A young driver talks on the phone at the scene of a car crash. Calling a car accident attorney in Douglasville could be the first step to compensation.
After a car accident, injuries that do not seem bad at first can turn into serious long-term conditions or even years of pain. These injuries can also be expensive, costing you tens of thousands of dollars in medical care or more. Don’t get stuck with a bill for an accident that wasn’t your fault.
You don’t have to face these uncertainties alone. The Douglasville car accident lawyers at John Foy & Associates have been helping auto wreck victims for over 20 years. We began as a small local law office, and today, we’ve become one of the largest and most trusted firms in the state.
How Can a Douglasville Car Accident Lawyer Help Me?
If you’ve just been injured in a car accident, you’re probably counting on your insurance company to take care of things. But don’t fall into this trap.
Insurance companies are like any other business – they have to make decisions that take care of their bottom line. This means they may try to pay you the smallest amount possible, even if it’s not enough to cover your care and other expenses.
They will use a variety of tactics:
- When they call you to discuss your claim, they may ask you “friendly” questions, such as how you’re feeling. If you say you’re feeling better, they may later use your statement against you to show that you don’t need a bigger recovery.
- They may offer you cash as soon as you report your accident. This makes it seem like they’re eager to help, but that’s not necessarily the case. You may not know at first just how much your injury will really cost you, and if you take their initial offer, you forfeit your right to further help.
- Worse yet, they may drag their feet for months and do anything to avoid processing your claim. There’s a reason for this. When financial pressure builds up, you might become desperate to take any offer they make – even if it’s not enough.
- Some insurance companies may even point the finger at you for an accident, even if it clearly wasn’t your fault. Or they may try to argue that your injuries aren’t as bad as they really are.
If you don’t have a lawyer, cutting through the insurance company’s tricks is hard. Insurance companies have an army of legal professionals, and they know that most victims don’t have the background to fight a thorny claim.
Getting legal representation of your own levels the playing field. Simply having a car accident lawyer in Douglasville on your side is often enough to get a higher offer from your insurance company.
Get the strong arm
What Costs Can I Recover in a Car Accident Claim?
When you get an initial consultation with one of our attorneys, they will assess your case and tell you what damages you may be able to recover. These can be economic or non-economic (i.e. damages to your quality of life), and some compensation can even cover expenses that you will have to pay in the future.
In general, your claim will cover almost all expenses and losses. The most common costs are:
- Damage to your vehicle
- Medication to treat your condition
- Lost wages or time away from work
- Medical bills
Some accidents have serious consequences, like a permanent injury, a disability, severe physical pain, or even the death of a loved one. If this is the case, you could potentially win a much larger settlement. Of course, no amount of money could ever make up for a tragic loss, but it can help ease your financial burden when things are tough.
How do I Know If I Have a Valid Car Accident Claim?
Unfortunately, many victims talk themselves out of a claim before they even speak with a professional. They figure that the accident was simply that—an accident. They may even blame themselves for what happened, even if it wasn’t their fault. But that’s not how the law sees it.
Car accidents happen because someone wasn’t paying attention, was reckless, or worse yet, broke a law. This is called “negligence,” and the bottom line is if the other driver was negligent, you have a legitimate case.
At John Foy & Associates, we’ve helped victims win settlements in all kinds of auto wrecks, including:
- “T-bone” accidents
- Rear-end crashes
- Head-on collisions
- Dangerous road conditions (rain, fog, etc.)
- Distracted driving accidents (texting while driving)
- Drunk driving accidents
- Whiplash and other neck injuries
- Defective tires
Don’t worry if the other driver is uninsured or fled after a hit-and-run accident – we may still be able to help. If you’re still not sure whether you have a valid claim, it’s worth it to at least talk to a lawyer. They can listen to your story and tell you what they can do for your case.
What Should I Do After a Car Accident in Georgia?
After a car accident, your safety should be your number one priority. If you have any injuries that need immediate attention, call an ambulance and get medical help ASAP. If you’re in a dangerous position, like in the middle of the road or by a burning vehicle, get to a safe place immediately.
Once you know that you’re safe, there are some things you can do that can help your car accident lawyer down the line. Those steps include:
- Taking pictures of the scene of the accident, including damages to your car and others
- Talking to any witnesses and getting their contact information
- Calling law enforcement and getting a police report
- Going to any follow-up doctor appointments
- Saving bills and medical documents related to your accident
- Contacting a Douglasville car accident attorney
Something to keep in mind is that, after your accident, the other party, their lawyer, and the insurance company will all be trying to get in touch with you. Be polite with them, but only tell them what they absolutely need to know.
They’ll try to take anything you say about the crash or your injuries and use it against you to reduce your settlement. Let a skilled attorney handle their questions for you.
Is It Worth Getting a Lawyer for My Car Accident in Douglasville?
Yes, it’s almost always worth it to get a car accident lawyer in Douglasville. Even minor accidents can cause back pain and other injuries and are worth pursuing a claim. Since you don’t pay anything upfront, there’s no risk to filing a claim.
If you’re tempted to try to take on your case alone, you may be making a mistake. People who represent themselves often fail to get the compensation they need. Only a skilled lawyer understands the intricacies of personal injury law and can help you navigate your claim.
With our firm, you don’t have to worry about paying expensive legal fees. We want to make it as easy as possible for you to get help paying for your medical bills and other damages.
How Much does a Car Accident Attorney Cost?
If you’ve been the victim of a car accident, you’ve already suffered enough. That’s why our law firm believes in getting you the help you need, fast. For this reason, we offer a simple way for you to pay for legal representation:
- You pay nothing upfront
- If we don’t win you money, you don’t owe us anything
- Your consultation is always free
If we recover money for you, our fee is paid as a percentage of what you won. You keep everything else. We believe this is fair because it allows you to get the legal help you need without risking anything.
Do I Have to Go to Court for My Car Accident Claim?
You probably won’t, because most car accident claims are settled out of court. However, every once in a while, insurance companies absolutely refuse to negotiate. That’s when going to the local Douglasville courts may be the best choice.
If this happens, we will advise you on how likely you are to win at trial, and if you decide to move forward, we will handle all the details. It’s always your decision whether to take this step.
For most cases, however, no trial is needed, because insurance companies will pay when they’re presented with a strong case. And this is exactly what we will do for you.
Upon hiring us, the first thing we do is conduct our own investigation into your accident. We scrutinize police reports, hear witness testimony, and gather expert medical opinions to show exactly what happened. Most importantly, we consider what you need to help you fully recover. This is usually enough for the insurance company to offer a comprehensive settlement.
Is There a Deadline to File My Car Accident Claim in Douglasville, GA?
Yes. The courts of the City of Douglasville have to follow deadlines set forth by both state and federal laws. The exact deadline can vary significantly depending on the details of your case:
- Some car accident cases are given as many as two years to file a claim, according to the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (OCGA) § 9-3-33
- Other cases are given only weeks after the accident to file
Unfortunately, if your deadline passes, you probably won’t be able to recover any money at all. Plus, the longer you wait to contact an attorney, the harder it is to gather the evidence necessary to prove that you were the victim of negligence. This is why it’s so important to speak with a good car accident lawyer in Douglasville right away.
Talk to a Douglasville Car Accident Attorney for Free
You need someone you can trust on your side. The Douglasville car accident lawyers at John Foy & Associates have been helping car accident victims get the money they need for over 20 years. When we talk with you, we have one goal in mind: to make sure you recover as fully as possible from your injuries, and to get you all the money you need to do that.
Let us give you a free consultation and show you how we can help. Call us at (404) 400-4000 or fill out the form to your right and get your FREE consultation today.
404-400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
