Across the country, hundreds of car accident victims suffer life-threatening and catastrophic injuries every minute. The impact of these injuries is often debilitating and felt for years. Fortunately, if someone else is responsible for causing your accident, you can take legal action against them.
Do not get stuck covering your medical expenses and paying out of pocket for other costs related to the collision. The at-fault party should compensate you for these damages and ensure you have access to the financial support you need to rebuild your life.
Unfortunately, at-fault parties don’t always take responsibility for their actions after a car crash, as we often see in motorcycle and truck accidents as well. You may need to work with the experienced personal injury attorneys at T. Madden & Associates, P.C. to get compensation. Contact our office and request a free consultation. When you do, you can learn more about who could be liable for your car accident injuries, which legal options are most suitable for your car accident case, and how much you could be awarded for your damages.
Cause and Fault in McDonough Car Accidents
If you have suffered a traumatic brain injury, spinal cord damage, broken or fractured bones, or any other type of injury, figuring out the cause of your motor vehicle accident will be our top priority. Some of the most common causes of collisions include:
- Drunk driving
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Drugged driving
- Driving while fatigued
- Aggressive driving
- Reckless driving
- Dangerous roads
- Defective vehicle parts
- Inclement weather
- Wildlife
The cause of your collision will help us identify the at-fault party. If negligent driving caused your accident, the driver that hit you could be sued. However, other parties could share responsibility for your injuries if your collision was caused by road hazards or malfunctioning vehicle parts. Some of these parties could include:
- Equipment manufacturers
- Motor vehicle dealerships
- The Georgia Department of Transportation
- Auto parts designers and distributors
- Safety inspectors
- The city of McDonough
- Maintenance technicians
How T. Madden & Associates Helps Car Accident Victims Get Justice
Our black-owned car accident law firm has devoted our practice to helping injury victims throughout Georgia recover the compensation they are entitled to and bringing liable parties to justice. We understand how traumatic this experience must be and are standing by ready to help you get through this difficult time. While you recuperate from your injuries, our team will be working tirelessly to build a powerful case against the at-fault party. You could rely on our personal injury lawyers to:
- Conduct a comprehensive investigation
- Gather strong supporting evidence
- Figure out how the accident occurred
- Establish liability and prove negligence
- Calculate the value of your damages
- Speak with car accident witnesses
- Hire car accident reconstructionists
- Review the defendant’s driving record and blood alcohol concentration test results
- Prepare and file insurance claims
- Negotiate with insurance providers
- Advocate for your right to maximum compensation at trial
Compensation for Car Accident Survivors in McDonough
Car accident victims should not have to cover any costs when someone else is at fault. Some of the most common economic and non-economic damages awarded in McDonough car accident cases include:
- Vehicle repair costs
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of income
- Diminished vehicle value
- Emotional trauma
- Loss of companionship and love
- Reduced quality of life
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Medical bills
- Wrongful death damages
McDonough Car Accident FAQ
It is normal to feel overwhelmed when you are dealing with severe physical injuries. Our McDonough car accident lawyers understand that you may be intimidated by the claims process and have many concerns about what to expect next.
For that reason, we have answered some of the most frequently asked questions surrounding car accident claims in McDonough.
If you have additional questions not covered on this page, we can discuss your specific concerns in greater detail when you contact our team for a free consultation.
Is Georgia a no-fault car accident state?
No. In no-fault car accident states, drivers are required to carry personal injury protection (PIP) or no-fault insurance coverage. This coverage pays for certain types of damages without regard to liability for the auto accident.
However, Georgia is a fault state. Motorists are not required to carry PIP or no-fault coverage because the liable party is expected to cover the cost of the injury victim’s damages.
You will not file a claim against your auto insurance policy unless the liable party does not have insurance coverage and you have purchased PIP coverage.
We generally do not recommend filing a claim against your auto insurance policy, as the insurer will likely increase your premiums or even stop providing auto insurance coverage if you have filed multiple claims over a short period. Your car accident lawyer in McDonough will prepare your insurance claim and negotiate with the liable party’s insurance provider on your behalf.
This will protect you from being taken advantage of by profit-motivated insurers and ensure you receive fair compensation through your insurance settlement.
How long do I have to file my claim?
The amount of time you have to file your car crash claim varies. If you are filing a claim with the insurance company, deadlines may be different from t when you file a personal injury lawsuit.
Insurance companies have the authority to set their deadlines. Some insurance companies will only give claimants up to 48 hours to file their claims.
However, if you are filing a car accident lawsuit, you will have two years to do so according to the Georgia statute of limitations for personal injury cases.
If your car accident lawsuit is not filed before this deadline, the court system can deny the opportunity to have your case heard at trial.
Fortunately, with our experienced McDonough car accident lawyers working on your case, these deadlines do not need to concern you. As soon as you contact our team, we will consider the statute of limitations and ensure your claim is filed before time runs out.
What happens if I’m partially to blame for the accident?
Georgia follows modified comparative negligence laws. This means you can share responsibility for the injuries you sustained or the accident you were involved in and still receive compensation for your damages.
The court system ensures you answer for your portion of the blame by reducing your settlement according to your percentage of liability. For example, if you were involved in an accident but not wearing your seatbelt at the time of the collision, the defense might argue you share the blame for your injuries.
If the judge agrees, they might find you 10% responsible. If the jury awarded you $5 million for your permanent disability, your $5 million settlement would have a 10% deduction, leaving you with $4.5 million. While this is still a sizable settlement, you lost $500,000 by sharing the blame.
If your percentage of liability exceeds the 50% threshold under Georgia’s modified comparative negligence statute, you will lose your right to be awarded compensation for your damages at trial.
If you have concerns that shared liability accusations will be brought against you, make sure you discuss your concerns with your car accident lawyer so they can prepare accordingly. You will be able to rest easier knowing your personal injury lawyer is ready to fight back against unjust shared fault allegations.
Should I accept the insurance company’s settlement offer?
It is rarely in your best interests to accept the insurance company’s first settlement offer unless you have discussed it with your car accident lawyer first. Insurance companies are notoriously greedy. They go to great lengths to reduce settlements and deny claimants the compensation they are entitled to.
If the insurance company makes a quick settlement offer, this may be a sign that the insurance adjuster recognizes the value of your claim and is hoping to trick you into settling for less than you deserve.
Fortunately, when you have our car accident lawyer in McDonough review your settlement offer, you will have insight into whether the offer is a good one.
If not, your attorney can renegotiate the settlement terms to obtain a more reasonable offer. If we discover the insurance company is handling your car accident claim in bad faith, we will be prepared to take additional legal action against them when necessary.
Connect With McDonough’s Leading Car Accident Law Firm Today
Your car accident injuries will not only affect you physically because the emotional toll of this traumatic event could be long-lasting.
The financial consequences could cause extreme financial troubles that put a strain on you and your family. Do not let the liable party turn your life upside down. Bring them to justice with help from our personal injury law firm.
Reach out to a knowledgeable and dedicated car accident attorney at T. Madden & Associates, P.C. to schedule your confidential and free consultation. Our firm is proud to offer our legal services to the community.
Our accident lawyers in McDonough serve the city of McDonough and surrounding communities. Take advantage of this opportunity when you complete our quick contact form or call our office to get started on your case as soon as possible.