Atlanta Auto Accident Attorney
Car accidents can lead to serious injury, disability, disfigurement, time lost at work, and even death. Atlanta car accident lawyer Stacey Carroll has spent years representing clients injured by negligent, reckless, and malicious drivers. At the Carroll Law Firm, we combine our expertise in the law, our knowledge of the Georgia judicial system, and our relationships with attorneys, experts, and the courts in Atlanta to provide top-quality, effective legal services for our clients. Atlanta auto accident attorney Stacey Carroll has helped countless clients recover for their injuries after accidents on Georgia roadways and helped families get justice for loved ones killed in senseless accidents.
Accidents happen in Georgia. All the time.
Across the State of Georgia, over 70 drivers are hurt in a car accident every single hour. According to the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, there are over 380,000 auto accidents each year in Georgia. In 2015, nearly 20,000 people suffered from severe injuries as a result of auto accidents. Traffic fatalities in the state, moreover, have been on the rise since 2015. In 2016, there were over 1,550 deaths caused by traffic accidents across Georgia. Impaired driving was responsible for 368 of those deaths, or nearly a quarter. One hundred seventy-two fatal accidents involved motorcyclists, while a shocking 232 involved pedestrians.
If you or a loved one has fallen victim to a negligent driver in Georgia and joined these alarming statistics, you need a seasoned, experienced, and effective traffic accident lawyer in your corner fighting for the damages you are owed. At the Carroll Law Firm, we know the system, we know how to gather evidence and build the strongest case to seek the most in damages, and we will tailor our experience and representation to your needs. We are here to get you results.
To deal with Georgia’s complicated fault rules, you need the help of a knowledgeable car accident attorney
Some states, such as New York and Florida, have what is known as a “no-fault” car insurance system. Under those no-fault schemes, you are required to carry no-fault insurance for yourself, and when you are in an accident, your insurance will cover you regardless of fault. Georgia is not like those states. Georgia’s system is more complicated, and plaintiffs strongly benefit from capable legal representation.
In Georgia, when a negligent driver injures you, you can sue that driver and their insurance company directly. Georgia drivers are required to carry a minimum amount of car insurance to cover an accident: $25,000 for an individual’s personal injury, $25,000 for property damage, and $50,000 for multiple injured victims or death. If you are injured in an accident, it is up to you and your Georgia auto accident lawyer to prove that the other driver was indeed at fault and that they are responsible for your injuries. You can go directly after the other driver, and if you can prove that they were at fault, they will be responsible for your injuries. If your bills exceed their insurance coverage, they will still be accountable for your damages.
Modified comparative fault in Atlanta auto accidents
Georgia employs a “modified comparative fault” rule for car accidents. Comparative fault means that the amount of your award will be reduced by your percentage of blame for the accident. Under Georgia’s system, the rule is even more complicated: You can only recover if the other driver was at least 51 percent at fault. For example: Let’s say you were driving while texting, and you were hit by a driver who blew through a red light. You end up with $10,000 in damages. The court finds that you were 30 percent at fault for the accident. You would be entitled to recover $7,000 from the other driver. However, if the court finds that you were 51 percent at fault, you are not entitled to any recovery at all.
In most auto accident cases, one driver is almost entirely at fault. In such cases, modified comparative fault will not really come into play. Regardless, it is vital that you have a dedicated and zealous car accident lawyer in your corner to ensure that you are fully compensated for your injuries and that the other side does not find a way to reduce your award unjustly.
Dedicated Atlanta Car Accident Attorneys Helping Accident Victims and Their Families
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed by a negligent driver in Atlanta, call the Carroll Law Firm at 404-816-4555 for a free consultation with a seasoned and effective Atlanta auto accident attorney.
