Marietta Car Accidents Attorney
In 2017, Cobb County saw 35,140 car crashes, causing 12,496 injuries and 53 fatalities. The total amount of accidents and injuries is climbing every year, due at least in part to the rise in distracted driving car accidents. Whether caused by speeding, drunk driving, texting while driving, or some other form of negligence, car accident victims are entitled to recover compensation for their injuries from the negligent drivers who hit them. Getting a full and fair amount out of the negligent drivers and their insurance companies can be an uphill battle; a skilled and experienced car accident lawyer is key to your success. Marietta car accident attorney Ryan T. Strickland has proven himself time and again as a tireless advocate for injury victims who achieves excellent results in or out of the courtroom. Learn more about car accidents in Georgia below, and call The Strickland Firm for a free consultation and immediate help with a Marietta car accident claim.
What is the role of insurance in a Marietta car accident?
Georgia law requires all drivers to carry liability insurance that will pay accident victims for their injuries if the driver causes a crash. The minimum requirements for liability insurance are $25,000 for personal injury to one person, $50,000 if more than one person is injured, and $25,000 for property damage. These minimum amounts are enough to cover most crashes, but if the injuries are severe or if multiple people are injured, these minimum amounts may not be enough. Drivers with personal assets they wish to protect from lawsuits and judgments should consider carrying more than just the minimum amounts of coverage.
After a crash, an injury victim will typically file an insurance claim, either against the at-fault driver or, if that driver is uninsured, against the victim’s own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage. Uninsured motorist and underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage comes with your liability insurance for an added fee. It pays your damages if the at-fault driver is uninsured or if their minimum amount of coverage is insufficient to cover all of your costs. Some people specifically reject UM coverage in writing to save a few dollars on their premium. However, given the fact that more one in ten Georgia drivers are uninsured, we recommend drivers pay the relatively small amount to keep UM/UIM coverage on their policy.
Why do I need a lawyer to file a car accident insurance claim?
Insurance companies make it seem like making a claim is simply a matter of one quick phone call, but actually getting all the compensation you need after a severe accident is never simple. First, you have to convince the insurance company the accident was their insured’s fault. They, in turn, may say the accident was your fault, forcing you to prove the other driver’s negligence. They may also claim that both parties were at fault, which can be very dangerous to your claim. Not only does allocating some of the blame for the accident to you reduce the amount of damages you can recover, if you are considered to be 50% or more at fault, then you aren’t owed any recovery at all. Our job at The Strickland Firm includes proving the full extent of the other party’s negligence while also defending you against unfair accusations that you were negligent as well.
Even if you establish the other driver’s liability or the insurance company admits it, they will likely still battle you over the amount they owe. They’ll say your injuries aren’t very severe, or the crash wasn’t forceful enough to cause the injuries you claim. Again, it’s up to you to prove the extent of your damage and demonstrate how it was caused by the other driver’s negligence. These are difficult matters that require the skill and judgment of an experienced Georgia car accident lawyer.
If you don’t have an attorney representing you, be assured that any amount the insurance company offers is far less than what your claim is actually worth. With The Strickland Firm on your side, you don’t have to worry about whether you are getting all you should. We’ll only recommend a settlement that meets your needs, and we are willing and able to take your case to court if necessary.
Call The Strickland Firm after a Marietta Car Accident Injury
For help after a Marietta car accident, call The Strickland Firm at 770-420-9900 for a free consultation on your claim. You never pay a fee unless and until our Marietta car accident attorney recovers for you.
