Accidents
Atlanta, Georgia Personal Injury Lawyer




1. Make sure that no one needs emergency medical help If so, call 911 immediately.

2. Do not discuss how the wreck occurred until the police arrive You will likely be talking to the opposing driver and the police officer. While waiting for the police officer get necessary information from the other drivers and witnesses. Phone numbers and addresses are crucial. Don't rely on the police officer to get them.

3. Never admit that it was your fault Often people will say something out of regret, without knowing all the circumstances. You may be incriminating yourself unnecessarily.

4. Protect the Evidence Take photos immediately. Take photos of the wreck scene showing skid marks, road conditions, and traffic signs. Take photographs of the car before it is fixed. Take photographs of bruises and cuts while they exist. A picture is worth a thousand words. If you don't take pictures immediately, the evidence may be lost forever and your case may suffer.

5. Get an Immediate Physical Exam Even if you feel that your injuries are slight or non-existent, you should see a doctor soon after an wreck. Frequently, a person does not feel pain immediately after a wreck. However, several days or even weeks afterwards, pain may appear. A doctor will be able to document your injuries and help you get the treatment that you need to get better.

6. Be Careful When Talking to Insurance Adjusters These "friendly" folks are not working for you. Their job is to keep your recovery and their payout as low as possible. Frequently the adjuster will record your telephone conversations. This is for their protection, not yours. Many people make misstatements when speaking to adjusters and significantly lower the value of their claim. Once I am hired by a client, I do not allow my clients to discuss their case with anyone, not even friends or relatives. Refer all questions about the case to your lawyer.

7. Attend the Traffic Court Trial It is extremely important to attend any municipal court matters pertaining to your collision. If the other driver pleads guilty to causing the wreck, it is an admission of fault that can be used during a civil trial. If the defendant does not plead guilty, your testimony could mean the difference in a guilty verdict. A guilty verdict is not admissible in a civil case, but is valuable for settlement purposes.

8. Take Responsibility for your Health If you are not feeling well within a few weeks after seeing a doctor, you should strongly consider getting a second opinion. Many people will not take action on the hopes that the pain will go away on its own. Unfortunately, people's best interests will not protect them. You should take responsibility for your health. Get a second opinion. Do some research on other types of treatment such as chiropractic or neuromuscular massage. No one will care more about you that you do.

9. Reveal Everything to the Professional Helping You Tell the health care professional and the attorney everything that you can about the wreck, your injuries, and your prior health history _ even if you feel that it may hurt your case. For example, if you have prior injuries unrelated to the wreck, they must be revealed. If the insurance company learns of any information that is negative that you haven't disclosed, they will discredit everything that you say. It is always better to advise the people assisting you of all the issues involved, so they can advise you. Frequently, they are able to provide a solution to the problem.

10. Do Not Be in A Hurry to Settle The full extent of your injuries is frequently not known for several months after a collision. By being patient, you will allow your health care provider to fully document and treat your injuries and ensure that you will be in the best position for a fair recovery. Once the matter is settled, you will not be able to recover for additional related injuries that are discovered later.

See our article, Why Is A Truck Case Different From A Car Wreck?

If you have any questions or concerns regarding an automobile collision, please call Michael Lawson Neff for a free consultation. You may call his office at (404) 531-9700, 24 hours a day. Leave a message of how you can be contacted.