A lot of people don’t think they need an attorney for a simple car accident. They figure all they have to do is file their insurance claim and wait to get paid. And, for some people, it is this easy. Generally speaking, however, it rarely works this way.
If you have a very minor insurance claim, then yes, it may be a simple matter of getting paid by the insurance company. But, if your accident involves serious injuries, you don’t want to handle it yourself. It’s important that you have an experienced Atlanta auto accident lawyer by your side.
Once you file your claim, the insurance adjuster may reach out to you to discuss a settlement. More than likely, this settlement will be for much less than what you deserve. And, the insurance company will make you sign something called a release.
A release basically protects the insurance company. It doesn’t protect you. It prevents you from ever going back after the insurance company or the driver for more money. They hope that you sign this release without having an attorney review it. This is because they know that no decent attorney would encourage you to accept a settlement that isn’t good for you.
Your Atlanta Auto Accident Lawyer Will Protect Your Rights
When you first get into a car accident, it’s hard to know just how serious your injuries are. It could take weeks or months to really determine how bad they are. Insurance companies like to offer you a settlement out the gate hoping you’ll jump at the money.
Insurance adjusters aren’t going to offer you money if they don’t think you have a case. They’d rather offer you something now before you run out and get a lawyer. Once you sign the release and take the money, there’s nothing you can do about it.
Your Atlanta auto accident attorney will make sure you don’t accept an offer that isn’t fair. Sure, settlement negotiations are important. But you don’t want to do this yourself. You need an experienced attorney to deal with the insurance adjuster on your behalf.
Your Atlanta Auto Accident Attorney Knows What Your Case is Really Worth
You may have no idea what your case is really worth. There’s no reason you should. You’re not an attorney. All you know is that your car is damaged and you’re hurt. You probably have no idea just how much you’re entitled to.
Your Atlanta auto accident attorney knows what your case is worth. This is what he does for a living. He knows how to deal with insurance adjusters. He’ll push to get you as much money as possible. Some of the damages you may be entitled to include:
- Medical bills – You are entitled to recover any medical bills caused by the accident. This could include your hospital visit and the tests they perform, doctor visits, and physical therapy. It may include out of pocket costs for prescriptions. It can also include any future medical bills you may incur. Your Atlanta auto accident lawyer will have experts testify as to how much these future medical bills may be.
- Lost wages – Chances are, if you’re in a car accident, you’re going to miss time from work. If this is more than a couple of weeks, you should be entitled to recover these wages. Your lawyer will submit time sheets and even tax returns to show what you would have earned had it not been for the car accident.
- Property damage – If your car is damaged or destroyed in the accident, you can demand reimbursement. If your insurance claim covers this, you can’t demand that the defendant reimburse you for this as well.
- Pain and Suffering – These are the non-economic types of damages. It includes the pain and anxiety caused by the accident. Your lawyer will have to prove these separately in court.
Your Atlanta auto accident lawyer will battle to get you every dime you deserve.
Contact an Atlanta Auto Accident Lawyer Today
If you’re in a car accident, you could be entitled to a lot of money. It depends on how serious your injuries are. Insurance companies will try to take advantage of early in the game. They may try to get you to accept a low-ball settlement. You don’t want to do this.
It’s important that you call and schedule a consultation with an Atlanta auto accident attorney today. The consultation is free and you pay nothing until you win your case.