In a busy town like Norcross, car accidents are—unfortunately—quite common. If you have been injured in a car wreck, you may have legal options.
The Norcross car accident lawyers at Andersen, Tate & Carr, P.C. are here to help. We have represented thousands of car wreck victims to get them the compensation they deserve. After your wreck, there’s a good chance you’ll receive a settlement offer from the insurance company. Before you accept it (and forfeit your right to seek greater compensation), call us for a free, no-obligation consultation.
During your consultation, our personal injury lawyers will review all the details of your case and help you determine the best path forward. Schedule yours today by calling us at 770-237-9860 or by filling out our online contact form.
What’s Your Case Worth?
. While no car accident attorney can tell you exactly how much they will be able to recover for you with 100% certainty, we can tell you the types of compensation we may seek on your behalf and help you estimate those damages. Compensation, or damages, is typically divided into two categories: economic and noneconomic. Economic damages are awarded to compensate you for the real money you lost because of the accident. This may include lost wages, medical bills, property damage and more.
Noneconomic damages pertain to the intangible losses you’ve suffered. These may include pain and suffering, permanent disability, mental anguish, and more. Some noneconomic losses may be difficult to prove, so your Norcross car accident attorney may employ the help of psychologists and other experts to help build your case.
Georgia law also allows for punitive damages to be assessed in some cases. These damages are intended to punish the person who caused your injuries and deter similar actions in the future. However, for punitive damages to be assessed, you must be able to show that the defendant acted with “willful misconduct, malice, fraud, wantonness, oppression, or that entire want of care which would raise the presumption of conscious indifference to consequences.”
How to Prove Negligence in a Norcross Car Accident Case
Though some car accidents are caused by willful actions, and others are actually accidents that no one can be held accountable for, virtually all collisions are caused by someone’s negligence. To show negligence, you must prove four general elements:
- There was a duty of care established; all drivers have a duty of care to follow traffic laws and take reasonable steps to avoid causing collisions
- The other driver breached their duty of care, and the accident was caused by a foreseeable event or behavior
- You suffered injuries directly caused by the accident
- There are real compensable damages, such as medical bills
It is important to note that Georgia follows a comparative negligence statute. This means that even if you are partially responsible for the wreck (up to 49 percent), you can still receive compensation for your injuries. However, the amount of compensation you receive will be lessened by the amount you are at fault.
For example, if you are injured in a wreck on Peachtree Industrial because a semi-truck changed into your lane, but you had been in their blind spot for a while, you may be found 10% at fault for the wreck. The court rules that you are owed $100,000 for your injuries, but because you are 10% at fault, you would only receive $90,000.
Common Injuries After a Car Accident
Depending on the type of collision you are involved in, you may suffer any number of injuries. Some of the most common include:
- Broken bones in the arms, legs, face and abdomen
- Spinal cord injuries that can result in lifelong complications
- Back and neck injuries like muscle strains, whiplash and more
- Internal injuries like organ punctures and internal bleeding
- Traumatic brain injuries, which can range from mild to severe
- Scrapes and cuts that can become infected
- Strains, sprains and other soft tissue injuries
- Non-physical injuries like post-traumatic stress disorder
How Often do Car Accidents Happen in Norcross?
In 2015, there were 385,211 wrecks throughout the state of Georgia. Those resulted in 1,430 fatalities and 19,405 serious injuries. Though 2015 was the last full data year for the state, Gwinnett County has data from 2017.
There were 39,970 total crashes in Gwinnett County in 2017. Those crashes resulted in 13,535 injuries and 66 fatalities. Alcohol was the greatest contributing factor in fatal wrecks, followed by pedestrian accidents and speeding.
Common types of car accidents in Norcross include:
- Head-on collisions
- Rear-end collisions
- Sideswipes
- T-bone collisions
- Low-speed collisions, especially in parking lots
- Single vehicle accidents
Speak to a Norcross Car Accident Lawyer Today
If you have been in a car accident in Norcross or the surrounding area, our lawyers are here to help you. We’ve recovered millions on behalf of our clients, and we know what it takes to get you the compensation you deserve.
It is essential to know how to handle the insurance company after your wreck. You will need to report the accident to your insurer. However, you want to make sure you don’t divulge too much information. The insurance company will be recording your call and will do everything they can to lessen the amount they pay you.
All you need to tell the insurance company is the location and time of the accident, plus your identifying information. If they start asking more questions, tell them you will need to speak with your lawyer first.
Then, give us a call. Our Norcross car accident lawyers are here to make sure you get the compensation you deserve. Call us at 770-237-9860 or contact us online for a free, no-obligation consultation today.