Augusta Car Accident Lawyer
Probably the most common accident in the United States is the car accident. A car accident in Augusta can happen at any time; on a highway or right outside your house. You might be the safest driver in the world, but due to circumstances out of your control, you could end up in a terrible car crash. Other drivers have a responsibility to drive safe and focus on the road, but people get distracted or make the mistake of drinking before getting in their vehicle, and suddenly they’ve caused a catastrophe.
Thousands of people die in car accidents in Georgia every year, and many more are injured. If you were injured in an Augusta car accident, you might be eligible for compensation. It’s critical to move quickly and contact an experienced Augusta car accident attorney who can make sure you’re taken care of. Contact the Hawk Firm to receive your consultation today.
Getting hurt in a car accident or losing a loved one from a car accident can upend your life. You may have medical bills piling, must take time off work, and/or deal with the burden of your painful injuries.
You don’t have to make up these costs and figure out your next steps yourself. An Augusta car accident lawyer on our team can take charge of your case while you heal from your injuries and the trauma of the crash.
At The Hawk Firm, we dedicate ourselves to providing our clients with transparent legal solutions and wise and loyal representation. In doing so, our attorneys compile evidence and build your case so that you can recover the compensation you need to come back from this terrible event. Learn more when you contact our firm for a free consultation today.
Table of Contents
- Why Do Car Accident Happen?
- What Are the Most Common Car Accident Injuries?
- How an Augusta Car Accident Attorney With Our Firm Can Assist You
- Damages You Can Seek Following a Car Accident in Augusta, Georgia
- Our Augusta Car Accident Lawyers Can Help You With Your Case Today
Why Do Car Accidents Happen?
Simply put, negligence is the main cause of car accidents. A driver gets distracted by something else and doesn’t see another car, thus leading to a collision. Specific examples of negligence that tend to result in a car accident include but aren’t limited to distracted driving, talking on the phone, putting on makeup, and drunk driving. No matter the cause of your car crash, make sure you take your accident seriously from the beginning and enlist the help of an Augusta car accident lawyer who knows the law and understands how to protect your rights.
What Are the Most Common Car Accident Injuries?
Every car accident is different, and the injuries that tend to stem from them are countless. A minor car accident might leave you without a scratch, while a more serious collision can cause spinal injuries or even wrongful death. The most common types of injuries are concussions, whiplash, broken bones, and organ damage. Certain injuries might not show up for weeks or even months, so even if you feel alright, you’ll want to seek a medical evaluation. When submitting an insurance claim, these documents will be key in proving your case.
What Should I Do After an Auto Accident?
If you’re involved in a car accident, big or small, your first step is to make sure you’re safe. At that point, call the police. Having a record on the official file to show what happened will be key down the road. If you can do so safely, try and take pictures or videos of your accident. After you exchange info with the other person involved in the accident, you’ll want to look around for witnesses. If someone saw your accident, get their contact info. They may be able to prove to the judge you weren’t at fault.
Even if you have a medical exam at the scene of the accident, you’ll want to schedule a proper medical exam as soon as possible. Keep receipts for any expenses related to your accident, such as medical bills or vehicle repair. Lastly, but equally important, you’ll want to contact a seasoned car accident lawyer who can start fighting for you right away.
How an Augusta Car Accident Attorney With Our Firm Can Assist You
Trying to figure out how the legal system works, learning legalese, and dealing with insurance companies can prove frustrating and overwhelming. At The Hawk Firm, we handle all of your case’s legalities while you heal from your injuries.
Our Attorneys Take Car Accident Cases on Contingency
At The Hawk Firm, we work on a contingency-fee model. That means we don’t ask for any upfront, out-of-pocket, or hourly fees. We only get paid if you receive a settlement, so you don’t take any financial risk in hiring one of our attorneys.
We also offer free consultations, allowing you to speak with our team about your accident and determine if you think we are the right fit for you. If you have us represent you, rest assured that you will not owe us anything except a percentage of the settlement you receive.
We Help You Adhere to the Statute of Limitations
Act quickly following a car accident. If you wait to file your lawsuit, you may not adhere to the statute of limitations, potentially forfeiting your right to damages. Under Georgia law, you generally have two years from the time of your accident to file a lawsuit against the party that injured you. If you lose a loved one to a car crash, you may also have up to two years from the day of death to take action.
When you hire our team, we get to work for you right away. We know how important every moment is when filing a lawsuit. This does not mean that we rush this process, though. We still conduct the research necessary to back up your claims of the other party’s negligence, all while helping ensure we adhere to the statute of limitations.
We Can Determine the Liable Party in Your Augusta Crash Case
Determining liability for some accidents is simple, while it can require a longer process for others. For example, if the other party rear-ends you, they may be liable for any damages you suffer. In other instances, it may be more difficult to prove liability.
To establish financial responsibility for your damages, your attorney may collect and review evidence, such as:
- Traffic camera footage
- The other party’s traffic citations
- Medical records and bills
- Photographs of the crash scene and your injuries
- The police report
- Eyewitness testimony
Usually, the other driver bears responsibility for an accident. However, other parties may be to blame for what happened.
For instance, if the evidence shows that their car part malfunctioned, your lawyer may:
- Speak with professionals to determine if their claim is viable
- Research past accidents involving the malfunctioning part
- Research cases or recalls involving the allegedly malfunctioning part
When a lawyer on our team works on your behalf, you do not have to worry about who is liable, as they do all the research necessary while you recover from your injuries.
Our Augusta Car Accident Lawyers Communicate with Other Parties for You
Expect a call from the other party’s insurance company a couple of days after the crash. The adjuster may ask for a recorded statement that tells your side of what happened. We understand you want to dive into the details, but please refrain. The adjuster may look for loopholes in your story and use them as a reason not to award you the settlement you need.
Should the insurance adjuster reach out to you, refer them to your attorney immediately. We know how these companies work and the tactics they use to avoid paying out your claim. Our experience in dealing with them, combined with a complete evaluation and investigation of your case, helps us ensure the insurer acts in good faith.
Also, going back and forth with insurance companies and playing phone tag can cause headaches. Your attorney can handle all correspondence with them and other parties involved in your case.
Our Team Fights for Your Right to Compensation in Settlement Negotiations
After our injury lawyers have evaluated your damages, we demand a settlement from the insurance company. Usually, they come back with an offer that doesn’t cover all of your losses. In that event, we enter negotiations. In general, we can agree during this phase. If we cannot settle, we prepare for trial.
Our Injury Lawyers Can Represent You in a Jury Trial if Necessary
At The Hawk Firm, we are ready to go to trial to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve. Many firms settle to avoid court, but we want to continue the fight for your right to recover compensation.
Damages You Can Seek Following a Car Accident in Augusta, Georgia
If a car accident hurts you, you may collect compensation to cover your damages. Recovering compensation provides financial stability and access to resources while you recuperate from the accident.
Although every case differs, common forms of damages car accident victims seek include:
- Medical bills for past and future treatment: This category may include diagnostic tests, pain medications, emergency medical services, hospitalizations, surgeries, medical devices, and follow-up doctor’s visits.
- Lost income and benefits:While in treatment, the doctor may have ordered you to take off work for a few weeks. In that case, you could have missed out on tips, your salary or hourly pay, commissions, bonuses, and other employment opportunities.
- Pain and suffering: The injuries you sustained from the car accident can hurt your physical and mental well-being. Compensation for pain and suffering can help you cope with your new lifestyle changes.
- Lost future earnings: Sometimes, your injuries are serious enough to keep you from going to work—at least to the same degree—for the time being. In that case, you could request compensation for the expected change in pay.
- Property damage expenses: If your car needs repairs or replacement, you can recover those associated costs.
- Scarring and disfigurement: Injuries can sometimes impair your movement and change your appearance. In that case, scarring and disfigurement damages can help you access the tools you need to deal with these challenges.
- Wrongful death damages: If your loved one passed away from their car accident injuries, you could recover damages for burial and funeral expenses, final medical care costs, and lost financial support, as well as loss of household services and care.
Determining the monetary value associated with each of these items can be difficult. While you can easily quantify some, such as medical bills, others, like pain and suffering, may require more work to determine how much they are worth. An attorney at our firm can review your damages and evaluate them according to how they affected you financially, physically, and emotionally.
How Our Attorneys Fight for the Compensation You Need
We have helped our clients recover millions of dollars in settlements since our firm began representing citizens of Georgia nearly 40 years ago. We treat our clients with the utmost respect and fight for them from the first time they come into our office until we reach a settlement agreement with the other party.
No matter how many cases we settle or how many clients we represent, every situation is unique. We fight to obtain the settlement you deserve when we work with you.
What Are Common Car Accident Injuries?
Car accidents can result in injuries to various parts of the body.
Depending on the nature of your accident, you could suffer:
- Lacerations
- Broken bones and fractures
- Back injuries
- Whiplash and other soft tissue injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Injuries to extremities
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Organ damage
- Internal bleeding
Some injuries won’t require much medical care, while others will result in numerous treatments and potential surgeries. Additionally, some of these injuries can be life-threatening or life-altering.
Common Ways Car Accidents Happen
Generally speaking, car accidents arise from negligence.
Negligence comprises four elements:
- Duty of care: The other party needed to behave as any reasonable person would in the situation and prioritize everyone’s safety.
- Breach of duty: The other party failed to uphold their obligation and behaved negligently.
- Causation: This negligence led to the car collision and your injuries.
Damages: This car crash caused you to suffer monetary and non-monetary damages.
Negligence takes several forms in a car accident. The other party could have been:
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Driving distracted
- Failing to yield
- Failing to merge or turn properly
- Drowsy driving
- Speeding or driving too fast for conditions
- Running red lights and other traffic signs
- Failing to alert road users about the dangerous road conditions
- Failing to promptly clean up debris on the road
- Failing to detect an issue with a vehicle
Sometimes, more than one factor could have caused the crash. Your attorney can use the evidence they compiled to get to the bottom of what happened and assign blame to each party accordingly.
What Augusta Car Accident Statistics Say
Recently, traffic deaths in the United States reached a 16-year high, with 42,915 fatalities. This total was 10.5 percent higher than the previous year, which saw 38,824 fatalities. These alarming statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimated that over 80,000 people lost their lives in motor vehicles in the last two years.
Georgia’s numbers were not quite as bad as the rest of the country. Still, Georgia saw 1,806 motor vehicle fatalities last year, an increase of 8.5 percent from 2020.
Car Accident Statistics in Augusta
Augusta saw over 18,000 crashes in the last two years, per the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT). These accidents resulted in 6,423 injuries and 75 fatalities in just two years.
Unfortunately, motor vehicle accidents in Augusta have been on the rise for several years. According to NHTSA, many accidents result from drivers breaking one or more laws.
Should I Hire a Car Accident Attorney?
When you’ve been in a car accident, time is of the essence. The insurance company’s goal will be to pay as little as possible for your damages. This is why it’s important that you contact an experienced car accident lawyer who can make sure your best interests are looked after.
If you have been injured or someone you love has been killed in a car accident, contact us today to schedule a free consultation. We would be more than happy to sit down with you and discuss what happened. We know how overwhelming this process can be and we’re here to help.
Our Augusta Car Accident Lawyers Can Help You With Your Case Today
The time following a car accident can be stressful, so having the right people on your side can help alleviate that stress. At The Hawk Firm, you are our top priority. When you are injured in a car accident in Augusta, Georgia, you should not worry about how you will provide for your family while you are out of work. Another party’s negligence should not become your burden.
Contact us when you are ready to seek legal representation and recover the compensation you deserve. We offer free case reviews and don’t charge fees unless our Augusta car accident lawyers settle or win your case. Call us at (706) 724-8537 or contact us online and let us hear your story, get to know you, and evaluate your case.
Client Testimonials
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“Best Law Firm in the CSRA! Thank you Hawk Firm for handling all of my legal needs with outstanding professionalism! Highly recommend The Hawk Firm to anyone in need of legal services!” -Rob W.