Were you or a loved one seriously injured in a motor vehicle collision?
Our Georgia accident attorneys can help get you the compensation you deserve.
310 Margie Dr
Warner Robins, GA 31099
8:30am – 5:30pm (M-F)
Closed Saturday & Sunday
Attorneys available on weekends by appointment
Georgia accident lawyers helping car accident victims near Warner Robins for over 50 years
Following heart disease and cancer, the third leading cause of death in the United States is accidental (unintentional) injuries. By far, the biggest factor in this category is motor vehicle accidents. In 2018, a total of 1,514 car accident fatalities were reported in the state of Georgia, meaning an average of 4 deaths occurred every day just from car accidents. Despite Georgia’s new hands-free law, 70% of those fatalities were caused by distracted driving.
Here in Warner Robins, car accidents are just as much a problem as everywhere else — as are the frustrations that come with reporting the incident and filing a claim. In serious or fatal car accident cases, sometimes insurers don’t agree to fully compensate an accident victim for their injuries, leaving an individual scrambling to pay medical bills and provide for their family.
Fortunately, in the state of Georgia, you are entitled to seek compensation for lost wages, medical expenses, and other damages from the at-fault driver following a motor vehicle collision. However, there are a number of important steps you must follow and deadlines you need to know about in order to receive the compensation you’re owed.
With over 200 years of combined experience, our Warner Robins lawyers specialize in motor vehicle collisions, including car accidents. We know how to handle uncooperative insurance adjusters and can negotiate the best possible outcome in your case. Let us help you."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."
What to do after a car crash in Warner Robins, GA
- Immediately dial 911. Georgia’s hands-free law banning cell phone use when behind the wheel doesn’t apply after you’ve been involved in a car accident and you have to call the police to report it. If you’re in an unsafe area, try to move your vehicle (if you can do so safely and without further injuring yourself) and pull off to the side of the road.
- Get medical attention. If you’re seriously hurt, wait for the ambulance to arrive and take you to the emergency room. Even if you’ve only got a couple of bruises, there might be internal injuries you can’t see or don’t feel the effects of yet because you’re still in shock. A visit to the local emergency room or your doctor will confirm that you have no internal damage such as a concussion or whiplash.
- Exchange insurance information. Once you’ve finished taking pictures, exchange insurance information with any other drivers involved. Take a photo of the other driver’s insurance information. Since virtually every phone comes with a built-in camera, there’s no excuse to skip this step. If necessary, you can write down their name, insurance company and insurance policy number.
- Consult with an attorney. Before you or a loved one agree to a settlement, or before you give a recorded statement to the insurance company, discuss your legal rights with an experienced car accident lawyer near you who understands how local and state law might impact your claim.
- Keep copies of everything. Things get lost or misplaced all the time, which makes this step extremely important. Make a copy of the other driver’s insurance information, the police report, photos you took of the accident, and any medical receipts for your own records. Try to keep them all in one place (or folder) for easy future reference.
- Take pictures of the accident scene. If you weren’t harmed in the collision and you can do so safely, try to take photos and/or video of your vehicle from multiple angles while you wait for police to arrive. Be sure to record any other drivers’ vehicles as well if they were involved in the crash. Don’t forget to take photos of your surroundings too, such as stop lights, street signs and the weather conditions.
- Wait for police to write a report. Remain at the accident scene until local police arrive and answer any questions they have. Be honest, but be careful not to admit fault. Let them be the judge of that. They will investigate the scene and talk to witnesses to determine what happened and who was at fault, which will be summarized in the police report. There’s always room for error, whether the officer misheard what you said or you weren’t clear in your answers, which is why it’s important to go through the report and correct any errors that may be present.
Common types of car accidents
- Distracted driving. Despite Georgia’s new hands-free law, texting and driving is still a major problem. Even if the other driver doesn’t have their phone, there are other distractions (both inside and outside the vehicle) that can lead to an accident.
- Drunk driving. On average, as little as 1 beer can put most adult drivers right at the .08 legal blood alcohol content (BAC) level. That’s all it takes. Getting behind the wheel with a higher BAC level is considered drunk driving in Georgia, which can result in a DUI and civil damages if a drunk driver is sued for injuring another person.
- Hit and run. When another driver hits you and then drives off without waiting for police or seeing if you are okay, this is considered a hit and run. Leaving the scene of an accident is a crime in Georgia. These most often result in damage to the side of your car, and can be fatal depending on the speed and force of impact.
- Rear-end collisions. Everyone knows the scenario. You’re sitting at a red light when the car behind you suddenly hits the backend of your vehicle. The most common type of injury in rear-end collisions is whiplash, which can lead to chronic neck and back pain.
- Head-on collision. Often considered one of the most fatal accidents, head-on collisions tend to occur at high speeds and result in air bags deploying, windows shattering, severe damage to the driver’s internal organs, and a trip to the emergency room in an ambulance for both drivers.
- Parking lot. Parking lot accidents happen more often than you might think. According to the National Safety Council, over 50,000 accidents each year occur in parking lots, which result in over 60,000 injuries. More than 500 fatalities per year are reported due to backing up in a parking lot or garage.
- Sideswipe. Not to be confused with a hit and run, sideswipes occur when two cars traveling the same direction make impact. Damages include long scratches and dents to the side of a car, but the drivers are usually not seriously harmed—albeit a bit shaken.
- Speeding. The number of drivers with lead feet have steadily increased over the last few years, resulting in more car accidents. When cars travel faster than they should, this behavior increases the possibility of hydroplaning if it’s raining and reduce the ability of a driver to slow down when they hit the brakes.
- T-bone. Running a red light is one of the main causes for a T-bone collision. When a car runs a red light, they run the risk of hitting the side of another car crossing their path at a high rate of speed. T-bone collisions often result in serious injuries and death.
Damages for car accident cases in Warner Robins, GA
If your car accident was the fault of another driver’s negligence and you live in Warner Robins, you could be owed compensation for the “damages” to you and your property.
- Wrongful death. Fatalities aren’t uncommon when it comes to car accidents. Although no amount of compensation can bring a loved one back, a settlement can help relieve the burden of paying for a funeral & medical expenses incurred before the death of a loved one.
- Pain and suffering. The discomfort, unhappiness, emotional distress, and lost opportunities that follow a serious car accident are all considered pain and suffering (emotional distress). The court will try to place a dollar amount on this and award it to the accident victim.
- Lost wages. If your injuries caused by the car accident affect your ability to do your job and possibly return to work at all, you are entitled to seek compensation for any lost wages, past and present.
- Medical bills. The costs of an emergency room visit, an ambulance ride, hospital services, medication, and physical therapy (depending on the severity of the injuries) start to add up quickly, which is why it’s important to contact an experienced Warner Robins car accident lawyer to see if you can be compensated.
- Property damage. Along with damage to your vehicle, property damages can include the loss of personal items in the car at the time of the crash, such as your cell phone. Damage to one’s home or another person’s car are also considered property damages.
Common car accident injuries
- Head injuries (TBI). Ranging from mild to severe, concussions are no fun no matter how you slice it. Even if your head feels fine or there’s only a small bump, it’s still possible to have a concussion and you should be examined by a medical professional as soon as possible.
- Spinal cord injury (SCI). You never know how much you rely on your back and neck if you aren’t able to use them. When the spinal cord is injured, the damage can be as mild as a bruise to as severe as complete paralysis from the neck down. Sometimes the paralysis is temporary and can be corrected with physical therapy, other times it’s permanent—in which case it’s important to receive compensation for damages.
- Internal injuries. Your upper torso and ribs can be injured easily in a serious car accident. Vital organs such as the spleen, liver, pancreas, bladder, and kidneys are particularly vulnerable upon impact when the airbag deploys. Be sure to inform the physician treating you of any pain, no matter how minor it may seem, in order to receive the best treatment possible.
- Minor cuts and abrasions. Loose objects in the car can hit the driver and passengers, causing bruises and cuts. Even the seatbelt will leave bruises if it’s doing its job, and broken window glass or metal can leave shallow cuts.
- Whiplash. If the driver is wearing their seatbelt, the force of impact will cause them to jolt forward than slam back into the seat. Even though this motion protects you from flying through the windshield of your vehicle during a collision, whiplash can lead to injured bones and ligaments—particularly in the neck and back.
Georgia car accident statute of limitations
If you live in Warner Robins and are involved in a car accident, the Georgia statute of limitations states that you have just 2 years from the day of the accident to file a car accident claim. This time is extended to 4 years if you’re filing a property damage claim.
There are few exceptions to this deadline. Consult with a car accident attorney as soon as possible to discuss your case options. Don’t wait to receive the compensation you deserve.
Contact an experienced Warner Robins, GA car accident lawyer
No matter how minor it may seem, a car accident should never be taken lightly — and neither should your case. At the law firm of Westmoreland, Patterson, Mosely, and Hinson, we have represented accident victims for over 50 years with tremendous success across the state of Georgia. If you or someone you love are looking for representation after a serious car accident, our lawyers are ready to offer you their legal expertise at any of our offices located in Warner Robins, Macon, and Albany.
