Auto accidents often cause devastating injuries to victims in Carrollton, entitling them to compensatory damages from negligent parties. Such damages are recoverable via lawsuits.
Many car accidents that take place in Carrollton are ultimately caused by negligence or recklessness. Driver inattention, which could be as simple as looking down at one’s phone while driving, could cause a serious accident. Other acts of negligence, like drunk driving and speeding, also cause catastrophic auto accidents. Regardless of the cause of your recent crash, there is certain evidence you should collect at the scene. You can do this by taking photos and speaking to eyewitnesses. Gathering evidence quickly is important, as victims have just two years to sue for injury in Georgia. After you file, you can expect settlement negotiations to follow. Depending on the course such negotiations take, your claim might go to court, where a jury will hear it and decide the defendant’s fault.
To get help with your case from our Carrollton, GA car accident lawyers, call Howe Law right away at (844) 876-4357.
Causes of Car Accidents in Carrollton, GA
Auto accidents are often caused by negligence or another driver’s failure to abide by traffic laws. Negligence and recklessness might take many forms and are often sufficient reasons to sue a negligent driver for compensatory damages in Carrollton.
Minor car accidents are often caused by driver inattention. For example, when coming to a stoplight, one driver might choose to look down at their phone, only to strike the driver at a stop in front of them, resulting in a rear-end accident. Though such crashes might be minor when they happen at low speeds, they can still result in injuries that require medical attention, like whiplash.
Any act of negligence or recklessness by drivers might cause serious auto accidents. For example, driving at night without headlights could cause a disastrous auto accident, especially at an intersection or poorly lit area. Other common causes of motor vehicle accidents in Carrollton include drunk driving, aggressive driving, drowsy driving, speeding, and more.
Sometimes, auto accidents are not caused by another driver’s negligence but by poorly maintained roads. In such instances, a victim’s claim would not be against another driver but the local government in Carrollton.
Evidence to Collect at the Scene of a Car Accident in Carrollton, GA
Because crash sites are often cleared away quickly so as not to cause unnecessary danger to others on the road, certain evidence might only be available at the scene of an auto accident in Carrollton.
For example, physical evidence might be lost unless it is collected or photographed. Though you may be largely focused on your injuries and not collecting evidence, try your best to take photographs of the area. This allows our attorneys to have photographic evidence of property damage, debris, tire marks, involved vehicles, and visible injuries. Photos of the area might also allow us to identify nearby locations with security cameras.
Also, while you are at the location of the accident, prioritize speaking with eyewitnesses. These do not have to be lengthy conversations. Just ask for their names and phone numbers so we can contact them in the future. Eyewitnesses can give testimony explaining exactly what they saw and how the other driver acted negligently.
Be sure to speak with law enforcement as well, as the information they include in the accident report can be useful to your claim. Our car accident lawyers can help you obtain this report from the Carrollton Police Department in the days following your crash.
Deadline to File a Carrollton, GA Car Accident Claim
Lawsuits must be filed within a specific timeframe, lest victims lose their opportunities to recover compensatory damages. Our attorneys can ensure you bring your case on time so that you are not blocked from financial recovery.
According to O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33, the deadline to file a car accident claim in Carrollton is two years. Because car accident victims are often aware of their injuries right away, tolling for delayed discovery rarely applies to these types of cases.
In order to file a lawsuit on time, victims must ensure they have a case capable of proving a defendant’s fault and do so within two years. While this might seem easily achievable initially, in reality, victims dealing with serious injuries often have more pressing matters on their minds than filing lawsuits. Our lawyers appreciate this, which is why we can focus on preparing your claim as you prioritize your physical recovery. If you fail to bring your claim within the limitation period, you will be unable to get compensation for your damages.
What to Expect After You File Your Carrollton, GA Car Accident Lawsuit
When you file your case with the court in Carrollton, the recovery process kicks into high gear, so to speak. Various important steps will follow, including possible settlement negotiations.
After you file, our lawyers may negotiate a settlement with the defendant’s counsel. This is done in an effort to resolve a claim out of court without the need for trial. Settlement negotiations might take a matter of weeks or months, depending on the complexity of a car accident case. If you do not settle your claim out of court, we can help you bring it to trial. At trial, we will aim to prove that the defendant acted negligently or recklessly when operating their vehicle, causing the accident in question. After we do this, the jury will assess your damages to determine your award.
Whether you settle out of court or win at trial, you might get your compensation via one lump sum payment or several structured payments. This can depend on specific circumstances at hand, such as the damages owed to a victim and the defendant’s ability to pay those damages.
Call Our Attorneys in Carrollton, GA About Your Auto Accident
You can call the Atlanta car accident lawyers of Howe Law at (844) 876-4357 to get a free case assessment.
