Over 1,700 drivers are involved in car accidents every day in Georgia. Depending on the severity of the accident, an injured person could be left to pay tens of thousands of dollars in medical bills and vehicle repair costs, among other expenses.
If you were hurt in a crash, you have the right to pursue compensation from the person who caused the collision. Working with a Lawrenceville personal injury lawyer at Rafi, Brown, and Stokes can help get you the compensation you need to recover.
Call (404) 800-9933 to schedule your free case consultation with a skilled Lawrenceville car accident lawyer. We look forward to hearing from you. Car Accidents In Lawrenceville
It’s no secret that the Greater Atlanta area and surrounding cities are home to some of the worst traffic in the South. According to the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), there were over 330,000 car accidents in Georgia in 2020, of which nearly 125,000 resulted in injuries, and around 1,600 involved fatalities.
Lawrenceville is surrounded by many major roads and highways with high traffic, including I-20, Route 316, Route 29, Sugarloaf Parkway, and more. With more cars on the road and more traffic comes a higher risk of car accidents. If you were injured in a crash, call a Lawrenceville car accident lawyer from Rafi, Brown, and Stokes today and explore your legal options. Your first consultation is always free.
What Should You Do After A Car Crash In Lawrenceville?
Taking the right steps after an accident not only helps your safety but can also help your case if you decide to take legal action after a crash. Having documented evidence of everything related to the car accident can greatly improve the chances your Lawrenceville car accident lawyer wins your case.
If you get into a car crash, these are a few things you should know to do:
1. Move your vehicle to a safer location.
The first step is for your safety and others’ – if you are able, move your car out of the roadway and into a safer location. If you instinctively get out of your car right after the accident without checking your surroundings, you could risk getting hit by a car or causing someone else to crash if they swerve to avoid you.
Furthermore, blocking the roadway with your car can cause others to crash if a long line of cars has to shift lanes to avoid the wreckage.
2. Check yourself and your passenger(s) for injuries.
Next, you should check yourself and your passengers for injuries. Assess if there is any pain, blood, or obviously broken bones. If you or your passengers appear to be injured, stay in the car and avoid moving to avoid the risk of worsening the injury.
3. Call an ambulance if anyone is injured.
If you or your passengers are injured, dial 9-1-1 to call an ambulance and ask them to send the police as well. When you are calling, without leaving your car, see if the other driver appears to be injured or unconscious.
If you are unable to tell from your car, don’t worry – the paramedics that come will be able to assist them if they are injured as well.
4. Call the police.
If you assess yourself and your passengers for injuries and everyone seems okay, your next step is to call the police to report the accident.
When the police arrive at the scene, they will file a report of the accident. This step is crucial and should not be skipped, because a police report can help corroborate your account of the accident if you should end up filing a lawsuit.
5. Gather evidence at the scene.
Once you have contacted the proper authorities, carefully get out of your car (if it is safe to do so) and gather as much evidence as possible at the scene of the accident.
Take photos and videos of the entire perimeter of your car, the road where the accident happened, and the other driver’s car. Also, take photos of any injuries. You may also choose to video yourself on your phone explaining what happened to the best of your ability because you may forget details later on, especially if you could have a head injury.
Be sure to gather the contact and insurance information of the other driver. Once the police arrive and write a report or give tickets, make sure you get copies of everything.
6. Notify your insurance company.
Notify your insurance company of the car accident. You can also give them the insurance information of the other driver in the accident and they will begin handling the coverage.
You should not give them a detailed description of the accident and what you think your injuries might be. You just need to tell them when the accident occurred and who it was with. You don’t have to deal with the back-and-forth with them. See the next step to learn why.
7. Hire a car accident lawyer.
This is the most important step. Hiring an experienced car accident lawyer is a great way to get thorough assistance with all of the legal ins and outs of your accident. Your attorney can handle the majority of the communication with your insurance company so you aren’t getting calls every hour from them.
Many people make the mistake of giving a statement to their insurance company without all of the information and it can come back to bite them in court. It makes sense that you would assume you could trust the people who are insuring you, but insurance companies’ main priority is to keep as much money in their own pockets as possible.
An attorney can help you navigate your insurance claims so you don’t get ripped off. If you are injured, or if your insurance company does not cover your accident, an attorney can also help you file a lawsuit and help you to win the compensation that you deserve.
Call (404) 800-9933 today to speak to an experienced car accident lawyer in Lawrenceville, GA and get a free case consultation.
What Are Common Car Accident Injuries?
There are many ways that you could get injured in an accident, but there are a few types of injuries that occur most often as a result of car crashes:
Whiplash
This type of injury occurs from a rapid back and forth movement of the neck. When your car screeches to a halt due to the impact of the crash, the inertia can often cause your head to move suddenly backward and then forward, giving you whiplash.
The main symptom is pain in the neck and shoulders. Whiplash can range from mild to severe injury.
Back and Spine Injuries
The impact of the collision could cause damage to your back or spinal cord, both of which can permanently affect your mobility and quality of life. It’s very common for people to suffer herniated (bulging) discs, degenerative spinal disorders including spinal stenosis, and even lumbar or thoracic spine fractures.
Each of these conditions come with a host of symptoms and complications, and they are often very expensive conditions to treat.
Head and Brain Injuries
These types of injuries can range from concussions to head trauma to traumatic brain injuries. Head and brain injuries occur as a result of trauma or impact to the head. These can be some of the most serious injuries with some of the most expensive treatments.
Traumatic brain injuries can cause brain damage and even leave you permanently disabled. The head trauma sustained in a car accident could lead to cognitive dysfunctions and affect your ability to work, talk, move, and form new memories.
Internal Injuries
This is another category of serious injuries. The impact of a car crash can cause internal injuries such as internal bleeding, collapsed lungs, and more.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
PTSD is a psychological disorder characterized by feelings of intense fear, anxiety, or panic as a result of a traumatizing event.
The jarring and traumatizing nature of intense car accidents can cause lasting psychological damage. Emotional and psychological impacts and injuries are not discussed enough. If you develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder as a result of a car accident, the smallest reminders of the crash could cause you to become fearful or even volatile and aggressive.
Emotional and psychological trauma affects more than just thoughts, it can permanently alter someone’s personality and basic functioning.
If you are experiencing psychological or emotional trauma from your car accident, don’t ignore it or write your experience off as insignificant. Your psychological well-being and mental health are just as important as your physical health when it comes to living a complete and satisfying life. You can reach out for help from a therapist or psychiatrist, from your regular doctor or your car accident attorney.
Don’t be afraid or embarrassed to bring it up to us – we are in your corner and are dedicated to your full recovery from your car accident. We will help you to find the resources and doctors needed if you aren’t sure where to start.
Should You See a Doctor After Being in an Auto Accident in Lawrenceville?
After your accident, you may not have any apparent injuries such as broken bones or bleeding, but you should go to the doctor even if you’re experiencing minor symptoms such as confusion or general, unidentified pain. If you’re experiencing any degree of worry or anxiety that you may be hurt, go to the doctor. A quick check-up can help put your mind at ease.
Even if you aren’t in much pain right now, you may have a latent injury that takes some time to appear. Latent injuries have delayed side effects or symptoms that appear later on. Head and brain injuries and injuries in soft tissue often show more symptoms over time, but many types of injuries can have delayed symptoms or side effects.
For example, a small headache could turn out to be a severe concussion, or a slight ache in your chest could, in fact, be a broken rib. Don’t take a gamble with your health – go to the doctor. When you do get checked out, be sure to keep records of every appointment, such as diagnoses, prognoses, doctors’ recommendations, and medications. If you do have an injury, all of this documentation can be given to your Lawrenceville car accident lawyer and used as evidence in the case you decide to pursue compensation from the at-fault driver.
Are You The Victim Of A Car Wreck In Lawrenceville? Rafi, Brown, and Stokes Can Help.
Rafi, Brown, and Stokes has a team of experienced attorneys ready to fight for you after your car accident. Here are just a few of the many ways our legal representation can help you:
Helping You Recover From Your Injuries And Financial Burdens
If you were injured in a car accident, your number one priority should be resting and getting well, not worrying about how you will pay the medical bills for your care.
However, the cost of repairs for the damages to your vehicle can already be astronomical, and the medical bills from your injury can stack up quickly. The financial burden of a car accident can be crushing and cause even more stress after the trauma of the crash.
An attorney can help you recover damages and the compensation you deserve to relieve the financial burden and help you focus on recovering from your injury. Rafi, Brown, and Stokes can help you recover the maximum amount of compensation available to you for both financial and non-financial damages.
Protecting You From Predatory Insurance Companies
As we discussed earlier, we want to be able to trust insurance companies to have our backs. Still, the reality is that they are known more for being predatory than for being empathetic or protective. Their main priority is to shell out as little money as possible to the people they insure.
A Rafi, Brown, and Stokes Lawrenceville car accident lawyer can help protect you from the tricks and tactics of big insurance companies. Our attorneys see through their traps and will never give them information about your accident or injuries that will hurt your case or your chances of compensation.
Exercising Your Legal Rights
You may not necessarily need an attorney if you got into a minor Fender bender with little damage and no injuries. Still, there are many scenarios in which you need a lawyer. The average person does not know or understand their full legal rights after a car accident, but our lawyers do.
If your car accident involved severe injuries, property damage, or fatalities, you need a lawyer. If it is not clear whose fault the accident was, or you feel like you have been given an unfair settlement, you need a lawyer.
We can help. Please scroll down to see how to get started working with us.
Rafi, Brown, and Stokes Is Here for You. Call A Skilled Lawrenceville Car Accident Lawyer Today.
Since 2016, Rafi, Brown, and Stokes has recovered over 75 million dollars for our clients. We will work hard to get you the maximum compensation possible for your car crash and injuries, and we don’t get paid unless you do.
Call (404) 800-9933 to schedule your free case consultation with a Lawrenceville or Atlanta car accident lawyer.
