The whole point of hiring an attorney to handle your car accident case is so they can get you compensation for your injuries. In order to do this, the car accident lawyer in Atlanta has to be confident you have a legal claim for damages.
There are some attorneys out there who take every case that walks through their door. Even if they don’t think your case is strong enough to win, they tell you they’ll get you good settlement. Then, once they realize your case isn’t winnable, they sit back and pray that you get an insurance settlement.
A competent attorney won’t do this. Any attorney worth their salt will be honest with you when you meet with them for the first time. They’ll review the facts of your case and look to see if there are viable sources for payment.
If an experienced car accident lawyer in Atlanta doesn’t think your case is strong enough to win, they’ll let you know at the outset. They aren’t going to want to waste your time or theirs. Keep in mind, however, that if you have a legitimate claim for damages, an attorney will probably accept your case.
There are a few reasons why an experienced attorney would rather not accept your case. Here is an explanation of why this may be the case.
You Weren’t Injured
One of the biggest reasons why an experienced car accident lawyer would not want to accept your case is that you weren’t injured. In order to file a suit, you have to suffer an injury. If you weren’t hurt in your car accident, there are no damages to claim.
If the only thing you suffered was damage to your car, chances are, your insurance will cover it. Yes, you’ll have to pay your deductible. But everyone has to pay a deductible. And yes – your insurance premiums may go up. That is to be expected. Unless you can prove that you weren’t at fault, your insurance rates will go up.
In order to file suit for a car accident, you have to show that you suffered actual damages. Some of these may include:
- Medical bills – If you were injured in your Atlanta car accident, you’ll have medical bills to pay. This could be for an emergency room visit or surgery. It could even include things like medical equipment and co-pays. You may also need future medical care. If the other driver was responsible for the crash, their insurance should cover these things.
- Lost Wages – In serious car accidents, the victims typically miss time from work. This doesn’t mean you missed a few days. This means you missed weeks or months from work. If your Atlanta car accident lawyer can prove that you lost wages, you can demand that the defendant reimburse you for this.
- Property Damage – You can demand compensation for damage to your vehicle. You can expect to be reimbursed for the money it costs to repair or replace your car.
- Pain and Suffering – The defendant will be responsible for any mental or physical anguish caused by the car accident. If you weren’t injured, you won’t be entitled to any pain and suffering.
If your Atlanta car accident lawyer can’t prove any of these damages, you have no case.
You Were Clearly at Fault
When you go to your initial consultation, your lawyer is going to look at the facts of the case. They’ll review the police report. They may even have the chance to review statements made by both driver or witnesses.
If an attorney believes you were clearly at fault for your car accident, they aren’t going to take your case. In order to recover in court, you have to prove that you were less than 50% at fault for your crash. If your attorney knows they can’t do that, they aren’t going to want to take your case.
You Missed the Statute of Limitations
The statute of limitations in Georgia is only two (2) years. This means you have two years from the date of your accident to file a suit. If you missed that deadline, there’s nothing a car accident attorney in Atlanta, Georgia can do to help you.
Once you miss the statute of limitations, you can’t file suit. Your case will be dismissed – either by the judge or on motion filed by the defendant. Your attorney knows there’s nothing they can do to change this. There would be a point in them accepting your case.
Contact a Car Accident Lawyer in Atlanta Today
If you or your loved one have been injured in a car accident, you need to call a car accident lawyer in Atlanta. You can schedule your free initial consultation today. This lets you sit down with an experienced lawyer at Ted A. Greve & Associates who can answer any questions you may have.
Call today and schedule your initial consultation. It’s absolutely free and you pay nothing until you settle your case.
