Car accidents can happen anywhere – whether you are driving through the bustling streets of a major city or the quieter roads of a small town. Lilburn might not be as large as Atlanta, but it’s not immune to the dangers of the road. Between 2019 and 2022, Gwinnett County recorded 235 traffic fatalities, making it the fourth deadliest county for car accidents in Georgia. During that same period, Lilburn saw 13 lives lost in car crashes, which is a sobering reminder that serious accidents can and do happen here.
If you have suffered serious injuries in a car accident in Lilburn, you might be struggling with medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering. At Miller Injury Trial Law, we are committed to fighting for car accident victims and their families. With years of experience handling complex personal injury cases, our founder Tanya Miller knows how to take on insurance companies and recover the full compensation you deserve. A former prosecutor and criminal defense lawyer, she is not afraid to go to court to get justice for her clients.
Call our firm today at 855-44MILLER to schedule a free consultation with one of our seasoned Lilburn, GA car accident lawyers.
Major Intersections in Lilburn, GA
- Lawrenceville Highway (US Route 29) and Beaver Ruin Road (State Route 378)
- Killian Hill Road and Arcado Road
- Killian Hill Road and Lilburn Industrial Way
- Pleasant Hill Road and Ronald Reagan Parkway
If My Injuries Seem Minor, Is It Worth Filing a Personal Injury Claim?
After a car accident, if you are not in immediate, severe pain, you might assume that your injuries are not serious. However, this might not always be the case. In the moments following an accident, your body releases adrenaline, which can temporarily mask your pain and make you feel fine even if you are hurt.
Moreover, some injuries might not show symptoms right away. What seems like minor discomfort could worsen over time and lead to serious complications. For example, whiplash is often dismissed as just a sore neck. The fact is that whiplash can cause chronic pain, limited mobility, headaches, and even nerve damage if left untreated. Symptoms might not appear until days after the accident and long-term effects can interfere with daily activities and work.
Similarly, a mild headache after a crash might not seem like a big deal, but it could be a concussion. If left untreated, it can lead to memory problems and mood changes and affect your cognitive abilities, which can affect every aspect of your life. It is why you should seek medical attention as soon as possible following a car accident. Only a doctor can assess your condition and determine whether you are injured and how serious your injuries are.
Once you have a clear picture of your condition and the severity of your injuries, you should consult with an experienced Lilburn, GA car accident lawyer. The lawyer can review the details of your accident and your medical report and determine whether you have a valid claim against the at-fault party and the value of your claim. It is why, before you make any decision regarding a personal injury claim, you should seek the advice of a seasoned lawyer.
Dealing with the Insurance Company after a Car Accident – What You Need to Know
Many people believe that insurance companies exist to help accident victims recover after a crash. It is not true at all. First and foremost, insurance companies are businesses. Like any business, their primary goal is to maximize their profits. They do this by paying out as little as possible on claims or by denying them altogether.
The fact is that insurance companies make money when they collect premiums from policyholders and lose money when they pay claims. No matter how friendly or helpful an insurance adjuster might seem, their job is to protect the company’s bottom line – not to ensure that you receive full and fair compensation.
Insurance companies employ teams of adjusters, investigators, and attorneys whose primary goal is to reduce or deny claims. If you do not know how to handle them, you could end up settling for far less than what you deserve or walk away with nothing.
Most Common Tactics Used by Insurance Companies to Reduce Your Compensation
- Making Quick Lowball Offers – Shortly after the accident, an adjuster might call you with what seems like a reasonable settlement offer. However, this initial offer is almost always much lower than what you actually deserve. Their goal is to get you to accept before you realize the full extent of your injuries and losses.
- Shifting More Blame Onto You – Georgia follows a modified comparative fault system, under which if you are found to be 50% or more at fault for the accident, you cannot recover any compensation. Even if you’re only partially at fault, your settlement will be reduced proportionately. Knowing this, the insurance company might look for ways to assign more blame to you, even if the other party was clearly negligent.
- Dragging Out the Claims Process – Insurance companies know that following an accident, you might be overwhelmed with medical bills, lost earnings, and a wide range of other expenses. By dragging out the claims process, they hope that you will become desperate enough to accept a low settlement just to get some relief.
- Claiming You Will Not Get More in Court – The adjuster might tell you that their offer is the best you can get and that if you take your case to court, you could end up with nothing. This is a scare tactic designed to pressure you into settling for less than you are owed.
Why You Should Avoid Talking to Insurance Adjusters after an Accident
One of the biggest mistakes you can make after an accident is speaking with the insurance adjuster without legal representation. Claims adjusters are trained to ask tricky questions designed to get you to admit fault or downplay your injuries. Here are some examples of questions they might ask:
- Can You Tell Me Exactly How the Accident Occurred? This question might seem innocent, but they are looking for inconsistencies in your story. Even a small misstatement can be used to challenge your claim.
- Were You Not Paying Attention? If you say anything that suggests you were looking at your phone, adjusting the radio, or even talking to a passenger, they might argue that you were partially at fault.
- How Are You Feeling Today? If you casually say something like “I’m fine” or “I feel better,” they might use this to argue that your injuries are not as serious as you initially claimed.
- Did You Have Any Pre-Existing Conditions? They might use this to suggest that your injuries were not caused by the accident but were instead due to a prior medical issue.
The Importance of Accounting for Psychological Trauma in Car Accident Claims
After a car accident, most people focus on physical injuries they can see and feel. However, the emotional and psychological toll of an accident can be just as devastating, if not worse. Studies show that car accident victims are at a significantly higher risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) compared to the general population.
PTSD can manifest in many ways, including nightmares, flashbacks, severe anxiety, and a deep fear of driving or even being a passenger in a car. In some cases, it can lead to depression, emotional numbness, or a loss of interest in daily activities. If left untreated, PTSD can affect your relationships, work performance, and overall quality of life.
The Long-Term Costs of Psychological Trauma
The financial burden of psychological trauma can be significant, often lasting much longer than expected. While some people recover from the emotional distress of an accident in a matter of weeks, others experience persistent symptoms that require extensive treatment. The long-term costs associated with PTSD and other accident-related psychological conditions include:
- Therapy and Counseling Costs: You might need ongoing treatment with a psychologist, psychiatrist, or licensed therapist. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure therapy, and trauma-focused counseling are commonly recommended treatments for PTSD. Depending on your condition, you might require therapy for several months or even years.
- Medication: You might require medication to manage anxiety, depression, or insomnia caused by the accident. Prescription medications like antidepressants or anti-anxiety drugs might be necessary for extended periods.
- Loss of Income and Reduced Earning Capacity: Psychological trauma can severely impact your ability to work. You might find it difficult to concentrate, struggle with panic attacks at work, or be unable to return to your previous profession. You might have to take extended leaves of absence, work fewer hours, or even switch careers entirely.
- Impact on Personal Relationships: PTSD and emotional trauma can strain your marriage, friendships, and family relationships. You might struggle with anger, emotional detachment, or social withdrawal, which might require couples or family therapy.
How Our Lilburn, GA Car Accident Lawyers Can Help You Get Full Compensation for Psychological Trauma
At Miller Injury Trial Law, we understand that a car accident settlement is not just about medical bills. It is about making sure you are fully compensated for all of your damages, including emotional trauma. Our experienced attorneys can work with mental health professionals, medical experts, and financial analysts to calculate the true cost of your psychological trauma – from the cost of therapy to the impact on your daily life and career – and make sure that your claim reflects the full extent of your suffering.
Talk to Our Proven Lilburn, GA Car Accident Lawyers Today
If you have been injured in a car accident, the insurance company will do everything it can to pay you as little as possible. With Miller Injury Trial Law on your side, you do not have to worry about getting shortchanged, as insurance companies know who we are and take us very seriously.
Attorney Tanya Miller is a leading trial lawyer who fights to win. Thanks to her prosecutorial background, she thrives in the courtroom and knows how to take on powerful opponents – including insurance companies that try to undercut injury victims. When they see her name on a case, they know they are up against an attorney who will not back down.
Call us today at 855-44MILLER or get in touch with us online to schedule a free consultation with one of our seasoned Lilburn, GA car accident lawyers.
