Calhoun Car Accident Lawyer

Auto accidents are extremely common. In fact, the average person will be in three or four car accidents in their lifetime, and this statistic applies to Calhoun residents, too. Unfortunately, even the most careful drivers cannot control what other people do (or don’t do) behind the wheel. That means that accidents are bound to happen.

When they occur, car crashes can leave behind serious physical and mental injuries and property damage. These can pull you away from work and affect you for the rest of your life in some cases. If you’ve been in an accident, you need a Calhoun car accident lawyer to help you get back on your feet. 

John Foy & Associates has been helping car accident victims address their losses and injuries after a crash for over 20 years. We understand just how much a car accident can affect your life, and we want to help.

We have the experience you need to get the money you deserve to pay for your losses after your car accident. Don’t wait to give our team a call. Let us give you a free consultation. Call us at 404-400-4000 and get your free consultation today.

What Can I do to Protect My Rights After a Car Accident?

To legally protect yourself after a car accident, you will need to document the accident, gather evidence, get your injuries treated as soon as possible, and seek legal help.

Documenting the Scene

After the accident happens, you will need to:

• Call the police to report the accident and tell responding officers what happened
• Take pictures of the accident scene, your injuries, and vehicle damage to your car
• Avoid admitting any blame or apologizing to the other driver until you have all the facts
• Talk to witnesses and get their names and contact information

Each of these steps can help create a record of the car accident, which is crucial for your insurance claim.

Getting Your Injuries Checked Out

After you’ve left the scene, see a doctor as soon as you can to have your injuries checked out. Some car accident injuries take time to fully show up, so you should see a doctor even if your pain is minor. The sooner you can get treatment and create a record that you saw someone for your injuries, the better it is for your case.

Also, keep track of all medical bills, doctor notes, and other records of your injuries and medical expenses.

Taking Notes on the Accident

Keep a record of what happened before, during, and after the car accident. Write down how the accident made you feel and how your injuries have impacted your day-to-day life. Also, record any names and contact information of people you’ve communicated with about your accident.

Getting a Car Inspection

Assess how much your vehicle damage will cost to repair (or replace, if your car was totaled). You might see a few different inspectors for an average estimate of how much your vehicle damage is worth before the other driver’s insurance company steps in.

Documenting Your Damages

Keep track of all costs associated with your car accident. Use a file or folder to save documents and notes in one place. This should include:

• Your claim number
• The insurance adjuster’s name
• All medical bills and records
• Quotes for vehicle damage repairs
• Full names, phone numbers, and addresses for all relevant contacts

Calling a Car Accident Lawyer

Schedule a consultation with an experienced car accident lawyer who can make sure you are doing everything to protect your rights after the accident. It’s easy to get taken advantage of if you don’t know how to handle the insurance company, so a lawyer can make sure that doesn’t happen. They can also help fight for the fair settlement you deserve.

If the insurance company or other driver fights against your claim, your lawyer will be there every step of the way—even if you need to take the driver to trial.

Basically, be cautious in everything you do or say after a car accident. Avoid admitting blame, apologizing, or downplaying your damages—and get a trusted lawyer on your side who can help you take the right actions for your case. The goal is to protect your legal rights to full compensation for all the damages you face because of the other driver’s negligence that led to your accident.

Getting Your Injuries Checked Out

After you’ve left the scene, see a doctor as soon as you can to have your injuries checked out. Some car accident injuries take time to fully show up, so you should see a doctor even if your pain is minor. The sooner you can get treatment and create a record that you saw someone for your injuries, the better it is for your case.

Also, keep track of all medical bills, doctor notes, and other records of your injuries and medical expenses.

How Can a Car Accident Lawyer Help Me After an Accident?

You will have a lot going on in your life after an auto crash. Your injuries may be serious — you may not be able to work, do housework, or even do the simple things that allowed you to enjoy life before the accident. In some cases, you may be confined to a hospital bed for days, weeks, or even months. You may never be able to fully recover. The services of an experienced car accident lawyer in Calhoun are especially important in those situations. 

Your attorney will be able to do the leg work on your case so you don’t have to. You can focus on recovering from your injuries. Your lawyer will likely:

• Interview witnesses
• Review police reports
• Work with your healthcare providers to gather medical records and information
• Gather information regarding missed work or other opportunities
• Negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf
• File your complaint/petition
• Do legal research and further investigation

Your attorney often serves as a buffer between you and whoever needs your attention after an accident. Your lawyer does the grunt work and the paperwork so you don’t have to address those issues. They also ensure that you meet all of the deadlines you need to and file the correct documents with the court. 

Your lawyer is more than just someone who works with the court, however. They will be an advocate for you across many fronts, whether that includes working with the hospital to stop your medical bills or getting information from the insurance company. You may be surprised to learn just how helpful your lawyer will be after a crash. 

How do I Know If I Have a Good Case?

If you or a loved one were involved in a car accident case, you likely have a legal claim if the following two conditions apply.

1. You were harmed because of the accident and
2. The crash was someone else’s fault (at least in part).

Many people make the mistake of assuming that they don’t have a legal claim because their damages weren’t that serious or they were partially at fault. The truth is that if you suffered any harm, that may be enough for a lawsuit. You often also have a legal claim even if you partially to blame for the crash. But, not all cases are worth pursuing all the way to trial. This is sometimes the test of what you might consider a “good” case. In some situations, you may want to get a little bit of money out of the other driver’s insurance company, and that’s all that you should do. 

The best way to determine if you have a good case is to sit down with an experienced Calhoun car accident lawyer and walk through what happened and outline your damages or losses. That way, you can get a tailored response for your unique situation. John Foy & Associates has a free consultation process for just that purpose–you can determine whether your case is “good” before you invest time and effort into it. 

How Long do I Have to Start a Car Accident Case in Calhoun?

Every type of lawsuit in Georgia has what is called a “statute of limitations.” This period restricts the amount of time that you have to start your lawsuit. 

The law does this for two major reasons:

1.  It allows the defendant to avoid being haunted by a potential lawsuit forever

If you had an unlimited amount of time to start a lawsuit, a defendant would always have to have protection (insurance) for a particular suit. That type of rule would be impractical and confusing for everyone. Having a cut off point lets a defendant know that they are “safe” from a potential lawsuit after a certain period.

2.  The evidence is still available and “fresh”

It is much harder to gather evidence about a car accident (or any other type of accident) as time goes on. Your witnesses may not be available any longer, written evidence may have been destroyed, and memories fade. Ensuring that a lawsuit starts within a certain time frame allows everyone to gather evidence more effectively. 

In Georgia, there is a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims, which includes car accident cases. But, you should keep in mind that just because the deadline to file a lawsuit does not run for two years doesn’t mean that you should wait that long. Instead, it’s a good idea to talk to an attorney as soon as you can after an accident so they can start their investigation process. 

Talk to a Calhoun Car Accident Lawyer for Free

If you have recently been in an accident, and you are ready to take the next step toward getting the money damages that you deserve, John Foy & Associates can help. We will be with you at every twist and turn in your case, providing helpful guidance and insight. Let us give you a FREE consultation. Call us at 404-400-4000, or fill out the form and get your FREE consultation today.