If you’ve been involved in a minor car accident, you might wonder whether you need to hire an attorney. While not every case requires legal representation, it’s almost always at least worth your time to contact a lawyer for a free consultation and learn about your options.
To clarify matters, however, let’s get into specifics. That way, you’ll be better equipped to determine whether your car accident is truly minor. Injury attorneys win lucrative settlements for ‘minor’ accidents every day.
Although most people classify the following types of car accidents as minor, they sometimes result in unexpected liability.
Injuries are relatively uncommon in these scenarios, but they do happen from time to time.
When injuries do occur, they typically generate the following claims:
Seek prompt medical treatment for any injury, no matter how minor.
The following are just a few of many possible examples of car accident scenarios that might call for the involvement of a lawyer.
Georgia applies a modified comparative fault system when more than one party is at fault for an accident. If you are less than 50% at fault, you will lose some of your compensation. If you are 50% or more at fault, you will lose all of it.
People like to blame other people for their own mistakes. That is a fact of life. A skilled Georgia car accident lawyer, however, is able to get to the truth that other people try to hide
It’s worth asking again. Did any part of your body hit your car? If so, you might have an injury that you don’t even know about. Some injuries don’t generate immediate symptoms.
The last thing you need is a questionable injury claim that you can’t get compensation for because you waited too long to seek treatment
Needing the settlement money immediately is all the more reason to hire a lawyer. Insurance adjusters can smell desperation from a mile off, and they will use it against you. A lawyer might be able to help you expedite your settlement.
You might be filing a third-party insurance claim against the other driver’s liability insurance policy. Insurance companies, of course, are less likely to play games with small claims than with large claims. If the insurance company is giving you the runaround, however, you might need a lawyer.
Many Georgia drivers are uninsured. If you lack uninsured motorist coverage, you might need a lawyer to help you seek alternative sources of compensation.
You normally can’t use a police report in court. You can, however, call the police officer who wrote it to the stand. That is why an unfavorable, inaccurate police report is something you should pay attention to.
Here are some of the ways an experienced Georgia car accident lawyer can help you resolve your claim:
Ultimately, every major decision of the case is yours to make.
You’ve probably heard about the billable hour system, where personal injury lawyers charge hundreds of dollars per hour for their services. It doesn’t work that way for personal injury lawyers.
Instead, personal injury lawyers charge their fee as a percentage of whatever amount they are able to recover for you. Inm other words, their fee is directly proportional to how much value they provide you.
Best of all, you won’t owe your lawyer a dime in attorney’s fees until and unless they recover compensation for you, either in court or at the settlement table. With a personal injury lawyer, everything is free until the defendant pays a settlement or judgment. If they don’t win any money for you, you won’t owe them any legal fees.
Not only do personal injury lawyers charge based on the amount they recover, but initial consultations are also free of charge. Take advantage of this fact to discuss your case with a lawyer so that you will better understand your options.
The incentive structure of a personal injury lawyer is such that they have no motivation to take your case unless it would be worth it for both of you.
For more information, contact the car accident law firm of Hammers Law Firm to schedule a free initial consultation.
We serve Fulton County and its surrounding areas:
Hammers Law Firm – Atlanta
201 Joseph E Lowery Blvd NW Suite 312,
Atlanta, GA 30314
(770) 900-9000
Hammers Law Firm – Sandy Springs
5555 Glenridge Con, Suite 975,
Sandy Springs, GA 30342
(770) 900-9000
Hammers Law Firm – Sandy Springs
265 Culver St S. Suite A.
Lawrenceville, GA 30046
(770) 900-9000
Hammers Law Firm – Mableton
5701 Mableton Pkwy SW Suite 108,
Mableton, GA 30126
(770) 900-9000
Hammers Law Firm – Smyrna
2400 Herodian Way Ste#220,
Smyrna, GA 30080
(770) 900-9000
Hammers Law Firm – Roswell
110 Mansell Cir #111,
Roswell, GA 30075
(770) 900-9000
