According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, car accidents are the leading cause of injury and deaths and the second leading cause of hospitalizations and ER visits in the Empire State of the South. From speeding, drunk driving, distracted driving, etc., motor vehicle crashes can result from a variety of circumstances. Knowing exactly what to do after a fatal car accident puts you on track to justice, medical, and financial recovery.
The best course of action is to contact experienced Riverdale car accident attorneys at John Foy & Associates for objective expert legal assistance. Our compassionate car accident attorneys will help you make the best decision on how to proceed. If we don’t win your case, you don’t pay us, so there’s absolutely no financial risk in contacting us!
Why do I Need a Riverdale Car Accident Attorney?
Fatal car accidents can be complicated. Usually, there are disputes about which driver caused the accident that led to the death of your loved one. These disputes might culminate in a court case, and you want to be prepared.
You also need to prove your insurance claim to receive compensation from your insurance provider. Proving insurance claims can be difficult, and the insurance company is not on your side. Hiring an experienced Riverdale car accident attorney improves your chances of recovery significantly.
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What to Do After a Fatal Car Accident in Georgia
When a person dies in a car accident, the death is often a result of the crash. This means there’s someone who may be held responsible when proven in a court case. Their direct or indirect actions led to the accident.
Fatal car accidents are usually caused by negligent drivers, and the victim’s family must prove negligence to the courts. Therefore, the first thing you should do in the event of a fatal car accident is to take specific steps to preserve the evidence. Here’s what you should do:
- Call 911 to get medical professionals and the police at the scene of the accident
- If you are not at the scene of the accident, get there as soon as you can.
- Document evidence by taking pictures of the scene of the accident, including all the vehicles involved, skid marks, the interior of the car, etc., with your mobile phone.
- Ask around for people who witnessed the accident, speak to a few of them, and ask for contact information.
- Wait for the investigating police officer to speak to the other driver, who may be injured and in shock as well.
- Obtain a copy of the police report and contact a fatal car accident attorney in Riverdale to figure out the next steps.
Collecting evidence could prove vital for your case. This information gives your attorney the upper hand when negotiating with the insurance company, ensuring that you and your family get the compensation you deserve. Upon reviewing the evidence, an attorney will advise you on whether pursuing legal action is an option for your family.
Filing Your Insurance Claim
In Georgia, victims of car accidents can seek compensation for personal injury and property damage from their insurance provider, the other driver’s insurer, and through a personal injury lawsuit if they have a case. A Riverdale fatal car accident lawyer will help you determine your best options.
After collecting all this evidence, the next step is to file a wrongful death claim with the insurance company. Your car accident lawyer will notify the at-fault party’s insurer of your claim and put any other relevant party on notice. The insurer will immediately investigate the claim.
Investigators for the insurance company might want to speak with you or any other relative that was present at the scene of the accident. It’s best to cooperate, but it doesn’t mean that you answer their questions or make an impromptu statement. When they contact you, say you’ll get back to them and call your attorney.
What Next If I do Have a Case?
If your fatal car accident lawyer in Riverdale reviews the facts and circumstances surrounding your crash and determines that you have a case, they will file a wrongful death lawsuit on your behalf. The attorneys will then come up with a plan to ensure that your court case proceeds smoothly and you get a quick and fair settlement.
Can I Still File a Claim If I’m Partially at Fault for the Accident?
Yes, in Georgia, you can still file an insurance claim even if you share blame for an accident. Since Georgia is a comparative negligence state, you can still seek compensation even if you were partly at fault. If you share blame in a car accident, the monetary damages you receive will reduce based on your proportion of fault.
Georgia’s Statute of Limitations for Car Accident Lawsuits
After a fatal car accident, it’s vitally important that you consult a Riverdale car accident lawyer as soon as possible. This is because the state of Georgia imposes very strict time constraints for filing auto accident claims. The Georgia statute of limitations for personal injury and property damage is two years.
Our Riverdale Car Accident Lawyers Can Help
After losing a loved one in a fatal car wreck, you are filled with grief and probably don’t know what comes next. It could be the first time you are dealing with this kind of loss. And while you and your family are grief-stricken, you are forced to navigate a complex insurance claim and potential legal action to secure justice for your loved one.
At John Foy & Associates, we believe that no grieving family should have to go through this situation alone. Our attorneys can help relieve some of your burdens so that you don’t have to deal with insurance claims and court cases during these difficult moments.
Contact us today for a free consultation with a compassionate and experienced Riverdale fatal car accident attorney.
404-400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form