Your life could be drastically impacted if you have been involved in a major rear-end car accident in Georgia. Long-term medical and health care costs are one of the major consequences that ensued due to such injuries. These car crashes also have severe adverse emotional effects on the victims.
You may be entitled to a financial payout if you have sustained damages due to the negligence of another motorist.
According to the data reported by the Georgia Department of Public Safety, between 2013 to 2017, there were a total of 692,825 vehicle crashes in Georgia, due to rear-end collisions. These crashes amounted to 231,968 injuries, out of which 783 people lost their lives.
The motorist who gets rear-ended is not deemed to be at fault in most of the rear-end cases. Generally, the person who hits you from behind when you have slowed your vehicle due to traffic is responsible to reimburse you for your physical injuries if any, along with the damages your property endured. According to Georgia law, the common presumption is the one who rear-ends another car is considered as the culprit. Therefore, in order to escape responsibility for the accident, the driver must demonstrate proof of recklessness on someone else’s part.
To determine if you have a case, it is suggested to properly consult with a professional vehicle crash lawyer after a rear-end collision. This also assists in calculating the maximum limit of the damages. Your losses can be easily undervalued and then underpaid by insurance companies, even after the acceptance of a formal financial payout.
It is absolutely natural to feel swamped after going through an accident, as it can be an extremely stressful and traumatic memory. Many people feel the same way and you are not alone in this.
If you have gone through a serious Georgia car accident, we sincerely advise you to take the following measures:
Call the Police:
Report the accident by calling the police. In order to determine the accurate liability of the insurance administrators, it is vital that a formal police report exists. It is basically your word against everyone in the case where there is no official incident report.
In the case where both parties fail to reach a mutual settlement, the court has the power to decide who is at fault. The police draft the official crash report by coming to the scene of impact and gathering admissible evidence. Do not manipulate things or even think of admitting to guilt when the cops show up. Ensure that adequate copies are made of the report and that it is mailed or faxed to the relevant entities.
Check for Injuries:
Properly verify that if you or any of the other passengers on board have faced any injury. You should always seek medical care and attention even if you think the damages sustained are not major. The grave symptoms can generally be concealed by the adrenaline rush that follows the incident. You could abruptly feel the changes inside your body reflecting the severe symptoms of your injury, while nothing may happen to you immediately after the impact.
Seek Immediate Medical Attention After a Rear-End Car Accident in Georgia:
It is advisable to swiftly get yourself medically checked and treated right after the impact. Several days or even weeks could go by and still, injuries such as a brain injury or whiplash could remain unnoticed. Your compensation claim can be seriously affected if you delay your appointments with your physician. It may also have negative impacts on your physical and mental health. The gravity of your damages may easily be challenged by insurance administrators if proper medical treatment is being deferred.
Document Evidence:
Adequately gather all the documentary evidence available for the scene of impact, including any pictures or videos. They can be termed as one of the most valuable assets at the time of filing a claim. Ensure that you have all the necessary information regarding the motorist who hit you, including the details of their valid driver\’s license, contact information, and address.
Do Not Admit Fault:
Even if you think that you were somewhat at fault, never admit it in front of the police. Apologies can be manipulated or twisted into an admission of guilt. Therefore, it is imperative that the urge to apologize is also controlled. It is the court’s duty to decide the culprit. You are always entitled to disagree with a judge or jury and challenge your case in a higher court.
Contact Us:
The process of challenging the court’s verdict can be extremely complicated. However, our highly skilled attorneys are available to lead the way and provide you with the best legal representation. Contact us immediately if you have any queries related to a rear-end car accident in Georgia.