A rear-end collision occurs when one vehicle strikes another from behind. These types of accidents can produce devastating injuries and severe damage to property. Thankfully, negligent motorists can be held accountable for rear-end collisions they cause.
Assessing what a good settlement is for a rear-end collision in Georgia is a complicated process. Each claim is unique and there are a multitude of factors that are analyzed when determining the amount of compensation to award. Still, there are certain categories of monetary damages you should not miss out on after suffering a rear-end collision.
If you are the victim of a rear-end collision in Georgia, then you should speak with our car accident attorneys right away. Our team can help review your claim and pursue payment. Contact Howe Law today by calling (844) 876-4357.
Common Damages Awarded in Settlements for Rear-End Collisions in Georgia
Rear-end collisions can produce several different types of harm. The following are common damages awarded in settlements for rear-end collisions in Georgia:
Cost of Vehicle Repairs
Many victims of rear-end collisions suffer serious damage to their vehicles. Accordingly, many settlements for such accidents include compensation for the cost of repair or replacement of the plaintiffs’ car. After suffering a rear-end collision, you should call our Georgia car accident lawyers for help recovering payment for the property damage you incurred.
Lost Wages
In many instances, victims of rear-end collisions are unable to return to their jobs until their injuries heal. Plaintiffs in rear-end collision cases often seek monetary damages for the lost wages they suffered. Typically, courts will use workers’ average weekly income to calculate these damages.
Furthermore, some injured workers are permanently restricted from returning to work after experiencing rear-end collisions. In these cases, plaintiffs are often able to obtain compensation for their lost wages in the future. The assistance of our experienced Atlanta car accident attorneys can be highly valuable when collecting the complex evidence needed to support a claim for lost future income.
Medical Bills
Furthermore, many settlements for rear-end collisions in Georgia include compensation for victims’ medical bills. You may obtain payment for all past, current, and future medical bills stemming from the injuries caused by your rear-end accident. Claims for medical expenses can usually be established by presenting your medical records. However, expert witness statements may be necessary to recover damages for medical costs you will incur in the future.
There are a wide range of medical bills that may be incurred while recovering from your rear-end collision. All expenses may be recovered, from the cost of your ambulance ride to your surgical operation to professional home care. You can seek help from our experienced lawyers when fighting for fair compensation.
Emotional Anguish
Compensation for victims’ emotional anguish is also regularly recovered as part of settlements for rear-end collisions. There are several forms of emotional distress that can be suffered by plaintiffs. For instance, a debilitating injury caused by a rear-end collision may prevent a victim from engaging in their favorite activities or hobbies. Additionally, an injury that causes severe, visible scarring may prevent an injured party from partaking in social activities with friends and family.
Quantifying damages for emotional anguish can be difficult. Typically, courts will look to the severity of plaintiffs’ injuries and the impact they have on their lives. There is a wide range of evidence that may be used to demonstrate such damages. Our Columbus car accident lawyers can offer support when seeking damages for your emotional suffering.
Physical Pain
Lastly, those who suffer rear-end collisions in Georgia often recover payment for the physical pain they suffered. Injuries like broken bones, burns, and spinal cord injuries can produce high degrees of physical pain. If you are the victim of a rear-end collision, you should contact our law firm for help obtaining damages for the physical pain you experienced.
Can You Obtain a Good Settlement if You Share Fault for Your Rear-End Collision in Georgia?
If you share some of the responsibility for your rear-end collision, then you may be limited in the amount of damages you can recover. Under Georgia’s rule of modified comparative fault, damages for rear-end collisions will be apportioned based on each party’s percentage of blame. For example, if you are considered to be 20% responsible for your crash while the defendant is 80% to blame, then the defendant will have to pay for 80% of the damages stemming from your collision while you have to account for the leftover 20%. If your portion of fault exceeds 50%, then you will be unable to obtain any payment whatsoever.
There are multiple ways that plaintiffs can share fault for their rear-end collisions. However, defendants often overstate victims’ shares of fault in order to avoid paying for damages they caused. Our experienced Georgia personal injury attorneys can help establish fault in your case, so that you may recover the full range of monetary damages available to you.
How Long Do You Have to Obtain a Good Settlement for a Rear-End Collision in Georgia?
According to O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33, you will usually have two years from the date of your rear-end collision to file a case seeking payment for the injuries you sustained. Failure to adhere to this deadline could cause your claim to be dismissed. Therefore, you should connect with our car accident lawyers quickly after your crash. Our law firm will help bring your case to court in a timely manner.
A separate statute of limitations applies to claims for property damage in Georgia. Under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-31, you generally will have four years to file a claim for property damage caused by your rear-end collision. Our team can also help support a claim for property damage in your case.
After Suffering a Rear-End Collision in Georgia, You Can Call Our Lawyers for Help
If you were involved in a rear-end collision in Georgia, then you should seek help from our experienced John Creek car accident attorneys at Howe Law. Call (844) 876-4357 for a free review case evaluation.
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