Do You Need an Attorney After a Car Accident?

If you’ve ever watched local cable television, you know there are a myriad of Georgia accident and injury attorneys that advertise their services. Some advertisements make it sound as if every car accident yields a huge payout from an insurance company. As a 30-second advertisement, this is obviously an oversimplification of insurance and vehicle accident law in Georgia. Of course, as this is a general information article, I am also going to simplify what can be a very complicated field of law.

If you’ve ever been in a minor car accident, you know how the loss of a vehicle disrupts your everyday life. You must deal with time off work to handle repair estimates, vehicle repairs, and replacement rental cars. There are other minor inconveniences, such as missing the garage door opener that you left in the damaged vehicle. But if you’ve ever been hurt in a car accident, you are not only dealing with the temporary loss of transportation and inconveniences. In addition, you now have medical bills, lost work, and income, and possibly impaired physical or mental abilities. We realize your main goal after an accident is to feel better again and get your life back to a “new normal.”

It’s extremely difficult to move on with your life if the auto insurers are not helping you. If you did not cause the accident, you seek assistance from the auto insurance company of the person that hit you. However, sometimes the insurance company that’s not helping you is the same company you’ve been paying monthly premiums to for many years! When insurers are being unreasonable, people can seek legal counsel from a personal injury attorney.

A car accident may involve MANY insurance companies. In a car accident case involving two drivers, there are typically two auto insurers. One is the liability insurer. That is the insurance company of the driver that is liable for causing the accident. The other insurance company is the uninsured motorist carrier. That is your insurance company.

The scenario varies if any of the drivers were driving on behalf of a business. Then the business’ insurer is also involved. Additional complications arise when there are multiple vehicles/drivers and the auto insurers deny liability for the accident. Your medical insurance company is also added to the mix, because in Georgia, medical insurers have a right to seek recovery of accident-related medical payments they make on your behalf. Just when you think you have resolved your case, your health insurance company shows up and expects to be reimbursed. It can be a nightmare.

People seek legal counsel when they are having difficulty getting a fair settlement from any of the insurers for their property damage and injury claims. Attorneys understand the personal injury and insurance law in Georgia and can negotiate the best possible outcome for you. If negotiations fail, your attorney can file a lawsuit against the liable driver to seek compensation. The liable driver is typically represented in court by an attorney from the auto insurance company. You need your own attorney to represent you. The personal injury attorneys of Spooner & Associates understand Georgia law as it relates to auto insurance claims and will help negotiate compensation for you. Our attorneys know when an insurance company is not acting in good faith on your behalf and will work for your best interests through the Georgia court system.

Spooner & Associates

Spooner and Associates, P.C., based in Suwanee, GA, is a firm of skilled litigators who are aggressive in the courtroom. However, when it is in our client’s best interests, we can handle cases through negotiation or methods of alternative dispute resolution, such as mediation. Our experienced Gwinnett County attorneys help people in North Metro Atlanta solve their legal problems. In all of our cases, we determinedly represent our clients to get them results. Whether we are resolving a custody issue or a marital property issue related to a divorce, our lawyers are dedicated to the needs of each client.