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If you were hurt in a car accident, you might be considering taking action against the at-fault party. While a financial award could make all the difference right now, giving you the funds to get your life back on track, a payout is never a foregone conclusion.
Fortunately, there are a few ways to gauge whether you have a compelling case. In this article, we look at a few questions you should ask yourself before proceeding with your claim:
1. Did I Play a Role in Causing the Wreck?
Georgia is a modified comparative negligence state. In other words, you can only recover damages if you can show that you were less responsible for causing the wreck than the opposing party. As such, even if you played a major role in causing the accident, it might still be possible for you to receive compensation. For instance, perhaps you were making an illegal lane change when disaster struck. In this situation, it might still be worth discussing your case with a personal injury attorney.
2. When Did I Visit the Doctor?
If you haven’t yet undergone a comprehensive medical assessment, you should do so immediately. Failure to seek treatment within a reasonable timeframe after a wreck could make it difficult for you to recover compensation. For instance, the insurer might assert that your injuries can’t be as severe as you are claiming as you didn’t require urgent medical attention. Additionally, visiting the doctor promptly after the accident will ensure that you have a paper trail of evidence tying your injuries to the wreck.
3. What Evidence Did I Gather at the Scene?
The accident scene is a potential treasure trove of proof, so it’s important to scour the area for anything that might help support your case. You should take pictures of the vehicles involved, your injuries, debris from the wreckage, road markings, street signs, and any other elements that could help corroborate your version of events.
Additionally, if anyone saw the accident happen, you should write down their names and contact numbers as your attorney may want to speak to them. If you or someone else captured footage of the accident on a dashcam, you should request copies of these videos and save them on a reliable and secure cloud server.
4. Did I Speak to the Insurer?
Once the opposing party’s insurance company is made aware of the wreck they will likely reach out to request a recorded statement. However, you need to be careful about agreeing to this request as it’s all too easy to say something that could be used as evidence to challenge your credibility.
Before you’ve had an opportunity to investigate the wreck and assess your damages, you can’t be certain that you won’t share inaccurate or untrue information. If, however, you already spoke to the insurer, you should make copies of any correspondence—or notes you took during conversations—and share these with your attorney.
Discuss Your Case with an Atlanta Car Accident Attorney
If you were hurt in a serious car wreck, it may be in your best interests to discuss your situation with a skilled personal injury lawyer. At Moebes Law, we can assist with almost every aspect of building your claim, whether it’s gathering the necessary evidence to support your case or filing the relevant paperwork. Call us today at 404-354-5432 or head over to our contact form to request a free case evaluation with a Georgia car accident attorney.
