{"id":7229,"date":"2026-11-04T09:12:13","date_gmt":"2026-11-04T09:12:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tmaddenlaw.com\/guides\/car-accident-lawyer-georgia\/damages-after-georgia-car-accident\/"},"modified":"2026-11-04T09:12:21","modified_gmt":"2026-11-04T09:12:21","slug":"damages-after-georgia-car-accident","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.tmaddenlaw.com\/guides\/car-accident-lawyer-georgia\/damages-after-georgia-car-accident\/","title":{"rendered":"What to Do After a Car Accident Legally in Georgia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Car Accidents | Clayton County and Georgia<\/p>

After a Car Accident in Georgia, Know Your Next Steps<\/h1>

T. Madden & Associates, P.C. has helped people hurt in Georgia crashes since 1999. Start with a free, confidential consultation, with no obligation to continue.<\/p>

Start your free case evaluation<\/a><\/div>
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Serving Georgia from five offices<\/h2>\n

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1999<\/h3>

Year the firm began practice<\/p><\/div>

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5<\/h3>

Offices: Jonesboro, Atlanta, Decatur, Macon, Augusta<\/p><\/div>

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24\/7<\/h3>

Call us any time<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n

By Terance Madden \u00b7 Published November 4, 2026<\/p>\n\n

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Georgia car accident damages fall into two main groups. Economic damages are losses with a bill or receipt, like medical care and lost pay. Non-economic damages, like pain and suffering, are harder to put a price on.<\/p>\n

This page explains what to do after a car accident legally in Georgia, and how those steps affect what you can recover. It also covers fault and time limits. The amount of any claim depends on the facts of the crash and the injuries involved.<\/p>\n

T. Madden & Associates, P.C. has practiced in Georgia since 1999. The firm represents people hurt in car, truck, and motorcycle crashes, with offices in Jonesboro, Atlanta, Decatur, Macon, and Augusta. For a broader overview, read our Georgia car accident lawyer guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n

What Damages Can a Georgia Car Accident Claim Include?<\/h2>\n

The losses a person may seek after a car accident depend on the facts of each case. Georgia law says damages compensate for injury. When an injury can be estimated in money, that estimate generally is the measure of damages, and nominal damages only are given if an injury is small or the mitigating circumstances are strong (O.C.G.A. \u00a7 51-12-4<\/a>).<\/p>\n

The law also separates damages by how they are proved. Special damages actually flow from the act and must be proved (O.C.G.A. \u00a7 51-12-2<\/a>). Bills, pay records, and repair invoices are usually special damages.<\/p>\n

A claim can also cover losses you expect later, such as ongoing treatment. Future amounts may be reduced to present value, which is explained below. Every case is different. No web page can say in advance what a specific claim is worth. Our guide to a $25,000 settlement explains how that question is approached.<\/p>\n\n

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If a wreck has left you hurt or uneasy about a loved one's claim, our team at T. Madden & Associates, P.C. is ready to talk through your options, and the first consultation is free and confidential. Talk it through with our team — the first consultation is free, confidential, and carries no obligation.<\/p>

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Medical Expenses and Future Medical Care<\/h2>\n

Medical bills from a crash are generally recoverable, but only for the reasonable value of medically necessary care. The trier of fact, usually a jury, decides that amount (O.C.G.A. \u00a7 51-12-1.1<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Common medical losses include:<\/p>\n