Whether you’re driving to school, work, or back home after a stressful day, car accidents are common on Atlanta’s I-75. This stretch of highway, leading drivers toward Smyrna, Vinings, and Marietta, is known for its heavy traffic. Accidents can lead to immense amounts of property damage, injuries, or even death. Have you been injured on I-75 in Atlanta? If so, it is important to be aware of the steps you need to take to protect your future claim to compensation.
Critical Action to Take to Protect Your Claim
I-75 is one of the most highly traveled highways in the entire United States. This highway runs straight through the heart of downtown Atlanta, where traffic is congested and constantly merging, two factors that can cause dangerous conditions for drivers.
There is also a high presence of commercial trucks on this stretch of road– nearly 72.4% of American freight is transported by commercial trucks–which can increase the likelihood of severe or even fatal accidents.
In a single year, the state of Georgia can suffer over 1,500 fatal traffic accidents, many of which occur on busy stretches of I-75. Whether you’ve suffered injury or have lost a loved one in an accident along I-75, it is important to know what steps to take to protect a future injury claim, including:
- Move to safety and call for help. Even if you do not feel physically injured, you need to move yourself to a place of safety off the roadway if possible and call for both police and emergency medical services.
- Seek medical attention. Undergoing an official medical check following a car accident can lend an added layer of credibility to your claim, even if you do not feel physically injured. You could also be suffering invisible injuries, such as a concussion or internal bleeding. Always seek medical attention after a car accident, no matter how you’re feeling.
- Gather evidence. If you are physically capable of doing so, gather evidence from the scene of the accident.
- Exchange information. You need to exchange contact information with the at-fault party, along with insurance information. Do not discuss faults. Even a simple statement of “I’m sorry” can be warped into an admission of guilt by the liable insurance company.
- Consult a lawyer. It is important that you hire an attorney as soon as possible following your car accident. They can protect your rights to compensation and preserve all necessary evidence.
Evidence Gathered Following a Car Accident on I-75 in Atlanta
Following a car accident, evidence can quickly degrade. To prove your liability claim, it is important that you collect and save evidence as early as possible. Evidence can include:
- Photographs and videos of your injuries or property damage
- Photographs and videos of the accident scene, including the positioning of the vehicles and any missing or damaged signage
- Dashboard camera, surveillance camera, or black box data
- Statements made by eyewitnesses
- Related medical records
- Police reports from the accident scene
- A vehicle’s maintenance history
- Damaged personal items, such as laptops, cell phones, children’s car seats, and clothing
About Hall & Lampros, LLP
With over 60 years of combined legal experience, the attorneys at Hall & Lampros, LLP are here to serve you. We are passionate about ensuring justice for all people, no matter race, color, creed, or national origin. Fluent in Spanish and English, we are here to assist clients from all walks of life. Our attorneys have won over $500 million for our clients in our years of service, and now we’re ready to turn our time and attention to the task of doing the same for you.
FAQs
Can I Recover Punitive Damages in an Atlanta Car Accident?
In certain car accident cases, yes, you may be able to recover punitive damages. These damages are typically only awarded when the liable party’s behavior has been deemed particularly egregious or grossly negligent. These damages are rarely awarded, but when they do come into play, they can add a large amount of value to your claim. These damages are commonly awarded in cases of drunk or drugged drivers.
How Can a Car Accident Lawyer Help Me?
A car accident lawyer can help you in many ways during the legal process of recovering compensation. They can review all available evidence and determine cause and liability, as well as uncover other forms of evidence and preserve all relevant details. Your attorney can calculate the amount of damages you’re owed and negotiate with the liable party and their insurance company so you can recover the full amount of compensation possible.
How Much Compensation Do I Deserve in an Injury Claim?
The amount of compensation you deserve in an injury claim in Georgia can generally depend on the severity of your injury and the extent of other damages you’ve received. Depending on what damages you’ve suffered, you are likely due compensation for all related medical costs, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, pain and suffering, loss of the enjoyment of life, and damages for wrongful death. Most non-lethal car accidents cost around $162,000 in damages.
How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Claim in Georgia?
In Georgia, an individual has two years to file a car accident claim following the incident. If this deadline passes before a claim is filed, then you are likely to lose your chance at compensation. This time limit is known as a statute of limitations, and following an accident, it is important you hire an attorney who is aware of this deadline and who can work to get all paperwork correctly filled out and filed by the necessary times.
Hire a Car Accident Lawyer Today
No matter the cause of your accident along I-75, strong evidence can act as the foundation of your damage claim. At Hall & Lampros, LLP, we can use various pieces of evidence to identify the liable parties, calculate the full amount of damages you’re owed, and challenge any arguments posed by the involved insurance companies. Contact our offices today to learn more, schedule your free case consultation, and hire a car accident lawyer in Atlanta you can trust.
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