Serious car accidents are always traumatizing since they could leave you with severe injuries and costly property damage. The days that follow an unexpected car accident are likely full of pain and stress, and you may be feeling unsure of where to start.
It is also likely that you are facing expensive medical bills, significant vehicle damages, and a long list of additional expenses. If the other driver is at fault, you are likely entitled to substantial financial compensation.
However, it is important to remember that having concrete evidence of your losses is key to collecting monetary damages. The better proof you have of the extent of your injuries, the greater chances you will have at recovering full and fair compensation.
If you need assistance, an experienced vehicle collision lawyer could explain recoverable damages after a Marietta car accident, help compile evidence, and protect your rights as a careful driver.
Car Accident Claims and Your Insurance Company
Georgia is an at-fault state, which means that when two or more drivers get into an auto accident, the at-fault driver is held liable for the other driver's damages. Since all Georgia drivers are required to carry car insurance, the at-fault driver's insurance company is responsible for paying the damages through the insurance company automobile liability insurance.
Car accident victims in Georgia have the legal right to file a car accident claim against the at-fault driver's car insurance company.
Minimum Liability Insurance Requirements in Georgia
Georgia's minimum limits for liability insurance are:
- $25,000 bodily injury coverage per driver
- $50,000 bodily injury per accident
- $25,000 property damage liability per accident
What is the Compensation For a Car Accident?
After an accident, there are many ways someone injured in a car accident can receive compensation for the losses they sustained. The two major categories of reimbursement are economic and non-economic damages. Each of these forms of compensation repays for different aspects of a crash, so understanding the differences between the two is key.
Economic Damages
Economic damages aim to repay an injured driver for losses with a clear financial value—these reimbursements are usually substantial. Common examples of economic damages include:
- Medical bills and other medical expenses
- Property damages
- Lost wages.
Since a claimant's medical expenses could include an emergency room visit, physician fees, prescriptions, rehabilitation or physical therapy, and any follow-up or ongoing medical care related to the crash, reimbursements for these aspects are usually sizeable.
Meanwhile, compensation for property damage aims to cover rental car fees and the cost of fixing or replacing a vehicle.
Finally, repayment for lost income would cover any salary that an injured driver missed while recovering from the wreck.
Non-Economic Damages
In vehicle crash cases, non-economic damages aim to provide repayment for losses without a clear financial value; setbacks that might be considered more subjective.
Typical examples of non-economic damages include reimbursement for:
- Physical and mental pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- The diminished capacity to work or earn money
Establishing the value of non-economic damages that a car accident plaintiff deserves can be complicated and challenging, but a tenacious attorney in Marietta could take the lead.
Establishing the Monetary Value of Pain and Suffering
Insurance companies are notorious for offering lowball car accident settlements that don't reflect the true value of car accident claims and fall short of how much compensation victims deserve. But, there are some key ways that an experienced car accident attorney can use to determine the value of more subjective non-economic claims.
The Official Code of Georgia Annotated § 9-10-184 states that a plaintiff's legal counsel can work to establish the value during the trial stages of a case. They can accomplish this by providing reasonable evidence about the losses in question.
A resourceful lawyer in Marietta could collect this evidence and work hard to demonstrate that a car accident's victim's pain and suffering, and emotional anguish were definitely caused by an unexpected auto accident. And, if necessary, they can represent you in a personal injury lawsuit to ensure you get the car accident compensation you deserve.
Meet With a Marietta Attorney about Car Accident Compensation
Serious car crashes can be devastating and costly. While you recover, the last thing you want to worry about is dealing with legal processes and manipulative insurance companies seeking to offer you a lowball car accident settlement.
A seasoned lawyer who specializes in car accident compensation in Marietta can help you through this challenging process. They can help you collect all the necessary evidence, strengthen your argument, and prove that another driver's negligence definitely caused the car accident and your subsequent pain and suffering. Contact our office today to speak with a team member and learn more about your options.