Atlanta Car Accident Lawyer | Claims for Auto Accidents

Any experienced lawyer in Atlanta Georgia has had his share of car accident injury cases. Over 1,500 people lost their lives in car accidents in Atlanta and throughout the state of Georgia in 2016 alone. If you do the math, this calculates to an average of more than 4 people each day! Needless to say, an Atlanta car accident lawyer stays busy with car injury lawsuits. If you need an experienced lawyer in Atlanta, contact Schneider & Hammers for a FREE case evaluation.

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the number of deaths caused by distracted driving jumped by more than 30% between 2014 and 2016. This gives Georgia the 5th highest increase in the United States with a fatality count that nearly doubled the national average.

You or your family member may be the victim of a distracted driver. Investing in an auto accident attorney will help protect your rights and handle your case. Here is an overview of the different ways in which this type of expert legal representation can assist you.

Let a Car Accident Attorney Work with Insurance Companies on Your Behalf

In the days and weeks following this type of incident, you will more than likely become bombarded with correspondence. From statements and paperwork to investigations and interrogations, it is easy to become overwhelmed in the aftermath of the accident. You will have to face a substantial number of interviews, phone calls, face-to-face meetings, and hospital visits.

If you have limited experience with a lawyer, you probably assume car wreck attorneys only help in court. However, you can effectively lighten a load of required communication and correspondence simply by having a committed lawyer to handle the burden. Your accident lawyer may handle the calls directly or field them out to staff members.

Getting Answers and Expert Advice

You can trust Google to provide answers to almost every question following an accident with a distracted driver. However, most of the answers provided within those search result pages are inaccurate, impractical or completely irrelevant. Investing in an expert car wreck attorney makes it much easier for you to get the answers that you need.

You will not have to comb through the extensive list of Google results to determine which is fact or fiction. You will not need to worry about paying for published resources or online subscriptions. These can all take you on a detour of sorts down a dead-end street.

After an automobile accident with a distracted driver, you more than likely have queries. You may be filled with unanswered questions and unaddressed concerns such as:

What will you say to the insurance company?
Is it okay to record a statement for the other driver’s insurance company?
What should you say during a follow-up police interview?
How do you respond if there was not a summons written at the scene of the accident?
Is it important to seek medical attention if you do not have any life-threatening injuries?
What is the best way to handle your claims of property and/or bodily damage?

It is not surprising that you will search high and low to find quality answers. However, you shouldn’t waste time and energy studying various online minefields waiting to blow up in your face. The best approach is to invest in the top-notch expertise and insight of an experienced car accident lawyer.

Further Investigations After an Auto Accident

Once the police officers dispatched to the scene have completed their initial investigation, that is typically the end. Invest in a car wreck attorney to handle your claim. You will more than likely have access to additional investigations that can further expand the scope of the case.

For instance, it is highly recommended to invest in the professional services of an experienced accident reconstruction specialist. In most cases, the police officers will focus more on the aftermath of the accident (i.e. property damage, bodily injuries, etc.) than the actual events and occurrences that led up to the accident. In some cases, the dispatched police officer may not assign fault to a specific party. The trained expert can skillfully and accurately identify the at-fault party. The specialist can also offer a detailed explanation of how the entire accident took place from start to finish.

It may seem that you get lots of information on an accident regardless of if you have legal representation. However, this misconception has misled quite a few people over the years. They felt capable of representing themselves and handling their own investigations without investing in legal expertise and advice. They were eventually proved wrong.

Think about how difficult it would be to prove the extent of the other driver’s distractions behind-the-wheel without professional assistance. Texting while driving and other distractions may be more difficult to prove that you think. However, the right person can dig into phone records and other supporting documentation. These will reference the driver’s activities in real-time. You will be able to uncover much more than you might realize.

In addition to conducting new investigations, an Atlanta car accident lawyer can do much more. A legal expert can communicate with local precincts and other law enforcement officials to gain limited access to their files. This includes evidence, collected testimonies, witness statements, and other pertinent details. Ordinary citizens would never be able to access these on their own.

Getting the Right Representation

If you work directly with the other driver’s insurance company or even their car accident attorney, there is an advantage. You could more than likely reach a settlement and close the case without setting foot inside of a courtroom. However, there is always a chance that your car accident case could eventually go to trial. This depends on the circumstances and the risks involved.

You can choose to represent yourself without the aid of an expert attorney. No one will be at your side to speak on your behalf once you arrive at court. However, chances are that the other driver will come to the table with an expert attorney on their side. This is especially if he or she was the driver classified by the responding police officer as the at-fault party. Don’t fall for the poorly grounded assumption that you have an “open and shut case”. You should hire a car accident attorney to ensure that you can match the opposing side.

Without a level playing field of legal advocacy, you are leaving the result of your courtroom trial and case to chance. The average accident victim has very limited experience (if any) with negotiating a settlement before a trial starts. This leaves them with a strong possibility of losing everything if they must face an opposing attorney during a trial. This type of vulnerability may quickly turn an “open/shut” case into a surprising upset in the courtroom. The victim could be left holding the burden instead of the at-fault driver.

When you retain an accident attorney, you are investing in a legal expert. This is a person with the skill-set and knowledge base necessary to educate you outside of the courtroom. They can protect you in court and get the justice you deserve regardless of where the case takes you.

Our Atlanta auto accident lawyers Have Recovered Millions

If you were seriously injured in a car accident, you may be facing costly expenses due to medical bills, loss of income, property damage, and other damages. You have the right to recover your damages from all at-fault parties. The smartest way to do this is to seek help from a well-respected Atlanta car accident lawyer. Our team at Schneider Hammers can assist you in holding careless drivers accountable for their actions.

Entrusting your car accident case with our legal team will set you at ease knowing:

We’ve recovered millions for accident victims in Atlanta
We have handled thousands of personal injury cases
We are members of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum®
We will start your case with a free initial consultation

Most Common Causes of Car Wrecks

If impaired driving is involved, we consider all possible at-fault parties—including the bartender who over-served the driver and allowed them to drive away. If a company allowed tired employees to operate its vehicles or let their vehicles fall into disrepair, we will fight to hold them accountable. The team at Schneider Hammers can help you answer all questions and find all responsible parties.

Ignoring traffic lights and road signs
Speeding or driving recklessly
Driving under the influence
Poor maintenance of auto parts
Texting or using a cell phone

Can I get Compensation for My Injuries

Many car accidents victims find themselves buried in hospital bills, rehabilitation costs, and lost wages because they are unable to work. Schneider Hammers can stand up for you to ensure you receive fair compensation from the insurance company, especially in challenging cases involving uninsured or underinsured drivers. We are here to protect your rights and interests. Our personal injury lawyers can help you seek compensation for all of your losses and expenses.

Actual Settlements Won by Our Atlanta Accident Lawyers

$1,666,666 settlement – client killed in an underride tractor-trailer collision.
$1,350,000 settlement – settlement to estate of a young woman and her fiance for tragic parasailing accident.
$1,000,000 settlement – recovery of all available insurance limits in a motor vehicle collision resulting in wrongful death and catastrophic injuries.
$1,000,000 settlement – client was hurt in a rear-end collision
$850,000 settlement – client was hurt in a rear-end collision
$787,000 verdict – client was hurt in a rear-end collision
$650,000 settlement – client was hurt in a rear-end collision
$450,000 settlement – client suffered a traumatic brain injury
$450,000 settlement – client was struck by a sanitation truck
$280,000 settlement – client suffered a serious back injury
$225,000 settlement – client sustained a neck injury

Why You Should Act Quickly After An Accident?

Timing is important in car accident cases. High volume, high turnover firms, and insurers will push for a quick settlement, but that’s not always in your best interest. Time is needed for a full investigation. However, that does not mean that you should delay in contacting a car accident attorney.

A prompt investigation can help preserve evidence and witness interviews and allow time to consult with financial and medical experts to determine future expenses. A prompt filing can also ensure that your claim is collected before insurance limits are depleted by claims from multiple victims.

Should I Get an Attorney After a Car Accident?

When to get an attorney for a car accident in Atlanta

There are several reasons to contact a car accident attorney at Schneider Hammers. A Car wreck attorney can calculate reasonable compensation & damages. They can help get more money by negotiating with the at-fault driver’s insurance company. They know the number of damages you should request when processing your paperwork. They understand where at what range to start when trying to calculate a damage claim.

It’s easy to get swept away by the Hollywood version of lawsuits and trials related to car accidents. On TV, the victim automatically walks away with a 6 or 7-figure settlement. However, without the proper grounds, accurate calculations and expert argument, your settlement may be just a dream.

If the figure that you present during the settlement negotiation stage is:

Too Low: You could essentially be robbing yourself of a lucrative settlement that would cover your expenses. You may realize that your figure is too low if the opposing side quickly accepts the offer without any hesitation. However, as many people find out the hard way, a confirmed offer cannot be reversed. This is true especially once your signature is printed on the dotted line.
Too High: You could jeopardize your entire case. In addition to taking an unreasonable gamble with your potential settlement, you run the risk of losing it all. If the amount is too high, the opposing counsel will not take it seriously. They may view it as an easy target to shoot down in court without exerting a lot of effort. Judges are quick to identify frivolous lawsuits and are likely to throw them out without any serious consideration.

One of the biggest mistakes that you can make is to assume that receipts, discharge paperwork, and other documentation will be enough. The opponent will not blindly accept these when it comes to calculating your settlement amount. The opposing insurance company and/or counsel will typically contest whatever you offer. They will try to poke holes in anything that you bring to the table. This includes medical documentation, expenses, punitive damages, bank statements and even pay stubs.

Most consumers with limited legal experience or insight do not know how to properly evaluate medical documentation. They don’t know much about other necessary financial paperwork either. This puts them at a disadvantage. On the other hand, attorneys are skilled at evaluating these resources closely. They can examine many types of evidence to present a solid argument without any unexplained gaps or discrepancies. This type of expert evaluation will play an integral role in the overall success of your case. This can determine whether you get the compensation that you deserve.

Expectation About Your Auto Incident Case

As stated above, there is a major distinction between what happens in a real-life courtroom and what takes place in Hollywood. Realistic expectations are cornerstones of any successful legal case or courtroom trial. This is so even if you have an expert car accident attorney on your side fighting for your rights.

Retaining an Atlanta automobile accident lawyer means that you will always have someone there to keep you grounded and humble throughout the entire process. From when you file the paperwork until you sign off on your settlement, your car accident attorneys in Atlanta will help. More importantly, being realistic makes it possible to build a solid defense against the opposing side. This is a defense that will be nearly impossible to penetrate by the other driver’s insurance company or accident attorney.

Why Do You need to Choose the Best Car Accident Attorney in Atlanta?

If your automobile accident was in the Atlanta area, don’t assume you choose a car accident attorney outside of Atlanta to fight for you in court or against the insurance company. On the contrary, local attorneys are familiar with the nuances of local law. In other words, they are familiar with small details of how to present your case. The difference of choosing an Atlanta attorney, or an Atlanta car accident lawyer outside of the area could mean the difference between winning or losing several thousand dollars on the final settlement.

If you fall victim to a negligent driver and you live in the Atlanta area, you owe it to yourself and your family to fight for justice. Fortunately, with an expert car accident injury attorney on your side, you will not have to join that fight alone. So, if you are the victim of a car accident in or around Atlanta, contact a local Atlanta car accident lawyer to help you get the best settlement. Call the experienced personal injury lawyers at Schneider & Hammers today for a FREE case evaluation.