When someone is involved in a car accident, they tend to think that, if they sue, they can get a ton of money. A skilled lawyer would advise them that, in order to get any money, you need to prove two things. First, you need to prove that the other driver was at fault in the crash. Second, you need to prove that you were actually hurt. It’s not enough to be involved in a car wreck. You have to prove that you suffered particular losses. This is why it’s a good idea to hire an experienced car accident lawyer in Augusta if you have been injured in a car accident.
Any attorney worth their salt is going to tell you that more than 95% of all car accident lawsuits in Georgia settle. Very few actually go to trial. This is for a few main reasons:
- Trials can take a long time
- Trials are much more expensive than settling a case
- There is no guarantee that you will win in court
- There is no guarantee that you will get a lump sum of money even if you do win
- Going to trial is not in the best interests of anyone – including the defendant
This is why your Augusta car accident lawyer will do their very best to settle your case sooner rather than later. The first thing you need to do is call and schedule your free, initial consultation with our office.
Your Augusta Car Accident Lawyer May Have to Hire Experts if Your Case Goes to Trial
Just because you file suit, that doesn’t mean the defendant is going to admit that they caused the crash. The insurance company is going to put up a fight. They don’t want to pay out your claim if they don’t have to. This means that your Augusta accident lawyer needs to prove that the other driver was at fault.
To do this, they need to prove negligence. Negligence involves four (4) elements:
- The defendant owed you a duty of care
- They breached this duty
- You were injured
- Your injuries were caused by the crash
In order to do this, your lawyer may have to hire experts to testify on your behalf. This could include an accident reconstruction specialist. They can use their expertise to show exactly how the accident transpired. But they are not cheap. It can cost thousands of dollars to hire this sort of expert.
You May Need to Call on Medical Experts to Prove Your Injuries
Even if you can prove that the other driver caused the accident, you still need to prove that you were hurt. Your lawyer is going to demand certain types of damages, depending on your injuries. This could include any or all of the following:
- Medical bills
- Future medical bills
- Lost income
- Lost future income
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent Disability
To get any sort of damages, you may need to hire medical experts. They can testify as to your injuries. They can also testify as to how painful your surgeries may have been. Just as with other experts, you’ll have to pay these medical experts. This can become very expensive. Your attorney in Augusta would much rather settle your case rather than have to pay all of these costs. You need to keep in mind that, even if your attorney pays for these costs upfront, you will have to pay them back when your case is resolved.
Many Augusta Car Accident Lawyers Charge a Higher Fee for Cases that Go to Trial
What some people don’t realize is that, if your case goes to trial, your lawyer’s contingency fee may go up. Many attorneys explain to their clients in the initial consultation that this is the case. The reason for this is that your attorney will have to focus more time and resources on a case that goes to trial. They won’t be able to work on as many other cases while this is going on. They need to recover any time and expenses they dedicate to your case.
Contact a Skilled Car Accident Lawyer in Augusta Sooner Rather than Later
If you or your family member are injured in a motor vehicle accident, there are a few things you need to do. First, call the police so they can thoroughly investigate the accident scene. Second, go to the hospital so you can see if you’re hurt Finally, you should call and talk to an experienced car accident lawyer in Augusta, Georgia.
