Steps to Take After Suffering a Personal Injury: Your Complete Checklist
Navigating the insurance claim and legal process after an accident can be challenging, especially when you are already dealing with physical and emotional recovery. Trying to figure out the next steps can leave many accident victims lost and ready to give up. Each accident case is different, but knowing a little bit about the general process can be helpful when everything starts to feel overwhelming.
Seek Medical Attention
Perhaps the most important step you can take is getting the necessary medical care immediately following your accident. The emergency department may be needed, but even if you don’t feel your injuries are life-threatening, you should seek medical attention soon after your accident. Not all injuries show symptoms right away, and if you don’t get checked or treated soon after the accident, your condition could worsen. Additionally, failure to seek treatment could hurt your accident case.
Contact Your Insurance Provider
Georgia uses a modified comparative fault system. This means that the at-fault driver is liable for any injuries caused in an accident. Most often, the responsible party’s insurance company will cover the expenses associated with medical bills, property damage, and other various forms of damages. Even if someone else is responsible for the accident, you will still need to notify your insurance company that a collision occurred.
The comparative fault system also means that more than one person can be assigned a portion of the blame for the accident. If you are found to be partially responsible, you will likely still be entitled to compensation as long as your percentage of fault does not exceed 50%.
Gather Documentation
Depending on the severity of your accident, you may be able to document the crash immediately afterward. If you are able to safely do so, try to take photos of the scene. Other evidence that may be helpful in your case includes:
– Police report
– Witness statements and contact information
– Camera footage from nearby businesses or doorbell cameras
– Medical records
Having sufficient evidence to support your case is vital.
Consult with a Georgia Accident Attorney
Having a lawyer is not required, but it is highly recommended. Georgia’s state laws and local ordinances are complex. The right attorney can provide valuable legal counsel and guide you through the filing requirements, deadlines, and difficult preparation processes. When you leave the legal work to your attorney, you can focus on recovering physically and emotionally.
Additional steps involved in Georgia car accident cases are settlement negotiations with the insurance company and filing a lawsuit if the insurer refuses to provide a reasonable offer. The CP Law Group has extensive experience representing injured accident victims throughout Georgia. Our fierce advocacy and thorough understanding of the law make us perfectly suited to help you with your car accident case. For a free consultation, call us at 844-5-IM-HURT (that’s 844-546-4878) or reach out on social media to @TheCPLawGroup.