Car Accident Lawyer in Augusta

When you’re enjoying driving on the roads of Augusta, Georgia, the last thing you expect is a car accident. In a split second, a collision can change your life forever. In the aftermath, you may experience physical, emotional, and mental trauma. Mounting unexpected expenses can prevent you from focusing on your recovery.

Whether you walk away with minor injuries and repair costs, or face months and years of recovery and a totaled car, an accident can leave a lasting negative impact on your life.

Unfortunately, you can’t control the actions of other drivers. Even if you’re a safe driver, you may find yourself on the receiving end of another driver’s gross negligence. You shouldn’t have to shoulder this burden alone. If another driver is responsible for your accident, you might deserve compensation.

Nevertheless, it’s tough to take on the insurance companies alone. Insurance giants often have a large team of successful lawyers who will try to offer you a low settlement or even deny your claim outright.

A car accident lawyer in Augusta can advocate for you and fight for the justice you may be owed. An attorney from The Scott Pryor Law Group will walk beside you through the legal process, consistently communicate with you about what to expect, advise you on the merits of your case, and help you to find just compensation.

Contact The Scott Pryor Law Group for a free consultation today.

What you should know about Georgia car accidents
Why you need a car accident lawyer in Augusta
Common car accident injuries that might result in a lawsuit
Steps you should take after a car accident in Augusta
Potential compensation after an Augusta car accident
Georgia car accident laws you should know
- Statute of Limitations
- Comparative Fault
How The Scott Pryor Law Group can help

What you should know about Georgia car accidents

Georgia has the undesirable distinction of consistently ranking in the top 5 for U.S. states with the most car accidents. Bustling urban areas and rural regions alike are home to many car accidents throughout the year.

Safe drivers have a better chance of surviving car accidents than reckless drivers, but it’s important to know how collisions impact the state. Some statistics on car accidents in Georgia include:

1.92 million reported car accidents were reported in 2023
There were 306 car accident fatalities in the first quarter of 2024
The annual economic impact of Georgia car accidents is roughly $10 billion
In 2023, car accidents caused 740,000 reported personal injuries
Impaired drivers cause almost 40% of car accidents in the state
Over 8,000 reported car accidents occurred in 2023 in Richmond County (home of Augusta)

The right attorneys can help you to understand the best legal avenue to take after a car accident

Why you need a car accident lawyer in Augusta

It may prove crucial to your legal claim to consult a car accident lawyer in Augusta in the first days following your collision. Although you may not choose to pursue a personal injury lawsuit, the right attorneys can help you to understand the best legal avenue to take.

You may also find it tough to battle insurance companies on your own. Years of experience and the desire to pay as little as possible gives these insurers an unfair advantage over the average person who’s trying to pick up the pieces after their car accident.

It may also be tempting to accept a lump sum offer of payment from an insurance company, as you have immediate bills that need to be covered. However, once you’ve accepted compensation, you no longer have legal recourse to future payments that can help cover ongoing medical expenses, missed work time, and more.

At The Scott Pryor Law Group, a car accident lawyer in Augusta can devote resources to your case that you may not otherwise have access to, and can help you to gather evidence to prove that you weren’t at fault for your crash.

Common car accident injuries that might result in a lawsuit

Although the injuries you’ve suffered in a car accident are unique to you, our personal injury attorneys tend to see common injuries in a successful car accident case. The most common injuries that occur in a car accident range from minor to severe (both may deserve compensation), and can include:

Bone bruises
Burns
Catastrophic injury
Chronic pain
Facial injuries
Fractures
Hematomas
Internal bleeding
Internal organ injuries
Ligament damage
Neck injuries
Paralysis
Spinal cord injuries
Sprains
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Whiplash

Steps you should take after a car accident in Augusta

You may experience shock in the aftermath of your Augusta car accident, and just want to go home, sleep, and begin to recover. However, if your injuries have not left you incapacitated, there are important steps you should take that may be crucial to any insurance claim or lawsuit you might file in the future.

Ensuring you follow these steps can help a car accident lawyer to prove your case and gather evidence. If you cannot reach a settlement agreement after filing an insurance claim, following these steps can help to strengthen your personal injury lawsuit.

1. Pull Over Safely and Exchange Insurance Information

If your car can be moved, it’s important to safely pull away from oncoming traffic (preferably on the shoulder of the road). Do not discuss the accident or admit any fault to the other driver.

If the other driver appears inebriated or enraged, wait for law enforcement to arrive. However, if it’s safe to do so, exchange contact and insurance information, and return to your vehicle until first responders can arrive.

2. Call 911 and File a Police Report

After a car accident, Georgia law requires you to report significant property damage and injury. You should call 911 as soon as possible and wait for first responders to arrive at the scene.

A responding police officer will fill out a police report that includes the contact information of all involved parties, the time and date of the accident, an initial investigation of the scene, and written statements from eyewitnesses. This report is one of the most crucial pieces of evidence for your legal claim.

In Augusta, you can obtain a copy of your police report from the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, or request an online copy from the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT).

3. Gather Evidence

If you’ve safely pulled over and your injuries won’t prevent you from doing so, record video and photo documentation of your accident. This footage may be used in both your insurance claim and in any future lawsuit you might file.

4. Contact Your Insurance Provider

Review your insurance information to ensure the amount of time you have before you begin your insurance claim. Most policies mandate that you contact your insurer within 72 hours of a car accident, but some policies require that you do so within 24 hours.

Contacting your insurance provider will begin the claims process. You’ll be assigned an agent and a claims number so that you can track the progress of your claim. Your insurer will contact the other driver’s insurance provider.

You’ll need your case number for reference throughout the claims process and if you choose to file a lawsuit.

5. Seek Medical Attention Immediately

If your injuries are significant and obvious after an Augusta car accident, EMTs may provide on scene medical attention. However, severe injuries such as internal bleeding may not be immediately apparent and could grow worse if you wait to see a doctor.

Documentation of official medical diagnosis and treatment is vital to proof of damages and to your legal claim. Evidence of all diagnosis, emergency room visits, hospital stays, prescriptions, surgeries, and treatments will be necessary to recover medical expenses.

6. Consult a Car Accident Lawyer

In an initial consultation, The Scott Pryor Law Group can provide a knowledgeable car accident lawyer in Augusta to advise you on your best next legal step. We’ll honestly share the merits of your case and help you to determine your best course of action. Many of our satisfied clients began their relationship with us based on a free consultation.

Potential compensation after an Augusta car accident

If you choose to seek compensation after an Augusta car accident, you’ll be required to separate your claim into categories known as damages. For example, you (or your car accident lawyer) can’t just come up with a financial figure without specific claims.

The categories of damages include: Economic damages, non-economic damages, and punitive damages. Although you can choose to go through the insurance claims process and file a personal injury lawsuit without the help of an attorney, you may find navigating the complexities of the legal system and how to determine damages challenging on your own.

Let’s take a look at examples of the damages you might seek after a car accident.

Economic Damages

Losses with a measurable or set monetary value fall under the category of economic damages (also known as special damages). These damages include documented bills and expenses that you’ve incurred as a result of your accident.

Economic damages can include:

Assisted living costs
Hospice care
Lost wages
Medical expenses (including all doctor’s visits, hospital stays, medications, surgeries, ongoing and future treatment related to your car accident)
Property repair and replacement costs (vehicle repairs or replacement costs incurred as a direct or indirect result of your accident)
Rehabilitation facility costs
Transportation (Car rentals, public transportation, and ride share services)

Non-Economic Damages

No money can make up for the immeasurable losses your car accident has caused. However, non-economic compensatory damages (also known as general damages) can help alleviate your financial stress and allow you to focus on your recovery and getting back to a normal daily routine.

These damages cover the losses, such as pain and suffering, that you’ve experienced but that do not necessarily have a set monetary value. Forensic experts, doctors, employers, family, and friends might also testify to the impact your accident has had on your life and strengthen your claim for non-economic damages.

The legal system understands that your non-economic losses cannot be fully covered or healed to recognize that these losses cannot be healed or justified, but recognizes how crucial it is that you see justice for the trauma you’ve suffered.

Non-economic damages can include (but aren’t limited to):

Chronic pain
Disfigurement
Emotional distress
Loss of consortium
Mental anguish
Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Wrongful death

Punitive Damages

Georgia state code § 51-12-5.1 defines punitive damages as “vindictive damages,” and that is an accurate description of what these damages signify. A judge or jury may include punitive damages as an award additional to the compensatory request of a plaintiff.

Punitive damages are used as a consequence for a defendant’s grossly negligent actions, and are meant to act as a future deterrent for other drivers. For example, if a drunk, speeding driver collides with your car and causes you to suffer severe injuries, you may be awarded punitive damages.

In Georgia, a plaintiff receives 25% of a punitive damages award and 75% is automatically transferred to the Georgia state treasury.

Georgia car accident laws you should know

Statute of Limitations

Like many other states, Georgia has a statute of limitations in place for personal injury claims. State code § 9-3-33 requires you to file a claim for your Augusta car accident within two years of the date of the accident. However, this time limit may be extended to four years if you can prove you’ve experienced a loss of consortium (intimacy and companionship) due to your accident.

The state’s statute of limitations law protects plaintiffs from having to file too quickly and protects defendants from frivolous and old claims.

Comparative Fault

Georgia is one of a dozen U.S. states that uses comparative fault as a factor in all car accident cases. Georgia state law §51-12-33 mandates that plaintiffs who hold some fault for their accident may not seek a full compensatory amount from a defendant.

For example, if you’re more than 50% at fault for your car accident, you will not have legal recourse to compensation. If you’re found to hold 0%-50% of fault for your collision, your compensation may be decreased. However, when you hold no fault in your accident, you can seek full compensation.

A car accident lawyer in Augusta from The Scott Pryor Law Group can advise you on whether or not you may be found partially liable for your crash, and you can then make an informed decision about your next steps.

How The Scott Pryor Law Group can help

An Augusta car accident lawyer at The Scott Pryor Law Group understands that you’ve experienced unique trauma and will compassionately listen to your story in order to offer sound legal advice.

You shouldn’t have to walk this path alone — let us help you find the justice you deserve and advocate for you in the legal process. You need to focus on your healing and moving forward with the rest of your life. You’re not just another case number to us : We’re passionate about supporting you on the road to just compensation.

We can’t guarantee a successful verdict, but we’ve won 7-figure settlements for many clients. The legal help you need is just a step away. Schedule your free consultation with The Scott Pryor Law Group today!