Auto accidents are pretty common in Atlanta, just like in other parts of the United States. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2016, the State of Georgia suffered 1,554 fatalities in motor vehicle crashes. If you sustain an injury resulting from a car accident in Atlanta, you are entitled to receive compensation from the at-fault driver.
This article explores the steps to getting fair compensation and what you should expect to receive. If you are involved in an auto accident in Atlanta, you should contact a car accident attorney.
What Step Should I Take to Get Compensation?
The following are the steps to take to get compensation:
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Seek Medical Attention
Seeking medical attention is the first thing you should do after getting involved in a car crash. You must ensure that you and everyone sees a doctor for any external or internal injuries. If you are severely injured, you might need to call 911 from the scene. If not, you can afford to find your way to the hospital yourself.
When you go to the hospital, you must ensure that you keep all the bills and documents that show that you needed medical attention. This will help you to claim compensation for injuries after a car crash. However, seeing a doctor immediately after your accident is not enough.
You should also ensure that you follow whatever regimen the doctor asks you to follow. For example, take the prescribed drugs, go for physical therapy, see a counselor, undergo surgery, etc. Following the doctor’s instructions to the latter and having proof of it will help you get compensated for medical expenses.
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Gather Evidence
Gathering evidence is also essential. You should find evidence that proves that an accident occurred and you experienced damages from it. If it is an injury, evidence would be proof that a doctor confirmed your injury after the accident and the test results or medical bills. If it is vehicle damage, evidence will be a police report, eyewitness accounts of the accident, pictures of the damage, etc.
You can obtain a crash report from the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) by submitting a request to them using the GDOT Request Form. The same goes for property damage. You must ensure that you gather all of this evidence as it will help you claim compensation from the at-fault party’s insurance company.
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Contact a Car Accident Attorney
One of the first things you should do after an accident is to exchange insurance information with the other driver. However, it is more important to speak to a car accident attorney before negotiating with insurance companies. If they contact you to share your side of the story, they may twist it to get their client off. An experienced Atlanta car accident attorney will ensure that this does not happen. In addition, they will make sure that you know how much to request when you file a claim.
How Much Can I Receive for Damages?
Receiving compensation depends on three things; economic, non-economic damages, and punitive damages. Economic damages are quantifiable, and they arise as a direct cause of the accident. Some of these damages include medical expenses, loss of income, damage of property, etc.
Non-economic damages, on the other hand, are intangible losses that you incurred as a result of the accident. You cannot calculate this in dollars; as such, you would need a car accident lawyer to help you estimate how much you should expect for these losses. Punitive damages are less likely to be awarded in most cases.
The court usually awards this to teach the driver a lesson or serve as an example for other drivers for being reckless while driving. The compensation one could receive can be significantly different based on what type of damage you have incurred. It can range from a few thousand dollars to much more.
Some people can get compensation at $1000 to $2500 for minor injuries, and you can get up to $15,000 for more severe cases. Rest assured, a professional Atlanta car accident lawyer will ensure that you get fair compensation for whatever damages you have incurred. At The Weinstein Firm, we have recovered settlements of up to $4,500,000 for damages caused by auto accidents.
Contact Us Today
If you sustained injuries in a car accident in Atlanta, our experienced lawyers at The Weinstein Firm are on hand to help you. We will walk through the modalities of your claim with you and answer any questions you have. We will also ensure that you receive the maximum compensation for every damage incurred due to the auto accident. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
