Truck accidents can be devastating, leading to serious injuries and significant property damage. If you’re involved in a truck crash, it’s crucial to understand the legal aspects to protect your rights and interests and how an Atlanta truck accident lawyer can assist you. Here are five critical mistakes to avoid.
Mistake 1: Not Reporting the Accident
In Georgia, drivers are legally required to report any accident involving injuries, death, or property damage exceeding $500. Failing to report such an accident will lead to penalties and may complicate your insurance claim process. The accident report is usually available a few days after the crash at the local police or sheriff’s department that worked the wreck or at the GA State Patrol office nearest the accident scene.
The accident report also serves as vital evidence should the case proceed to trial, or any claims be denied. The report will include statements from authorities who attended the scene as well as document further details such as location and time of the accident.
Mistake 2: Neglecting Medical Attention
If you do not seek medical attention following a truck accident your injuries will not be documented. By seeking medical attention, you can substantiate your claim for costs related to treatment of any injuries. Your treating physician will also document all injuries. This serves as a valuable piece of evidence should there be any dispute relating to your injuries.
It is important to seek medical attention even if your injuries are minor. Not all injuries will immediately be noticeable and may only cause symptoms in the future.
Mistake 3: Admitting Fault Prematurely
In the aftermath of a truck accident, it’s natural to want to apologize or express regret. However, doing so can be interpreted as an admission of fault. In Georgia, which follows a modified comparative negligence rule, admitting fault prematurely can have serious legal consequences.
Georgia’s comparative negligence rule means that a driver who violates a law, or a driver who was negligent in operating their vehicle, can be held responsible for the damages that were caused when they broke the law or were negligent.
Admitting fault at the scene of a truck accident in Atlanta is discouraged. Anything that has been said at the accident scene will be admissible as evidence either by recording or by witness statements. Any evidence admitting fault could be damaging to the plaintiff’s case.
Mistake 4: Handling the Case Without Legal Representation
Truck accidents involve multiple parties, including the truck driver, the trucking company, and potentially other entities such as insurance companies. Each of these parties may bear some responsibility for the accident. Personal injury laws in Georgia are also complex with various time limits in which compensation must be sought.
An experienced attorney can help you navigate these complexities, and can help identify all potential defendants, gather and preserve evidence, negotiate with insurance companies, and represent you in court. If you delay in contacting an experienced Atlanta truck accident lawyer at the Weinstein Law Firm, you may be barred from seeking compensation and evidence can be altered or lost.
Mistake 5: Settling Too Quickly
After a truck accident, insurance companies are often quick to offer a settlement. Insurance companies are businesses and will first and foremost protect their own interests. Initial offers may not fully cover your losses and will in most cases only be a percentage of what your claim is actually worth.
The full extent of your damages may not be immediately apparent after the accident. Injuries may require ongoing treatment, and some symptoms may not appear until days or even weeks after the accident. Accepting a settlement before you fully understand your damages can leave you with out-of-pocket expenses for future medical treatment and other costs.
In Georgia, pre-suit settlement offers made by insurance companies must include certain material terms. These include the time frame in which the offer must be accepted (which cannot be less than 30 days from the receipt of an offer), the amount of payment, and the parties who will be released in the settlement. Understanding these terms is crucial to making an informed decision about a settlement offer.
Reach Out to an Atlanta Truck Accident Attorney Right Away
Avoiding these mistakes can significantly impact the outcome of your truck accident case in Atlanta, Georgia. Contact an experienced attorney at the Weinstein Law Firm at 770-HELP-NOW to ensure that these mistakes are avoided and that you get the compensation you deserve.
