Speeding drivers are all too common on the highways and roads in the Atlanta area. Their reckless behavior results in accidents that leave victims with substantial injuries and medical bills to match. Holding them accountable for their negligence requires guidance from a skilled Atlanta speeding car accident lawyer.
At Rafi, Brown and Stokes, we provide a dedicated Atlanta car accident lawyer who will assess your claim during a free initial consultation and explain your options for seeking compensation. In addition to medical expenses, you may have pain and suffering that requires financial acknowledgment to ensure you can fully recover. Let us help you with insurance claims and other important paperwork so you can concentrate on getting better.
What Counts as Speeding In Atlanta?
Speeding is usually associated with driving faster than the maximum limits, but there are two important additions under Georgia law. It is possible to drive too fast for conditions such as rain, ice, or snow or to drive too slowly and impede the flow of traffic. All of these actions can be chargeable offenses and lead to dangerous accidents.
Drivers who fail to obey speed limits or drive faster than is safe for the weather and road conditions are putting themselves and others at tremendous risk. Higher speeds increase the physical forces that impact other vehicles, leading to more severe injuries. These negligent drivers also have less time to react and stop their cars to avoid harm.
According to the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly one-third of fatal accidents in the United States are due to speeding violations. In Georgia, the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) has found that 22% of fatalities were related to speeding, and 78% of all accident injuries or deaths involved a speeding driver.
What Injuries Do Speeding Accident Victims Suffer?
The effects of a car accident on your body can be significant, especially when the car that hits you is going very fast.
Common injuries our clients have suffered in speeding car accidents in Atlanta include:
- Blunt force trauma
- Burns
- Broken bones
- Bruises, lacerations, and cuts
- Collapsed lungs
- Head and brain injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Internal organ damage
- Loss of vision or hearing
- Neck and back damage
Many victims are also thrown out of their vehicles, leading to a higher risk of catastrophic injury and death. Your speeding car accident attorney at Rafi, Brown and Stokes can ensure that the careless driver is held accountable for every penny of your injuries and losses. If the driver is charged with criminal offenses, we can request evidence and testimony from their criminal trial to use in a civil personal injury lawsuit so you can recover compensation.
What Steps Should I Take After An Atlanta Speeding Accident?
Dial 911 if you are able, or ask someone else to call. If you are seriously injured, you should stay still and wait for police and medical responders to arrive. The Official Code of Georgia Ann. (O.C.G.A.) § 40-6-273 requires drivers to report any accident where someone is hurt, dies, or where over $500 in property damage happens.
The next steps should be taken if you can do so. If not, ask someone to do the following for you:
- Exchange contact and insurance information with the other driver.
- Ask witnesses for their contact details.
- Take photos of your injuries, property damage, road conditions, weather, and any road signs.
- Ask witnesses to share their dashcam or cell phone videos of the accident with you.
First responders should also examine you to verify whether you have injuries. If you are not checked out at the scene, visit your doctor within 24-48 hours for a full evaluation. This can establish a direct link between your injuries and the speeding driver’s negligence. You can also request a copy of the police report to support your claim against the speeder further.
How Do I Pursue A Claim Against A Speeding Driver?
In Georgia, all drivers are legally required to carry minimum liability insurance coverage to pay for injuries and damages they cause in a wreck. Your speeding car accident lawyer in Atlanta may encourage you to file a claim against their insurance policy. The minimums are $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $25,000 for property damage to your vehicle.
However, securing compensation from the insurance company can be challenging because they will work to reduce or deny your claim. This allows them to minimize what they must pay you, but you can let your lawyer negotiate on your behalf to reach a satisfactory settlement. You do not have to take the first offer, which tends to be too low, and you can continue discussions for a higher amount.
If these conversations do not result in the compensation you need, you may need to file a personal injury lawsuit to recover all your damages. Your attorney will guide you through this process and manage the details. Filing a lawsuit sometimes motivates the insurance company to agree to a fair settlement.
How Does My Attorney Demonstrate Negligence Against The Speeder?
To prove the speeding driver was negligent, your attorney must present evidence showing the speeder’s actions were the direct or proximate cause of your crash. There may be multiple parties at fault in an Atlanta speeding accident. Suppose a driver races across four lanes of traffic to take an upcoming exit, cutting you and others off. You rear-end the car in front of you because they braked hard to avoid the speeder. Although the speeding driver was not hit, they could be found liable.
Regardless of the details of your crash, your lawyer will look for evidence to show who is liable, such as:
- Video from traffic cameras and dashboard cameras
- Witness statements about the type of vehicle and the driver’s actions
- Photos from the accident scene
- Analysis by accident reconstruction specialists
- Cell phone records for all drivers, in case distracted driving played a role
- GPS data showing driver speed and braking
- Driving histories for all drivers
- Expert testimony
- Medical bills for your injuries
- Auto repair estimates for your vehicle.
Your attorney will use this documentation to show that the at-fault parties had a duty to others to drive safely, and they failed in that duty. Evidence can further demonstrate how your injuries are directly related to the speeding driver’s negligence, and they must be compelled to compensate you for your losses.
What Damages Can I Recover In An Atlanta Speeding Accident Claim?
Most insurance policies will only cover your economic losses in an accident claim. This includes anything with a fixed monetary value, such as:
- Medical bills, including ICU, ER, and surgeries
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation costs
- Lost income and earning potential
- Lost work benefits and retirement contributions
- Damage to your vehicle, phone, computer, and other personal property
- Medical devices
- Prescription medications
Serious injuries are more than just physical, and you will likely experience a great deal of pain and suffering. The goal of seeking compensation is to require the liable party to repay you for every harm and inconvenience you have endured because of their negligence. If the insurance policy does not pay for non-economic losses, you may need to file a personal injury lawsuit to obtain financial relief for these damages.
Non-economic losses include mental anguish, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, anxiety, permanent disability, and other ways your life has been affected. Your attorney will apply special calculations to these damages to ensure they present an accurate demand for compensation.
How Can Hiring A Speeding Car Accident Attorney Benefit My Case?
In Atlanta, the typical cause of a speeding car crash is drivers going above the speed limit. When someone is going too slow or driving at the limit, it may be more complicated to show negligence. When you hire a skilled attorney, they use their legal knowledge to hold these more cautious drivers responsible for causing a hazard to others.
If you are injured and focused on recovering, you may have little time to manage the details of your insurance claim or file a lawsuit. Hiring a speeding car accident lawyer in Atlanta lets you hand these concerns over to a team that will do the following:
- Conduct a full investigation of your accident
- Calculate the value of all your damages
- Identify liable parties who may have contributed to the crash
- Assist you with completing insurance claim forms
- Help you collect receipts, medical records, and other documentation
- Collect, analyze, and present evidence to support your case
- Negotiate with insurance adjusters for a fair settlement
- Prepare your case for court if a reasonable agreement cannot be reached
- Represent you during hearings and meetings with the defendant’s attorneys
- Litigate aggressively to obtain a favorable outcome at trial
At Rafi, Brown and Stokes, we have an impressive record of securing millions of dollars in settlements and jury verdicts for our clients. We put all our experience and skills to work for every case, consulting with experts in other fields to ensure we understand the full scope of your claim.
How Long Do I Have To File My Claim After A Speeding Accident?
The Georgia statute of limitations for personal injury claims is only two years after your accident. Negotiating an insurance claim can take several weeks or months, reducing your time to take action.
However, if you work with a qualified speeding car accident lawyer from Rafi, Brown and Stokes, we will begin preparing your case for the possibility of a trial from the beginning. This allows us to take advantage of every moment, so we are ready to file your lawsuit if necessary.
If you wait too long to begin your case, you could lose your chance to seek compensation through the courts.
Schedule A Free Consultation With Rafi, Brown and Stokes Today
As soon as you have begun to recover from your injuries, contact Rafi, Brown and Stokes for a free case evaluation. We are ready to put our background and dedication to work for you, making every effort to obtain the financial relief you need. You can discuss your case with an accomplished Atlanta speeding car accident lawyer by calling us at (404) 948-3311 or completing our online form today.
