Statesboro Car Accident Lawyer

Statesboro Car Accident Attorney

Statesboro Car Accident Lawyers….Call us today at 912-764-3434. Our office is conveniently located downtown. We have collected over $25 million dollars for accident victims in Statesboro, GA. Nearly everyone will be involved in a car accident at some point in their lives.

With millions of cars, semi-trucks and motorcycles on the road, the chances of getting into some type of car accident is high. Unfortunately, instead of being attentive drivers, too many people are texting, DUI, or frankly just not paying attention.

If you’ve been involved in a car accident in Statesboro, contact the Merritt & Merritt Law Firm about your accident or wrongful death claim. Our attorneys have the experience needed to get you the “Best Results”.

The City of Statesboro is set between a few major roadways I-16, HWY 301, HWY 25, HWY 80, and Veterans Memorial Parkway (Bypass). If you’ve been injured or lost a loved one in a car accident, you will be contacted by an insurance company immediately attempting to settle the claim as quickly as possible. Victims of car accidents know they are entitled to justice, but often they don’t know where to turn.  Call us at 912-764-3434.

Statesboro Auto Accident Attorneys – Experienced to Help You

Merritt & Merritt Law Firm provides experienced, compassionate and effective representation for people injured in a car wreck, truck accident, or motorcycle accident throughout Statesboro and surrounding areas.

We are a high-powered car accident law firm comprised of experienced trial attorneys who have been helping clients for over 40 years recover full and fair compensation for injuries suffered in a car accident.

Free Consultation – You Don’t Pay Unless We Win

Schedule a free no cost consultation with one of our attorneys about an injury or wrongful death claim. We handle all types auto accidents, injury and wrongful death cases on a contingency fee basis. You pay us nothing unless we recover monies for you.

Our attorneys have extensive experience in all areas of personal injury and wrongful death litigation involving motor vehicle accidents, including:

• Car Accidents
• Drunk Driver Accidents – Driving While Intoxicated
• Semi-Truck Accidents
• Motorcycle Accidents
• Boats
• School Bus Accidents
• Defective Products (tire blow out, faulty brakes, etc.)

Fatal Car Accidents

According to the Georgia Department of Transportation, in 2018 there was an average of 4 deaths per day. The top four causes of deadly accidents were driver inattention, talking or texting on the phone, drunk driving and speeding.

In the city of Statesboro there are more accidents involving road rage and following too closely, while accidents in rural areas see more accidents happening when cars attempt to pass each other on two lane highways. By wearing a seatbelt your chances of surviving a car accident drastically increase.

Common Car Accident Injuries

Brain Injuries

Severe car wrecks frequently cause head and brain injuries because when cars collide the brain can bounce around inside the skull. Injuries can range from minor to severe concussions to traumatic brain injuries.

It is important to note you need to seek medical attention immediately after an accident if you experience these symptoms and often symptoms show up days or weeks after the accident. Our experienced Statesboro car accident attorneys will advise you to seek medical care immediately after an accident.  Call us now at 912-764-3434.

Neck and Back Injuries

Neck, shoulder, and back auto accident injuries are very common. Many doctors call this whiplash. Back injuries usually present themselves as disc bulge, disc herniation, fractures and spinal injuries.

Neck and back injuries may take a few days to show up — what may start as minor pain and discomfort at first can quickly turn into something very serious. Seek medical treatment at East Georgia Regional Medical Center after an accident.

Facial Injuries

Facial injuries from accidents are common. These injuries can be cuts or lacerations and are usually caused by the face hitting the dashboard, broken glass, and debris flying around inside cars. The force of an airbag deploying can also cause serious damage to the jaw, teeth, eyes, and face.

Chest Injuries

Chest injuries are most commonly caused by seatbelts or by your body slamming into the steering wheel. In serious accidents where a person is ejected from the car, broken bones and internal injuries are common.

Contingency Fee – Accessible Legal Representation

At the Merritt & Merritt we only get paid if the client receives money from those responsible for causing them harm. Meaning if we do not collect money for you, you don’t owe us anything. A contingency fee is a fee where the attorney gets an agreed percentage of whatever compensation they win for the client, plus any expenses associated with pursuing the case.

The client gets the rest. Most Statesboro car accident lawyers who handle personal injury cases are contracted on a contingency fee basis.

Conversely, if a attorney takes the case and does not win in court the attorney will absorb the cost out of pocket, not the client. This makes contingency fees work well for injury clients because the attorney is doing the work and taking all the risk.

Our Statesboro car accident attorneys can put in hundreds of hours of work and hundreds of thousands of dollars in costs to prepare a case for trial, but if we don’t win, you owe us nothing.

The Settlement Process — Hire Our Car Accident Lawyers in Statesboro

In the settlement process, it is to your advantage to hire an experienced Statesboro car accident attorney who will fight for your rights with the insurance adjuster to compensate you for your medical bills and pain and suffering.

It might be tempting to settle early without an attorney, but a good attorney can explain why patience is your best weapon; and why a much higher settlement will be available if you avoid rushing through the process.

Even when injuries have been treated and medical expenses paid for, allow yourself plenty of time to heal. The reason is you might need future medical treatment. Our lawyers will advise you through the entire process to ensure you recover maximum compensation.

4 Factors of Proving Negligence

In order to prevail on a personal injury claim, you will need to prove that the at-fault party was negligent in some way. Proving negligence can be more difficult than you think. Here are 4 factors to keep in mind when proving negligence in your case:

1. The facts are critical. Even if you are certain that the other party was negligent, you will need verifiable facts to support your claim. These facts can sometimes be difficult to identify. In addition, seemingly irrelevant facts can play an important role in your case.
2. The other party may have a different version of events. People are often shocked when the other party’s version of the accident has significant differences from their own. Prepare yourself for this possibility, and understand that it emphasizes the need for strong evidence to support your case.
3. Eye-witnesses are vital. Eye-witnesses that are neutral third parties can make or break your case. Make sure that you get the contact information for any witnesses and request that they provide a statement as to what they saw.
4. You may need an expert. Some accidents can be extraordinarily complex, making it difficult to determine what happened and who is at fault. You may need an expert to reconstruct the accident, such as in a car accident involving multiple vehicles.

Understanding Georgia Modified Comparative Negligence

One of the important tasks your Statesboro car accident lawyer will take on is defending against any claims of comparative negligence.

Under these rules, the defendant in your claim will have the opportunity to argue that you were at fault, at least partially, for the accident and your injuries. If they are able to prove this, it could impact your compensation.

When the plaintiff is found to be at fault for the accident in addition to the defendant, both parties are given a percentage that represents their share of fault in the eyes of the court. The plaintiff, so long as their share of fault is under 50%, will have their compensation award reduced proportionately to their share of the blame. However, if they are over 50% at fault, they could be barred from collecting any damages at all.

For instance, if there is a plaintiff who is awarded $100,000 but is determined to have been 40% to blame for the accident, then they will receive a final award of $60,000. However, if they were found to have 60% of the blame for the accident, they would not be able to collect any damages at all. This potential impact is why it’s critical that your lawyer be prepared to defend against any argument that you were at fault.

Statesboro Car Accident FAQs

Here Are Some Answers to the Top Questions Asked of Our Statesboro Car Accident Attorney

Q. What should I look for in an attorney to represent me?

When you have been injured in an automobile accident, you may understand that you need a Statesboro car accident attorney to assist you, but you don’t know how to choose an attorney.

Fortunately, there are some factors that can help you determine whether or not a particular attorney or law firm will be a right fit for you and your situation.

• Experience: One of the first factors is experience. The more experience an attorney or firm has in handling all types of car accidents, the better prepared they should be to represent you.
• Reputation: Another factor is reputation. Ask around to friends and family that you trust and find out who they have had to represent them in the past and their recommendations. Word-of-mouth can be an excellent resource.
• Connection: You will likely have a long-term relationship with your Statesboro car accident attorney and it is important that you have a connection with them where you feel you can be honest and have your concerns and questions addressed. After all, your lawyer can play a key role in determining how much compensation you will receive.

Q. What if the other party didn’t have enough insurance?

When you have been injured in a car accident and are entitled to compensation, the next issue is to determine where that compensation will come from. The first place to look is the insurer for the at-fault party.

Hopefully, the at-fault party’s insurance policy will cover the damages that you have sustained. But what if they don’t? Or what if the at-fault party does not have any insurance at all? When this happens, your Statesboro car accident attorney will help you determine the other options available to you.

One of those options may be uninsured motorist coverage (UM). This coverage is optional in Georgia, but it can help with the medical bills and damages sustained when the other driver does not have any insurance.

The next option is to bring a claim against the at-fault party. Unfortunately, when a driver does not have insurance, or has inadequate insurance, it is typically because they do not have assets or monetary resources.

Therefore, even if you are successful in a lawsuit against the at-fault party, you will not likely actually receive any money. Of course, every situation is different, so it is definitely in your best interest to speak with a Statesboro car accident attorney.

Q. How do I know if the insurance company is being fair with me?

Many people that make a claim with an insurance company lack experience in this area and don’t know how to determine when the insurance company is treating them unfairly. There are certain indicators that suggest the insurance company may not be acting in a way that is fair or honest. Some of the top indicators are listed below.

• Settlement Rushed: If the insurance company is pressuring you to accept a settlement offer very quickly, it may be because they are offering too little and hope you will take the money before you figure out you could have gotten more.
• Recorded Statement: Insurance company representatives may ask for a recorded statement. Their hope is that you will say something that they can use to justify a smaller claim amount. It is always best to say no to a recorded statement unless your Statesboro car accident attorney is present and agrees.
• Stalling the Claim: The insurance company may intentionally ignore the claimant in hopes the claimant will eventually grow tired of waiting and just accept the amount offered. The insurance company knows the claimant is likely in need of the money to pay bills and because of that thinks they may buckle under the pressure.

Q. What do I do after my accident?

The first step after being in any sort of accident is to seek immediate medical help. If you, or another person that is involved in the accident is injured, call 911 as soon as possible. If for whatever reason emergency personnel do not come to the site of your accident, go as soon as possible to the hospital or other medical facility to have a thorough exam.

There are injuries that may not present themselves immediately and it is best to ensure you are not injured even if you feel ok initially. You will also need to follow through with any recommendations made by your healthcare professional, such as seeking additional therapies.

After medical care has been received, cooperate with the responding officer of the law. When you are asked questions, answer them, but do not volunteer unnecessary information. If possible, take pictures or video of the scene of the accident, including the damage to your car and other vehicles.

Find out the names and contact information of witnesses and obtain a copy of the police report. If you do pursue a claim, your Statesboro car accident attorney will need this information to help support your case.

Once you receive your medical care and cooperated with the responding officer, it is time to contact a lawyer to help you with the claims process, which will likely be filed with the insurance company of the at-fault party. A Statesboro car accident attorney from our firm can help you every step of the way.

Q. What do I need to know if I was in a car vs. truck accident?

Trucking companies can always be held liable for the negligence of their drivers, but your car accident lawyer would need to prove their negligence. A prominent exception to holding trucking companies liable for your accident is when the driver is an independent contractor.

There are also situations where there may be other parties responsible such as another driver who caused the accident or the person who loaded the truck. In fact, you may need to pursue your claim against multiple parties.

Determining whom to pursue is a very important step in your case but can be difficult. Pursuing the wrong party can cause delays and jeopardize your case. An Atlanta car accident attorney will be able to identify the responsible parties and help you get the compensation you deserve.

Q: What if Someone Dies in a Statesboro Car Accident?

A: If someone dies in a Statesboro car accident, then it may be possible for certain surviving family members to file a wrongful death claim. These claims are similar to a standard personal injury claim but also address costs directly related to the death, such as funeral and burial costs, and loss of consortium.

Q: What Does a Statesboro Car Accident Attorney Do?

A: What a Statesboro car accident attorney does is seek fair and full compensation for the cost of the injuries that were suffered in a car accident because of another party’s negligence. They do this by investigating the accident and then representing and advocating for their clients through the process of negotiating a settlement and litigation if a settlement can’t be reached.

Q: Who Could Be at Fault in a Car Accident Claim?

A: The person at fault in a car accident claim could be a number of different parties. Often, the party at fault is another driver who failed to follow traffic laws or was otherwise reckless. However, it’s possible that a driver’s employer, a driver not involved in the accident, a parts manufacturer, a maintenance provider, or even the government in charge of the roads could all be at fault for an accident.

Q: When Does a Car Accident Claim Need to Be Filed By?

A: In most cases, under Georgia’s personal injury law, a claim will need to be filed within two years of the date of the accident. There could be some situations where the timeline differs somewhat, such as a shorter timeline if the government is at fault for the accident. It’s important to speak with a lawyer soon after your accident to ensure that you have the right timeline.

Professional Resources You Can Rely On

We have the professional and financial resources to handle any size case and any type of injury be it catastrophic injury and wrongful death. To ensure your case is thoroughly worked and presented, we work with a network of doctors, including medical experts, financial advisors and car accident reconstruction specialists.

Contact us today at 912-764-3434 for a free consultation with a qualified Statesboro personal injury lawyer.

Emergency Contact Information:

Statesboro Police Department
25 W Grady St.
Statesboro, GA 30458
912-764-9911

Bulloch County Sheriff’s Department
17257 US-301
Statesboro, GA 30458
912-764-8888

East Georgia Regional Medical Center
1499 Fair Rd
Statesboro, GA 30458
912-486-1000

Applecare – Urgent Care
586 Brannen St.
Statesboro, GA 30458
912-871-6611

St. Joseph’s/Candler Urgent Care
1096 Bermuda Run
Statesboro, GA 30458
912-871-5150

Car Accident News Statesboro, GA

5-year-old killed in Statesboro car crash
https://www.wtoc.com/2020/02/12/year-old-killed-statesboro-car-crash/

Coroner releases names of Portal crash victims
https://www.statesboroherald.com/local/coroner-releases-names-portal-crash-victims/

1 dead after early morning crash in Statesboro
https://www.wtoc.com/2019/04/07/dead-after-early-morning-crash-statesboro/

Three car crashes kill two, injure two over holiday weekend
https://www.statesboroherald.com/local/three-car-crashes-kill-two-injure-two-over-holiday-weekend/

12-year-old boy struck, killed by car while running after school bus in Statesboro
https://wpde.com/news/nation-world/statesboro-school-bus-bulloch-county-coroner-boy-student-ambulance-georgia-medical-center

Note: We have constructed this post using outside sources, including news bulletins and first-hand accounts from outside sources. The details concerning this accident have not been independently verified and so, if you have identified false information, please inform us immediately. We will adjust the post to reflect accurate content.