Assisting Accident Victims in Atlanta with Recovering Monetary Compensation for Their Personal Injuries
Almost nothing can turn your day upside down more quickly than a car accident—and Atlanta’s busy streets provide constant opportunities for them. Whether cars are rocketing down the six jammed interstates or across town on the stop-and-go streets like Peachtree Road, Roswell Road, Buford Highway, and the Tom Moreland Interchange, accidents are around every corner.
The injuries and property damage caused by a negligent driver can have serious effects that alter your health, employment, and relationships. Every time we leave home to travel around Atlanta — whether as a pedestrian, cyclist, or driver — we put ourselves at risk of encountering a negligent driver.
Negligent drivers are all over Atlanta, but that doesn’t mean you should have to suffer the consequences of another person’s bad actions. If someone else was responsible for the accident, they are responsible for your injuries!
Don’t settle for less than you deserve. Stewart J. Guss and his team work with clients throughout Atlanta and the surrounding area to secure the recovery they deserve. Contact us today for a free and immediate case consultation with our dedicated Atlanta car accident lawyers.
We are a national law firm with multiple offices around the country, including Atlanta. We also work with affiliate law firms in most states that share our focus and dedication to excellence. No matter where you are located, we may be able to help you, so call or contact us now. We are open, for FREE, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at 800-898-4877, or you may contact us now by CLICKING HERE to submit your case for review.
Stewart J. Guss, Injury Accident Lawyers, Get Results
Stewart J. Guss and his team are experienced attorneys with a long history of securing results for car accident clients.
Consider some of our past testimonials from clients:
- “We received QUALITY service, reliable guidance and we are VERY satisfied with the outcome.”
- “Honest, trustworthy, informative, to the point and passionate about doing things right!”
- “Mr. Guss and his team significantly exceeded my expectations and the net settlement I received was more than triple what I had anticipated.”
- “Stewart is everything I could have hoped for in an attorney.”
While there is no guarantee of recovery in any case, we can, however, guarantee that our team will serve as zealous advocates on behalf of every one of our clients.
If you’re an Atlantan in need of passionate, capable representation following a car accident, Stewart J. Guss, Injury Accident Lawyers, have your back!
Car Accidents in Atlanta
Injuries from car accidents are unfortunately common in the United States, and Atlanta is no exception.
There are approximately 2.35 million injuries and more than 37,000 fatalities in the country each year due to car accidents. Dealing with the aftermath of a car accident also creates a huge financial impact, to the tune of over $230 billion per year.
Georgia is a significant contributor to national car accident statistics. Georgia is the 14th most deadly state for car accidents, and more than 1,500 people died on Georgia’s roads in just one recent year alone. Fulton County averages over 50,000 total crashes per year and more than 15,000 injuries. Two of the most common contributing causes for traffic-related fatalities in Georgia are speeding and alcohol-impaired driving.
In the Atlanta area alone, more than 100,000 crashes take place each year, causing 34,000 injuries, about 1,500 of them serious and almost 70 of them deadly.
The Painful Results of Car Accidents
Not only are car accidents all too common, but they often result in painful, life-altering injuries for victims.
The following injuries are common occurrences after a car accident:
- Head injuries: If your head makes contact with any part of the car, you could suffer from a concussion, a skull fracture, or lacerations. Head injuries are much less likely when the occupant is wearing a seatbelt.
- Brain damage: External head injuries are not the only risk if your head strikes the vehicle. You are also at risk for a traumatic brain injury (TBI). A TBI can result in irreversible brain damage that disrupts the brain’s normal functioning. Victims could find themselves with physical or cognitive disabilities, comatose, or in a vegetative state.
- Spinal injuries: The spinal cord allows the brain to communicate with the body, so any injury to the spinal cord has the potential to be life-altering. If the spinal cord is severed or fractured, it can result in symptoms ranging from numbness to muscle weakness to paralysis. The victim may have changes to their senses or lose the ability to control certain bodily functions.
- Neck and back injuries: Any injury to the neck or back can result in lifelong pain. Sufferers of these injuries often require constant physical therapy and rehabilitation, and find they can’t participate in certain activities they previously enjoyed.
- Internal injuries: Any blow to the body has the potential to cause internal damage to organs, including the heart, lungs, kidney, and liver. Damage to internal organs can be incredibly dangerous but are also difficult to detect. This is why it’s imperative to be examined by a doctor after a car crash.
- Broken bones and fractures: Some broken bones heal quickly and only disrupt your life for a few months. Others are very serious and require surgery and long-term rehabilitation.
- Dental and facial injuries: If your face strikes any surface, like a steering wheel, your facial bones and teeth are susceptible to injury, including cracked or chipped teeth or damage to your jaw. Depending on the extent of the damage, facial reconstruction surgery might be necessary.
- Cuts, bruises, sprains: These injuries may seem minor, but they can still seriously disrupt your way of life. These injuries can limit your ability to perform regular tasks and impede your range of motion. If you work a physical job, you might not be able to complete your required job responsibilities.
No matter the extent of your injuries, you shouldn’t be responsible for them by yourself! We work with our clients to relieve some of the burden created by their injuries by developing a strong case for recovery against the responsible party.
Determining Responsibility
If another person acted negligently or willfully to cause the accident and your injuries, you deserve to recover! Our team works with our clients to analyze the unique facts and circumstances of each case. We compile evidence and evaluate the strength of the case, then prepare to fight for our clients. The first step on this road to justice is identifying which parties acted negligently.
Negligent Drivers
If another driver acted negligently, causing the crash, they are responsible for your injuries! A driver is negligent when they act outside a reasonable standard of care. For drivers, traffic laws and regulations generally define this standard of care. Failure to comply with a traffic law or regulation is strong evidence of negligence. This includes actions like running red lights, distracted driving, and failure to yield. It also includes two of the most common causes of Georgia traffic accidents—driving under the influence and speeding.
We help our clients compile evidence of driver negligence to ensure a strong case for recovery.
Local Government
It is the responsibility of the local government to maintain road and traffic signals. If poorly maintained roads or malfunctioning traffic signals are the cause of the accident, the local government is responsible for these negligent actions.
Securing recovery from the government, however, can be incredibly complicated. Governmental entities are often protected from civil lawsuits and recovery amounts are capped. We work with our clients to determine whether recovery from the government is possible and, if so, help them jump through the bureaucratic hoops.
Vehicle Manufacturer
Vehicle manufacturers have an obligation to sufficiently test and ensure proper functioning before the sale of a vehicle. Failure to perform proper testing or production of shoddy or malfunctioning products is a negligent act on the part of the manufacturer. If the investigation uncovers negligence on the part of the manufacturer that contributed to the accident, you can pursue a product liability case. Common vehicle issues include brake malfunction, engine issues, and issues with wheels or tires.
Analyzing the function of the vehicle and discovering any faulty parts is complicated. It often involves input from an expert. We help our clients coordinate this analysis, including bringing in experts to help them.
Securing Compensation for Your Injuries
You deserve to be fully compensated for all of your injuries. Many people make the mistake of only including their medical costs in a damages demand. Be sure to think more holistically about the ways you have suffered. Any negative impact your injuries have had on your life should be included in your damages demand.
Consider all the following damages when preparing a car accident claim:
- Medical expenses: Include all medical expenses, including doctors’ visits, hospital stays, medicine, and emergency transportation. If your injuries require long-term care like physical therapy or an in-home nurse, work with your attorney and a medical expert to estimate those costs.
- Lost income: Many injuries require the victim to miss work or work a reduced schedule, affecting their wages or salary. The defendant or their insurance responsible is responsible for this lost money. If your injuries affect your ability to work in the future, your attorney can work with an economist to estimate your future lost earning potential as well.
- Property damage: If your vehicle or other property was damaged or destroyed in the accident, the defendant is responsible for repair or replacement.
- Emotional distress: Many accident victims suffer from emotional distress, including anxiety, depression, or PTSD—either from the trauma associated with the accident or the disruption to their way of life from their injuries. Your trauma is valid, and you deserve compensation for this distress.
- Loss of enjoyment: Many injuries limit the victim’s ability to perform activities that were once a meaningful part of their life, like sports or playing a musical instrument. If you have suffered such a loss, include it in your damages demand.
You might have also heard of punitive damages, which are meant to punish the defendant rather than compensate the plaintiff for any injury. Georgia limits recovery of these damages to instances where the defendant acted willfully or with malice, fraud, wantonness, oppression, or conscious indifference to the consequences of their actions. An attorney can evaluate whether your case warrants a request for punitive damages.
Take Steps to Protect Your Case
The most important thing to do after an accident is to take care of your health and safety. Be sure to get immediate medical attention. Many car accident injuries can go unnoticed and become increasingly serious over time. Additionally, delaying your treatment allows the defendant to argue that the severity of the injury “wasn’t that bad” or was your own fault.
Once you have taken care of your health, keep the following steps in mind as well:
- Call the police. A police report is an important piece of evidence in your case. The report will include photographic evidence of the scene, witness contact information, witness reports, and any citations issued at the scene of the accident. A citation against the defendant for failure to comply with any traffic laws is strong evidence of their negligence. If you can’t get a police report, be sure to document the scene yourself by taking plenty of photos and collect witness information.
- Stay quiet. It might be tempting to speak publicly or on social media about the accident. Avoid doing this! Any statement you make could be used against you. Also, be cautious about posting on social media until the trial is resolved. For example, if you are claiming that your injuries have left you unable to stand for long periods but you post photos of yourself on a hike, this will seriously undermine your claim.
- Keep track of documents. You will receive huge volumes of paperwork throughout your recovery and your case. These documents will include medical records, bills, insurance communications, and many other relevant documents. It might be tempting to push these aside, but all this paperwork is important evidence. Work with your attorney to understand what paperwork you need to keep and what value it adds to your case.
- Act quickly. Filing a lawsuit might be the last thing on your mind after the accident. While you have some time to take care of yourself and recover, do not delay in taking legal action! In Georgia, a car accident victim has two years to file a lawsuit. You will need this time to investigate, compile evidence, prepare a damages demand, and file court documents.
- Don’t settle prematurely. While you are preparing for trial, the defendant and their insurance company will likely make one or more settlement offers. We know it’s tempting to scoop up the first offer and get some money to put towards your expenses. Evaluate any settlement offer carefully. The first offer is likely to be much lower than your claim is truly worth. A lawyer can help analyze any settlement offer.
Managing injuries is stressful, and preparing to take legal action at the same time is overwhelming. But help is available. You can find a trustworthy lawyer to guide you through this stressful time, right here at Stewart J. Guss, Injury Accident Lawyers.
Stewart J. Guss, Injury Accident Lawyers, Is Here to Help
Stewart J. Guss, Injury Accident Lawyers, and his team of highly qualified professionals strive to bring their best to their clients’ cases every day. With a focus on advocacy, communication, and compassion, we work to secure the best possible results for the Atlanta community.
The legal team of Stewart J. Guss, Injury Accident Lawyers, is nationally recognized for protecting the rights of injured victims for more than 20 years. If you were injured in an Atlanta car accident, call our office right now for a free consultation! Because we take all of our personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, you will not owe us a DIME unless we win your case. We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so call us today at 800-898-4877 or contact us now by CLICKING HERE today for an on-the-spot free consultation.
See what past clients have to say:
Review: 5/5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
“We received QUALITY service, reliable guidance and we are VERY satisfied with the outcome. Our treatment was both fair & honest; we highly recommend. If one word sums it up, the word would be Exceptional. “Thank you” for all you did!”
-Jeri B.
