Atlanta Car Accident Lawyer

Suffering debilitating injuries or losing a loved one in an accident can be painful and traumatic. Life may never be the same again for accident victims and their families. According to the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), over 1,500 victims died on Georgia’s roads in 2019 alone. Figures from the GDOT show that most car crashes are caused by unsafe driving practices, such as distracted driving, impaired driving, and speeding. If a negligent or reckless driver caused your injuries and damages, you should speak to an experienced personal injury lawyer in Atlanta, as you could hold the other driver legally responsible for your injuries and losses. Our Atlanta car accidents lawyer can take care of you and fight for the compensation you deserve. Call Sessions & Fleischman now for a free, no-obligation consultation at (470) 225-7710 to learn more about your legal rights and ensure they remain protected.

The Catastrophic Consequences of Atlanta Car Accidents

While some car accident victims may only suffer from minor injuries, other victims could see their entire lives turned upside down after a serious car crash.

• Physical Injuries

Physical injuries in serious car accidents can include head and brain injuries, broken or fractured bones, amputations, internal organ damage and bleeding, neck and spine injuries, scarring and disfigurement, and more. Injuries may require costly long-term medical treatments and months of rehabilitative therapies. Some victims may be absent from work for a prolonged period or suffer injuries so severe they never return to their careers. An entire family could face financial hardship if a victim experiences injuries that result in a long-term or permanent disability.

• Emotional Distress and Psychological Trauma

It is important to note that experiencing a serious car accident does not only cause physical injuries. Victims could also suffer from a range of devastating psychological problems after a traumatic accident, which can include:

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Anxiety and depression
• Nightmares and insomnia
• Developing fear of driving and other new fears

• Lost Income and Wages

Developing serious injuries (either physical or psychological) can prevent a person from returning to work, resulting in lost income and wages. Lost income can include not only a victim’s salary but also missed promotional opportunities, bonuses, employer contributions to pension and health plans, and more.

Your Best Next Steps

Taking immediate steps to protect your legal rights after a car accidents in Atlanta can be crucial for establishing a strong claim. The most important action you can take for yourself after a car accident is to seek medical attention as soon as possible. This holds true even when you only experience minor symptoms such as tingling in your arms or a headache. You could be suffering from a more serious condition. Some injuries, such as severe whiplash and traumatic brain injury, can have a delayed onset, according to the Mayo Clinic. Likewise, if you are suffering from the emotional effects of a car accident, seeking professional help immediately can help mitigate the negative effects of any trauma.

Having a doctor document your injuries through medical reports will be important foundational evidence should you later wish to sue the at-fault driver. Medical reports can provide excellent evidence for your damages. If you are intending to hold a negligent driver responsible for your injuries and financial losses, you will need clear evidence proving all your damages conclusively. As well as seeking medical help, you should contact an Atlanta car accidents lawyer as soon as possible after your accident. An experienced injury lawyer in Atlanta can protect your rights and fight for what you deserve.

What Do I Do at The Scene of a Crash?

Knowing what to do at the scene of a crash can be critical and important, especially if you intend to hold a negligent driver responsible for the injuries and losses you suffered as a result of your car accident. Firstly, it is important that you stay at the car accident scene until the police arrive. While you may feel angry and frustrated, you should try and stay calm and collected. Under no circumstances should you argue with other drivers, apologize, or admit fault. The next best steps you can take at the scene of a crash include:

• Calling 911 for Law Enforcement and Emergency Medical Assistance

Contacting the police and emergency medical help is the best first step, especially if the accident is serious and there are injured individuals at the scene. The police officer will arrive at the scene of the car accident and collect evidence and interview all drivers and witnesses. Be sure to tell them calmly, honestly, and in great detail what happened. Ensuring your statement is adequately recorded means you will have excellent evidence at hand when it comes to pursuing justice and compensation from the at-fault driver at a later time.

• Taking Photographs and Videos of the Accident Scene

If you can do so without endangering yourself, try to take pictures of the car accident scene. Make sure to capture the scene of the accident from all angles. You will also want to take pictures of all the vehicles involved and any damage to the vehicles. You could also take a video of the entire area. Taking pictures can be extremely helpful when it later comes to establishing fault in an accident. Check also to see if there are any businesses near the area that may have video cameras that could have captured the car accident as well. Car accident reconstruction experts may be able to use photographic evidence for reconstructing your accident.

• Gathering Important Evidence and Details

Make sure you collect the contact details, license plate information, and insurance details of all other drivers involved in the car accident in Atlanta. If there are any additional witnesses to the accident, try to get their contact details and a statement if possible. In-car accidents where fault may be hard to establish, eyewitness evidence can be crucial for proving another driver’s negligence.

• Contact an Experienced Atlanta Car Accidents Lawyer

It is never too early to get in touch with an experienced car accident attorney in Atlanta. If you contact an experienced lawyer as soon as possible, they can start to protect your legal rights immediately. Your attorney can lay the foundations that could help you pursue fair and adequate compensation for any injuries and financial losses later on. Additionally, an experienced personal injury lawyer in Atlanta can calculate your damages accurately and gather evidence proving your expenses, such as medical reports and loss of income. While you are free to heal, your car accidents lawyer can also start collecting evidence to prove the negligence of another driver, including witness statements, traffic camera recordings, and other applicable material.

If someone else caused your car accident and injuries, or the injuries of your loved one, you may have the legal right to receive compensation. Contact Sessions & Fleischman for help and a free consultation today at (470) 225-7710.

What Are Common Causes of Auto Accidents?

Atlanta is a growing metropolitan city with an incredible amount of motor vehicle traffic. Car accidents can occur in a split second of inattention and change victims’ entire lives. According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, motor vehicle accidents are a leading cause of injury deaths and hospitalizations in the state. Figures show that Georgia had the 4^th largest number of traffic deaths in the U.S. in 2017. If your family is affected by a major car crash, an experienced injury lawyer in Atlanta can help initiate a lawsuit that could help you get the compensation you deserve.

While there can be multiple reasons for motor vehicle crashes in Atlanta, most of them have one thing in common: they happen due to driver-related causes or driver negligence. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 94 percent of crashes happen due to driver errors, while only 0.7 percent occur due to vehicle defects. 1.3 percent of accidents are caused by environmental factors such as rain, snow, and ice on the road. Driver-related causes for motor vehicle crashes can include the following:

• Speeding

Driving above the posted speed limit, or too fast for inclement weather and road conditions, causes many car accidents with fatalities and injuries in Georgia, according to the NHTSA. Higher speed can cause more severe accidents and more serious injuries for all those affected.

• Distracted Driving

Most of us know that texting or using the phone while driving counts as distracted driving.  However, distracted driving constitutes anything that takes a driver’s attention away from the road, which can include:

• Eating, smoking, or drinking while driving
• Interacting with passengers in the back
• Adjusting the stereo or navigation system
• Putting on makeup
• Playing loud music
• “Rubbernecking” and looking at another accident that occurred on the roadway

• Driving Under the Influence of Drugs and Alcohol

Impaired driving kills and causes catastrophic injuries. Alcohol played a role in the deaths of more than 10,000 car accident victims in accidents in 2018, according to the NHTSA. Recreational drugs as well as certain prescription and over-the-counter drugs can impair a driver’s ability to operate a vehicle safely. Drivers are responsible to ensure that any medicines they take do not interfere with their ability to drive.

• Falling Asleep at the Wheel

Fatigued driving can also cause car accidents in Atlanta. A driver who falls asleep at the wheel often swerves or drifts off the road and causes an accident with or without involving other vehicles. Since truck drivers operating large commercial trucks often spend long hours and nights on the road, they are perhaps particularly prone to falling asleep at the wheel. Getting into an accident with a large and heavy vehicle such as a commercial truck can have devastating consequences for those in passenger cars, potentially causing fatalities and catastrophic injuries.

• Other Causes of Atlanta Car Accidents

There can be many more driver-related causes for car crashes in Atlanta, including:

• Running red lights and stop signs
• Failure to yield
• Following too closely
• Generally driving in a reckless or careless manner

 All of these types of car crashes occur when a driver does not take reasonable care and caution while operating their vehicle. As a result of driver recklessness or negligence, rear-end collisions, side-impact collisions, rollovers, and other types of accidents can occur.

If you suffered significant injuries in a car accident with a negligent or careless driver, you should consult with an experienced personal injury lawyer in Atlanta as soon as possible. You do not have to struggle to negotiate with insurance companies or start a complex lawsuit on your own. Call Sessions & Fleischman today for a free case review and advice at (470) 225-7710.

What Are Common Auto Accident Injuries?

Some individuals may suffer only mild effects from an accident, such as a very minor whiplash injury or some overall soreness. However, those who experience serious car accidents could be left with debilitating and disabling injuries impacting the rest of their lives. Serious injuries in car accidents can include the following:

• Traumatic Brain Injuries

One of the most common types of injury suffered in a car accident in Atlanta is a traumatic brain injury (TBI). TBI can appear in many ways and can need simple rest to hospitalization and surgeries.

• Neck Injuries

Neck injuries, such as whiplash, typically happen due to the rapid back-and-forth movement of the head during impact, for example, in a rear-end collision. Whiplash can be mild or severe and chronic, with any adverse health effects potentially lasting for years. Headaches, neck pain, and loss of range of motion can all be symptoms of whiplash, according to the Mayo Clinic.

• Shoulder Injuries

While whiplash can potentially cause shoulder pain and muscle stiffness in the upper body, other shoulder injuries can also occur in car accidents. A torn rotator cuff, soft tissue injuries, and a dislocated shoulder can all be the result of a car accident. Shoulder injuries are typically painful and can limit an individual’s ability to perform the most basic tasks.

• Back Injuries and Disc Herniation

The back area may absorb a large amount of force and pressure when impact occurs in a car accident. This can lead to several injuries in this area, including:

• Herniated discs
• Upper back injuries
• Lower back injuries

Typical symptoms for these types of injuries include general pain, stiffness in the back, painful muscle spasms, numbness, and tingling in arms and legs. As with any injuries, seeking medical advice as soon as possible can be crucial in preventing the worsening of any back and disc injury.

• Knee Injuries

Knee injuries are incredibly common in car accidents. Due to the fact that the driver and front-seat passenger have their knees close to the dashboard, knees usually suffer injuries when a frontal impact occurs. While knee injuries are not always serious or life-threatening, they can render an accident victim almost entirely immobile for a considerable recovery period. This can cause inconvenience, loss of life quality, and income losses. External force in a car crash can lead to complicated knee fractures as well as ligament and meniscus injuries.

• Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal fractures and spinal cord damage can be serious and create potentially life-altering accident injuries. Spinal fractures typically arise from injury and trauma in car collisions. A spinal fracture can be an extremely serious injury, requiring emergency medical treatment requiring hospitalization, or surgery. Symptoms of spinal injuries can be pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness.  If the spinal cord is affected, an individual could be permanently paralyzed and disabled.

• Clavicle Breaks

The clavicle, also called the collar bone, is generally a relatively weak bone and therefore tends to break easily in any kind of car accident. A broken collarbone can come with extensive swelling and bruising in the area. Other symptoms of a fractured clavicle can include the inability to raise arms, grinding sensation when trying to move arms, and generally feeling pressure in the collarbone area.

• Arm and Leg Injuries

Arm and leg injuries from car accidents can cause significant discomfort and inconvenience. Severe injuries to limbs could cause permanent disability. Injuries to arms and legs in car accidents can include soft tissue injuries to the tendons and ligaments, complicated fractures, and limb amputations in the worst cases.

If you or a loved one suffered from any kind of injury in a car accident that was another driver’s fault, you could be entitled to compensation. Severe injuries can have long-term consequences for an accident victim. Injuries may require costly on-going treatments, the use of medical devices such as prostheses or wheelchairs and could result in a permanent disability. Do not wait to learn more about your legal rights. Contact your experienced Atlanta car accidents lawyer, Sessions & Fleischman, at 470.225.7710 to determine your legal options in a free consultation.

When to File a Lawsuit for your Atlanta Car Accidents Injuries and Losses

Consider reaching out immediately to an experienced personal injury lawyer in Atlanta as soon as your car accident occurred. While you generally have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit after a car accident, according to the Georgia Statute Section 9-3-33, the clock will start to run down on the day of your car accident. Waiting too long can potentially bar you from recovering compensation for your damages and losses permanently. Consider also that timely action can mean the evidence is easier to obtain and witnesses will still remember all details of an accident. Waiting until the last minute and letting years pass by before filing a lawsuit can prove challenging for collecting relevant evidence and tracking down eyewitnesses.

Information Your Atlanta Car Accidents Lawyer May Need from You

A car accident attorney should work tirelessly and analyze your claim thoroughly. They will assess any evidence that could prove your claim and another party’s negligence. Your personal injury lawyer will also want to determine the full extent of all your injuries and damages connected to the accident in order to accurately calculate your past, present, and future expected damages accurately. This is crucial when it comes to pursuing adequate compensation for your injuries and losses.

Information you can provide to your attorney to help with this process can include evidence of another party’s negligence, such as any police reports, photographs, eyewitness statements, and other types of evidence in your possession.

Your attorney will also look for evidence of your injuries and other damages, which can include medical reports as well as receipts for any expenses you incurred, such as:

• Repair or replacement of your vehicle, and the contents inside the vehicle
• Medical bills (including hospitalizations, surgeries, emergency medical transport, medications, therapy, medical devices, and more)
• Car rental and other transportation costs
• Pay stubs to prove income losses, as well as any other information from the employer regarding lost bonuses or employer contributions to pension or health plans
• Miscellaneous out-of-pocket expenses

It is a wise idea to keep a detailed journal during your recovery that carefully describes and records your medical treatments and mental distress or physical pain. Your car accident attorney will use all of these records and information for evidence of any non-economic damages in your claims such as pain and suffering, emotional anguish, and loss of life quality.

How Sessions Law Firm Atlanta Car Accidents Lawyer Can Help You After Your Car Accident

It can be hard to know where to turn after suffering injuries in a car accident. Victims may not only have to deal with physical pain, emotional distress, and many formalities after an accident, they are also typically left with significant bills and debt. An experienced Atlanta car accidents lawyer helps you after your car accident every step of the way. Sessions & Fleischman can support you, protect your legal rights, and fight for a comprehensive and fair settlement, leaving you free to recover fully from your accident. We can help you in a number of practical ways, including but not limited to:

• Building a Strong Personal Injury Case on Your Behalf

We can build a comprehensive case against the negligent party. This can include conducting an independent investigation and gathering any additional evidence proving the negligence of the other party. Some additional evidence may include the collection of traffic camera recordings, technical black box car data, and any other additional material that could help to further your claim. We can also engage expert witnesses to testify on your behalf. Since you do not have a claim without proof of damages, we will also collect evidence proving your injuries and financial losses that resulted from your car accident.

• Negotiate with the Insurance Company on Your Behalf

Individuals that got hurt in a car accident due to another driver’s fault may be tempted to negotiate with the at-fault party’s insurance directly. Insurance companies often use unscrupulous and manipulative tactics to avoid paying full and fair settlements to victims of car accidents. In the worst case, a victim may accept a settlement that does not cover all their damages adequately, leaving them with bills to pay from their own pocket. Leaving the negotiations to your experienced Atlanta car accidents lawyer  can also show the insurance that you are serious about fighting for just compensation. We can protect your legal rights and negotiate with an insurance company on your behalf. If an agreement proves impossible, we can take your case all the way to trial and fight for the best possible outcome.

• Legal Representation in a Lawsuit

If the insurance company does not settle with a victim, the victim may need to take the case to trial to receive compensation for their injuries and losses. Self-representation can be full of potential pitfalls. With an experienced Atlanta car accidents lawyer by your side, you do not have to worry about the legal challenges of your case. We will represent you aggressively in court and fight for a fair settlement that covers all your losses and damages.

 Sessions & Fleischman Can Fight for You and Ensure Your Legal Rights Remain Protected

If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a car accident, the experienced attorneys at Sessions & Fleischman will take the time to listen to your concerns and answer your legal questions in a free initial consultation.  Our compassionate and understanding attorneys at Sessions & Fleischman can help you pursue compensation with the necessary experience, tenacity, and determination you deserve. We are committed to providing our clients with the attention they need throughout the entirety of their legal claims. Contact Sessions & Fleischman now and speak to a member of our dedicated team about your car accident case at (470) 225-7710.