How Much Money Is My Johns Creek Car Accident Case Worth?
Because no two car accident cases are alike, it’s impossible to tell how much your unique case will be worth before you speak to a lawyer. However, during your free, no-obligation consultation with one of our Johns Creek car accident attorneys, we will investigate the details of your case to come up with a figure based on your losses. These losses are categorized into two types of compensation, or damages: economic and noneconomic.
Economic damages are generally easy to calculate. These damages are intended to compensate you for the actual money you lost due to the accident, including medical bills, lost wages, property damage and more. Your lawyer will use evidence like bills and invoices, as well as future treatment prescribed by your doctor, to calculate the exact monetary loss of your accident.
Noneconomic damages, on the other hand, are a bit more subjective. These damages compensate you for the non-monetary losses you suffered, such as pain and suffering, mental anguish and more. Because there aren’t really any receipts or other objective evidence to show these losses, your Johns Creek car accident lawyer will work with experts to come up with a number to present either in negotiations or in court.
After Your Car Accident, Don’t Take The First Offer From Your Insurer
After your car accident, the insurance company will send you a settlement offer. Chances are it will be a lot less than what you deserve (or even what will cover your bills). It’s also likely that the settlement offer will include language that implies this is your only option, and if you don’t take the offer, you won’t get anything. This is simply not true. The insurance company is trying to get you to take their offer, because the moment you do, you give up your right to sue for greater compensation.
Before you accept the offer, call a car accident attorney in Johns Creek. Your attorney can review your case, including the settlement offer you received, to determine if you are owed greater compensation. At Rafi, Brown, and Stokes, we know the value of your time and money. If we believe we can get you greater compensation, we’ll let you know. If we don’t think we can get you more, we’ll tell you that, too. That way, you can start moving forward with your life.
How Fault And Negligence Affect Your Johns Creek Car Accident Claim
When your attorney starts investigating your case, one of the most important factors they will consider is who was at fault for the accident. They will use the police report of the accident and other evidence to do so. Under Georgia law, if you are found 50 percent or more at fault for your accident, you can’t claim compensation. If you are able to claim compensation, the amount you receive will be reduced by the amount you are at fault.
For example, let’s say you are going through an intersection, and someone coming the opposite way suddenly makes a left turn, momentarily blocking your path. You were going 10 mph over the speed limit, so you didn’t have adequate time to stop. However, it was mostly the other driver’s left turn that caused the accident.
In the court trial, the judge finds you 20 percent at fault for the accident because you were speeding. You are awarded $10,000 for the injuries and other damages you sustained, but because you were 20 percent at fault, you would only receive $8,000.
What Role Does Negligence Play In Your Auto Accident?
In virtually all car accident cases in which someone is found to be at fault, it was because they were acting negligently. In legal terms, a person behaves negligently when they act in a way that another reasonable person wouldn’t, and therefore causes injury. Generally speaking, there are four elements that must be proven in order to show a person acted negligently:
1. Duty Of Care:
Duty of care relates to the obligation people have to not cause injury to others. When it comes to drivers, this includes obeying traffic control devices, not driving drowsy, drunk or distracted, and otherwise following all traffic laws to avoid putting others in harm’s way.
2. Breach Of Duty Of Care:
When a person fails to act in a way another “reasonable person” would, they are said to have breached their duty of care. This may include driver error, but it could also include errors made by the car manufacturer. However, if the accident is caused by an “unforeseeable event,” such as a driver suddenly having a heart attack and causing a wreck, they may not be considered negligent.
3. Causation:
Your wreck must have directly caused your injuries. For example, if you see a wreck on the side of the road, then and get into a wreck of your own while you’re distracted, the drivers in the first wreck wouldn’t be liable for your injuries.
4. Real Damages:
Finally, you must have real damages that can be monetarily compensated. This is generally easy to prove; medical bills and other expenses show you suffered real damages. However, if you were in a minor fender bender that resulted in no property damage and no injuries, you may have a harder time proving your case.
Speak To A Johns Creek Car Wreck Lawyer Today
The laws surrounding car accidents can be complicated, and dealing with the insurance company doesn’t make it any easier. The good news is, an experienced car accident attorney in Johns Creek can help you get the compensation you deserve.
At Rafi, Brown, and Stokes, we’ve helped recover millions of dollars on behalf of our clients who have been seriously injured in car wrecks. For a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our Johns Creek car accident attorneys.
