Car Accident Lawyer in Gwinnett County, GA Making a Difference for Car Accident Victims Throughout Georgia

A quick moment in time, a sudden slamming of the brakes or a loud blare of a horn can be all the time you have to prepare yourself in the event of a car accident. Even though these incidents can be sudden and occur out of nowhere, the consequences can last for a lifetime.

Accidents that appear relatively minor can still have a devastating effect on your future, and it is not uncommon for car accident victims in Peachtree Corners and throughout Gwinnett County to require thousands of dollars in medical care and to miss weeks of time at work. All at-fault drivers have an obligation to provide compensation for these losses, but obtaining full payments for your injuries can be difficult.

A personal injury lawsuit can be an effective way to recover the money you need and deserve following a car accident. The Peachtree Corners car accident lawyer at Scott A. Pryor, Attorney at Law, LLC has helped many people in your situation obtain the compensation they needed to move on with their lives after being seriously injured due to another person’s negligence.

A Gwinnett County car accident lawyer may be able to help you to collect the compensation needed to set things right. Once retained, a dedicated personal injury attorney could work to conduct their own investigation into the incident, represent your interests in settlement talks, and file complaints in court to help you pursue the payments that you deserve. For a free consultation, call our Gwinett County personal injury law firm at (404) 474-7122 and get the dedicated and compassionate representation you deserve.

How Do Most Car Accidents Happen?

In general, most car accidents happen due to four main reasons: distracted driving, drunk driving, speeding, and poor road conditions.

Distracted driving is any activity that diverts attention from operating a vehicle. This can include talking or texting on your phone, eating and drinking, talking to passengers, grooming, using a navigation system, and anything else that takes your focus off of the task of safe driving. Because of the many distractions on the road, including cell phone use, distracted driving can be as dangerous or even more dangerous than drunk driving.

Drunk driving is slang for operating a motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol or drugs. It is illegal in all 50 states to operate a vehicle with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08% or higher. If you are caught driving drunk, you could face severe penalties including jail time, loss of your driver’s license, and expensive fines. In addition to the legal consequences, drunk driving can also lead to devastating car accidents. Drunk drivers are more likely to make poor decisions, drive recklessly, and have slower reflexes than sober drivers.

Speeding is one of the most common causes of car accidents. Speeding makes it more difficult to control your vehicle, increases your stopping distance, and makes it more likely that you’ll lose control of your car in an emergency situation. Speeding also increases the severity of any accidents that do occur due to the force of the potential collision. Speeding, in conjunction with distracted driving or drunk driving, can have fatal consequences.

Poor road conditions are another leading cause of car accidents. Poorly maintained roads can lead to potholes, cracks, and other hazards that can damage your vehicle or cause you to lose control. Poor visibility due to bad weather can also make it more difficult to see and avoid hazards on the road. When a negligent driver drives recklessly while conditions for driving are already poor, it can cause catastrophic injuries in a car crash.

No matter how your car wreck occurred, Gwinnett County car accident lawyers can work to assess your situation. Our lead attorney Scott A. Pryor has handled many Gwinnett County car accidents. Our team can help you from filing your initial car accident claim to negotiating with the insurance company and getting you the best possible results.

When Is Another Driver At-Fault?

As a general rule, a driver who violates a rule of the road—for example, by speeding, failing to yield when required, running a stop sign, or texting while driving—and is involved in an accident is at fault for that accident. Producing evidence that a police officer issued a ticket to the defendant can serve as powerful evidence that this driver is at fault for the accident.

Other cases are more complex. In most claims, in fact, both involved parties share at least some of the blame. Still, if a defendant is 50 percent or more at fault, that defendant may be held liable to pay.

According to the Official Code of Georgia §51-12-33, a jury may apportion blame to all parties involved in an accident and would reduce the compensation awarded to the plaintiff by their percentage of fault for the accident. Further, plaintiffs in Peachtree Corners who are more than 50 percent at fault cannot collect compensation at all. A Gwinnett County car accident attorney could work on a plaintiff’s behalf to maximize the defendant’s fault for an accident in the eyes of a civil court.

What are Compensable Car Accident Injuries in a Car Accident Case?

All car accidents, even those at low speeds, can inflict serious damage on those involved. Indeed, while an accident may destroy a plaintiff’s property and cause severe mental strain, a case cannot progress without a physical injury. These typically include:

• Neck or back strains: Also called “whiplash,” these injuries are common in rear-end collisions. The force of the impact causes the victim’s head to jolt forward or back, straining the muscles and tissues in the neck.

• Broken bones: A car accident can cause any bone in the human body to break. These injuries typically occur when a victim is ejected from their vehicle or crushed by debris.

• Lacerations: Cuts and lacerations are some of the most common injuries seen after an accident. These can be caused by shattered glass, sharp metal, or other debris flying through the air during a collision.

• Internal bleeding: If an object pierces the skin during an accident, it can cause internal bleeding. This is a serious condition that can require surgery and hospitalization.

• Separated joints: A joint may become separated when the ligaments that hold it in place are stretched or torn. This is a common injury in car accidents, especially those involving a side-impact collision.

• Concussions: A concussion is a type of brain injury that can occur when the head is violently jarred. It can cause temporary or even permanent problems with cognition, memory, and balance.

• Broken Vertebrae: The vertebrae are the bones that make up the spine. A broken vertebra can cause severe pain and may even result in paralysis.

These are only some of the injuries that can be caused by a car accident. If you have been in an accident, it is important to see a doctor as soon as possible, even if you do not think you were injured. Some injuries, such as concussions, may not present symptoms immediately. A delay in treatment could adversely affect your health and complicate your legal case.

Any car accident case in Gwinnett County should demand payment for all medical costs, but that is not the totality of compensation that a plaintiff may demand. A car accident could affect every portion of a plaintiff’s life, and their claim should reflect this fact.

For instance, many plaintiffs suffer mental anguish in addition to physical harm, so a claim could demand payments to make up for this loss of quality of life. The same plaintiffs may miss significant time at work either to attend doctor appointments or due to temporary disability. A qualified car accident lawyer in Gwinnett County could help evaluate a person’s losses and demand appropriate compensation.

What Are The Long-Term Effects of a Car Accident?

While some car accident injuries may heal completely, others can have long-lasting effects. These “hidden” injuries may not be immediately apparent after an accident and can cause problems months or even years down the road. Common long-term effects of car accidents include:

• Chronic pain: Injuries to the back, neck, and joints can cause chronic pain that lasts for years. This pain may make it difficult to work, enjoy hobbies, or even perform basic activities of daily living.

• Mental health problems: The mental anguish caused by a car accident can be just as debilitating as physical injuries. Many accident victims suffer from anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These conditions can make it difficult to interact with others, concentrate at work, or even leave the house.

• Disability: Some car accident injuries result in permanent disability. This could mean the loss of a limb, paralysis, or brain damage. A disabled victim may be unable to work or take care of themselves, requiring lifelong assistance.

How Much Compensation Am I Entitled To?

The amount of compensation you are entitled to depends on the severity of your injuries. If you have suffered minor injuries, you may be able to claim for things like loss of earnings and medical expenses. However, if you have suffered more serious injuries, such as a broken bone or spinal cord damage, you may be entitled to much higher levels of compensation. In general, your compensation will be determined by how much financial and emotional damage your injuries caused you. This includes lost wages, medical expenses, pain and suffering, mental anguish, and more. A knowledgeable Peachtree Corners car accident lawyer could help an injured victim recover damages for any of these injuries.

A Gwinnett County Car Accident Attorney May be Able to Help

Not all car accident attorneys are the same. Likewise, not all car accident claims are identical. Because of this, Gwinnett County car crashes can be much more complicated to handle without experienced help. Our Georgia personal injury law firm can help motor vehicle accident victims recover damages for medical bills, future medical bills, lost income, and more. We can utilize evidence that is present as well as secure and develop new evidence to support your claim. Our Georgia personal injury lawyer Scott Pryor understands how to negotiate with insurance companies and can even take your case to trial if necessary.

We understand that no two clients are the same. We will tailor our representation to fit your individual needs and goals. Whether you want to settle out of court or take your chances at trial, we will be there for you every step of the way.

A car accident can have a profound impact on your life, including the infliction of physical harm, the loss of income, and the loss of quality of life. Negligent drivers are responsible for compensation for all damage they cause you to suffer, but proving the defendant’s negligence can be difficult. Even if a defendant’s insurance company admits fault, they may argue that you were partially responsible for the incident, which can limit the payments that they offer in settlements.

A Gwinnett County car accident lawyer could work on your behalf to prove that a defendant was totally at fault for an accident and seek full restitution for all your damages and losses. There is a limited time to file a claim, so do not hesitate— let a seasoned attorney fight for you today. For a free consultation, call our Gwinett County personal injury law firm at (404) 474-7122 and get the dedicated and compassionate representation you deserve.