Augusta Car Accident Lawyer

Augusta Car Accident Attorney

Have you or loved one been involved in a car accident in Augusta? Call our Augusta accident attorneys at 706-955-1559. An experienced Augusta car accident lawyer will be an invaluable resource to have on your side as you navigate the aftermath of your accident and attempt to recover your losses. Merritt & Merritt Law Firm has years of experience with these cases, and we can put our experience to work for you in your recovery efforts.

Interstate 20 is one of the busiest interstates in Georgia running from Atlanta through Augusta into South Carolina. In 2012, Richmond-County Augusta had 40 traffic fatalities; 2,624 auto injuries; and 8,451 crashes.

At Merritt & Merritt our Augusta Injury and Accident Attorneys specialize in helping accident victims regain a normal life. A car accident can suddenly send a victim into financial ruin if proper steps are not taken. That is why it’s important to hire experienced lawyers to assist you with your auto accident case. Our attorneys have over 40 years of experience with accident and injury cases ranging from: catastrophic injuries to a loss of a limb to stubborn back and neck pain that never seems to go away.

We offer free consultations and you pay us only at the completion of the case; put another way, you don’t owe us anything unless we get you favorable results. Often accident victims try to handle their own cases but quickly find out that the insurance company will not treat them fairly unless they have an attorney. It’s important to understand that the insurance company is responsible for its driver and will not pay a penny more than they have to.

Our Augusta Injury and Accident Attorneys are aggressive when representing clients. When you contact us, from that point forward we do all of the investigative work; handle all communications with the insurance company; and assist you with getting adequate medical treatment. And lastly, our attorneys will get you maximum compensation for your injuries.

Here are a few legal tips:

• Seek medical treatment immediately. Even if you think you only sustained minor injuries, it is important to get yourself checked by a doctor as quickly as possible after an accident. This will create an official record showing you sought care and rule out any hidden injuries you may not have noticed on your own.
• File a police report. State law requires drivers to report any accident that results in significant property damage, bodily injury, or death. Failure to do so can lead to severe legal penalties, so if you are unsure whether you need to report an accident, it is always preferable to report it.
• Be aware of what you say at the scene. Be careful of what you say to responding officers. Do not say anything that could be interpreted as an admission of fault, even if you suspect that you are partially liable for the accident. Answer questions honestly and concisely.
• Keep an accurate record of expenses related to the accident. Keep copies of vehicle repair estimates, medical bills, and any other documentation proving the economic impact of your accident. These records will be essential in your later recovery efforts.
• Do not give a recorded statement to the insurance company. If an insurance company contacts you following your accident, politely decline to answer any questions and inform them that your attorney will be handling your insurance claim for you.
• Do not sign anything unless your attorney has reviewed the documents. Doing so could unintentionally result in you losing avenues of compensation and severely diminish your recovery.
• Do not attempt to settle on your own. You could be legally entitled to far more of a recovery than you initially realize, but if you accept the first offer you receive, you will be unable to seek additional compensation later.
• Be aware of any filing deadlines. You have a limited time to file an auto insurance claim, and you face a time limit if you plan to pursue a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver. Contact a trustworthy attorney as quickly as possible after your accident so they can help you meet these deadlines.

Ultimately, the first steps you take in the aftermath of a car accident in Augusta can impact your recovery in various ways. It is crucial that you speak with an Augusta car accident lawyer as quickly as possible to avoid losing your chance to recover your damages and so your attorney can start building your case as quickly as possible.

Car Accidents Impact Every Motorist in Georgia

Car accidents are an unfortunate reality on our Georgia roadways. According to the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, in 2021, there were nearly 10,000 car accidents, 45 of those result in a death. At Merritt & Merritt Law Firm, we represent clients in all types of car accidents, including, ridesharing accidents, motorcycle accidents, truck accidents and accidents involving distracted drivers. Car accidents can cause serious injuries- we see it everyday. If you or a loved one is injured in a car accident, contact an Augusta car accident attorney at Merritt & Merritt Law Firm today for a free consultation and to learn about your legal rights for compensation. Phone us at 706-955-1559.

Augusta Car Accident Statistics

In 2021, the latest year with data available, the top reason for fatal car accidents in Richmond County was speeding, which is responsible for 17 fatalities. Alcohol is the second leading cause of fatal car accidents in the county.

In the same year 53% of drivers involved in fatal car accidents with passenger vehicles were not using a seatbelt. While that number is down from 67% in 2020, it still remains high and a core contributing factor to serious, catastrophic, and deadly vehicle accidents.

Augusta Truck Accident Statistics

The Georgia Department of Transportation tracks motor vehicle accidents and compiles various annual statistics. For the years 2017 through 2021, Augusta saw the following statistics:

• There were 810 tractor trailer accidents which included 260 injuries and 7 fatalities
• There were 758 single unit truck accidents which included 273 injuries and 3 fatalities
• There were 272 panel truck accidents which included 95 injuries

Predictably, 2020 saw the fewest tractor trailer accidents (149), but there were actually fewer in 2017 (147). The other years are as follows:

• 2018 – 160 tractor trailer accidents
• 2019 – 178 tractor trailer accidents
• 2021 – 176 tractor trailer accidents

Another interesting statistic to note is that 3 of the 7 tractor trailer fatalities occurred in 2021. Overall, the statistics indicate that truck accidents in the area are on the rise. At a minimum, these statistics remind us that hundreds of people face serious injuries every year as a result of truck accidents. If you have been involved in a truck accident, you need an Augusta truck accident attorney who can help you rebuild your life.

Types of Car Accidents

There are many different types of car accidents. Some of the most common that our Augusta truck accident attorney team sees in Richmond County include ridesharing accidents, distracted driving accidents, car vs. truck collisions, and crashes happening on rural roads.

If you have suffered injuries due to a motor vehicle accident, contact a motor vehicle accident lawyer at Merritt & Merritt Law Firm today for help. We’ll handle your insurance and/or legal claims so you can focus on your recovery.

Augusta Ridesharing Accidents

Uber and Lyft are household names now. These, and other popular ridesharing apps, act as a taxi service, picking you up and dropping you off at designated points. Though these companies claim to vet drivers to help ensure your safety, riders still face the risk of an automobile accident while on an Uber or Lyft trip. If you are in an accident with an Uber or Lyft driver be sure you or someone else is taking the insurance information from the Uber or Lyft driver, including the insurance company, policy number, phone number, and address.

Distracted Driving Accidents in Augusta

Distracted driving might include texting or eating while driving. Some Georgia motorists also apply makeup while driving, or attempt to reach for something on the floor or passenger seat. These types of distractions behind the wheel can have serious consequences. If you have been injured by a distracted driver, contact Merritt & Merritt Law Firm to discuss your legal rights.

Car vs. Truck Accidents in Richmond County

Accidents involving semi-trucks often lead to severe injury due to the size and weight of the truck. No matter where the impact happened, a motorist in a vehicle will likely sustain a serious injury after a collision with any type of truck, including semis, 18-wheelers, dump, flatbed, garbage, and tanker trucks.

Georgia Car vs. Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcyclists are exposed to significant dangers when they are riding, and unfortunately, too many drivers do not understand how to operate their vehicle safely around a motorcycle. Often with motorcycle accidents, motorists tend to blame the motorcycle rider, which is why it is important to have a knowledgeable and experienced motorcycle injury lawyer on your side. Our Augusta truck accident attorney team will immediately investigate the scene, gather all the facts and fight for your legal rights.

Accidents on Rural Roads

Most people are surprised to learn that many accidents do not occur on crowded urban streets but rather on rural two-lane roadways. In fact, reliable data indicates that as many as 57 percent of all fatal car crashes nationwide occur on rural roads. Most fatal accidents occur on straightaways, especially at night, rather than on curvy roads.

Hit-and-Run Accidents

A hit-and-run accident is considered a serious offense and is punishable by law in most countries. Hit-and-run accidents can result in serious injuries or even fatalities for those involved. In addition to the physical harm, hit-and-run accidents can also have a significant emotional impact on the victims and their families. It can be especially difficult to cope with the situation when the driver who caused the accident does not take responsibility for their actions.

DUI Car Accidents in Augusta

DUI accidents are one of the leading causes of fatal accidents in our county. Driving while impaired significantly impacts a driver’s judgment, reaction time, and ability to control their vehicle, which results in swerving, sudden stops, or other erratic driving behaviors that increase the risk of a collision. We should also note that driving while under the influence also includes driving while high. If you are the victim of an accident that was caused by a drunk or high driver, you have rights. We encourage you to reach out to an Augusta truck accident attorney to learn how we can help you fight for compensation.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a car accident call us today at 706-955-1559.

Remember: Post-Accident Injuries Don’t Always Show Immediately

Too often, persons involved in a car accident assume they are not injured because they cannot see any injury or do not feel any pain immediately after the accident occurs. This can be a huge mistake as some post-accident injuries are not seen or felt immediately. Our Augusta injury and car accident attorneys see it happen all the time.

When a person is involved in an accident, their body produces extra adrenaline and endorphins in response to the stress caused by the accident. The adrenaline and endorphins can cause the injured person to not notice their injuries immediately, but only after some time has passed. Also, some injuries do not begin to swell or cause pain until some time after the injury occurs. Because of these reasons, it is crucial that a person that has been injured in a car accident have themselves checked by a medical professional even if they do not feel as though they have been injured.

The most common types of injuries that do not show as soon as they happen are back injuries such as a pinched nerve or herniated disc. Also, concussions, soft tissue injuries, and shoulder pain may not present themselves until some time has passed.

Filing an Auto Insurance Claim After an Accident in Augusta

Every driver in the state is required to have personal auto insurance that meets basic coverage requirements for bodily injury liability and property damage liability. Under the state’s fault rule for resolving vehicle accidents, an injured driver may file a claim against an at-fault driver’s auto insurance policy in their efforts to recover their losses following an accident. This is another reason proving fault for your recent car accident will be so crucial to your recovery efforts.

After your Augusta car accident lawyer has helped you gather the evidence you need to firmly establish fault for your accident, you can file your claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance policy. You will need to submit evidence showing the extent of your damages, the insured driver’s liability, and other supporting documentation as required. Your attorney can help address all your interactions with the insurance carrier until you receive a settlement.

Once the insurance company receives your claim, they are required to investigate and review it before issuing a settlement offer. Your attorney can verify that the offer is fair and reasonable under the terms of the policy, and if you encounter any unexpected disputes with your claim, your attorney can resolve any such issues for you. If insurance can’t fully cover your damages, you can file a personal injury suit against the at-fault driver.

Building Your Personal Injury Claim in Augusta

If insurance cannot fully compensate you for your damages after a car accident, a personal injury suit against the at-fault driver is your optimal method of recovering any outstanding damages. Success with any personal injury claim in Augusta requires the plaintiff to prove that the defendant is directly responsible for the damages cited in the claim, either through an act of negligence or intentional and illegal misconduct.

Fault for a personal injury is proven by a preponderance of the evidence. Your Augusta car accident lawyer can explain what this standard of proof entails in your claim and gather the evidence needed to meet it. You must not only prove the defendant owed a duty of care that they breached in some way but also that their actions directly caused your claimed damages. This means establishing the causation between the defendant’s actions and your damages.

An experienced Augusta car accident lawyer can help their client prove fault and gather the evidence needed to show the extent of the damages the defendant caused with their negligence or illegal misconduct. Under Georgia’s personal injury laws, it is possible for the plaintiff to claim full repayment of any direct economic losses they suffered from the defendant’s actions, along with compensation for projected future economic losses.

For example, if you suffered a serious physical injury, you may not only require immediate medical care but also ongoing rehabilitative treatment to fully recover. Similarly, you can not only claim compensation for lost wages but also for lost earning potential if you have been permanently disabled by your injury. Your Atlanta car accident lawyer can help you accurately assess all your claimable economic damages.

In addition to your economic damages, you may also seek compensation for physical pain, psychological trauma, and other non-economic damages the defendant caused. Your pain and suffering compensation is not limited by state law in a motor vehicle accident case, so you can claim whatever amount you believe to reasonably reflect the scope and severity of the harm you suffered.

If a defendant caused an accident by breaking the law, punitive damages may also factor into your recovery. These are intended to further punish the defendant for their actions, and the amount you receive will be at the discretion of the court. Your attorney can advise you as to how punitive damages may influence your case award and whether you should make any recommendations to the court as to whether punitive damages are warranted in your case.

Additional Information

For more August-Richmond County Car Accident Statistics view link:
https://www.gahighwaysafety.org/fullpanel/uploads/files/richmond.pdf

Emergency Contact Information:

Augusta-Richmond County Police Department
400 Walton Way
Augusta, Georgia 30901
Ph: 706-821-1000
Fax: 706-821-1064

University Hospital
1350 Walton Way
Augusta, GA 30901
706-722-9011

Augusta University Medical Center
1120 15th St.
Augusta, GA 30912
706-721-2273

FAQs

Q: How Do I Prove Fault for a Car Accident in Augusta?

A: You can prove fault for a car accident by leveraging various forms of physical and digital evidence, such as photos of the accident scene taken immediately after the accident, digital records like vehicle computer data and the other driver’s cell phone data, traffic camera recordings, and other physical evidence obtained from the scene of the crash. Witness testimony from anyone who saw the accident happen can also be invaluable to your case.

Q: What Happens if I’m Partially at Fault for My Car Accident in Augusta?

A: If you are partially at fault for your car accident in Augusta, you can still claim compensation for your damages as long as you were less than 50% at fault. The state follows a modified comparative fault rule that applies to any case in which a plaintiff bears partial liability for the damages cited in the case. Their fault percentage is how much they lose from their case award, but if they are 50% or more at fault, they are barred from claiming compensation from anyone else.

Q: How Much Is My Car Accident Claim Worth in Augusta?

A: The total potential value of your car accident claim in Augusta depends on the total scope and severity of your damages. If another driver is directly responsible for causing your accident, you have the right to seek full compensation for vehicle repair costs, medical expenses, and lost wages resulting from the accident. This includes projected future losses, and you have the right to seek pain and suffering compensation that reflects the severity of your condition.

Q: Why Should I Hire an Augusta Car Accident Lawyer?

A: You should hire an Augusta car accident lawyer because you are more likely to reach a positive conclusion to your recovery efforts with their assistance. While you may believe that fault for your accident is perfectly clear, and you can hold the responsible party accountable on your own, you are unlikely to reach the same level of results that an attorney could help you reach, and they are likely to help finalize your case more quickly than you could otherwise.

Q: What Does It Cost to Hire an Augusta Car Accident Lawyer?

A: The cost to hire an Augusta car accident lawyer will depend on the attorney’s billing policy. When you choose Merritt & Merritt Law Firm to represent you, your fee will be a percentage of the total compensation we recover for you, and you will only pay if we win your case. There is no risk of paying more in legal fees than you win in compensation for your damages, and you pay nothing if we are unable to obtain a recovery for you.

Ultimately, any car accident in Augusta has the potential to be a life-changing experience, and if you want to fully recover from this incident you need legal counsel you trust on your side. Merritt & Merritt Law Firm has the skills, resources, and experience necessary to resolve the toughest vehicle accident claims. Contact us today and schedule a free consultation with a trustworthy Augusta car accident lawyer with your recovery.