Were you or a loved one injured in a car, truck, motorcycle or pedestrian collision?
Our Georgia auto accident lawyers can help you recover.
Nearly everyone will experience a motor vehicle accident at some point in their lives. Some collisions might be minor with no serious injuries, while others cause major loss of property, health, time, and even life. Collisions involving cars, trucks, motorcycles and other motor vehicles are a leading cause of preventable death in the United States. Over 2 million Americans are injured in auto accidents each year—many seriously hurt.
Such accidents have a variety of possible causes, including driver error, negligence, manufacturing defects and dangerous weather. No matter what the specific cause or result, a crash can turn a normal day into one of the worst days of your life. Speaking with a personal injury lawyer near you about your motor vehicle accident case can help you sort out your rights, your options and your future. If you have been hurt or disabled in a motor vehicle accident, your next step should be to hire a lawyer who has the experience, resources, knowledge and skill to provide you with the best possible representation.
At the injury law firm of Westmoreland, Patterson, Moseley & Hinson, we have a proven track record of helping injured accident victims pursue full and fair compensation for accident damages including:
- Medical bills (past and future)
- Lost wages (past and future)
- Emotional distress
- Pain and suffering
- Funeral/burial expenses
- Loss of consortium
- Punitive damages
With offices in Macon, Albany and Warner Robins, our law firm handles car accident claims for clients statewide in Georgia and throughout the southeastern U.S.
Millions recovered
What type of auto accident injured you or your loved one?
We provide free consultations to give experienced legal counsel in accident claims arising from all types of motor vehicle accidents, including:
Big rigs cause devastating damage in a crash. Smaller commercial vehicles cause accidents as well. Our lawyers can help you build a strong case after a truck accident.
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A car crash can leave you struggling with serious injuries and crippling medical costs. We will guide you in pursuing maximum compensation for your auto accident injuries.
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Motorcycle riders are always vulnerable to injury. Our attorneys stand ready to protect your right to hold negligent parties accountable for your motorcycle injuries.
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An average of 5 people die every day in fatal car accidents in Georgia. If a close relative was killed due to anothers’ negligence or wrongdoing, we can help you bring a wrongful death claim.
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Auto accident liability: who’s at fault?
When you have been in an auto accident, you may already have a sense of who caused it. But issues of fault can be complicated based on who acted (or who failed to act) and which laws governed the situation. While a police report can help determine who was at fault for a collision, it’s not necessarily the final say on who’s responsible.
Actions on the part of either driver that can establish fault (liability) in an auto accident include:
- Failure to stop at a red light or stop sign
- Failure to compensate for dangerous weather or road conditions
- Driver distraction caused by a cell phone, passenger, radio or another source
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Driving above or below the posted speed limits
- Failure to obey traffic laws regarding turn signals, rights-of-way and other rules
If the other driver was negligent, you may have to prove that the driver breached a duty of care to you, and that the breach caused your damages. The assistance of an attorney is immensely valuable at this time, whether you’re battling an insurance company, seeking compensation for your injuries, or defending yourself in court.
Negligent and aggressive drivers
Generally, aggressive drivers are a serious threat to safety because excessive speeding, cutting off other drivers and taking other risks can easily result in injury-causing or fatal accidents. Nearly 1 in 3 crash fatalities involve speeding.
Sometimes the at-fault driver is more than merely negligent. He or she may have acted recklessly or even intentionally. A reckless driver acts with “conscious disregard” for the probable consequences of his or her actions. Road rage incidents often involve reckless behavior, and they can escalate into intentional behavior. Road rage can be extremely dangerous, leading to both personal injuries and criminal charges.
Drunk driving & dram shop law
It has been estimated that around 1 in 3 accident deaths in the United States involve drunk driving. Impaired and intoxicated driving is a serious problem not only in Georgia, but throughout the country. Drunk driving can lead to both criminal charges and a civil lawsuit against the intoxicated driver. Additionally, the business that sold alcohol to a drunk driver may be held liable if it served the driver when he or she was visibly intoxicated. This is known as “dram shop liability.”
Dram shop liability does not, however, take any responsibility away from the driver who drove while intoxicated. If you have been in an accident involving alcohol or drugs, seek the help of a personal injury attorney who will explain your legal options.
Auto accidents not caused by the drivers
Sometimes, no matter how carefully you drive, you cannot avoid an accident.In certain cases, a vehicle’s manufacturing or design defect causes an accident or makes it worse. This might happen if, for instance, the brakes on your car fail or the airbag doesn’t deploy when it should. Product liability law applies in this situation, protecting consumers when products create an unreasonable risk of harm. If a product defect caused your injuries, you may have a case against the designer, manufacturer or distributor of the auto part.
Another responsible party might be a mechanic or technician who improperly repaired a car that caused an accident. Both the mechanic and their employer could be liable in such a case.
Poorly maintained roads, confusing construction, unclear signage, improperly designed roads and similar problems could also contribute to your accident. Government entities are typically responsible for the roads and highways, so they might be liable for accidents caused by the above factors. Special rules apply to lawsuits against government entities, and a lawyer will be able to explain them in detail.
Lastly, bad weather can contribute to or cause an auto accident. Roads can become slick from rain or even ice, leading to hydroplaning and greater risk of collisions. Fog, high winds, and other weather conditions can impact driver visibility and cause drivers to lose control of their vehicle.
“Mr. Hinson handled a personal injury matter for me. He kept me well informed and did an excellent job. I was very pleased with the outcome.”
The resources needed to win
Unlike some personal injury attorneys who settle all of their cases, we are not afraid to go to court if needed. Our firm has the resources needed to thoroughly prepare, try and win complicated cases.
We are dedicated to doing everything legally and ethically possible to obtain the best results for our injured clients. Hard work and dedication have allowed us to recover millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for people in personal injury and wrongful death claims.
Talk to a Macon, Georgia auto accident attorney
It’s important to take immediate action when you or a loved one have been in a motor vehicle accident. This will allow us to protect your rights and seek proper compensation for your injuries. In Georgia, there is a 2-year statute of limitations (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33) that applies to most personal injury and wrongful death cases, including claims that involve car, truck or motorcycle accidents. This deadline starts counting down from the date of the crash.
Our Macon attorneys have the experience and resources needed to analyze and explain complex medical evidence to a jury in a language they can understand. We consult with some of the best medical experts in the country in order to prepare compelling cases after a motor vehicle accident.
We offer free consultations and accept most cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t pay us unless we win. In other words, you will owe no attorney fees whatsoever unless we recover compensation for you. That’s our No Fee Guarantee.
Contact Westmoreland, Patterson, Moseley & Hinson, L.L.P. in Macon, GA, to schedule a consultation with an experienced motor vehicle accident lawyer.