According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in 2020, there were 847,000 injuries resulting from distracted driving in the United States. If you have been involved in a car accident and are looking for a car accident lawyer near McDonough, Georgia, call a lawyer at The Weinstein Firm today to help you navigate through the process of dealing with your injuries and filing an insurance claim or settlement. Our injury firm serving McDonough can help you receive the compensation you deserve while navigating you through the sometimes tricky and lengthy process involved with filing insurance claims or dealing with car accident injuries.
About McDonough
The city of McDonough is the county seat of Henry County, Georgia. As of the 2020 census, there were over 29,000 people living in the city. McDonough is part of the Atlanta metropolitan area and is located 28 miles from downtown Atlanta.
Some of the major highways serving McDonough include U.S. Highway 23 and Interstate 75. A report by AllOnGeorgia ranks I-75 in McDonough 28th on a list of the 57 deadliest stretches of roads in the state.
Heritage Park in McDonough has a concert arena and a replica 1820s village, plus a military monument and museum. You can learn about the evolution of photography at Image Doctor’s Camera Museum and discover local history at the C.O. Polk Interactive Museum.
The city hosts a Geranium Festival every May in McDonough Square. This festival celebrates locally grown flowers and features open-air craft markets and live musical performances.
McDonough Accident Statistics 2019-2021
What to Do If You Have Been in a Car Accident in McDonough
If you have been in a car accident, the first thing you must do is ensure that you do not leave the scene of the accident. This is because leaving the scene of an accident is considered to be an illegal offense in the state of Georgia. Do what you can to provide assistance to any pedestrians, motorists or passengers involved in the accident. If anyone has been injured, dial 911 immediately and try to remain as calm as possible.
You will also need to exchange information with anyone involved in the accident. Take any pictures of the scene and collect the following information:
- The other party’s driver’s license number
- The other party’s license plate number
- Insurance information
- Name, address and contact information
This is all important information you will need to gather and collect at the scene of the accident. This is also information that your car accident attorney will need if you decide to seek compensation. Providing your car wreck lawyer with this information after you have hired one will also make it easier for them to build a case for you.
You may also be required to inform Georgia law enforcement of the accident under certain circumstances:
- If anyone has been injured or killed in the accident
- If damage to property exceeds $500
In the event that law enforcement does not submit a police report, car accident lawyers typically suggest that you fill out a personal report of accident form. This form can be used as evidence in conjunction with the case your car accident attorney has built for you.
Georgia Fault Laws for Car Accidents
Georgia is a fault state, meaning that the person who is at fault for a car accident will also be in charge of paying for any damages incurred as a result of the accident. This is why it is extremely important to speak to a car wreck lawyer as soon as you get in a car accident, as they can help determine who was at fault and gather the necessary evidence to prove it.
In the event that you were injured in a car accident and the other party is the person at fault, your car wreck lawyer will work with you to get you the best compensation possible to cover your medical expenses and property damages. Car accident lawyers at The Weinstein Firm will help review police and accident reports and also interview all the parties involved and any applicable witnesses.
If you have been injured in a car accident, you also have the right to sue the person responsible for the wreck. If you do decide to sue the at-fault person in civil court, a car wreck attorney can help you build a case to get the compensation you deserve for your medical expenses, pain, and suffering, any kind of property damage and lost wages.
Your car wreck lawyer will also inform you of Georgia’s modified comparative negligence law, which states that if a driver is more than 50 percent at fault for the accident, they cannot seek compensation for their losses. If you are unsure of how this law works, contact a car accident attorney for more information and help to review your case and determine what the best course of action to take is.
What Are the Minimum Car Insurance Requirements in Georgia?
The Department of Motor Vehicles states that drivers in Georgia must meet the following minimum insurance requirements:
- Bodily injury: 25,000 per person and $50,000 for accidents involving multiple people
- Property damage liability: $25,000 for single incidents
If you have just purchased a car, are shopping around for new car insurance or are unsure of what the basic insurance laws in Georgia are, contact a car wreck lawyer who can help explain what Georgia’s minimum insurance requirements are.
How Common Are Car Accidents in Georgia?
In 2017, there were 1,547 traffic fatalities in the state of Georgia. In fact, car accident fatalities in Georgia have steadily been rising each year.
In 2014, there were 1,170 traffic fatalities in Georgia, while in 2015 this number rose to 1,432. In response to these fatalities, the Georgia Department of Transportation has launched a new campaign called “Drive Alert Arrive Alive” which educates drivers and improves driving behavior to reduce distracted and dangerous driving.
The Georgia statute of limitations states that a party has two years to file a claim for a personal injury and four years to file for property damage. This is why it is extremely important to contact a car accident lawyer immediately after you have been involved in an accident to settle your case promptly. If you are unable to reach a settlement for compensation, you and your car accident attorney will need as much time as possible to begin preparing for a case before the statute of limitations runs out.
Common types of car accidents in Georgia include single-vehicle accidents, large truck accidents, accidents related to speeding, rollovers, DUIs, parking lot collisions, head-on collisions, slow collisions, rear-end collisions, side-impact (t-bone) collisions, multi-vehicle collisions, and more.
Common injuries suffered as a result of car accidents in Georgia include spinal cord injuries, back pain, lost limbs, broken bones, fractures, head or brain injury, emotional distress, neck injuries, internal injuries, and more.
No matter what type of traffic incident you have been involved in, it is extremely important to speak to a car wreck lawyer to determine who was at fault and the type of compensation you should be seeking. Injuries resulting from bike accidents can be severe, especially if the bike accident involved a collision with a car. Don’t let your pain and suffering go unnoticed if you have been involved in a bike crash. Contact a bike accident attorney to weigh out your options.
What Type of Compensation Can I Receive for My Georgia Car Accident?
An experienced car wreck lawyer can help determine what kind of compensation you are entitled to after your car accident. If it has been determined that you were not at fault for the accident, your car accident attorney can help build a case that covers your medical costs and any applicable property damage.
You should immediately find and speak to a car accident attorney who can help give you advice and guidance as to what type of information you should be giving insurance companies. This is because insurance companies can easily use the information you have given them against you to try and offer you a smaller settlement.
There are two types of damages you can seek in a car accident: economic and non-economic losses. Car accident attorneys who have experience in these types of cases will be able to give you more detailed information about how much compensation you should expect to receive for the applicable damages.
Economic Losses
Specific damages can include:
- Lost wages: wages lost from your inability to work in the present and in the future as a result of your injuries. This also includes the loss of the ability to earn money.
- Medical treatments: medication, surgeries, and other expenses that are related to your injury.
- Property damage: the harm done to your vehicle and any other applicable property.
Your personal injury lawyer can help determine the compensation you are entitled to for specific damages.
Non-Economic Losses
General damages are more subjective and slightly harder to determine, which is why it is helpful to get in touch with a car accident attorney to get a better understanding of what expenses general damages can cover. General damages include damages related to:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
The amount of compensation you are entitled to will depend on a number of things, which is why it is helpful to hire a car accident lawyer who can help determine what type of settlement you should receive. Other things which are taken into consideration when determining the compensation you are eligible for include:
- The person at fault
- Severity of injuries
- How these injuries affect your life
- How the injuries will affect your ability to work
- How it will affect your income
- If the person had car insurance
- The extent of the property damage
Contact a car wreck attorney to help you decide whether your case is worth fighting for and what kind of compensation you should receive. In addition to this, the nature of the injuries and the length of medical treatment will determine how long it will take for your case to be settled, which is why you should contact a car accident lawyer right away to get the process started quickly.
How Long Does It Take to Settle a Case?
Car accident cases in McDonough, GA are all different. The length of time it will take a car accident lawyer to settle a case will depend on the nature of your injuries as well as the duration of your medical treatment.
Most car accident cases settle rather than go to trial. Car accident lawyers usually help negotiate settlements, as trials can be long and lengthy processes.
When meeting with a car wreck lawyer, he or she will first contact the other party’s insurance company, interview any witnesses involved, and look over the car accident report. This is standard procedure car accident attorneys follow when filing claims for clients.
Your car accident attorney will also look at your medical bills, perform any necessary research, and examine any other evidence pertinent to your case. Your car accident lawyer will also request your medical records from your doctor once the course of your medical treatment is over. This information will be sent to the insurance company, which is likely to send an offer for compensation. Your car wreck lawyer will present this information to you and help you decide if you want to accept the offer or renegotiate. If you are not happy with the offer, your car accident lawyer will work with you to renegotiate a different offer.
In the event that you do not want to settle, your car accident attorney will start preparing to go to trial. Once the other party receives the lawsuit, he or she will give the lawsuit to their insurance company, and the discovery process will begin. Discovery lasts roughly six months in Georgia courts and is a period of time when both parties send and request information related to the case to one another. After the discovery process, your car accident lawyer will start preparing for trial. Your lawyer may work with a mediator to settle the case. If not, the case will go to trial, and a jury will decide on the settlement. Although most cases settle before ever going to court, your car accident attorney will give you your options in the event that you do not want to settle outside of court.
Contact a Car Accident Lawyer Near McDonough, Georgia Today
Being involved in a car accident can be stressful, especially if you have suffered injuries. This is why it is extremely important to call a personal injury lawyer near McDonough, GA who can help you navigate through the process and determine if your case is worth fighting. Contact a lawyer at The Weinstein Firm today to go over your case and determine what kind of compensation you are entitled to. A car wreck attorney at The Weinstein Firm can also help determine who was at fault for the accident and if it is in your best interests to settle or go to court.
An experienced and knowledgeable car accident attorney from The Weinstein Firm can help guide you through the claims process and determine the route you should take during this difficult time in your life. Reach out to us today to schedule your consultation.
