To address the costly aftermath of an accident, you need compensation. But how do you begin to pursue it and how do you make sure you receive every penny you deserve? When is it too late to get a lawyer for my car accident?
In the state of Georgia, you may have legal options even months after the accident; it’s just a matter of taking advantage of them. Starting on the road to justice can feel overwhelming, and you may not know where to turn. Working with an experienced car accident attorney from Montlick who knows the ins and outs of your case and thoroughly understands Georgia’s statute of limitations is the ideal place to start.
What Should I Do After an Accident?
Car accidents are disorienting events that can leave their victims unsure of what to do. In the hours and first few days following an accident, victims are recommended to follow a series of steps to protect their rights.
- Seek medical attention. Immediately after the accident, contact emergency responders to report the crash and ensure you are checked out by the medics that arrive if you are in any pain. Consider going to the hospital if you are in pain or your primary care physician to be evaluated by doctors, as some severe injuries may not be visible.
- Document the accident. If possible, ensure you get pictures and videos of the scene if at all possible. The recorded information should include the other vehicles involved, witness contact information, the other involved driver’s information, and the name of the present law enforcement officer.
- Limit your conversations with the others involved. You may accidentally say you’re sorry or admit fault (even if you aren’t at fault) which could be used against you during the claims process. It’s ok to check on the other people involved and of course speaking to the police.
- Record details immediately. As soon as you can, write down what happened in the crash, including any pain or discomfort you experienced. If, for any reason, you’re unsure about a detail, note that as well. It helps to keep a pain diary to remember what you went through in the aftermath.
- Speak with an attorney. Before speaking with an insurance company, contact an attorney for legal advice and to secure counsel. The insurance company may try to get you to accept a low settlement, and having a lawyer on your side will protect you from their efforts.
What Are The Benefits of Early Attorney Involvement?
The reality is that insurance adjusters and attorneys have a job to do. It’s in their best interest to get you to accept a much lower settlement than you deserve. Not only is this insulting to you and what you’ve gone through, it’s just plain wrong. When negligent drivers and their representation push back on accepting accountability for their actions, it hurts those they injured even more. Hiring a vetted car accident attorney early on in the case can shelter you from their pursuance and allow you to understand your options thoroughly.
After the accident, you’ll be asked a million questions from the hospital. Insurance companies won’t leave you alone, and other parties might make promises and guarantees they do not intend to keep. How do you take care of it all at once? The answer is you can’t, but a Montlick attorney can. Retaining a car accident attorney immediately after a crash will allow you to focus on healing instead of focusing on countering those who are badgering you.
The sooner you hire a car accident attorney, the better, as your case must be filed within Georgia’s statute of limitations. You might think you have plenty of time to take action, but we assure you, it’ll go by faster than you can imagine. Investigations into accidents take months to properly gather evidence, interview witnesses, and file the necessary paperwork—every second counts for getting you the compensation you deserve.
What is the Statute of Limitations in Georgia for Car Accidents?
A statute of limitations is the time a person has to bring their case in a court of law or settle out of court. The statute of limitations in Georgia varies for each case type and there are several notable exceptions.. For a car accident, victims generally have two years from the accident date to file.
Additionally, a wrongful death suit statute of limitations may apply if the accident caused a death and a family member wants to pursue damages. The timeline for this case type is also two years, but the clock may not start on the same day as the accident occurred.
Georgia’s statute of limitations for a car accident is one of many deadlines you must know. When you’ve been involved in a crash, you must adhere to timelines for filing a police report, calling your insurance company, and seeking medical attention. Victims must:
- Call the police to an accident scene to file a report immediately
- Contact their insurance company about the accident within the policy’s allotted time
- Seek medical treatment when it is needed
Potential Exceptions to Georgia’s Statute of Limitations
While most car accident cases have a firm statute of limitations, a few exceptions exist. One of the most common instances that may cause the court to extend the deadline is if a victim is under 18. If a government entity is involved, such as a city, county or state government, there may be additional deadlines within the statute of limitations that must be adhered to carefully. Less likely reasons include:
- Mental incapacity
- Fraud
- Injuries
- Bankruptcy
- Product defects that could not be reasonably identified within the time constraint
- The defendant has an active caseload related to the cause of action
- The defendant moved before the plaintiff filed a lawsuit
Do I Really Need an Attorney?
Legally, are you required to have an attorney? No, you are not. However, it is generally the best practice to secure representation for several reasons. For one, if you would like to collect money to pay your medical bills and address any additional financial hurdles caused by the accident, you are better off having an experienced attorney handling your case. If your case resembles any of the following scenarios, it’s strongly recommended that you seek legal consultation right away:
- Accidents involving pedestrians, motorcyclists, or bicycles.
- Accidents that have caused you to miss work due to injury.
- Accidents involving significant or catastrophic injury to you or someone in your vehicle.
- Accidents that have caused significant vehicle or property damage.
- Accidents involving an underinsured or uninsured driver.
- Accidents where the fault is not clear.
- Accidents involving commercial trucks.
- Accidents in a construction zone.
- Accidents where you disagree with the police report taken on the scene.
- Accidents that you believe are not being handled correctly by the insurance company.
Anytime injuries have been sustained in a car crash, hiring an attorney as soon as possible is the correct choice. But not just any attorney will do. You deserve to work with legal representation that not only understands your case, but cares about the outcome. Be sure to research your attorney, check reviews (Montlick has 1000+ 5-star Google reviews), and read about their reputation and the law firm they work for. Hiring an experienced attorney with an outstanding track record in winning cases similar to yours will play an essential part in feeling confident in your decision to seek legal counsel.
What Happens If I Wait to Take Action?
After a car accident that’s caused an injury, catastrophic or otherwise, all that time you thought you had to take action will quickly start disappearing. It’s understandable how this happens– you’ve been busy between doctor appointments, getting a new car or repairing your old one, catching up at work, and attempting to move forward. But before you know it, months have gone by, the bills keep coming, your insurance hasn’t been helpful, and your car is still out of commission. You need a car accident lawyer, and the sooner the better. Remember that getting an attorney’s help early on doesn’t guarantee any specific outcome, but it certainly can add value to your case.
As the window of time for collecting damages, important evidence, deadlines, expenses, and injuries closes, what your lawyer has time to do becomes limited. Although it’s not too late to get a lawyer for a car accident within the statute of limitations, postponing your decision could also mean that crucial evidence is lost. The further you get from the date of the accident, the less you’ll be able to remember the full details of what happened, and the less likely it is that potential witnesses will remember as well. So, what happens if you wait to take action when you’ve been injured in a car accident? You unintentionally weaken your case’s strength.
Make Your First Call The Right Call, Make It Montlick.
When you’ve experienced something as world-altering as a car accident, obtaining legal representation knowledgeable in handling your kind of case is essential. Besides that, you deserve an attorney who will show compassion, empathy, and understanding for what you’ve gone through. When you choose Montlick to represent you, you’ll be treated like family.
Not only will working with a car accident attorney allow you to fully focus on recovery, it also increases the likelihood of your case being settled without ever having to set foot in a courtroom. According to the U.S. Department of Justice and the Bureau of Justice auto accident cases took less time to settle than other case types when victims had legal representation. Additionally, 61% of motor vehicle accident cases were successfully settled in favor of the plaintiff.
In the 40+ years since opening our doors, we’ve gained an intimidating reputation that leaves the opposition nervous. How have we accomplished it? Each car accident attorney on our team is top-notch. We don’t hire anything less than that. We’ll work to ensure you receive fair compensation to cover your medical expenses, lost wages, car damages, and more. We’ve won billions of dollars for clients at a time in their lives when they needed extra financial support. No matter how long it takes, we won’t back down from a fight. That’s the Montlick promise. Our team:
- Acts with integrity
- Keeps you updated on your case
- Works in your best interest
- Fights for what’s right, not what’s easy
Montlick Injury Attorneys, 40+ Years of Winning.
You might feel like you’re in a fog in the days and weeks following an accident. This is because you’ve just undergone something traumatic that may have long-term effects on your health, both mentally and physically. As time passes, the accident events may weigh heavily on you. While there is no legal deadline to consult a lawyer, the sooner, the better for your case’s strength and peace of mind. Contacting a highly skilled, highly experienced car accident attorney from Montlick will allow you to begin healing as soon as possible.
Montlick’s team has fought against morally gray insurance companies and their legal teams for decades. We fully understand the tactics they use to try and get you to settle for less than you deserve, and we know just how to counter it. Even though each case is different, you can always rely on a Montlick attorney to aggressively fight for you. For legal help that’s one in a billion, choose us when you need a car accident lawyer.
Contact Montlick Injury Attorneys today for your free case evaluation.
