Vehicle Accident Lawyers

How a Vehicle Accident Case Can Succeed

In a successful vehicle accident lawsuit, the amount of compensation you receive depends on factors that include the severity and permanence of your injuries, whether you will need continuing care, the amount of income you have lost and are expected to lose in the future, and your property damage and other financial losses you suffered. To win your case, our vehicle wreck attorneys would have to prove that the defendants…

• had a duty of care not to harm you, but
• breached this duty by doing something negligent,
• which caused the accident, and
• you suffered damages as a result.

Often, there may be multiple parties responsible for the accident, and your lawsuit should name them all. Investigating and building a case takes time, and the sooner you contact the vehicle accident lawyers at the Stoddard Firm, the sooner we can get to work on your behalf while evidence is fresh and witnesses can be found. In addition, according to Georgia code title 9/chapter 3/3/9-3-33, there is a statute of limitations, or deadline, that is generally two years for filing a personal injury case. If you do not file within these time limits, the courts are likely to refuse to hear your case, so call us without delay.

Our Vehicle Accident Lawyer Has the Skills to Handle Complex Cases

Vehicle accidents can result in devastating injuries that can cause permanent damage or death. Financial losses can easily exceed the limits of an insurance policy, so getting these financial costs covered usually requires filing a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit against the parties who were at fault for causing the crash.

Georgia personal injury law is complicated; insurance companies will try to get you to settle for as little as possible, and there are time limits for filing, so it makes sense to have a vehicle accident lawyer on your side from the start.

Our Atlanta vehicle accident attorney at the Stoddard Firm can help by:

• Evaluating your case and determining what it may be worth
• Making sure all paperwork is filed according to deadlines and court requirements
• Investigating the accident, gathering evidence from surveillance cameras, interviewing witnesses, and examining police and medical reports
• Hiring experts to reconstruct the crash scene and provide testimony
• Dealing and negotiating with insurance companies for a fair settlement
• Building your case and taking it to trial if necessary.

Call us today for your free, no-obligation case evaluation at 470-467-2200.

Atlanta Vehicle Accident Attorneys

Despite all the safety technology, laws and engineering that go into modern-day motor vehicles, there are still an average of 330,000 accidents on Georgia roads each year. Those crashes lead to roughly 16,500 serious injuries and 1,200 deaths. Statistics may suggest that vehicle crashes are an unfortunate part of life in Atlanta, but what the numbers do not illustrate is just how devastating they can be for the people involved.

Whether in Atlanta, Macon, Columbus or Savannah, motor vehicle crashes take an incredible toll on the victims, and not just physically. If you suffer a serious injury, you not only experience a great deal of pain and suffering, you are also likely to face medical bills, lost income and property damage.

Let The Stoddard Firm help

If you or a loved one has been harmed in an accident, you need an experienced vehicle accident attorney to devote extensive time and large-scale financial resources.  The Stoddard Firm has no interest in collecting your medical bill and sending a less-than-full-value demand to the insurance company.  Instead, our small case load and large piggy bank ensure that we will uncover the truth and fight for full value in each vehicle accident case. If you have questions or would like to set up an evaluation, contact The Stoddard Firm online, or call us at 470-467-2200. The evaluation is free, and you pay no out-of-pocket expenses until your claim is finished.

Types of Accidents

We bring an unparalleled tenacity to finding witnesses that other firms do not, and an unmatched devotion to spending the time, effort, and money necessary to properly tell your story.  The Stoddard Firm handles all types of vehicle accident cases, including:

• Two-vehicle accidents – This could be one of many types of wrecks that range from rear-end collisions to side-impact, or “T-bone” collisions, when one vehicle runs head-on into the side of another.
• Multi-vehicle accidents – These types of wrecks may happen in congested areas anywhere, but they often occur in traffic where there is low visibility, when one vehicle stops but the ones following do not see it or don’t have time to stop.
• Drunk driving accidents – You can check your vehicle daily for safety and follow all the rules of the road, but what you cannot prepare for is the dangerous presence of a drunk driver.
• Vehicle wrecks injuring pedestrians – With more people walking for health and for pleasure, there are an increasing number of accidents involving pedestrians.
• Motorcycle wrecks – While motorcycles may be fun, they also have inherent dangers. Without a shell around them, riders, especially motorcycle accident victims, are out in the open, so even injuries from slight crashes may be more severe.
• Vehicle wrecks injuring a bicyclist – While bicycles generally have the right to be on the road as much as any other vehicle, not every driver sees it that way, and it often leads to tragic results.

This list represents just a few of the types of wrecks we are prepared to handle; but even if your crash does not fit into one of these categories, we encourage you to reach out to our firm to learn more. We understand that every case is different, and we offer free consultations so you can be better prepared to move forward with your case.

Human Error, not Vehicles, is to Blame for most Crashes

While it is easy to blame untested technology or manufacturer defects for accidents, the sad reality is that for every 20 vehicle crashes in the United States, approximately 19 are due to human error. This is an important fact for someone who is injured in an accident to understand. If your injury was caused by someone else’s mistakes, then you should not have to pay the costs of your injury or your damages out of your own pocket. The person responsible for the accident is often found responsible for paying the bills for the accident they caused.

Atlanta Personal Injury Claims

Personal Injury Claims are a tool used by those injured in a vehicle crash to recover the damages they have encountered because of another driver’s negligence. These claims are invaluable for those that experience devastating financial consequences in a vehicle crash. They ensure a level of fairness and accountability that is vital for someone injured in a vehicle wreck.

A crash can be caused by many different forms of error. A distracted, fatigued, impaired or reckless driver is often to blame for a crash. If you have been injured in a vehicle crash, it is not your responsibility to find out why the other driver might have caused the crash. A vehicle accident attorney will investigate your case to find out who was at fault, how much you are owed and what you should do to ensure compensation.

The Stoddard Firm understands how important these cases are for our clients. Many people come to us after suffering debilitating injuries that are costly and painful. We fight for our clients to make sure their case is pursued with our full resources and that they get the payment they are owed.

Most Common Causes of Accidents

While there are many causes of vehicle accidents, the underlying issues in many of them are similar. A report combining statistics from the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) lists a few:

• Distracted Driving – This entails driving without one’s full attention on the road. The driver may be distracted by eating, looking at a map, carrying on a conversation, or any of a number of other activities.
• Cell Phones – It’s estimated more than 25 percent of accidents in 2017 were caused by cell-phone use.
• Drunk Driving – NHTSA and CDC statistics suggest that 28 people die each day – an average of one person every 53 minutes – due to drunk driving crashes. Alcohol affects not only the body’s reaction time, but also cognitive abilities – our ability to think logically and rationally.
• Speeding – The old adage that “speed kills” is true when it comes to motor-vehicle accidents. With higher speeds, the statistical chances of having and being injured in an accident increase exponentially.
• Weather – a sudden change in road conditions can be deadly, especially for young and inexperienced drivers. (Simply check the freeways in Atlanta during one of the rare freezes.)

Most Common Vehicle Accident Injuries

The types of injuries sustained in vehicle accidents are almost too numerous to count. However, some injuries are more common than others:

• Head and Back Injuries — Because of the trauma of the crash, head and back injuries are the most common in any type of vehicle accident. Injury to the head can cause a concussion or traumatic brain injury, and severe trauma can injure the spine and cause paralysis.
• Neck and Chest Injuries — Neck and chest injuries may range from whiplash to broken bones. During an accident, the neck is especially vulnerable as the impact against the vehicle may strain the neck and make it move at dangerous speeds and directions. And the chest is especially vulnerable from impact with a steering wheel or an exploding airbag.
• Other Injuries — Some crash victims suffer broken hands, arms or legs; internal injuries; and PTSD. Immediate medical attention after an accident is recommended in all cases.

Atlanta Driving Safety Tips

While some accidents are unavoidable, by simply following some expert safety advice, including the tips below from Nationwide Insurance, your chances of being in a vehicle accident and being injured are reduced substantially.

• Avoid Distractions – Pay attention to and focus on the road.
• Drive Defensively – You may be the safest driver on the road, but you cannot control the driving of other people.
• Plan Ahead – Adjust equipment before driving; know where traffic is worst and avoid it if possible; be prepared for construction or to take an alternate route if necessary.
• Be Safe – Wear your safety belt, keep important items within arm’s reach, and make sure all materials that may move when driving are secure.

After the Wreck

After a vehicle accident occurs, here are two things to keep in mind.

First, an insurance company owes a duty to its shareholders to protect the insurance company’s bottom line.  As a result, an insurance claims adjuster is not on your side, but instead is trying to minimize the recovery in your vehicle accident case.  The adjuster’s tactic is to gather recorded statements from any easily accessible witness and later use any discrepancy in witness testimony to paint you as a liar.  The tactic is well documented in an industry insider tell-all book about insurance claim practices. See, e.g., From Good Hands to Boxing Gloves: The Dark Side of Insurance, by David J. Berardinelli.

Second, and more importantly, reaching out to the Stoddard Firm is free. Please contact us online or call us at 678-RESULTS (678-737-8587) so we can answer your questions and discuss what is necessary to achieve a favorable result in your vehicle wreck accident.  It never hurts to have more information.  There is no reason not to call or contact us for free advice.

If you have been injured in a vehicle accident in Atlanta, call Matt Stoddard of The Stoddard Firm today. The Stoddard Firm has the knowledge, experience and resources to successfully pursue your claim. If you have questions or would like to set up an evaluation, contact us online or call 678-RESULTS.