Georgia Car Accident Settlement Process | An Overview

If you have been in an accident then you know how jarring the experience can be mentally as well as physically. If you have been seriously injurred in a car accident you will most likely need to retain the counsel of a Georgia Car Accident expert to obtain the maximum value for your settlment. The last thing that you want to do is become involved in a process that you are unfamiliar with but you are dependant on for compensation.

The settlement process can be straighforward - where you submit your claim and the insurance company sends you a check but that is not always the case in basic accidents and most assuredly not the case when serious injury or loss is involved. The complexity of the car accident case depends on a few variables.

State Specific Processes

The first being, what state did the accident occur in? At the moment 12 states have implemented what is called a No-Fault system. Under this system the injured driver can collect compensation for lost income and injuries from their own insurance company but cannot collect from the other driver. Although, in some extreme case they are allowed to make a claim against the other drivers insurance also. Car accidents in Georgia are not covered under the no-fault provision currently.

Collecting Evidence and Filing a Case

With a car accident case in Georgia the process begins with the accident itself. You should begin collecting accident evidence to help you in your claim like photos of the scene, eye witness statements and the official police report. You should also start a diary to record any repercussions from the accident as well as documenting your recovery if you were injured.

After you file your claim the evidence gathering will continue. Be sure to preserve all of the information you have gathered to this point, however. To back up your diary you should gather copies of your medical records and treatment data. This will help to show how long your recovery was or if there has been to recovery at all. Copies of your medical bills should be stored with the records for easy reference.

Documenting Losses and Settlement

Any lost income should be documented and kept as well as any other financial problems that have arisen from the automobile accident. This can be difficult to track but for the time being, if you think that a loss could be attributed to the crash then keep a copy just in case. The same goes for pain and suffering. Only you know how badly that you hurt and how that is affecting your quality of life. Your diary will help document this but any hard evidence that you can find should be kept as corroboration.

Why Use a Car Accident Attorney?

After you have recovered as much as you feel that you are able to, you will gather all this information into a "settlement package" and submit it to the insurance company. This will lead to negotiation and the inevitable process of give and take that accompanies it but in the end you will sign a release in return for your settlement check. Negotating your settlement without an attorney puts you at a serious disadavantage as the process is complex and the insurance companies have extensive legal departments protecting them - you deserve the same level of protection. Our attorneys work on a contingency fee basis so there is no expense in obtaining the best accident attorneys in Georgia. Call or email us today for a free case evaluation.