Columbus Car Accident Lawyer

What Can I Do Following a Car Collision to Safeguard My Rights?

After a car crash, you must document the collision, gather evidence, treat your injuries immediately, and contact a lawyer. In addition, we recommend the following:

Taking Photos of the Scene

Following the incident, you must do several tasks to ensure you have the highest chance of recovering fair compensation. You should:

• Contact the police, report the collision, and explain the details of the crash.
• Take pictures of the crash site, your wounds, and your car’s damage.
• Wait until you have all the facts before apologizing to the other motorist or assigning blame.
• Speak with witnesses to obtain their names and contact details.

You can strengthen your Columbus car accident case and insurance claim by performing these actions.

Getting Medical Help for Your Injuries

Make a doctor’s appointment immediately after leaving the accident scene to have your injuries checked. You should always see a doctor even if your discomfort is minor because some car accident injuries take weeks to fully appear.

Plus, medical records give your attorney evidence to use in your personal injury case. So keep records of medical records, bills, and other evidence of your injuries and expenses to bolster your case.

Taking Notes After Your Crash

Keep a record of everything that happened before, during, and after your car accident. In addition, maintain a journal of your thoughts on what happened and how your injuries have impacted your daily life.

Finally, in addition to obtaining the accident report, keep track of the names and phone numbers of everyone you spoke to concerning your wreck.

Having Your Vehicle Inspected

Calculate the cost of restoring your car’s damage (or replacing it if it was totaled). To get an accurate estimate, you could speak with mechanics or other auto inspectors before the liable party’s insurance company approaches you.

Keeping Track of Your Damages

Keep track of all costs related to your auto accident. Save papers and notes in one place by using a file or folder, such as:

• Claim number
• All medical documents and invoices
• Estimates for fixing vehicle damage
• Complete names, contact information, and addresses for all necessary parties

Basically, be cautious in everything you do or say after a car accident. Avoid admitting blame, apologizing, or downplaying your damage - 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 in Touch With a Car Accident Attorney

Make an appointment to speak with an experienced Columbus auto accident attorney who can help you complete the necessary tasks to protect your claim. A lawyer can ensure an insurance claims adjuster doesn’t take advantage of you. We can also support you in your fight for a just settlement.

Your attorney will be at your side throughout the process, even if you must take the other driver to court if the insurance company or other driver contests your claim.

How a Columbus, GA, Car Accident Lawyer Can Help You

After you’re injured in a car accident in Columbus, one of our personal injury attorneys can help you navigate the legal process. We’ll start by gathering all the relevant evidence to prove your claim. Then we’ll consult professionals like accident reconstructionists to identify additional perspectives on the accident.

We can also help you negotiate with other parties, such as the liable parties’ insurance company. And if the insurance company doesn’t want to give you the accident settlement you qualify for, our team can take your case to court, where we’ll protect and advocate for your legal right to compensation.

Valid Car Accident Claims in Georgia

The only way to know if you have a case is to talk to a Columbus car accident attorney. Unfortunately, every day, people get into accidents they think are minor or wrongly believe are their fault.

You may feel there’s nothing you can do. But as time passes, the true costs of these accidents become clear, and often it’s too late to go back and make your case.

Examples of situations that might give you a valid claim include:

• Defective tires: If you got into an accident due to a faulty tire, the car manufacturer is responsible for your injuries, and we can help you request compensation from them.
• Distracted driving: When other drivers don’t pay attention, you could pay the price of their negligence and suffer injuries. Common forms of distracted driving include texting, talking to passengers, and changing the radio at the wrong time.
• Head-on collisions: When you’re injured in a head-on collision, you can suffer severe injuries such as traumatic brain injuries and broken bones. We can help you hold the negligent party accountable.
• Rear-end collisions: When a car hits you from behind in a rear-end collision, you may require car maintenance to fix your bumper. The severity of a car crash from behind dictates the severity of your injuries.
• Hit-and-run accidents: After someone hits your car and leaves the accident scene, they’ve committed an illegal act. We can help you find their contact information and file a personal injury claim against them.
• Speeding accidents: When drivers don’t obey the speed limit speeding accidents often result. Other drivers going the speed limit suffer the consequences, but our legal team can help.
• Rollover accidents: A car crash is scary enough, but when your car flips in a rollover accident, you can suffer catastrophic injuries requiring lifetime care.
• Whiplash injuries: You may be eligible for a claim if you sustained a whiplash injury in a car collision. We can help you recover the damages you’re eligible for.
• Fatal accidents: If you lost a loved one in a fatal accident, we are truly sorry for your loss, and we’re ready to help you identify the parties responsible for your loss.

Do You Have to Sue Someone in a Car Accident Claim?

Many cases are settled successfully without filing a lawsuit. Your lawyer is your negotiator and will inform the insurance company they have taken over your case.

The insurance company will then have to bargain with them, not you. Therefore, your car accident attorney should present a strong case with evidence to show the true cost of the crash and push for a fair settlement.

In some cases, a claim does involve filing suit. However, the lawsuit is against an insurance company, not another driver. Therefore, it is always your choice whether to proceed with a lawsuit, and it’s often unnecessary.

Will I Have to Go to Court to Settle My Car Accident Case?

Most likely, you won’t need to go to court. Most auto accident lawsuits are resolved out of court.

In general, insurance companies prefer to settle cases promptly and without a trial. Even when attorneys file a case, they frequently reach an out-of-court agreement well in advance of the trial. Without you present, your attorney can handle the meetings and negotiations.

A vehicle accident suit can occasionally go to trial in the Columbus legal system. You may not want to go to court, which is understandable, but your auto accident attorney can ensure it goes as quickly and painlessly as possible.

Should I Talk to the Other Driver’s Insurance Company?

You should talk to the negligent party’s insurance company but with one of our attorneys present. We can help you recover the maximum compensation by presenting relevant evidence that proves that the negligent driver is at fault for your injuries.

The insurance adjuster may try to downplay serious injuries such as traumatic brain or spinal cord injuries. But when our auto accident lawyers represent you, we’ll ensure the insurance adjuster doesn’t take advantage of you.

How Much It Costs to Hire a Columbus Car Accident Lawyer

If you lose your case, you don’t pay a Columbus auto accident attorney anything. Instead, a car accident attorney evaluates your case during a free consultation to see if you have a solid case and if their assistance may meet your demands.

If so, we won’t charge you anything until you receive compensation. Attorney fees are deducted from the total amount of the recovery.

How Long do I Have to File a Car Collision Lawsuit?

You need to move quickly. You only have up to two years in Georgia to file a car accident claim, per Ga. Code § 9-3-33. You have the best chance of success if you file your claim immediately.

That’s because evidence can be harder to collect with time, witnesses’ memory fade, and the pressure to settle becomes more intense.

If you lost a loved one in a Columbus car crash, our team of lawyers is truly sorry for your loss. However, you must file a wrongful death claim for two years from your loved one’s death date.

Speaking to a lawyer should be your first move, no matter what kind of car accident you were in. It may be the best thing you ever do for your case.

How Long You Have to File a Claim Against a City for a Car Accident

In some types of car collisions, the city may be to blame for your accident and injuries. For example, if a road the city owns is in bad condition or lacks safety features like a guardrail, you could hold the city accountable if you get injured.

You have six months from your accident to file a personal injury claim. An experienced attorney from our team can help you determine what documents you need to include in your claim, such as a police report, insurance policy info, and medical records.

And if you are filing a claim specifically for property damage after an at-fault driver hits you in a Columbus car accident, you have four years to file a claim against the liable party.

Georgia Modified Comparative Negligence Law

According to Ga. Code § 51-12-33, you are still eligible for compensation even if you’re partially responsible for the car accident. The modified comparative negligence statute does not bar recovery if you are found to be less than 50% liable for the accident. Your compensation, however, will be reduced by your percentage of fault.

Compensation You Can Receive for Your Damages

When you work with our Columbus car accident lawyers, we can help you recover damages for your losses. Non-economic damages may include:

• Pain and suffering
• Loss of consortium
• Mental distress
• Disability
• Loss of companionship

Economic damages can include, among other things:

• Medical expenses
• Car repairs
• Physical therapy
• Lost income

A Columbus car accident attorney can total your damages and provide evidence of your injury’s monetary impact. Our team uses this information in settlement negotiations with the defendant’s insurance company.

Proving Negligence in Car Accident Cases

An automobile collision frequently results from careless driving by one or more drivers. So to support your case, you and your attorney must demonstrate the other person was negligent.

Duty of care is the key component of negligence. All motorists are required by law to drive safely and in accordance with the laws of the road. So drive safely, pay attention to traffic signs, and use your headlights and blinkers.

You must demonstrate to the court that the negligent motorist violated their duty of care to you. An automobile accident attorney can assist you in presenting evidence to the court from eyewitnesses, traffic surveillance film, and medical records of your injuries to show that there was a breach.

We can also use this evidence to prove that you’ve suffered damages.

Car Accident Statistics for Columbus, Georgia

According to Georgia DOT, the rate of motor vehicle accidents in Columbus had declined slightly between 2017, when there were around 8,100 car crashes, and 2021, with 7,600 crashes. However, the number of fatal crashes from 2017 to 2021 stayed consistent, with an average of 23 fatal crashes yearly.

About 76% of fatalities in Columbus resulted from unsafe driving behaviors such as distracted driving, impaired driving, and reckless driving. Most collisions occurred in an intersection; the most common type of crash was a rear-end collision. In addition, over 1,200 drivers lost control of their vehicles from 2017 to 2021, which resulted in severe accidents with many injuries.

By knowing these accident statistics, you can stay aware of the dangers you may face next time you drive on Columbus’ roads. In addition, we emphasize the importance of wearing your seat belt and ensuring your car’s airbags work, as these safety devices can protect you from what over 8,000 people have experienced in four years.

Neighborhoods We Serve in Columbus, GA

Our law office in Columbus is located on Peachtree road, right off of T. Harvey Mathis Parkway. We’re happy to serve clients in neighborhoods throughout Columbus, including:

• Pine Hills
• Brookhaven
• Lenox
• Peachtree Park
• Buckhead Forest
• Garden Hills
• Ridgedale Park

Talk to a Columbus Personal Injury Lawyer for Free

We aim to get you back into the best health possible after your injury and ensure you don’t have to pay for it. John Foy & Associates is one of Georgia’s largest and most respected car accident firms. We have a strong record of success and offer a free consultation.

When you call our office, we do more than other law firms. First, we send out an investigator to interview you and document the damage to your car. Then we build the strongest case possible, determining the amount you’re owed and helping you get it.

Let our car accident attorneys in Columbus help you. Call us or complete our online contact form and get your FREE consultation today.