If you or a loved one has been injured in an Atlanta car accident by a negligent driver, you may be entitled to significant compensation. The experienced Atlanta car accident lawyers at Steinger Greene & Feiner are highly familiar with Georgia laws and dealing with insurance companies—we’re ready to fight for your rights and recover maximum compensation for your losses.
Why Choose an Atlanta Car Accident Attorney?
Get a Legal Advantage
Successfully handling a car accident case requires specific experience with auto accidents and familiarity with local and state laws. With our auto accident expertise and knowledge of local laws and regulations, Steinger, Greene & Feiner can give you a huge advantage in your case. We’ve won and brought many different types of collision cases to trial, securing fair settlements for our clients.
Don’t Worry About Insurance Negotiations
Dealing with insurance companies after a car accident can be extremely frustrating, complicated, and time-consuming. Insurance companies use tactics to minimize payouts for victims and protect their interests. An experienced car accident attorney will completely handle all communications with the insurance company and advocate for you and the compensation you deserve. Our attorneys will make sure the insurance company covers all of your damages, including medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
Maximize Your Compensation
Because insurance companies are out to protect themselves, they will try to minimize the amount of compensation you receive. They may offer you a lowball settlement early on in the process to deter you from seeking the full, fair amount you deserve. When you hire one of our Atlanta car accident attorneys, we will gather all the necessary evidence to hold the at-fault driver accountable and secure maximum compensation. We will outline all of the physical, emotional, and financial damages you have incurred, place a fair value on them, and fight to recover them from the insurance company.
Types of Car Accidents in Atlanta
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions are highly common on Atlanta roads, and they can lead to serious injuries and even fatalities. This type of accident is often caused by driver error, such as distracted or aggressive driving, or dangerous weather conditions.
Because rear-end collisions may have many contributing factors and multiple parties, proving liability can be challenging. An expert car accident lawyer in Atlanta will work to hold all at-fault parties responsible and protect your rights throughout the case.
Head-On Collisions
Head-on collisions are the most severe and dangerous type of car accident. These high-speed collisions often result in catastrophic injuries and fatalities.
If you’re involved in a head-on collision, it is in your best interest to have experienced legal representation by your side to ensure you receive full compensation for all your injuries and losses, both of which can be severe and long-lasting.
Side Impact (T-Bone Collisions)
Side-impact crashes, also known as T-bone crashes, occur when one vehicle hits the side of another. These accidents often take place at intersections and can cause serious damage and injuries.
Similar to rear-end collisions, side-impact collisions can involve multiple parties, making it complicated to establish fault. An attorney who has experience in this kind of accident will ensure at-fault parties are held accountable, and you receive the compensation you deserve.
What To Do After a Car Accident in Atlanta
- Call 911 and tell them you need an ambulance: If you, your passengers, or anyone else is injured in the crash, call 911 and inform them that you need an ambulance. Don’t try to move anyone who has been injured unless they’re in immediate danger or you are trained to do so. You may need to move your car so you aren’t blocking traffic. Otherwise, you should leave the crash scene untouched until the police arrive.
- Get the contact information of everyone involved: Get the names and contact information of everyone involved in the accident, along with any witnesses. Exchange insurance and contact information with all parties involved in the crash, but don’t discuss the accident.
- Stick to the facts: Never admit fault for the accident. Try to minimize talking about it as much as possible. Anything you say that can be construed as admitting fault can be used against you later in your accident case.
- Ask the police how to obtain a copy of the official accident report: When the police arrive, ask them how you can get a copy of the accident report. This is essential information for your accident claim.
- Take pictures of the crash scene: Take pictures of the scene, damage to all vehicles involved, and any visible injuries. If there are tire marks, relevant street signs, or traffic signals, take pictures of these as well.
- Take notes of what you remember about the accident: Write down all the details you can remember from the accident, including the time it happened, where it happened, and the weather and road conditions.
- Seek medical attention: Car accidents can cause internal damage that is not immediately obvious after the crash, so you should always seek medical attention. Visit the emergency room, urgent care, or your primary care physician, and tell them you were in a car accident.
- Notify your insurance company: Promptly notify your insurance company of the accident, but stick to the facts. Don’t say anything about fault.
- Contact an Atlanta car accident lawyer: Hiring an attorney early on in your accident claim process is the best way to get a successful outcome for your case.
Navigating Insurance Claims
Georgia is an “at-fault” state when it comes to car accident insurance. This means that the driver who caused the accident is generally responsible for paying damages. As the victim of a car accident, this means you have multiple options for pursuing compensation.
In Georgia, all drivers must carry car insurance and minimum amounts of liability coverage. Liability coverage is an insurance term that refers to coverage designed to pay for accident-related expenses. Drivers must also carry minimum amounts of coverage for property damage caused in a car accident.
The minimum coverage amounts are:
- $25,000 for the injury or death of one person
- $50,000 for the injury or death of more than one person in a single accident
- $25,000 for property damage
The total cost of a car accident often exceeds these limits, which is why it’s a good idea to buy additional coverage on your insurance policy. You can add personal injury protection (PIP), also known as med-pay, to help cover the cost of your medical expenses. Collision coverage helps pay for the damage to your vehicle, and IU/UIM coverage helps pay for damages if you’re hit by an uninsured or underinsured motorist.
Legal Process & Representation
Investigation
Your car accident attorney will handle:
- Collecting police reports
- Interviewing witnesses
- Gathering evidence, both at the scene and afterward
- Analyzing medical records
Insurance Claims
Your lawyer will calculate your current and future losses from medical bills, vehicle repair costs, and other damages to get the fair compensation you deserve.
It’s important to note that you must file your car accident claim within two years from the date of the accident, according to the Georgia statute of limitations for personal injury claims (GA Code § 9-3-33).
Negotiation
Insurance companies will use unfair tactics to minimize your compensation, including:
- Denying your initial claim
- Using your statement at the accident scene against you
- Offering a low lump sum that does not cover your total current and future losses
A car accident attorney will aggressively negotiate with the insurance company to fight against these tactics and secure you maximum compensation.
Representation
It’s unlikely that your accident case will go to court, but your lawyer must be prepared to handle it if it does. They should handle every aspect of your case, from investigation to insurance negotiations to taking it to court. Don’t settle with the insurance company without speaking to an Atlanta car accident lawyer first. Having a lawyer by your side allows you to focus on your recovery instead of worrying about your case.
Compensation & Settlements
In Atlanta car accident cases, there are three categories of compensation: economic damages, non-economic damages, and punitive damages.
Economic Damages
These damages cover quantifiable losses that can be directly attributed to the accident, including medical expenses, lost wages, and other out-of-pocket costs.
Economic damages are usually easy to calculate because they are tangible expenses that can be documented and verified.
Non-Economic Damages
These damages compensate for intangible losses that are more difficult to quantify in monetary terms. They include pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life.
While these damages can be more challenging to calculate, they are an essential part of your overall compensation package.
Punitive Damages
These damages are designed to punish the at-fault driver and discourage similar behavior in the future. They can be awarded when the driver’s actions were particularly egregious or involved malicious intent.
While punitive damages are not always awarded, they can significantly increase the total compensation in cases where they are applicable.
Georgia operates under a modified comparative negligence rule (GA Code § 51-12-33). This means that if you are found to be more than 50% responsible for the accident, you are not legally owed compensation. Your total compensation will be reduced by the percentage of blame you share for the crash. For example, if you are found 25% at fault for the accident, your total compensation package will be reduced to 25% as well. This is why it’s so important to have a lawyer who can prove which party was at fault and collect evidence to maximize your compensation.
Choosing the Right Atlanta Car Accident Lawyer
Experience & Reputation
When selecting a car accident attorney in Atlanta, the first thing you should look for is experience winning accident cases and bringing them to trial if necessary.
At Steinger, Greene & Feiner, our car accident attorneys have decades of experience handling these cases and securing maximum financial compensation for our clients.
Communication & Availability
Your attorney needs to be readily available to answer any questions, update you on your case status, and ensure you understand all your legal options. Our clients are our #1 priority, so we are always available to quickly deliver the information and assistance you need.
You can contact us 24/7 for a free, no-obligation case consultation.
Client Testimonials & Reviews
You can gain valuable insight into an attorney’s performance and their client experience by looking at testimonials and reviews. Positive reviews are a proven track record of the attorney delivering favorable results.
Our top-rated car accident attorneys have received countless excellent reviews from clients who were highly satisfied with how their cases were handled and the compensation they received.
Let Steinger, Greene & Feiner Take On Your Case
Let us handle your case so you can focus on your physical and emotional recovery. We’ll navigate complicated laws and insurance regulations, negotiate on your behalf, collect evidence to hold the at-fault driver responsible and take your case to court if necessary.
If you’ve been injured in a car accident in Atlanta, Steinger, Greene & Feiner can get you the full and fair compensation you deserve. We operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don’t pay a penny until we win your case.
Contact us today for a free case consultation.