Cars remain are the primary mode of transportation for many people. There are thousands of cars on the road at any given time, and this number continues to rise. As a result, it is almost inevitable that two vehicles will collide.
Fortunately, if you sustained injuries in an auto wreck caused by another driver, you may be eligible for compensation. An Atlanta car accident lawyer could help you to pursue these claims. Experienced personal injury attorneys could gather all possible evidence, interface with doctors and hospitals to demonstrate your injuries, and demand fair payment from the responsible party. En Español.
Most collisions between cars are accidents, and neither driver intended to cause any harm. Nevertheless, the laws say that at-fault defendants must still provide compensation for any damage that they cause.
To determine whether a party is at fault, courts use a concept known as modified comparative negligence. Under O.C.G.A. §51-12-33(g), juries must assign blame for an accident based on their belief as to who was responsible. If the victim bears some responsibility for the accident, their award may be reduced by their percentage of fault. Furthermore, if a plaintiff is more than 50 percent at fault, their entire case fails.
As applied to car accidents, there are many scenarios where the two parties share the blame. For example, in a simple rear-end accident, the trailing driver is almost certainly to blame. However, a plaintiff may have contributed to the accident by not having functioning taillights or coming to a sudden stop. An Atlanta car crash attorney could help to gather the evidence needed to prove a defendant’s negligence.
Drivers have an obligation, or duty, to avoid placing other people at an unnecessary risk of harm. This duty extends to other drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, or any other people the driver may encounter while on the road.
As a result, passengers in the plaintiff’s car may also make claims for damages if they become injured in an accident. Similar concepts apply to passengers within the defendant’s own car. Drivers have the same obligation to provide protection to these people as they do to any other individual. An Atlanta automobile collision attorney could help any person who suffered injuries due to the negligence of a driver.
In a world where we have technology at our fingertips, some find it difficult to put down the cell phone. Whether through texting, emailing, Tweeting, or posting on Facebook, drivers everywhere become distracted by their cell phones and put their lives and the lives of others at risk every day.
Everyone knows that driving under the influence is illegal. Unfortunately, it is a law that is frequently broken. When the result is an auto accident, the drunk driver can face more than just DUI charges. The drunk driver can be held accountable for the injuries caused and the costs associated with those injuries. Driving under the influence causes fatal accidents every day in the United States. In fact, 31% of all highway-related deaths stem from drinking and driving. At Hart & Hart, we hold drunk drivers accountable.
Driving a car is a necessary, yet often dangerous, activity. Every day, hundreds of people suffer injuries in car accidents through no fault of their own. Each and every one of these people has the right to demand compensation for their losses from a negligent defendant or their insurance company. This applies not only to people who are driving their own vehicles, but also to passengers or bystanders who suffer injuries in these incidents.
An Atlanta car accident lawyer could help you to fight for the compensation you need to make things right. This can include payments for medical bills, lost earnings, and mental anguish. State law gives you only two years from the date of the accident to pursue a claim. Call today to schedule a consultation.