No amount of money can truly compensate you for the tragic, sudden loss of a beloved family member in a car accident. However, knowing all responsible parties have been held accountable can bring you some form of relief.
That is why it is wise to work with a competent East Point fatal car accident lawyer as soon as possible. At John Foy and Associates, we can help the families of victims of car accidents in East Point hold all the responsible parties accountable, leaving them to grieve in peace. Reach out to us and let us advise you on the way forward.
What Should You Do Immediately After a Fatal Accident?
After the loss of a loved one due to a fatal accident, you, or a representative, are forced to immediately start navigating the complexities of insurance claims. You may also need to take legal action as you grieve with your family. The following are things you should consider doing after a fatal accident:
Preserve the Evidence
If you were close to the accident scene or were involved in the accident, collect as much evidence as possible. Take photos of the vehicle damage, visible injuries, surrounding area, tire marks, road sign, and any other thing that could be relevant. After gathering enough evidence, notify the authorities to file a report.
After the accident, until you settle the case, you should keep the receipts of all expenses, including burial expenses, in case you need them to justify compensation later on.
Contact a Lawyer
Contact an East Point fatal car accident lawyer for a consultation. They can advise you on the next course of action and whether or not you need to have an autopsy performed. They review the facts of the accident and determine whether or not you are entitled to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit.
A fatal car accident lawyer can tackle the various tasks involved in filing a claim or lawsuit and let you grieve in peace.
Get the strong arm
How Can an East Point Fatal Car Accident Attorney Help You?
It is entirely possible to pursue the compensation yourself, but you shouldn’t. An attorney can help you in the following ways:
Conducting Investigations
To prove that the other party’s negligence caused your loved one’s death, you must collect and compile compelling evidence. If you have never handled it before, it is nearly impossible to access all this evidence yourself.
An experienced fatal car accident lawyer has a network of experts they can work with to determine all contributing factors. They can collect evidence from the following sources (among others):
- Police reports
- Eyewitness Statements
- Vehicle Inspection Reports
- Medical Reports
They can then compile it for a stronger case, and if there is more than one liable party, they can identify them and hold them accountable.
Evaluating Damages
After a fatal car accident, the victim’s family members are entitled to damages, which we discuss below. To ensure you get the maximum settlement for your loss, a fatal car accident attorney in East Point can help you determine which damages you are eligible for and which you are not.
Negotiating a Fair Settlement
When negotiating a settlement, you deal with an insurance adjuster whose goal is to ensure you walk away with the lowest settlement amount. When dealing with death, it is very easy to be convinced that it was the victim’s fault or take a low settlement.
Since fatal car accident lawyers know how insurance adjusters work, and they deal with them objectively. They cannot be convinced to take a lower settlement amount than the actual value of your damages.
Providing Guidance
The main role that a fatal car accident lawyer in East Point plays is to offer guidance to those whose loved ones died in the crash. An attorney can advise you and point you in the right direction while navigating the claims process.
For instance, they can direct you on how you are supposed to handle the hospital bills. If your loved one was insured against accidental death or had life insurance, the procedure for filing the claim may be different or complex, so they can guide you or handle it for you.
Filing a Lawsuit
Filing a lawsuit after a car accident isn’t always a clear and straightforward process and even basic decisions as to when and where to sue might not be as simple as they seem. Lawyers are specially trained and familiar with these complex procedures, making them the ideal resource to rely upon.
If the out-of-court negotiations with the at-fault party or the insurance company don’t yield favorable results. It’s in your best interest that you hire an experienced attorney to file a lawsuit on your behalf. A car accident attorney can advise you and file the lawsuit in accordance with your state laws.
Potential Damages in an East Point Fatal Car Accident
If your attorney proves the other party’s negligence led to the death of your loved one, you are entitled to receive some or all of the following damages.
- Funeral bills
- Medical bills
- Lost income
- Property damage
- Loss of care and companionship from the deceased
- Any pain and suffering the deceased went through before passing away
Georgia is a modified comparative negligence state, meaning if the deceased were partially responsible for the accident, the family members wouldn’t receive all the compensation they may be entitled to. The compensation is awarded to the immediate family, but it goes to their parents if the deceased had no spouse or children.
Talk to an Experienced East Point Fatal Car Accident Lawyer Today
Fatal car accidents happen unexpectedly, causing devastating loss and financial burden. You are entitled to justice and compensation if you have lost a loved one due to a fatal car accident in East Point, Georgia. However, making sure the responsible parties are held responsible is something that you should use an experienced attorney to help with.
With over 20 years of experience, John Foy and Associates has fought for residents of Georgia state injured or killed by others’ negligence. We have a team of dedicated lawyers who can take on those liable for your accident and go after the maximum compensation possible. Contact us today for a free consultation.
404-400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form