Atlanta Car Accident Lawyer
The Law Offices of Andrew E. Goldner’s Atlanta, GA car accident attorneys handle a variety of car accidents cases related to negligent or reckless driving.
A staggering amount of Atlanta car accidents happen every day, but most of us assume that we will never be the victim of a serious vehicle crash. If a car accident has caught you or a loved one off guard and resulted in medical bills, surgery, or other major issues, our Atlanta car accident lawyer, Andrew E. Goldner, is ready to review your case for free today. We understand what it takes to get car accident victims the money that they deserve after a collision.
Even a seemingly minor auto accident can have profound effects on your life. You could suddenly be without a car, which could hinder your ability to work. Even in instances such as this, an Atlanta non-injury car accident attorney can help.
You could also suffer from injuries with pain after a car wreck that keep you in the hospital, racking up medical bills. And often, it’s not just you that’s affected. Your family could also suffer because of the actions of another driver or business.
Andrew E. Goldner, your Atlanta car accident attorney, knows what it takes to get you the compensation you deserve after an Atlanta vehicle accident. You may be entitled to damages for:
- Lost wages
- Damage to your vehicle and other property
- Past and future medical bills
- Pain and suffering, mental anguish, etc.
- Future medical costs
- And more
Call Andrew E. Goldner, your Atlanta car accident lawyer today at (404) 869-1580 for your FREE consultation.
Don’t Trust the Insurance Company
After your car accident, an insurer may present some paperwork for you to sign in exchange for a settlement check. DON’T SIGN ANYTHING until you speak with an experienced Atlanta car accident attorney. Insurance companies are in the business of making money and not of getting you the car accident compensation you deserve. So, they have a motivation to low-ball your car accident settlement offer in hopes of paying out as little as possible.
Andrew E. Goldner has fought insurance companies in and out of court to get his clients the best settlements and results possible. Even if the offer you get from your insurer seems reasonable, it’s a wise move to have it reviewed by an Atlanta auto accident attorney; once you accept that settlement, it’s virtually impossible to take further legal action related to your car wreck. Plus, your consultation is free, so you don’t risk anything by speaking with an Atlanta car accident lawyer before signing paperwork.
Our Atlanta Car Accident Lawyer Is Ready to Get to Work
At the Law Offices of Andrew E. Goldner, our Atlanta car accident attorneys know how much is on the line after a car accident. We will do everything we can to improve your chances of recovering every penny that you deserve, and securing a settlement amount that addresses all of your losses, past, present, and and future.
We will also make sure that your claim is filed within the statute of limitations, and that an insurance adjuster does not get away with lowballing a settlement offer. We have the resources necessary to investigate your accident, prove liability, organize your medical bills, file your claim, and negotiate on your behalf. If need be, we also will be prepared to take your case to court.
Car and Auto Accident Frequently Asked Questions
Trying to figure out what your next step is after a car accident in Atlanta can be confusing, to say the least. Suddenly, you’re dealing with a damaged car, medical expenses, and more. You may have quite a few questions, and we’re here to help. Call us today at (404) 869-1580 to schedule a free consultation. In the meantime, here are some of the most frequently-asked questions regarding car accidents in Atlanta:
After you leave the scene of your car accident, seek medical attention for your injury as soon as possible. Even seemingly minor injuries need to be evaluated by a trained medical professional. If you plan to file a personal injury claim, you will need to submit evidence with your claim to demonstrate that you suffered an injury because of the negligent party’s actions. Documentation showing that you sought medical care soon after the accident will support your claim.
If another party caused or contributed to your car accident, you have the right to hold them liable for the losses you incur due to your injuries and vehicle damage. Unless the party voluntarily admits fault, you will need to show that the party acted in a negligent manner in order to obtain compensation. Negligence can come in many forms and different parties can be negligent. The following are some examples of parties that are commonly held liable in Atlanta car accident cases:
Other drivers. The majority of car accident claims are filed against other drivers for negligent actions and inactions on the roads. Drivers are negligent when they fail to operate their vehicles in a reasonably safe manner based upon the roadway and weather conditions. Examples of negligent driving include: drunk driving, distracted driving, fatigued driving, violating traffic laws, aggressive driving, and other dangerous behaviors.
Car manufacturers. Auto companies have the duty to make cars that will be safe for consumers to drive. However, cars often make it onto the market with defective brakes, airbags, accelerators, ignition switches, tires, and other faulty components. When these defective parts malfunction, drivers can lose control of their vehicles and crash. In this situation, the car manufacturer that sold the defective car can be held liable.
Businesses. Employers, both large and small, are responsible for the conduct of their employees, including drivers. Our law firm has recovered millions of dollars for seriously injured clients as a result of pursuing claims against corporations, partnerships, companies, and other business entities when their drivers cause car accidents. Georgia law holds that when someone is doing an errand for a business, or otherwise driving within the course and scope of his or her employment, the business can be held liable for any accidents that occur during this time. Most businesses carry a substantial amount of liability insurance which covers negligence by their employees.
Municipalities. Roads should be properly inspected and maintained by the local or state government, depending on the particular road or highway. If the government, or a contractor hired by the government to perform road work, does not adequately take care of the roads and allows hazards to persist without properly warning drivers, such hazards can lead to collisions. If you crashed because of a pothole, uneven pavement, dangerous intersection or turn, malfunctioning traffic signal, or another roady defect-related reason, the government or a contractor may be at fault.
An Atlanta Car accident attorney can help you negotiate a fair settlement if possible, or pursue claims through trial, if necessary. If an insurance settlement offer will not cover your damages, you have the right to seek recovery by filing a claim for personal injury in civil court. This is a complex process and it is important to have the guidance of an experienced attorney throughout your car accident case.
When a person is involved in a car accident, they usually experience a myriad of losses. Of course, the more serious the car accident is – usually a result of a combination of vehicle positioning and speed – the more serious the losses. Some of the most common damages that car accident victims incur include:
Painful injuries and disability. The injuries that a person sustains in a car accident are often serious, painful, and result in a long-term disability or impairment. Even an injury such as a broken leg – which is far less serious than, for example, a spinal cord injury resulting in paralysis – can take months to heal, and even years for a person to be able to fully return to the things that they were once able to do.
Medical bills. In order to treat injuries, professional medical care is a necessity. However, medical care in Atlanta is expensive; a person may incur hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of medicals bills from hospital stays, medications, doctors’ appointments, surgery, consultations with specialists, physical therapy, and more.
Lost wages. If a person is injured and she cannot return to work, she will have to cope with the fact that she will also be unable to earn a salary. While some people may be able to return to work in a few days time or a few weeks time, other people may miss work for months or years, and some people will be permanently unable to earn an income again.
Psychological injuries. Being in a car accident doesn’t just take a toll on a body physically; it can also cause psychological injuries as well. The emotional anguish associated with injuries, immobility, and the inability to earn an income is very real, and may lead to anxiety, depression, or posttraumatic stress disorder.
After a car accident, you have a number of rights and responsibilities. Your responsibilities include:
- The responsibility to seek medical care for your injuries;
- The responsibility to report the car accident to the police; and,
- The responsibility to report the car accident to your insurance company.
All three of these things are very important; if you do not do them, you may jeopardize your chances of recovering compensation. Your rights include:
- The right to refrain from giving your insurance company a recorded statement;
- The right to seek damages by filing a car insurance claim or a car accident lawsuit; and
- Your right to reject a first settlement offer and negotiate for a higher amount.
You also have the right to work with a competent Atlanta personal injury attorney who can guide you through the claims process and advocate for you every step of the way.
If you suffered an injury or lost a loved one in a car accident, you need to demonstrate the following in order to recover compensation for your damages related to the injury or death:
The specific damages that you suffered. These could be your medical bills, your lost wages, your psychological damages, or the loss of the deceased victim’s earnings, benefits, and contributions to your household. These damages should be itemized and supported alongside the other pieces of evidence to support your claim;
The cause of the injury or death. In the case of an injury or death caused by a car accident, you will need to demonstrate how the accident occurred and how it directly caused the injury that eventually led to the death. Evidence to support this portion of your claim may include video surveillance that captured the accident, photographs of the accident, and the official police report for the accident. If the accident was due to a vehicular malfunction, documentation showing the faulty or defective part is an important piece of supporting evidence;
The connection between the accident and your damages. Simply showing that you were in an accident and that you are now facing high medical bills is not enough to show the causation between the two events. You must have evidence to show that the specific injury caused you to face the expenses you are now paying, such as the need for physical therapy due to a broken leg that you would not have had if you had not been in an accident.
Your doctor’s diagnosis, treatment plan, and specific testimony about the injury and your prognosis can support this part of your claim. If you cannot work or if you can only perform limited job duties and thus cannot earn your full wage because of your injury, documentation showing the difference in your earnings or earning capacity must be submitted alongside a claim for compensation for lost wages.
The at-fault party’s negligence. You must show that if the at-fault party was negligent in order to connect the resulting accident to your damages. Evidence to demonstrate his or her negligence can include phone records showing that he or she was distracted when the accident occurred, the results of a Breathalyzer showing that he or she was intoxicated when the accident occurred, the police report showing that he or she violated a traffic law when the accident occurred, and even the photographic, video, and testimonial evidence to support your claim that he or she violated his or her duty to others when the accident occurred.
Distracted Driving Causing Atlanta Car Accidents
In the city of Atlanta, an auto accident caused by distracted driving is a very real problem. A person who does not have their full attention on the road is at a high risk for causing an accident that can cause severe injury. When a person is found to have been driving while distracted and causes an auto accident injury, they can be held legally liable to compensating the victims of that auto accident (O.C.G.A. Title 9).
There are many types of distracted driving. Many people believe that the biggest problem in a vehicle is the cell phone, and this may be the case. Georgia’s hands-free cell phone law (O.C.G.A. § 40-6-241) forbids making any contact or use of electronic devices, with very few exceptions.
Unfortunately, phones are not the only case of distracted driving. Eating, drinking, grooming and texting behind the wheel are all distracting. So are loose pets in the vehicle and children fighting in the back seat. In fact, anything that takes someone’s attention off of the primary task of driving can be considered a distraction.
An auto accident can happen in the blink of an eye. A person, when distracted and traveling at highway speeds, can travel the length of a football field or more without their attention on the road. Traveling this distance without focus can be incredibly dangerous.
If you have been involved in an accident in Atlanta that can be attributed to a distracted driver, you may have a case for personal injury. Reach out to an experienced car accident attorney for assistance in determining what you may be entitled to under state law. You may be entitled to compensation for injuries, property damage and more.
Andrew E. Goldner, your dedicated Atlanta car accident lawyer, has helped auto accident victims whose losses total more than $1,000,000 recover the car accident compensation that they so desperately needed. If your future is on the line, do not try to go at it alone — work with our Atlanta auto accident attorneys. You can reach us today for a free case consultation by calling our offices directly at (404) 869-1580, or by filling out our online contact form.
Client Reviews
By: Theresa M
I lost the most precious gift given to me Tuesday, March 16, 2010 my son who was 18 years old in a tragic car accident. I was introduced to Andy through a mutual associate, upon meeting Andy Goldner I immediately felt that he would be an advocate for any client he represented. My suspected feeling proved to be correct, on what initially seemed to be an open and shut legal matter turned into something that took great tact and finesse by Andy and his associates. He worked diligently to see the case through and was available to answer any questions and ease any concerns I had about my case. He is truly an attorney who is a pit bull fighting on his clients behalf, while being a gentle giant when dealing with his clients. Anyone who is fortunate enough to have Andy Goldner as their attorney is definitely in good and well represented hands.
Law Offices of Andrew Goldner, LLC
Phone: (404) 869-1580
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Atlanta Car Accident Causes
Car accidents killed killed 1,430 people in Georgia in 2016 and caused 19,405 serious injuries. They happen quickly, they happen often, and they have tragic consequences. While there are many things that cause car accidents, and many of which are sadly preventable, the number one cause of car accidents is distracted driving. Drivers who multi-task behind the wheel, eating lunch in one hand, texting in the other, adjusting the radio, or talking on the phone cannot pay as much attention to the road as they need to.
Speeding is another common cause for car accidents which result in death because when cars travel at higher speeds, a collision is more deadly. Therefore, a higher percentage of car accidents that involve speeding drivers end in death compared to accidents where drivers were not speeding.
Drunk driving is another preventable cause of car accidents that takes innocent lives every year. Alcohol impairs our ability to use the motor skills we need to drive a car competently, and impairs our ability to make the rational decisions required to drive on shared roads. These top three car accident causes can easily be avoided with intentional, careful driving.
An Atlanta car accident lawyer can provide more information about your legal rights if you’ve been involved in a auto accident.
The state’s new hands-free law, called The Hands-Free Georgia Act (O.C.G.A. § 40-6-241), took effect on July 1, 2018. Chances are that you’ve at least heard of the law even if you don’t know exactly what it mandates.
To help you better understand what is now considered illegal and to keep you on the right side of the law, we’ve put together a quick guide to what can be found on the books. Here’s what you need to know.
Atlanta’s Guide To New Hands-Free Law
FAST FACTS
- Georgia ranks 5th in states that have had the largest rise in motor vehicle deaths between 2014 and 2016.
- Deaths related to distracted driving and other causes rose by a third in Georgia between 2014 and 2016.
Prohibited Behaviors
The law tells drivers what they can and cannot do behind the wheel. If you have the keys and are planning on driving, you need to know what is now prohibited. You may no longer:
- Hold a telecommunication device with your hands.
- Support a telecommunication device with any part of your body. For example, holding your phone between your shoulder and your ear would be considered supporting your phone.
- Read, write or send any type of text, direct message, or email.
- Transmit any Internet data via your device.
- Record or broadcast video.
- Remove your seat belt or leave your seat to retrieve a device that has fallen or is out of reach.
Permitted Behaviors
The law doesn’t make it illegal to do everything with your device. You may still:
- Use your device to call emergency services if you are involved in or see an accident or other situation that requires a response from police, firefighters or medical personnel.
- Use earpieces to talk.
- Use voice recognition software to write and send a text, email or other communication.
- Utilize your GPS system, including entering information while driving.
- Tap a button to activate whatever type of voice recognition you use.
- Use CB and other types of commercial radios and communications devices.
A couple of things to note: These laws don’t apply to police, firefighters and other emergency personnel, or to employees or contractors responding to a utility emergency. The laws do apply to those stopped at a red light. You must be parked lawfully to use your cell phone or electronic device behind the wheel.
Penalties
If you are cited for a first offense, you face a point on your license and a $50 fine. If you are cited twice in a period of two years, you will earn two points on your license and could be given a $100 fine. A third offense means three points on your license and a fine maxing out at $150. Subsequent offenses within a two-year period mean that your license could be suspended.
Talk to an Atlanta Car Accident Lawyer Today
If you are involved in an Atlanta car accident caused by a distracted driver, you need an Atlanta car accident Attorney. Call our office today to schedule your case evaluation and learn more about your legal rights. You and your family should not have to suffer financially because of the actions of someone else. Our Atlanta car accident attorney can assist you in seeking the compensation you are entitled to.
If you’ve been injured in an Atlanta car accident in Atlanta, you have legal rights. Contact Andrew E. Goldner, your dedicated Atlanta Car Accident attorney now for a free, no-obligation consultation. We’ll review the details of your case together, and figure out the next step for your unique situation. Call our offices at (404) 869-1580 or contact us online today.