Snellville, Georgia, is a vibrant city in Gwinnett County with a mix of residential neighborhoods and bustling commercial areas. Its location near major highways like US-78 and GA-124 contributes to a significant volume of daily traffic, increasing the risk of car accidents. Determining fault in these accidents is essential for insurance claims and legal actions. If you’ve been involved in a car accident in Snellville, it’s important to seek legal counsel to protect your interests and ensure fair compensation for your injuries and damages.
Why You Need a Snellville Car Accident Lawyer
Navigating the aftermath of a car accident in Georgia can be incredibly complex. Georgia’s traffic laws, insurance regulations, and legal procedures can be challenging to understand, especially when you’re dealing with the physical and emotional stress of an accident. Insurance companies, even your own, are primarily focused on protecting their bottom line, not necessarily ensuring you receive the maximum compensation you’re entitled to. They may employ various tactics to minimize payouts, such as:
- Downplaying Your Injuries: Questioning the severity of your injuries or suggesting they were pre-existing.
- Disputing Liability: Arguing that you were partially or fully at fault for the accident.
- Offering Quick, Low Settlements: Pressuring you to accept a settlement that doesn’t fully cover your medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages.
- Delaying Payment: Unnecessarily prolonging the claims process, hoping you’ll become frustrated and accept a lower offer.
A Snellville car accident lawyer acts as your advocate, leveling the playing field and protecting your rights. They will:
- Maximize Your Compensation: By thoroughly investigating your case, gathering evidence, and understanding the full extent of your damages, a lawyer can fight for the maximum compensation you deserve.
- Handle All Negotiations: Your lawyer will communicate directly with the insurance companies, shielding you from stressful and potentially damaging interactions.
- Gather Crucial Evidence: This includes obtaining police reports, witness statements, medical records, and potentially hiring accident reconstruction experts.
- Represent You in Court: If a fair settlement cannot be reached, your lawyer will be prepared to take your case to trial and represent you before a judge and jury.
- Provide Peace of Mind: Knowing that an experienced professional is handling your case allows you to focus on your recovery and healing.
Types of Car Accident Cases
Some of the most common types of cases our Snellville, GA car accident lawyers handle include:
- Rear-End Collisions: These accidents are frequently caused by distracted driving, tailgating, or a sudden stop in traffic. They can result in whiplash, back injuries, and other serious harm.
- Head-On Collisions: These are extremely dangerous accidents that often result in severe injuries or fatalities due to the high impact forces involved. They can be caused by drunk driving, reckless driving, or wrong-way driving.
- Side-Impact Collisions (T-Bone): These accidents are common at intersections and often caused by failure to yield the right-of-way, running a red light, or speeding. They can result in severe injuries to occupants on the side of the impact.
- Distracted Driving Accidents: These accidents are caused by drivers using cell phones, texting, eating, grooming, or engaging in other activities that take their attention off the road. They can result in a wide range of injuries depending on the circumstances.
- Drunk Driving Accidents: These accidents are caused by drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs, which impairs their judgment and reaction time. They can result in serious injuries and fatalities, and the drunk driver may face criminal charges.
- Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Accidents: These cases involve an at-fault driver who lacks sufficient insurance coverage to compensate the injured party adequately. Our attorneys can help you pursue compensation through your own insurance or other means.
- Multi-Vehicle Accidents: These complex accidents involve multiple vehicles, often requiring extensive investigation to determine liability and causation. They can result in a wide range of injuries and property damage.
- Motorcycle Accidents: Due to their lack of protection, motorcyclists are at high risk of severe injury or death in an accident. These cases often involve negligent drivers who fail to see or yield to motorcycles.
- Truck Accidents: Accidents involving large trucks or 18-wheelers can be devastating due to the size and weight disparity. These cases often require specialized knowledge of trucking regulations and industry practices.
- Pedestrian Accidents: Pedestrians are vulnerable to serious injury or death when struck by a vehicle. These cases often involve negligent drivers who fail to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks or who are distracted or impaired.
Georgia’s Car Accident Laws
Georgia operates under an “at-fault” insurance system. This means that the driver who is found to be responsible for causing the accident (and their insurance company) is liable for the damages incurred by the other party. To recover compensation, you must prove that the other driver was negligent and that their negligence directly caused your injuries and damages.
Several key Georgia laws are relevant:
- Proving Negligence: Negligence is the failure to exercise reasonable care, resulting in harm to another person. Examples of driver negligence include speeding, running red lights, distracted driving, and driving under the influence.
- Statute of Limitations: In Georgia, you generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33). Missing this deadline can result in losing your right to pursue compensation.
- Comparative Negligence: Georgia follows a “modified comparative negligence” rule (O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33). This means that if you are found to be partially at fault for the accident, your compensation can be reduced proportionally. If you are 50% or more at fault, you cannot recover any damages.
- Duty to Report Accidents: O.C.G.A. § 40-6-273 outlines that you are required to contact the police and file an accident report.
- Uninsured Motorist Coverage: O.C.G.A. § 33-7-11 addresses when and how you can seek compensation from your own insurance if hit by someone without coverage.
What to Do After a Car Accident in Snellville
The steps you take immediately after a car accident can significantly impact your ability to recover compensation. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
- Ensure Safety and Call 911: Check yourself and others for injuries. If anyone is injured, call 911 immediately. Move your vehicle to a safe location if possible, but only if it’s safe to do so.
- Exchange Information: Exchange names, contact information, insurance details, and vehicle registration information with the other driver(s).
- Gather Evidence: Take photos of the accident scene, vehicle damage, and any visible injuries. Get contact information from any witnesses. Note the time, date, location, weather conditions, and any other relevant details.
- Seek Medical Attention: Even if you don’t feel injured immediately, see a doctor as soon as possible. Some injuries, like whiplash or internal injuries, may not be immediately apparent. Delaying medical treatment can weaken your claim.
- Report the Accident to Your Insurance Company: Notify your own insurance company about the accident, but be very careful about what you say. Stick to the basic facts and avoid admitting fault.
- Contact a Car Accident Lawyer: Before speaking with the other driver’s insurance company or accepting any settlement offer, consult with an experienced Snellville car accident lawyer.
- Do Not Admit Fault: It is important to avoid admitting fault or stating anything that can be used against you.
Common Injuries from Car Accidents
Car accidents can result in a wide range of injuries, from minor to life-threatening. Some common injuries include:
- Whiplash: A neck injury caused by the sudden back-and-forth movement of the head.
- Broken Bones: Fractures of the arms, legs, ribs, or other bones.
- Head Injuries (TBI): Traumatic brain injuries, ranging from mild concussions to severe, permanent brain damage.
- Spinal Cord Injuries: Can result in partial or complete paralysis.
- Soft Tissue Injuries: Damage to muscles, ligaments, and tendons.
- Internal Injuries: Damage to internal organs, such as the lungs, liver, or spleen.
- Emotional Trauma: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression.
- Lacerations
- Burns
These injuries can have long-term consequences, including chronic pain, disability, and the need for ongoing medical care.
Compensation You May Be Entitled To
If you were injured in a car accident due to someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for various damages, including:
- Medical Expenses:1 This includes past and future medical bills, such as hospital stays, doctor visits, physical therapy, medication, and medical equipment.
- Lost Wages: Compensation for income you’ve lost due to being unable to work, as well as future lost earning capacity if your injuries prevent you from returning to your previous job.
- Pain and Suffering: Compensation for the physical pain and emotional distress you’ve experienced as a result of the accident.
- Property Damage: Reimbursement for the cost of repairing or replacing your damaged vehicle.
- Loss of Consortium: Compensation for the loss of companionship and support from your spouse or partner due to your injuries.
- Punitive Damages: In cases of extreme negligence or intentional misconduct, punitive damages may be awarded to punish the at-fault driver and deter similar behavior in the future.
Contact Miller Injury Trial Law – Our Snellville, GA Car Accident Compassionate Lawyers
Miller Injury Trial Law is a dedicated personal injury law firm serving clients in Snellville, Gwinnett County, and throughout Georgia. Our experienced attorneys have a deep understanding of Georgia car accident law and a proven track record of success in obtaining substantial compensation for our clients. We are committed to providing personalized, compassionate, and aggressive representation to each and every client. If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident in the Snellville, GA area, don’t hesitate to contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your case and answer your questions.
