According to the National Safety Council, there were approximately 4.8 million injuries resulting from car accidents in 2020 alone. If you are hurt in a car accident, you may be worried about your health, recovery, family, and ability to support your loved ones. Hiring a Georgia personal injury attorney can provide you with peace of mind from knowing that a qualified professional is actively working to protect your legal rights. If you were recently hurt in a car accident, consider contacting the experienced and compassionate Georgia personal injury attorneys at The Balams Firm by calling (404) 445-2005 to learn more about your legal rights.
What Does a Personal Injury Attorney Do?
Before you decide to hire a Georgia personal injury attorney, it can be helpful to understand what they do, which may include some or all of the following:
Explain the Victim’s Rights
Personal injury lawyers can explain a person’s legal rights and options after an accident. They can assess the entire situation and determine if the victim may have grounds for a claim against a negligent party. Additionally, a lawyer can explain the claims process and what to expect at each step. Understanding your legal rights can help you make decisions about how you can pursue both compensation and justice after your car accident.
Gather Evidence
Another important role of personal injury lawyers is to gather evidence after an accident. Car accident scenes may be quickly cleaned up, but an experienced car accident lawyer may be able to perform the following tasks to identify and preserve valuable evidence:
- Review accident reports, witness statements, photos, and video of the accident scene
- Photograph or video the accident scene and physical evidence, such as skid marks or debris in the roadway
- Interview witnesses
- Extract electronically stored vehicle information
- Subpoena cell phone records
Arrange Medical Care
Personal injury lawyers may be able to help arrange for a victim’s medical care. They may have a network of professionals that they commonly work with or know specialists that a client may be able to visit. A personal injury attorney may also be able to negotiate medical liens with providers so that the accident victim can receive the care he or she needs now without being required to pay until after receiving a personal injury settlement.
Handle Claim Paperwork
Recovering fair compensation for a car accident claim depends on the victim’s ability to provide the insurance company with substantiation of his or her claim, including evidence of why the insured is responsible for the injuries and of the full extent of the damages. A personal injury lawyer can handle communications with the insurance company so the victim will not have to risk compromising the claim and can, instead, focus on his or her recovery.
Negotiate for a Fair Settlement
Insurance companies often rely on the fact that many personal injury victims do not have the funds available to deal with an unexpected crisis. They may offer a quick settlement that is well below the actual value of the claim. In other cases, they may unnecessarily delay claims in the hopes that the victim will become desperate and accept any settlement or give up out of frustration.
Personal injury lawyers routinely work with these claims. Lawyers help their clients to understand both the short-term and long-term implications of the injury and the true value of the claim. A personal injury lawyer can negotiate a claim that fairly accounts for all the damages the victim has suffered, including:
- Medical expenses
- Future medical expenses
- Property damage
- Lost wages
- Reduced or lost earning capacity
- Physical and mental pain and suffering
Reach Settlement Agreements
Once a Georgia personal injury attorney and the insurance company agree to a settlement value, the lawyer can begin drafting the settlement agreement. This agreement will detail how and when the victim will receive settlement funds.
Represent the Client in Court
If the personal injury lawyer and the insurance company are unable to reach an agreement, the victim may choose to file a lawsuit against the negligent party to seek the compensation needed after a car accident. Georgia personal injury attorneys must comply with complex Rules of Civil Procedure. Accordingly, Georgia personal injury attorneys must also ensure that any lawsuit is filed within Georgia’s statute of limitations, which is generally within two years of the date of the accident.
Reasons To Hire an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney
In addition to fulfilling the many roles described above, a Georgia personal injury lawyer may be able to:
- Reduce a victim’s burden by handling paperwork, statements, and evidence in the case
- Communicate with the defendant’s attorney or the attorney for the insurance company
- Provide recommendations based on experience about whether a settlement offer is fair
- Ensure that the victim does not miss deadlines and help to prevent mistakes
- Expedite the claim and facilitate a faster resolution
What Percentage Does a Lawyer Get in a Personal Injury Case in Georgia?
Attorneys can charge different rates based on various factors, such as the complexity of the case, their experience, and the amount of time they believe the case will take to resolve. In Georgia, the average rate personal injury attorneys charge is 33.33 percent for a straightforward case. However, lawyers may charge more for the case if it is more complex or if a lawsuit must be filed to resolve the matter. The amount of an attorney’s fee should be clearly outlined in the retainer agreement.
What If You Cannot Afford a Lawyer for a Personal Injury Case?
The Georgia personal injury attorneys at the Balams Firm know that you were not anticipating being injured in a car accident and that you may not have money to pay for a lawyer in advance. Fortunately, personal injury attorneys offer a contingency fee agreement, which means that victims will not have to pay for services unless and until the attorney recovers compensation for them. This means that a car accident victim not only does not have to pay any upfront fees but does not have to pay any attorney fees if no compensation is recovered on his or her behalf.
Contact a Georgia Personal Injury Attorney Today
If you were recently hurt in a car accident, consider contacting an experienced and dedicated Georgia personal injury attorney with The Balams Firm by calling (404) 445-2005. You can schedule a consultation to discuss your case and explore your legal options.
