Millions of cars are on the road every day. Unfortunately, that also means that car accidents are a common occurrence on Georgia roads. If you are in a car accident, you could suffer serious injuries and be burdened with enormous medical expenses, a lengthy recovery period, and a hefty car repair bill. You might be wondering how you are going to get back to normal after all that has happened.
We are here to help. Our lawyers are ready to fight for you in court to the very end. We can interview witnesses, collect evidence, negotiate with insurance companies, and represent you in court to get you the compensation you deserve.
Call our car accident lawyers at Howe Law at (844) 876-4357 for a free case review.
What You Should Do After a Car Accident in Roswell, GA
There are important steps you should take right after a car accident to give yourself the best chance at being successful in court. Car accidents can be hectic, so having a plan of action can also help so you can immediately do what you need to.
Seek Medical Attention
The very first thing you should do after a car accident is be seen by a medical professional. Stay at the site of the accident until first responders arrive, then follow their advice. If they say you are cleared to stay at the scene of the crash and collect evidence, talk to the police officer, and so on, then feel free to do so. If they advise you to go to the hospital, follow their recommendations.
Even if you do not think you are injured, you should still see a medical professional. Many injuries might not show up until days after an accident, and the adrenaline from being in a car crash could hide serious injuries that need immediate attention.
Failure to seek medical attention could be seen as negligence on your part and could be used by opposing counsel to reduce your recovery.
Document the Accident
If you are able, get as much information as possible about the car accident. First, obtain the name, insurance information, and driver’s license of any other people involved in the accident. Second, take photos or a video of the accident. Finally, be sure you talk to any police officers who are responding to the scene so they can take your statement. Chances are, another driver involved in the accident will speak to an officer, so if you do not tell your side of the story, you are letting other people control the narrative of what happened.
Call Our Lawyers
You should get legal counsel as soon as possible after a car accident. Not only will this let our lawyers start working on your case earlier, but you have a limited time to file a lawsuit after a car accident. In Georgia, the time limit you have to file a car accident lawsuit is two years per O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33. If you try and file a claim for your injuries after that time, your case will be thrown out, and you will not be able to recover anything. File your lawsuit promptly to make sure that does not happen.
Damages in a Roswell, GA Car Accident Lawsuit
The damages you could be awarded in a car accident lawsuit are generally broken down into three categories: economic, non-economic, and punitive damages. While you will not get awarded damages twice, these categories exist to help the court understand exactly what you are asking for compensation for.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are the easiest kind of damages to understand. Economic damages are awarded for things with a discernable monetary value. Hospital bills, costs of surgery and other treatments, and physical therapy costs are all examples of things for which you could be awarded economic damages in a car accident lawsuit.
You can also be awarded economic damages for the time you were not working. For example, if you could not work for several months while your injuries healed, you could be compensated for the income you would have earned. Additionally, if you can no longer work or need to take a worse paying job because of your injuries, that could also factor into calculating economic damages.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are more abstract than economic damages. They do not have bills or receipts that neatly state how much they are worth. Pain and suffering, mental anguish, and loss of consortium are all common examples of economic damages. Because each plaintiff is different and will have different amounts of pain or because of their injuries, the amount of non-economic damages a plaintiff will ask for can vary.
Because non-economic damages are more nebulous than economic damages, you have to decide how much you want to ask for. Often, clients will work with our lawyers to calculate an amount to request in non-economic damages that makes sense for their case. Ultimately, the jury decides how much the plaintiff is awarded in damages, so it is our job to convince them what your non-economic damages are worth.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are unique in that they are not based on the condition of the plaintiff. Instead, they are based on the conduct of the defendant. Most damages in car accident lawsuits are designed to “make the plaintiff whole” again. The idea is to put them in a similar position to where they were before they got injured.
Punitive damages, on the other hand, are there to punish the defendant for particularly bad conduct. Courts are not eager to mete out punitive damages and instead reserve them for the most egregious violators.
Call Our Roswell, GA Car Accident Lawyers Right Away
Do not hesitate to call the car accident lawyers at Howe Law at (844) 876-4357 to discuss your case.
