(470) 268-5802
Auto Accident Personal Compensation

Auto Accident Personal Compensation

After a car accident, you may find yourself facing a mountain of bills and other related expenses. That is why you’ll need to pursue auto accident personal injury compensation Atlanta to try to get your life back on track. Call us today at (470) 268-5802 We can help you get the auto accident personal injury compensation Atlanta that you deserve.

If the Attorney Doesn’t Take Your Case

If the Attorney Doesn’t Take Your Case

If the Atlanta car accident settlement lawyer declines to take your case, that does not mean it is a weak one. Attorneys may turn down cases for a variety of reasons. Call us now at (470) 268-5802 If you have been injured in a car accident caused by someone else.

Auto Accident Personal Injury Compensation

Auto Accident Personal Injury Compensation

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Auto Accident Personal Injury Compensation

After a car accident, you may find yourself facing a mountain of bills and other related expenses. Getting your car repaired is expensive enough, however, you may also have rising medical costs, as well as lost wages to consider. That is why you’ll need to pursue auto accident personal injury compensation in Atlanta to try to get your life back on track.

If your injuries are likely to result in serious or permanent impairment and disability, you may need to factor in future expenses and reductions in earnings as well. As such, you could need significantly more money than you even realize at this point.

Auto accident victims often face hefty medical expenses and time off work — both of which can quickly lead to financial hardships. You can recoup these costs by filing a car accident claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company.

Obtaining maximum compensation is essential if you have been seriously injured in a car accident. At Bobe & Snell Law Office LLC, we are more than ready to fight for you to ensure you get the maximum compensation possible that you deserve.

You should hire an experienced Atlanta personal injury lawyer who will ensure that all of your expenses and needs are considered after the car accident. Your attorney will help you determine the value of compensation properly and ensure that all expenses are factored into any settlement or award you receive. This includes expenses that you’re yet to incur.

Factors That Determine the Value of a Personal Injury Settlement

When the insurance company puts a dollar value on your personal injury claim, here is what they focus on.

A whole host of variables go into putting a dollar value on a personal injury claim (there’s even an injury damage formula that can give you a ballpark idea of what your case might be worth).

Obviously, every case is different, but there are also a few common factors that tend to either increase or decrease the amount of compensation you can expect to receive through an out of court personal injury settlement from the insurance company, or the court if your personal injury lawsuit makes it all the way to trial.

Compare the factors listed in this article with the real-world facts in your own case, and get a sense of how the value of your claim might be impacted.

Factors That Affect Your Multiplier

In the most common formulas used to value a personal injury claim, a multiplier is applied to determine how (and how significantly) you were affected by the nature and extent of your injuries, by the medical treatment made necessary by the accident, and by the subjective “pain and suffering” you experienced.

The following factors will guide an insurance adjuster toward a “fair” multiplier used to determine the value of auto accident personal injury compensation Atlanta.

Factors that might make the use of a higher multiplier appropriate:

  • hard injury—meaning a broken bone; vertebrae injury, joint injury, head injury, nerve damage
  • medical treatment by a medical doctor, clinic, or hospital
  • medical expenses that are primarily for the treatment
  • prescribed medication related to the injury
  • long-term injury treatment period
  • long recovery period
  • permanent injury—such as a scar, weakness, stiffness, or loss of mobility
  • physical or emotional distress resulting from the injury, and
  • daily life disruptions—missed school or training, missed vacation or recreation, canceled special event.

Factors that might make the use of a lower multiplier appropriate:

  • soft tissue injury—such as strain, sprain, or bruise
  • a large part of your medical expenses is for diagnosis rather than for treatment
  • medical treatment by non-M.D. providers
  • no medication has been prescribed in connection with your injury
  • only brief medical treatment (a few visits to the doctor, for example)
  • a short recovery period for your injuries
  • no residual or permanent injury, and
  • no physical or emotional problems other than the original injury.

Other Factors That Affect Compensation

After the settlement formula is applied, the opposing party will look at the other legal and practical issues that help or hurt the overall strength of your case.

Factors likely to get you higher compensation after the formula is applied include:

  • no shared fault for the accident on your part
  • your organization and professionalism in connection with the claims and settlement process
  • the insured on the other side is not credible or sympathetic, and
  • witnesses who bolster your case.

Factors likely to get you lower auto accident personal injury compensation Atlanta after the formula is applied include:

  • A finding that you shared some of the blame for the accident or your injuries (learn more about comparative and contributory fault for a personal injury)
  • disorganization or impatience on your part
  • a sympathetic insured on the other side, and
  • no witnesses that bolster your side of the case, or witnesses who favor the insured.

Should I Wait Until I Reach MMI Before Accepting a Car Accident Settlement Offer?

It is never a good idea to settle your car accident claim until you have finished treating it, or you at least have a well-defined understanding of the extent of your injuries and the future care you will require.

If you are making an injury claim after a car accident, you might have heard the insurance company (or your personal injury attorney) mention the phrase “maximum medical improvement” (or “MMI”) as it pertains to your injuries and medical treatment.

We will explain what MMI is, and why whether or not you have reached it (or at least come close) is a key factor when it is time to consider a car accident settlement.

What is Maximum Medical Improvement?

In the context of an injury-related insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit after a car accident, maximum medical improvement (or “MMI”) means:

  • the claimant or plaintiff (that is you) has recovered completely from their car accident injuries, or
  • the claimant or plaintiff’s condition has become stable and there is a clear picture of their medical future: What kinds of ongoing medical care will be necessary? What will that care cost? What kinds of physical limitations or disabilities will be permanent? You get the idea.

Have You Reached MMI? If Not, Don’t Sign on the Dotted Line

You should never negotiate a settlement in a car accident case until you have reached MMI, and at least have a well-defined understanding of the extent of your injuries and the future care you will require. Under no circumstances should you sign any settlement agreement or sign a release of liability until you have reached this point.

The reason for this is simple. Once you settle, you are agreeing to release the other driver from any further liability in connection with the underlying car accident. If your injuries turn out to be worse than you first thought, or complications arise, you can’t go back and demand more in the way of auto accident personal injury compensation Atlanta. The case is over once you sign a settlement agreement and release it, and the other driver is off the legal hook for any additional or unforeseen damages.

Let the Claim/Lawsuit Process Play Out

Our discussion up to this point is not meant to suggest that you can’t get the insurance claim or lawsuit process started before you reach MMI. On the contrary, if you don’t hear from them first (and you probably will), you should notify the car insurance company for the other driver (in addition to contacting your own car insurance company), and let them know that you intend to pursue a claim for your injuries.

It is also important to attend every medical appointment you make, to co-operate with all your health care providers, and to do everything your doctors tell you to do in terms of follow-up care. That is because as an insurance claimant or a personal injury plaintiff, you have a legal obligation to “mitigate your damages” — which simply means you must take all reasonable steps to facilitate your recovery and to avoid anything that might make your condition worse or prolong the need for ongoing treatment.

Auto Accident Personal Injury Compensation

Bobe & Snell Law Office LLC is one of the leading and reliable law firms in Atlanta with vast experience of over 25 years handling personal injury and workers’ compensation cases/claims successfully.

We have a team of experienced, professional, reputable, and dedicated personal injury and workers’ compensation attorneys that can help you get the auto accident personal injury compensation Atlanta that you deserve.

Call us today at (470) 268-5802 or get in touch with us online to schedule a FREE, no-obligation consultation to review your case with one of our attorneys and determine the right legal step to take.

Auto Accident Personal Injury Compensation

Auto Accident Personal Injury Compensation

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Atlanta Car Accident Settlement Lawyer

Atlanta Car Accident Settlement Lawyer

Atlanta Car Accident Settlement Lawyer

Atlanta Car Accident Settlement Lawyer: What to Expect When Meeting With a Car Accident Attorney.

Make the most out of your first meeting with an Atlanta car accident settlement lawyer to make sure he or she is the best choice for you and your case.

After a car accident, once you have decided to hire an attorney, you are probably wondering what the first meeting will entail. There are two main reasons for this meeting. The first is for the attorney to review your case. The second is for you to make sure you are comfortable having this attorney represent you.

Case Assessment

Even if an initial consultation has taken place online or over the telephone, the attorney will not have a full picture of the facts and circumstances surrounding your car accident case until the two of you can sit down and talk.

The first step will involve you explaining the facts of the accident, and the damages you have sustained. This conversation will probably be with the attorney, and/or one of the attorney’s representatives, such as a legal secretary or paralegal.

After you have provided your story about the accident, you will answer follow-up questions, such as:

  • Have you spoken to any insurance company representatives about the accident? If so, which representatives, and what did you tell them?
  • Have you spoken to anyone else about the accident? This can include friends, family members, first responders, and anyone else involved in the accident.
  • What car insurance coverage and/or health insurance coverage do you have?
  • Were there any witnesses to the car accident, and if so, do you have their contact information?

You will also need to provide any documents you have relating to the accident, such as medical bills, car repair estimates/invoices, police reports, photographs, e-mails, and letters from insurance companies (and copies of any insurance claims you have filed related to the accident).

Share Everything

Don’t hold back any relevant information about the accident, even if you are worried that it is embarrassing or will hurt your case. Even if you have not hired the attorney, your first meeting is protected by the attorney-client privilege. Not to mention that if you withhold information that hurts your case, it will come back to haunt you.

For instance, your attorney may agree to represent you based on the information you have provided, but if that information is incomplete, sooner or later the truth will come out, possibly after you and the attorney have spent hundreds of hours preparing the case (and thousands of dollars on expert witnesses and court costs).

If the Attorney Doesn’t Take Your Case

If the Atlanta car accident settlement lawyer declines to take your case, that does not mean it is a weak one. Attorneys may turn down cases for a variety of reasons, including:

  • the attorney’s workload
  • potential conflicts of interest
  • the scope of the lawsuit goes beyond the attorney’s skills and experience, and
  • the attorney’s firm may not have the financial resources to try your case, even though it has potential.

If the Attorney Offers to Take Your Case

If the attorney agrees to represent you, ask about potential outcomes. But keep in mind that the attorney won’t be able to accurately predict your chances of success and what type of damages award you can expect. There are so many variables and unknowns, including the overall unpredictability of personal injury lawsuits in general.

Deciding to Hire an Attorney

Whether the attorney represents you is your decision as much as it’s the attorney’s. You need to find a lawyer that you feel comfortable with, and who you can trust. You also want to ensure your attorney will effectively and capably represent your interests.

Here are a few questions to consider:

  • Does this attorney have experience handling car accident cases like yours?
  • How much trial experience does the attorney have? Most car accident cases settle out of court. But to obtain the best outcome possible, your attorney must have the ability to take your case to trial and win.
  • Who will actually handle your case? Some attorneys may give the impression that they will handle every aspect of your case, but many have inexperienced associates handle most of the work surrounding the case, with your attorney stepping in only when there is a trial or during settlement negotiations.
  • What is the attorney’s legal fee and who pays for litigation costs? Most car accident settlement attorneys work on a contingency fee basis.

If you decide to hire an attorney, you will need to sign a representation agreement, fee agreement, or some other document formally establishing the attorney as your legal representative. You may also need to sign other documents, such as medical releases, which will allow your attorney to access your treatment records on your behalf.

What Should I Tell My Car Accident Lawyer About the Accident?

You should tell your Atlanta car accident settlement lawyer anything and everything applicable to your case. Provide your attorney with all the facts surrounding your case, from details about how the accident occurred to how your injuries are impacting your life.

There is a lot to consider when discussing your accident with a car accident attorney, and it might be beneficial to write down a list of everything you want to say when you schedule a consultation.

The three topics of discussion that you will want to focus on include:

  • Facts regarding the accident itself
  • Your injuries and prognosis
  • Any communication you have had with the insurance companies

Sharing Facts and Evidence from the Accident

Your attorney will want all the details about your accident as he or she puts together your case. Accident evidence can prove the other party’s negligence, minimize your fault, and help your attorney better relay car accident details to the judge, jury, or insurance companies.

Some of the things you will want to collect to share with your car accident lawyer include:

  • A play-by-play of what you remember from the accident
  • The police report
  • When and where the accident took place
  • Pictures or video(s) you took at the scene
  • Any witness statements and contact info you collected
  • Any factors that contributed to the accident, such as weather or road construction

Detailing Your Medical Condition and Prognosis

Proving the extent of your injuries is crucial to obtaining adequate and fair compensation after a car accident. Any manner that your injury has affected your life—in your relationships, career, financial well-being, mental health—applies to your case and you should share the information with your lawyer.

Some of the things you will want to share with your Atlanta car accident settlement lawyer to effectively demonstrate your injuries include:

  • Medical records and bills
  • Your doctors’ prognoses
  • List of your recommended treatments and prescriptions
  • Injury journal detailing your progress, pain levels, and the impact of your injury on your day-to-day life
  • Future treatments that you might need
  • Doctors’ and mental health practitioners’ statements regarding your condition
  • Photos of your injury

Telling Your Attorney about Communications with Insurance Agents

Another thing you will want to discuss with your car accident lawyer is any phone calls, letters, or settlement offers you have received from your or the other party’s insurance company.

Your attorney can advise you on:

  • What to say and what not to say during interviews with adjusters
  • Whether or not the settlement offer is fair
  • How to handle matters if the insurance company is acting unscrupulously

It is important to talk with your lawyer about these conversations because insurance adjusters are trained to lower their company’s overall payout. They may try to use shady tactics to get you to agree to a smaller settlement than what you are entitled to.

Therefore, share anything the insurance company tells you with your attorney so he/she can ensure everything is handled fairly and appropriately and then fight back if it is not.

Ready for Your Initial Consultation/Case Review?

If you have been injured in a car accident caused by someone else, contact Bobe & Snell Law Office LLC as soon as possible so that we can file your claim on time. Remember there are statutes of limitations that you must meet to get the compensation that you deserve.

Atlanta Car Accident Settlement Lawyer

So, call us now at (470) 268-5802 or contact us online to schedule your FREE, no-obligation consultation so that our experienced, professional, reputable, and dedicated Atlanta car accident settlement lawyer can review your case and advise you accordingly on the appropriate legal option you should take.

Atlanta Car Accident Settlement Lawyer

Atlanta Car Accident Settlement Lawyer

 

If the Attorney Doesn’t Take Your Case

What If You’re Injured While Driving?

To be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits in Atlanta, an employee must be injured in an accident that: Arises out of the employment, and Arises in the course of employment. Call us today at (470) 268-5802 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation and case review.

Georgia’s Workers’ Compensation Act

Georgia’s Workers’ Compensation Act

Under Georgia law, nearly all businesses with 3 or more employees must carry workers’ compensation insurance coverage. Certain types of employment, such as railroad carriers, independent contractors, farm laborers, and domestic servants, are exempt. Call us today at (470) 268-5802 We are happy and more than ready to fight hard for you to ensure you get the justice.