There are certain things you need to do in the moments following your Georgia car accident. The first thing you need to do is assess your surroundings and make sure that everybody’s okay. The next thing you need to do is call 911. The dispatcher will send a team of officers out to the accident scene. They will also make sure an ambulance is dispatched in case anyone is seriously injured. Ideally, you would contact your Atlanta accident lawyer at this point too. It really depends on how serious your injuries are and how long it takes the police to do their investigation.
The main reason you need the cops to come out to the scene is that they can do an investigation. They will put all their findings into their final report. A copy of this police report will be available to you within a day or two. You will want to make sure you get a copy of this report to your Atlanta accident lawyer right away. This will be the heart of your case. There’s information contained in that police report that your attorney will never find any other way.
Here, we will discuss why it’s so important to call the cops after your Georgia car accident. We will also explain why it’s so important that your Georgia injury lawyer has a copy of that police report. If you were recently injured in a car crash, you should contact our office right away. Schedule your free, initial consultation and take the time to sit down with an experienced Atlanta accident lawyer.
Nobody Wants to Wait Around for the Cops to Show Up
To be completely honest, most people would rather not wait for the police to show up after their car accident. This is especially true if your car accident was minor and nobody was seriously injured. What you really want to do is exchange information with the other driver and get back on the road. That could be the biggest mistake you make. In fact, if you don’t call the police, you’re making your Georgia injury lawyer’s job a lot harder than it has to be.
Once the police arrive on the scene, it won’t take all that long for them to complete their investigation. Once they have the information they need, the drivers can get on with their day. Of course, if you suffered any injury, you need to go to the emergency room. While you’re there being treated by a doctor, the police will wrap up their investigation and put all their findings into their police report.
Even if Your Car Accident Is Minor, You Need to Call the Cops
Some people assume that they only need to call the cops if their car accident was serious. According to Georgia law, you’re required to report any motor vehicle accident that results in a serious bodily injury or more than $500 in damages. Since it’s impossible to know exactly how much damage the accident caused, it’s always best to just call the police and let them come out and do their job.
You may think that you don’t need to call the cops because nobody was injured. Just because everybody feels okay at that moment, that doesn’t mean that nobody was injured. It could take hours for the pain to settle in. This is why we always recommend that you go to the emergency room regardless of how good or bad you feel. You could be suffering from internal injuries that, if left untreated, can prove dangerous.
It Can Be Difficult to Prove Your Case Without This Information
As stated earlier, your Atlanta accident lawyer will need a copy of the police report. There’s information in this report that you cannot possibly gain any other way. For example, the report will contain names and contact information for any eyewitnesses to your car accident.
It will also include any statements made by witnesses at the scene. Had you not had a copy of this police report, there would be absolutely no way to know if there were any witnesses at all. You certainly wouldn’t have the information necessary to track them down and get a statement from them.
Call a Skilled Georgia Injury Lawyer Immediately After the Car Accident
If you or your loved one were involved in a motor vehicle accident, it’s a good idea to contact a Georgia injury lawyer right away. There are certain steps you need to take immediately after your car accident. If you don’t follow these steps, you will jeopardize your claim for damages later on. One of these steps is calling 911. Nobody wants to wait around for the cops to arrive at the accident scene. Most people would rather exchange insurance information with the other driver and be on their way. However, if you expect the insurance company to pay for any damage to your vehicle or any medical care you need, then you must contact the police. Not to mention the fact that your Georgia injury lawyer won’t be able to prove your case without the police report.
We always recommend that anyone who’s been involved in an accident contact our office within a day or two of the car accident. This gives us ample time to prepare your insurance claim. It also gives us time to investigate the police report and any other evidence to see if we can prove fault on behalf of the other driver. The longer you wait to call an Atlanta accident lawyer, the longer it will take before they can get started on your case. Even if you were in a minor collision, there is still the chance that you’re entitled to damages. If you want to protect your chances, then you really need to contact the police and let them do their job.
Since we offer all clients a free, initial consultation, it’s in your best interest to take advantage of it. Call our office and pick a date and time that works for you or you can schedule your consultation through our website.
