After you’re involved in a car accident, the last thing you want to do is fight with the insurance company. You also want to make sure the other driver is held accountable for your injuries. That\’s why it\’s always a good idea to call and talk to a Georgia accident lawyer as soon as possible after your crash.
Make Sure You Have All of Your Paperwork Ready to Go
The easiest way for your Georgia accident lawyer to evaluate your case is to look at your paperwork. If you have letters from the defendant’s insurance company, bring them with you. Remember to bring copies of any letters or emails from the defendant or their lawyer. If you have any pictures, bring them with you to the initial meeting. You also want to remember to bring an extra copy of the police report.
The police report is probably the most important piece of paper you can bring with you. This document will have information that your attorney will need in order to prove the defendant was at fault. Some of this information includes:
- Name and contact information for the other driver
- Contact information for any eyewitnesses
- Pictures of the accident scene
- Description of the road conditions
- Proof of registration and insurance for both drivers
- A notation of whether either driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the crash
Some of this information won’t be available to your attorney without this report. Try to bring this with you for your first meeting.
Make a List of Questions to Ask Your Attorney
It’s always a good idea to be prepared. You want to treat your initial consultation with a Georgia accident lawyer like you would a job interview. In a way, that’s exactly what it is. You’re deciding if you want to hire an attorney and the attorney is deciding if they want to handle your case. Make a list of questions before you show up to the meeting. Keep a notepad handy in the days or weeks leading up to your meeting. Jot down anything that comes to mind. There is no question too big or too small.
Some of the questions you may want to ask your Georgia accident lawyer include:
- Have you ever dealt with the defendant’s insurance company before?
- Do they think your claim should have been denied?
- What percentage of their car accident cases settle before trial?
- What will the filing fees cost?
- What is their contingency fee or rate?
- Do they have enough time to invest in your case?
Keep in mind – the attorney will have some questions for you too. Just be honest and provide them with as much information as possible.
The Last Thing You Should Worry About is How Much Your Case is Worth
The first question most accident victims ask their Georgia accident lawyer is how much their case is worth. The problem with this is that no attorney worth their salt will answer this question right away. There’s no way to give an honest answer to this question during the first meeting. Your attorney is going to need some time to evaluate your case and look at the evidence. They also need to find out what the defendant’s lawyer has to say. They may claim that you were partially at fault. You could find out that the other driver has no insurance. These are the things that can make your claim go from being worth a ton of money to not more than a few thousand dollars.
Reach Out to One of Our Seasoned Georgia Accident Lawyers Today
After you’re in a car accident, the last thing you want to do is argue with attorneys and insurance adjustors. At some point, however, you must take certain steps so you can protect your legal interests. If you didn’t cause the accident, then you shouldn’t be left holding the bag. You’ll want a seasoned Georgia accident lawyer there to make sure the other driver is held accountable. The good news is that you don\’t have to wait very long to meet with a potential Georgia accident lawyer. In fact, you can call and schedule your free, initial consultation within hours of your crash if you want to.
When you call our office, you’ll speak to one of our office staff. They’re going to want to set up a date and time for you to meet with one of our Georgia accident lawyers.