Being involved in a car accident is never great, even under the best of circumstances. However, things can go from bad to worse once you realize that the person who caused the accident is under-insured or even uninsured altogether. An accident with an uninsured motorist can quickly leave you feeling helpless and unsure about where to turn.
If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident with an uninsured or under-insured driver, you likely have options to pursue compensation for your injuries. However, cases like this can be difficult to resolve. Hiring an experienced attorney puts you and your family in the best position to be able to recover the compensation you need to move forward with your life.
At the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm, our lawyers have years of experience fighting for Atlanta drivers. With over a 99% success rate, we have established a reputation for helping clients in their time of most-dire need.
We would love to add you to our list of satisfied clients. Reach out to us today so that we can schedule your free, no-obligation initial consultation. During your free case review, we will listen to the details of your case and work to devise a personalized legal strategy that will give you the best chance at receiving the compensation to which you are entitled.
Schedule your free case evaluation now when you call us today at (404) 777-8800 or contact us online.
Atlanta Uninsured Motorist Accident Attorney
According to carinsurance.org, a non-profit, about 12% of Georgia drivers are uninsured. Predictably, many of those motorists are not insured due to financial restrictions.
The Insurance Research Council (IRC) studies the rates of uninsured drivers in each state in the United States and has found a strong correlation between the economic conditions, including the unemployment rate, of the state and the corresponding numbers of uninsured drivers.
Being involved in a car accident with an uninsured or underinsured motorist can feel defeating. If the liable driver doesn’t have car insurance because they can’t afford to pay for it, how in the world could you meaningfully attempt to get any amount of compensation from them?
However, there is no reason to lose hope. There are avenues that are available for you to pursue, and any experienced Atlanta personal injury attorney will be able to explain them to you and help you choose the best option for you and your case. You may be able to claim benefits under your own policy, or there may be a third party other than the driver who hit you who contributed to your accident’s circumstances. We will explore every option and help you devise a strategy to give your case the best chance of resulting in a settlement for the damages you have suffered. Additionally, we will work closely with your treating physician and other medical and billing experts to estimate the full amount of treatment costs, lost wages, and other damages you will suffer.
What Should I Do if I Have Been in an Accident?
If you have been involved in a car accident with an uninsured or under-insured driver that has resulted in an injury, there are some steps that you can take that will give you the best chance at being able to receive the compensation you need to care for your injuries and to get your life back on track.
File a Police Report
If you are able, one of the most important things to do is contact law enforcement so they can come out and make a report. It is important to have a report to serve as an official record of the accident. Without one, it may be difficult to prove the exact circumstances of the accident, thus making it more difficult to prove liability.
Exchange Information, and Don’t Admit Fault
If you can, exchange information with the other driver who was involved in the accident. There is no need to try to engage or argue with the other driver over what happened; just collect all the information you can. If there were any witnesses, record their names and contact information, if possible.
Document the Scene
Take as many pictures of the accident as you can. Document everything: take pictures of your vehicle, their vehicle, and any injuries you may have received. Take pictures that show the location of the accident as well as any other relevant information, such as road work, speed limit signs, or anything that may have influenced the accident. The more pictures, the better.
Seek Medical Treatment
It is of the utmost importance that you seek medical treatment after you have been in an accident, even if you do not think that you have been injured. With many common car accident injuries, it often takes hours, days, or sometimes even weeks for injuries to make themselves known.
Doctors have experience with car accident injuries and will know what to look for in order to catch injuries early and possibly even stop them from getting worse.
Additionally, this step is important for your case as it ties your injuries to the accident. If you don’t see a medical professional after a wreck, the responsible party could try to argue that your injuries occurred at a time other than the wreck, and they may not be required to provide you compensation.
Things NOT to Do After an Accident
In addition to the steps listed above, there are a few things that you should avoid after the accident.
Do NOT Talk to the Insurance Company Alone
It is likely that once an insurance company, either your own or that of the liable driver will reach out to contact you after they learn about the accident. Though it may be tempting to talk with them so that you can receive money to help with your additional bills after the accident, it can end up hurting you in the end.
Hire an experienced accident attorney to act as a liaison between you and the insurance companies — providing you with the protection you need so that you have the best chance at recovering the full amount of compensation you deserve.
Do NOT Try To Deal With Everything Yourself
Even though you may feel desperate to move on after an accident, not hiring an accident attorney can really set you back. Not only will you be trying to figure everything out by yourself, but you will be putting your recovery and well-being at risk by not putting all your energy into healing.
Hiring an accident attorney can be life-changing and will allow you to focus on recovering from your accident while someone else is fighting for you behind the scenes. Do yourself a favor, and reach out to an experienced Atlanta accident attorney today.
Atlanta Under-Insured Motorist Accident Lawyer
Your accident may have been caused by a driver who has insurance, which may initially feel like a relief. However, you may come to find that they only have a bare minimum policy, which can be a big problem for you.
The state of Georgia requires every vehicle to be insured, but unfortunately, the insurance requirement is minimal (The minimum insurance required is $25,000 for bodily injury liability). It doesn’t take much imagination to see that cut-rate insurance won’t go very far in the event of serious injuries or hospital stays.
The discount insurance companies may reach out to you and offer the maximum amount the policy covers. However, you should never accept a payout from the insurance company without guidance from an experienced Atlanta accident attorney. Doing so ends the opportunity for you to receive additional money from the accident, even if you later find that your injuries were much more extensive than originally believed.
Some drivers are aware of the fact that some motorists drive either without insurance or are under-insured and have taken out their own insurance policies against such risks. It is still important to consult with an attorney before talking to or accepting anything from any insurance company, even if it is yours. Your attorney will help you understand the exact language of the policy, the full value of damages you have suffered, and the benefits to which you should be entitled in order to repay your medical bills and other expenses.
We Are a Trusted and Proven Atlanta Uninsured Motorist Accident Law Firm
If you are unsure about your options or how to pursue damages for your accident, reach out to an experienced Atlanta uninsured motorist accident law firm.
At The CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm, we are here to help you. Contact us today to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation with one of our experienced attorneys. You will have the opportunity to learn more about the claims process and what your case may be with. We will then work with you to devise a legal strategy that will give you the best chance of being able to receive the compensation you deserve.
Call us now at (404) 777-8800 or contact us online to schedule your free case review, so that we can begin fighting for you.
