Car Accident Lawyer Lawrenceville, GA
After a car crash, you should call a Lawrenceville, GA car accident lawyer at Norris Injury Law. While cars have become much safer since they were first invented, around 6 million car crashes occur in the U.S. every year. Unfortunately, car crashes are the leading reason for death in the country, with more than 38,000 people losing their lives every year. We’ll explore why it makes sense to contact an attorney after a crash.
Reasons Why You Should Contact an Attorney
Ideally, following a crash, the process should be very straightforward. You make a statement, gather evidence like pictures, collect the other driver’s contact information, copy your police report, report the incident to your or the other person’s insurance company, and receive compensation that covers everything. However, often the process can be more complicated, especially when dealing with significant damage. Some problems victims can run into are:
The Insurance Company Not Offering a Fair Settlement
Following a crash, you may deal with major expenses like expensive medical bills or needing to repair or replace your car. Unfortunately, an insurance company may not always offer enough compensation. Besides compensation for immediate expenses like hospital stays, compensation can also cover factors like:
- Lost wages, job rehabilitation, or disability benefits
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress, including the development of PTSD
- Overall reduced quality of life
- Loss of reputation
- In the case of a loved one passing away, wrongful death benefits like paying for funeral expenses
What Can An Attorney Do?
Besides an insurance company not offering a fair settlement, they may also use techniques like not being willing to negotiate, not taking your calls or making it hard to contact them, blaming you for the incident, claiming you had a prior medical issue, etc. A Lawrenceville car accident attorney can help break through these issues and force the insurance company to negotiate by applying legal pressure. An attorney can also help you determine if you’re being offered a fair settlement or if you should hold out for a better offer.
Do Car Accident Cases Make it to Court?
A professional attorney isn’t afraid to go to court if necessary. However, a professional attorney also understands that settling outside of court is often the better solution. The truth is that most car accident cases settle outside the court system simply because they take too much time and money for both parties. Additionally, taking a case to court can be unpredictable. For example, a party may need to pay a higher settlement, or the case can be dismissed.
Are There Situations Where an Attorney Isn’t Necessary?
Whether or not you should call an attorney following a car crash often depends upon the severity of the crash. For example, a minor bump in the parking lot that can easily be covered under either party’s insurance probably won’t warrant a call to an attorney. However, if you’re dealing with massive property damages and medical expenses, it’s a good idea to consider an attorney. For a Lawrenceville car accident attorney, you should call Norris Injury Law.
U-Turn Accidents
A Lawrenceville, GA car accident lawyer knows that there are many different scenarios that occur that result in car crashes and personal injuries. Common causes include distracted driving, speeding, and driving under the influence. One scenario that people don’t often associate with car accidents are u-turns.
There are numerous traffic situations where making a u-turn may seem like a good idea. Encountering unexpected traffic conditions, missing your exit ramp on a highway or a turn you needed to make on a city street, or simply realizing you are headed the wrong direction are all common scenarios which could cause you to attempt this type of traffic maneuver.
But are u-turns legal in Georgia and what happens if someone making a u-turn causes a crash?
Georgia Law
When it comes to making a u-turn, many Georgia drivers are unsure what is legal and what isn’t. In fact, in far too many situations, the driver is basically guessing whether the u-turn they are about to take is allowed in the spot they are about to take it at. This can turn into quite the gamble – not only when it comes to being citing for a traffic violation but also causing an accident.
Under Georgia traffic laws, u-turns are forbidden under the following circumstances:
- Where a sign is posted that prohibits u-turns
- Where the turn cannot be made safely and/or interfering with traffic on the other side of the road
- When the driver is approaching a curve
- When approaching a rise in the road making it impossible for drivers approaching in either direction to see your vehicle
Accident Liability
A skilled Lawrenceville car accident lawyer has encountered all kinds of accident causes in the cases he or she works on. When it comes to u-turn accidents, the most frequent reasons car accident happen include:
- The other driver was making the u-turn in a forbidden or unsafe location. There are many locations where it is just too dangerous to make a u-turn, including trying to cross over double lanes or even in a parking lot.
- The other driver filed to the right of way to the oncoming traffic where they are trying to turn. Even if there is signage that allows u-turns at a location, the oncoming drivers have the right of way and a turning driver must wait until the road is clear before turning.
- The other driver attempted to make the turn during bad weather conditions that hampered their ability to see the oncoming traffic
- The other driver was operating under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs and failed to judge the danger in making the turn.
If a driver takes a u-turn and a crash occurs, they will most likely be liable for the accident and any losses that injured victims of the accident sustain. Even if the driver took a u-turn in an area where it is allowed, they are always required to yield the right of way. If you were injured in a u-turn crash, Lawrenceville, GA car accident lawyer from Norris Injury Law could evaluate your case and determine what your legal options are.
