770 GOOD LAW

AUTO ACCIDENT ATTORNEYS

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Frequently Asked Questions

Many people have no clue what to do after getting into a car accident. This page attempts to answer all your questions regarding the case process, insurance companies, and any personal questions. We understand the unknown and fear that comes with a car accident, and we hope to put your mind at ease. Click on the links below to see frequently asked questions by others in your position.

WHAT DO I DO AFTER AN ACCIDENT?

1. If it’s safe and you are able, move your and your car to a safe area, out of harm’s way. If you cannot move safely, turn on your hazard lights to alert those around you.

2. Stop your car and check on others involved.

3. Call 911 and file a police report in order to determine who is at fault. Try not to place blame on the other party, let the police decide who, if anyone, is at fault.

4. Gather all the info you can from the other parties involved, including the drivers’ and passengers’ names, make and model of the cars, license plate numbers, insurance information, location of the accident, and information of the eyewitnesses (if any). This will be a good time to snap some photos!

5. Seek medical attention immediately following your accident. Often times there are “hidden” injuries days after the accident. It is important to seek the appropriate medical attention due to the serious injuries.

6. Research and seek an attorney who can represent you and your case.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN MY CAR IS WRECKED?

1. TAKE PICTURES! It is important to take pictures of your vehicle and the scene so you can build your case against the insurance company. Be sure to take coherent and clear photos of your car and injuries so that it can be properly used to build your case.

2. If the other party accepts 100% liability, we will coordinate your rental or repair for you FREE of any charges.

WHAT IF THE OTHER DRIVER HAS NO INSURANCE OR I WAS INVOLVED IN A HIT-AND-RUN?

In Georgia, if you are covered with UIM coverage (Uninsured Motorist Insurance), then it is possible for your own insurance company to pay your claim. Regarding a hit-and-run, your UIM coverage works the same as if they had no insurance.

WHAT NOT TO DO AFTER AN ACCIDENT?

1. Do not fail to call your local law enforcement. This is crucial because a police
report will give concrete evidence if the other driver was at fault.
2. Do not drive way! Under GA Law, you are legally obligated to report any accident
involving injury, death and property damage of $500 or more.
3. Do not wait too long before seeking a claim for your accident. In GA, you are limited to
two years to file a lawsuit in court. This is known as “statue of limitations”, meaning once your time limit is up, you can not get a claim your damages.

DO I REALLY NEED AN ATTORNEY TO RECOVER FROM MY INJURIES?

1. Depending on your accident, you could be entitled to compensation for the injuries you
received. It is important to note that insurance companies will react differently to those
who represent themselves and those who hire an attorney.
2. Insurance companies tend to offer less money than your case is worth (if you represent yourself) . Since insurance companies want to make more money, adjusters have been trained to
minizime the amount they pay out.
3. The attorney can find out how much your injuries are truly worth and build a
case so that you will be properly compensated for the accident.

HOW MUCH IS MY CASE WORTH?

It depends on a case-to-case basis with mulitple factors determining the overall worth. When evaluting a case, we will look at your medical expenses, wage loss, and pain/suffering.
Visit our Contact Page to fill out a form today. We will get back with you on our approximate estimation of how much your case will settle for.
A insurance company called me for a recorded statement, should I give one?
1. No recorded statement should be provided to the other party’s insurance provider; that
is, not without the legal guidance of an Atlanta Auto Accident attorney from our office.
You are only obligated to cooperate with your insurance company, not the other party’s.
2. As master negotiators with professional experience, insurance company claim adjusters
are well-trained in the art of asking questions designed to trigger a
specific response. You could indadvertedly admit fault, merely from the suggestibility of their questions, or say something that may be hurtful to your case.

WILL MY CAR BE REPAIRED FOR FREE? HOW ABOUT A RENTAL?

1. That depends on whether liability is settled or not. Even if the other party is at fault, insurance companies will determine if their insured is 100% at fault. This means that if the insurance companies does accept 100% liability, then you are entilted for a rental or repair on your vehicle at no cost to you.

If 100% liability is pending, you have a choice of exercising your own collision or rental coverage. Once liability is accepted, you will be reimbursed for the repair or rental.

2. If you do not have your own collision or rental coverage, you could pay out of pocket until
liability is accepted. You will then be reimbursed for the rental or repair of your vehicle after.

WHAT IF THE INSURANCE COMPANY DENIES LIABILITY?

If a insurance company denies liability, law firms will typically investigate whether the other party received a ticket and determine if they were guilty or not in the court. It is advised that you should take your vehicle to be repaired (or stored if not drivable). A demand will be sent out to the insurance company that uses the court outcome in order to support the demand. From there, the insurance company has a chance to accept or deny. If they deny liability again, a lawsuit will be filed.

HOW LONG WILL MY CASE TAKE?

There is no simple answer to this. Every case is evaluted on a case-to-case basis with many factors contributing. The bigger the case, the more time and work involved. Upon contact with 770GoodLaw, we will give you a time estimate on your case.

Fill out a form on our Contact Page today!

WHAT KIND OF CASES DO YOU TAKE?

We take mostly auto accident cases, including car, motorcycles, or trucks. We also handle cases in dog bites, slip n’ fall, and personal injury.

We will take your case regardless of size.

CAN I REQUEST A COPY OF MY CASE?

Most definitely! Just contact your case manager and they will gladly give you a copy of your case.

DOES IT COST MONEY TO HAVE A COPY OF MY CASE?

At our firm we do NOT charge you for a copy of your case. Just contact your case manager for a CD copy, hard drive, or physical copy.

WILL MY CASE GO TO TRIAL?

Depending on your case. A personal injury claim only goes to court when neither party can reach an agreement.

Not all cases go to trial or even require filing a lawsuit. Most are settled outside of court.

HOW DOES 770-GOOD-LAW HANDLE INSURANCE COMPANIES SO THAT OUR CLIENTS WILL BE PROPERLY COMPENSATED?

You are entitled to a claim after an auto accident if the other party accepts 100% liability (fault). Once you chose our attorneys, 770-GOOD-LAW will build up your case with the police report, medical records and bills, and other documents to support your demand for compensation.

Insurance companies can be daunting to deal with BUT chosing the right attorney to get you properly compensated is key for your claim. The best way to find the right attorney for YOU is to do personal researching and reading reviews.

ARE MY RATES GOING TO GO UP AFTER AN ACCIDENT?

If the other party was 100% at fault, then your rates will NOT go up. If there is no clear person at fault, your rates could go up based on your insurance company. Some companies have programs to forgive, while others do not.

SHOULD I FILE A CLAIM?

Yes! Filing a claim will push the process of your compensation further. It is best, however, to leave it to the attorney and their team to do.

HOW DO I FILE A CLAIM?

In order to file a claim, you must call your insurance company and get a hold of the claims department. Once you are connected with a claims representative, they will ask you general questions about the accident. A good resource to pull accurate information is the police report or incident report.

WHAT IS AN INSURANCE DEDUCTIBLE?

A deductible is the money you pay out of pocket before the insurance will pay the rest of the policy limit. If you are not at fault (meaning the other party accepts 100% liability), then you will be reimbursed for the deductible.

WHAT IF THE OTHER INSURANCE COMPANY ACCEPTS 50/50 LIABILITY?

This means that the insurance accepts half of the liability while you accept half of the other. This means no one is entitled to any claim.

While liability is getting determined…
1. If your vehicle is in storage, it is critical to get it out ASAP so the charges will not
build up.
2. See if you have collision coverage, this allows your own insurance company to pay for your repairs or rental. If liability is accept 100% by the other party, then your insurance company will be reimbursed. This means if liability is accept 100% by the other party, the money you spent out of your own pocket will be paid back into your pocket.

SHOULD I LET MY HEALTH INSURANCE PAY FOR THE MEDICAL BILLS?

Yes! By allowing your health insurance to cover your medical bills, you will more than likely be paying a lesser amount than without insurance. For example, your hospital bill after an accident amounted to be $10,000 but with insurance, you only need to pay $5,000.

SHOULD I GIVE MY MEDICAL RECORDS TO THE OTHER INSURANCE COMPANY?

No, this could harm your case and ultimately reduce the amount of settlement money. Only doctors and your car accident attorney have the rights to your medical records and bills.

Have Additional Questions? Call Us Today!

GET AN HONEST ASSESSMENT OF YOUR CLAIMS

If you or a loved one has suffered an injury due to the negligence of another, contact the experienced Norcross personal injury attorneys at 700GOODLAW to discuss your case and various legal options that are at your disposal. To learn more and begin your road to recovery fill out the contact box at the top of the page or give us a call.

FREE EVALUATION

(770) 214-4311