uninsured driver. As of 2018, about 1 in every 8 drivers are uninsured. (Insurance Research Council) However, even if you’re hit by an uninsured driver, you do still have a chance of recovery, but it won’t be from the person that hit you. They obviously don’t have insurance, and you typically won’t have much luck going after the at fault driver personally because they most likely don’t have enough money in their pocket to be able to pay for all of your medical bills and other expenses. The vast majority of the time, your only avenue of recovery when you are hit by an uninsured driver would be Uninsured Motorist Coverage on your own car insurance.
Unfortunately, car crashes are a frequent occurrence in busy cities like Atlanta. These accidents often result in devastating injuries, leading to significant medical bills and other losses. As such, it is critical to have the right legal team by your side while you recover from a serious collision.
A hardworking Atlanta car accident lawyer could help you pursue a legal claim against the parties responsible for causing the crash. At the Gunn Law Group, we are prepared to fight for the financial compensation you need to care for your injuries and support your family while you heal. Contact us today to get started.
