Auto accidents are the most common types of accidents in Georgia. Auto accidents are most commonly caused because of negligent driving, which can cause serious injuries and death. If you have been injured in an auto accident in Georgia and believe that another driver was at fault, you may be able to obtain compensation if you file a personal injury claim against the driver who caused the accident and your injuries. You are advised to seek legal help from an experienced personal injury attorney if considering a claim.
Seek Medical Attention Immediately After a GA Crash
Whatever your injuries, even if you don’t think you have been injured, you should seek medical attention immediately after a crash. There are many different types of injuries that follow a serious auto accident, and some of them do not show symptoms until after the accident has occurred. Without a medial assessment made as soon as possible after the accident, some serious injuries may not be detected and it may make it more difficult to substantiate a personal injury claim.
Common auto accident injuries include the following:
- Cuts and bruises anywhere to the body;
- Whiplash, a progressive neck injury that may not be diagnosed until several days or weeks after an auto accident;
- Burns and skin damage;
- Back injuries including spinal cord injuries;
- Bone fractures and dislocations;
- Brain and facial injuries including traumatic brain injury (TBI);
- Joint dislocations;
- Muscle pain;
- Internal organ injuries.
You should make sure you keep all documentation from visits to doctors and any other medical personnel.
Exchange Contact Information With the Other Driver
You are expected to exchange certain information with the other driver following an auto accident, irrespective of who you believe was at fault. Information which should be shared includes the following:
- the name and contact information of the other driver;
- insurance information;
- registration and license plate number.
It is better not to get involved in any arguments or make accusations against the other driver at the accident scene. Instead, concentrate on obtaining any possible evidence that might help you make an insurance or personal injury claim, including witness statements and photographic evidence.
Call Your Georgia Auto Insurer
You should call your own auto insurer after the accident, providing clear details of what happened. If you have clear evidence that the other driver involved was at fault, you should provide this to your insurer. This may include the police accident report, photos taken at the scene and witness statements.
Gather Evidence of Fault
When filing a personal injury claim, you need to be aware of Georgia’s modified comparative fault laws. You can still obtain compensation in a personal injury case as long as you are not more than 50% at fault. Insurers will often try and allege that you were at least partly to blame for an auto accident. This should not put you off, as the more evidence you have that proves that the other driver was at fault, the greater the share of the compensation you have requested you should be able to obtain. Winning a personal injury claim after an auto accident in Georgia depends very much on the quality of evidence you can provide.
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