How Can A Valdosta Car Accident Attorney Help With Your Case?
Car accidents are some of the most devastating experiences.
Besides causing grievous physical injuries, an auto crash could also leave you nursing long-term emotional trauma. Not to mention the financial losses incurred in medical treatments and lost income.
If you’ve been involved in a car accident in Valdosta due to another driver’s negligence, enlisting legal assistance can ensure you receive compensation.
A car accident lawyer negotiates with the at-fault party and insurance companies on your behalf. Thanks to their professional intervention, you can focus on full recovery without worrying about incurring hefty bills in medical treatment or vehicle repairs.
Here are the various ways a Valdosta car accident lawyer can help with your case.
1. Conducting Investigations
Conducting car accident investigations isn’t the preserve of law enforcement officers. Attorneys have a critical role to play, too.
A lawyer can help document and preserve vital evidence that will be used during the ensuing claims process. Typically, this requires assessing the skid marks and tire treads of all vehicles involved in the crash.
Other pieces of evidence your lawyer may require include photos of physical injuries and vehicle damage, witness statements, and the call logs of all the drivers involved.
Working with a lawyer is particularly recommended if an auto crash results in fatalities. A Valdosta wrongful death lawyer will bring their experience to bear in apportioning full liability to the other parties, maximizing your compensation.
2. Assessing Physical Injuries
After securing an auto crash scene, one of the first things a Valdosta car accident attorney will do is assess the extent of injuries. This is necessary even before documenting any evidence.
First, the lawyer will visually inspect all victims for grievous bodily harm. They’ll then photograph the injuries before arranging for emergency treatment in collaboration with first responders.
It’s understandable that you want just compensation for the injuries sustained in an auto crash. But at this point, your health and safety override everything else.
3. Examining Vehicular Damages
Not all auto accidents result in life-threatening injuries. However, there’s always a considerable level of vehicle damage.
After assessing the nature of your injuries, your Valdosta car accident lawyer will examine the extent of vehicle damage at the crash scene.
The two factors will play a critical role in arguing for maximum compensation.
4. Evaluating Your Case
Upon obtaining all the facts, your attorney will proceed to one of the most critical steps in the car accident claims process – case evaluation. This step entails establishing if your case has legal merits.
The lawyer will consider key aspects, such as the weight of the evidence collected and the full extent of the damage.
It’s also at this point that your attorney may reveal if you had a role to play in the accident.
5. Recommending the Best Course of Action
Car accident claims are best handled through alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms. In fact, most lawyers recommend this option.
Going on the ADR route can bring closure much sooner, unlike court processes that often last several months.
However, the outcome of an auto crash may have your Valdosta car accident lawyer recommend a full trial. This is common for accidents that cause life-threatening injuries or wrongful deaths.
6. Interpreting the Statute Of Limitations
The statute of limitations provides a window period within which you can file a claim for compensation or initiate a lawsuit following a crime.
In Georgia, car accident victims generally have two years from the accident date to take legal action.
Your lawyer will help interpret the statute of limitations, especially if the accident occurred several months ago. They’ll also explain a few exemptions to the two-year rule, such as accidents involving property damage and minor victims.
7. Negotiating With Insurance Companies
Insurance companies are for-profit entities. As such, they’ll naturally downplay the real extent of your damages in a bid to award you lower compensation than you rightly deserve.
Fortunately, car accident lawyers are trained to see right through this craftiness.
Your attorney will handle all negotiations with relevant insurance companies, a complex process that involves making offers and counteroffers until an amicable figure is agreed upon.
8. Representing You in Court
As mentioned, it’s usually in the best interest of car accident victims to pursue out-of-court dispute resolution channels. However, the matter may wind up in court if the at-fault parties are uncooperative.
In that case, your Valdosta car accident attorney will represent your interests throughout the trial process.
Among their critical roles include poking holes in the defendant’s theories and challenging the credibility of their witnesses, while capitalizing on the evidence from the crash scene.
9. Helping You Get Back On Your Routine
A car accident lawyer does all the legwork on your behalf. They gather essential evidence, prepare the necessary paperwork, and represent you throughout the claims process.
With an experienced attorney on your side, you don’t need to follow up on the case actively. Your physical presence may not even be required in court.
Simply let the lawyer handle the technical work as you seek proper medical treatment and resume your regular routine.
10. Promoting Long-term Recovery
Engagements with a Valdosta car accident attorney don’t end upon receiving compensation. These legal professionals can offer ongoing support, enabling you to achieve full recovery from the accident.
Note that while physical scars from auto crashes may fade away within months, emotional trauma can persist for years.
Experienced car accident attorneys maintain a network of other professionals, including trauma experts who offer long-term emotional therapy.
11. Representing You as a Defendant
Car accident attorneys don’t only represent auto crash victims.
Even if an accident resulted from negligence on your part, it’s relieving to know that you could still enlist legal assistance.
As the defendant in a car accident lawsuit, your lawyer will employ every strategy in the book to diminish your liability. They’ll also play a critical role in negotiating plea bargains on your behalf.
Final Word
Auto accidents can cause devastating injuries and even wrongful deaths. However, working with an experienced attorney can help you get back on your feet.
A car accident lawyer doesn’t only focus on helping you recoup the financial losses resulting from an auto crash. They also play a critical role in accelerating your physical and emotional recovery from the ordeal.
Even if you’re the at-fault driver in an auto crash, it’s still highly recommended to contact a professional car accident lawyer in Valdosta.
The attorney will fight to protect your rights and pursue an out-of-court settlement with the other party. If the matter unfortunately ends up in trial, your car accident lawyer will be instrumental in challenging the plaintiff’s evidence and negotiating for reduced penalties.
