Hurt in a Georgia Car Accident? Talk With Our Personal Injury Lawyers

What type of lawyers deal with car accidents? In most cases, a personal injury lawyer handles the claim. If you were hurt in a crash, this guide explains which lawyers handle these claims, how the vehicle changes the work, and what to expect when you first talk with a lawyer.

What kinds of lawyers handle car accident claims?

Most car accident claims are personal injury claims. A car accident lawyer is a personal injury lawyer who handles injuries from crashes. The lawyer works to recover compensation from the at-fault driver and that driver’s insurer. If a fair resolution isn’t reached, the claim can move toward a lawsuit.

T. Madden & Associates, P.C. is a Georgia personal injury firm that has practiced since 1999. It has offices in Jonesboro (Clayton County), Atlanta, Decatur, Macon, and Augusta. Terance Madden and Shenia Madden are the firm’s lawyers. The firm also has support staff, including assistants and office staff.

Knowing what type of lawyers deal with car accidents helps you start the right conversation. Many crashes also involve a truck, motorcycle, or e-bike. The same general injury law applies, but those cases can differ in important ways. For a wider look at truck claims in Georgia, read our truck accident guide.

Does the type of vehicle change which lawyer you need?

The vehicle changes the evidence and the parties involved, even when the basic injury law stays the same. A truck, motorcycle, or e-bike crash can raise questions that a standard car crash does not.

Truck crashes. A commercial truck crash may involve a carrier, a driver’s employer, and company records. Federal rules require a motor carrier to keep driver duty-status records for at least 6 months from receipt, under 49 C.F.R. § 395.8. Carriers must also keep vehicle inspection and maintenance records for 1 year, and for 6 months after a vehicle leaves their control, under 49 C.F.R. § 396.3. Those records can matter early, so timing matters.

Motorcycle and e-bike crashes. Visibility, road conditions, and how injuries are documented often come up in these claims. E-bike claims raise similar questions about the bike, the road, and medical records.

Severe injury and wrongful death. Severe injuries can involve long-term care and lost income. When a crash causes a death, O.C.G.A. § 51-4-2 lets a surviving spouse recover the full value of the decedent’s life, as shown by the evidence. If there is no surviving spouse, a child or children may recover. The firm handles car, truck, motorcycle, e-bike, catastrophic injury, and wrongful death claims. You can describe your crash, and the team can explain which area fits.

Who is usually at fault in a rear-end crash?

Fault in a rear-end crash depends on what happened, not only on which car was hit from behind. Georgia assigns each person a share of fault, and that share changes what an injured person can recover.

Under O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33, the trier of fact (the person or group deciding the facts) sets the injured person’s percentage of fault. The judge then reduces the damages in proportion to that percentage. If the injured person is 50 percent or more responsible, they cannot receive any damages.

When more than one person is at fault, each person’s share is their own liability. It is not a joint debt that one person pays in full.

Evidence that shows how the crash happened can include the police report, photos of both vehicles, witness statements, and damage to each car. Speed, braking, and following distance also matter. These records often carry the most weight when the other driver disputes what happened.

How hard is it to win a car accident lawsuit?

Whether a claim succeeds depends on the facts of the crash, the injuries, the evidence, and how the insurance company responds. No lawyer can predict how a specific claim will end.

Many car accident claims resolve without a trial. A lawsuit is one path when a fair resolution isn’t reached. Georgia’s general deadline for a personal injury lawsuit is two years after the right of action accrues (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33, quoted in a Georgia appellate opinion). Mark that date early.

If the at-fault driver has no insurance, your own policy may help. O.C.G.A. § 33-7-11 is the Georgia statute that addresses uninsured motorist coverage in automobile liability policies.

People also ask whether they can settle without a lawyer. Our settlement guide covers that question.

What should you share with your lawyer, and what should you hold off on?

Share complete, honest facts with your lawyer, including prior injuries and how the crash happened. Don’t leave out facts, even ones that feel embarrassing. A lawyer can only plan around the facts they know.

Tell your lawyer whether you were wearing a seat belt. Georgia law allows a seat belt’s absence to be considered as evidence in a civil case, and it may reduce recovery (O.C.G.A. § 40-8-76.1).

Keep a simple record of medical visits, bills, missed work, photos of the scene and vehicles, and the names of witnesses. Notes made soon after the crash help show what happened while memories are fresh.

Talk with a lawyer before you give a recorded statement to an insurance adjuster or sign settlement papers. Avoid posting about the crash or your injuries on social media until your claim is reviewed. Posts can be read out of context.

Can you hire a lawyer and pay later?

The firm works on a no fee unless we win basis, but you may still be responsible for court costs and case expenses. The first consultation is free, confidential, and carries no obligation to continue.

Because the fee depends on a recovery, the arrangement is worth understanding before you sign anything. Case expenses can include records fees and the cost of medical reports. Ask about any costs during your first consultation, so you know what to expect before you decide.

Talk with our team about your car accident

If you’re asking what type of lawyers deal with car accidents, you may be dealing with pain, time off work, a damaged vehicle, or worry about someone you love. You don’t have to sort out the right type of lawyer alone.

Describe what happened, and our team can explain which kind of claim fits your situation. Use our contact page to start a free case evaluation, or call the firm, which is available 24/7.

Responsible lawyer: Terance Madden, T. Madden & Associates, P.C. Offices: Jonesboro (Clayton County), Atlanta, Decatur, Macon, and Augusta. Contact: https://www.tmaddenlaw.com/contact/. This page is general information, not legal advice.

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