A car accident can turn your life upside down and you or your loved one could be facing life-altering injuries and damages that could really take a toll on your finances. If you’ve been hurt in a car accident in Griffin, Georgia you need to speak to a lawyer.
Even seemingly small injuries can end up costing you tens of thousands of dollars or more, and insurance companies do not want to pay you the full amount you need for your injury. Don’t let yourself be stuck holding steep medical bills when a Griffin, GA car accident attorney can help.
Do You Need a Griffin, GA Car Accident Lawyer?
It depends on your case. Sometimes, a car accident is minor and you’ll end up experiencing no complications in the future. Insurance companies tend to rush in to make a small offer and to have you accept it so you sign away your right to more. This can leave you in the terrifying position of needing extensive medical care with no insurance money to pay for it.
The first thing a lawyer does with every car accident victim is to determine what the total long-term cost of your medical care will be. This may involve getting you in front of a specialist and making sure you got the right diagnosis or adding in extra costs. Then your legal team can go to the insurance company with the real amount you need and put pressure on them to agree.
Get the strong arm
What does It Cost to Hire a Car Accident Lawyer in Griffin?
It shouldn’t cost you anything out of pocket. There are law firms that do charge clients upfront, but that’s not in your best interest. The experienced law firms you want to look for are the ones who don’t agree with this and offer a much easier payment structure:
- All consultations are free
- You never pay them a cent out of pocket
- You never pay them, period, if they don’t win you money
If your car accident attorney does recover money for you then they are paid a percentage of your total compensation. The rest is yours to keep.
Insurance Companies After a Car Accident
Don’t accept an offer from an insurance company unless you’ve talked to a lawyer. It’s easy to think that the insurance company is there to look out for you, but they aren’t. They are a business, and their first duty is to protect their bottom line. They will seek to pay you the smallest amount possible even if it doesn’t take care of your injury.
Typically if an insurance company offers quick money, it means one of two things:
- They want to tempt you to take the money before you know the full extent of your injuries
- They already think your claim could be worth much more, and they want to close it before you find out
Deceptive Practices Insurance Companies Use
In other cases, it’s common for insurance companies to use much more deceptive tactics:
- Taking three months or longer to process your claim, knowing you’re in pain
- Asking you questions and using your answers against you
- Using confusing questions to get you to say something you shouldn’t
- Accusing you of being at fault in the accident, even if you were not
Every insurance company has a team of lawyers helping them win against you. It’s very difficult to negotiate or get a larger amount if you don’t have a lawyer of your own.
What You Can Recover in a Car Accident Case in Griffin, GA
In the state of Georgia, you can potentially recover 100% of all costs related to your accident. These costs can include:
- All missed wages/missed work time caused by your accident
- Medical bills
- The cost of medication
- Physical therapy or occupational therapy
- Car repairs and damaged property
- Pain and suffering
Your claim could also include a large cash award for any serious losses you suffered such as a disability or severe physical pain. No amount of money can undo what happened, but it can help you keep your family financially stable as you go forward.
Do You Have to Go to Court for a Griffin Car Accident Claim?
Some car accident claims will go all the way to the local courts. This is rare, but when it happens your Griffin, GA car accident lawyer will be your ally and your counsel. They should make the entire process as easy and stress-free as possible.
More often, however, you will never need to go to court at all. This is the goal for your case from the start. Your attorney will conduct their own investigation into your accident and collect evidence showing exactly what losses you suffered. Your legal team will then lean on the insurance company to settle quickly, out of court, to get you a much larger settlement.
Deadline to Submit Your Car Accident Claim in Griffin
The City of Griffin has tight deadlines set by U.S. law and Georgia state law. Depending on your case the deadline could be up to two years or as little as a matter of weeks. If you miss the deadline to file your claim, you may have to forfeit your legal right to ask for any money at all. Do not make this mistake. Talk to a car accident lawyer as soon after your accident as possible.
Filing for a Wrongful Death After a Car Accident
If your loved one tragically passed away in a car accident or because of the injuries that suffered in the crash, you may be eligible to file a wrongful death claim on their behalf. You can collect compensation for damages such as funeral and burial costs, loss of consortium, and their medical bills.
Your Griffin, GA Car Accident Lawyer Can Prove Negligence
You may be able to hold the at-fault driver responsible and recover a payout for the accident-related losses you experienced if you suffered injuries from your car accident. A lawyer will investigate your accident to prove negligence and liability. This will require showing:
- The at-fault motorist had a responsibility to do or not do something to keep others safe
- They failed to uphold this responsibility
- Their failure caused the accident and the accident resulted in your injuries
- You sustained financial and physical damages
Talk to a Griffin, GA Car Accident Lawyer for FREE
The personal injury attorneys at John Foy & Associates have over 20 years of experience helping the victims of car accidents. Let us help you. We have seen the pain, stress, and financial despair that a car accident can cause, which is why we’ve pledged to work exclusively on behalf of injury victims, never the insurance companies.
We will review the specifics of your accident for free and help you decide if you have a case. Call us or fill out our online form and get your consultation today.
404-400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form