Car Accident Lawyers in Atlanta

Put 45+ Years of Experience in Your Corner

At Henningsen Injury Attorneys, we are dedicated to drivers and passengers who have been injured in a car accident due to the negligence and recklessness of another driver. We succeed in difficult cases because we spend the time, energy, and resources to win for each victim of a car accident in Atlanta that we represent.

We represent victims of all types of car accidents in Atlanta, including:

• Drunk driving accidents
• Hit and run accidents
• Intersection accidents
• Rear-end collisions
• Side impact accidents

How Long Will My Case Take?

Is There a Legal Time Limit on How Long I Have to File My Claim?

Yes. In United States law, citizens are protected from being prosecuted years after an alleged event based on evidence that has eroded over time. Memories of events that occurred in the past are not considered reliable witness testimony. Someone can show up with medical bills years later claiming that their injuries were caused by a car accident, but it would be hard to prove that the injuries were not caused by some other unrelated factor that had occurred afterward. This protection is called a statute of limitations and each state sets its own for both civil and criminal cases.

The statute of limitations is the maximum amount of time that a car accident victim has to file a civil claim against the driver’s insurance company. In the state of Georgia, victims of a car wreck have two years from the date of the car accident to file their case in court. There are very limited exceptions, however, that does not mean that you should wait until the statute of limitations is almost up. There are important steps that you must take before filing a claim, and if you wait too long, then you might run out of time.

For example, you may be found to be partially at fault for your car accident, and your compensation could be reduced by the amount of fault you share. Henningsen Injury Attorneys fight claims that could be used to reduce how much you are awarded. Attorney Todd Henningsen will be able to explain the laws that apply in your case and untangle any legal jargon.

Conduct A Thorough Investigation

An experienced attorney has the resources to conduct a thorough investigation into your case to determine liability and the cause of the accident.

Let’s say you were injured by a driver that you saw on their phone before the crash. Henningsen Injury Attorneys would conduct an investigation and subpoena the driver’s cell phone records to determine if they were texting or talking when they should have been paying attention to the road and avoiding a crash. In 2019 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that there were 424,000 people injured in motor vehicle crashes caused by distracted drivers, resulting in 3,142 victims losing their lives in fatal crashes. If you are injured due to a distracted driver, drunk driver, or another woefully negligent driver, then Henningsen Injury Attorneys would fight to ensure the responsible party compensates you fairly.

But the average person would not be able to conduct such a thorough investigation on their own, and they likely do not have the kinds of professional connections necessary to successfully complete an investigation. Call Henningsen Injury Attorneys so we can discuss the legal strategies available in your case with you.

Nowadays, almost everyone has a camera on their phone to take pictures and videos. After a car accident, you will want to seek damages for your medical bills, and one of the strongest ways to recover those is by providing the insurance company images of your injuries and the damage at the accident scene.

Even if you feel fine, you should see your doctor immediately following a car accident. They can conduct tests to determine whether or not you have suffered from injuries with late-onset symptoms. Two types of injuries that can occur after a car accident with symptoms that may not show up right away are soft tissue injuries and internal bleeding. Soft tissue injury is when trauma occurs to muscles, tendons, or ligaments and is likely the result of a sudden unexpected or uncontrolled movement. With stomach bleeding, the victim could experience abdominal swelling after several hours, followed by organ failure, shock, or even death.

When the police arrive, they will ask you to recount what happened leading up to the crash. While it is important for you to provide information that is as accurate as you remember, do not offer superfluous information or speculate who caused the car accident. In fact, it’s best to say very little and only what is necessary at the scene of an accident. Henningsen Injury Attorneys will speak to the insurance companies your behalf. Additionally, you should not apologize to the other driver. In accordance with comparative negligence laws in the state of Georgia, your damages could be reduced by the percentage of fault that you share for the accident. You cannot possibly know how much fault they may share for causing your accident unless you conduct an investigation, which Henningsen Injury Attorneys do on your behalf.

Atlanta Car Accident Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Will I have to go to court if I file a claim?

Not necessarily. Whether or not you will have to go to court will depend on the response that we get from the other driver's insurance company. For example, if the other driver's insurance provider agrees to pay the amount that we have determined to be the worth of your case, then no courtroom action will be needed. In most cases, car accident claims can be settled outside of court. However, a trial proceeding could be necessary if the other driver's insurance company refuses to pay you the settlement amount that we feel you rightfully deserve.

The other driver's adjuster is asking me to release my medical records. Should I?

No. The intentions of the other driver's insurance company when asking for your medical records could be misleading. While they may seem concerned with your health and well-being, they might actually be searching for information to be used against you in your case. Therefore, it is not wise to release such information to the other driver's insurance company simply because they asked you to do so. Only a very limited set of circumstances call for the release of a car accident victim's medical records, which is why you should always speak to an attorney about this type of matter before taking any action.

How much is my case worth?

The most accurate estimate of the worth of your case comes from the full assessment of the details surrounding your accident and injury. Accordingly, factors such as the following should be thoroughly examined in order to make an assessment of the worth of your case: medical expenses, lost wages, potential future damages, permanent physical impairment, scarring / disfigurement, and degree of fault. Additionally, we will look at aspects such as where the accident occurred, where the case is filed, the amount of insurance coverage that was offered, and the likelihood of punitive damages. With these considerations in mind, the worth of your case can be established.

How much will it cost me to hire a lawyer for my case?

At Henningsen Injury Attorneys, P.C., hiring a lawyer for your case is completely free of charge. We ask for no upfront fees or obligations when representing our clients. Instead, we work on a contingency fee basis that allows for full legal coverage and representation at absolutely no cost to you until a favorable verdict or settlement has been reached. If, for some reason, we aren't successful in our efforts to secure you wining results, then you won't be asked to pay us anything. We strongly believe in making legal representation affordable to the individuals who need it, and we have committed our legal practice to doing exactly that.

Do I need to report a minor car accident to the police?

The majority of car accidents that occur are relatively minor “fender benders” that result in no injury and no major damage. In these circumstances, it is common to wonder whether or not you should report the accident. The answer depends on the severity of the accident and the communication between both parties.

When it comes to minor accidents, the most important thing to do is exchange contact and insurance information with the other driver. Law enforcement does not need to be involved in every minor car accident. In fact, state law only requires that an accident be reported in certain circumstances.

In the state of Georgia, you are required to report a car accident under the following scenarios:

• The accident has resulted in a death
• The accident has caused an injury
• The accident caused more than $500 of property damage

Of course, there are certain accidents in which it may be in your best interest to alert the authorities of an accident, even if major damage has not occurred. If it is apparent that the other driver is being uncooperative, or if he or she does not have car insurance, a law enforcement officer can help gather this information and write a report to document the facts.

Law enforcement may also be helpful when the other driver is cooperative, but a potential good faith dispute exists between the two of you, so that he or she can provide official, neutral insight that may be helpful down the road.

Do I have to notify my insurance company of the accident?

Yes. The working relationship that has been established between you and your insurance provider calls for mutual cooperation. Part of this cooperation involves following the requirements expected of you, one of which is to promptly notify your policyholder in the event of an auto accident. Failure to provide such information to your insurance company in a timely manner could significantly jeopardize your case, and could even result in complete loss of coverage for the accident.

What kind of recorded statement should I give to the other driver's insurance company?

The short answer would be that no recorded statement should be provided to another insurance provider; that is, not without the legal guidance of an Atlanta car accident lawyer from our office. Your obligation to cooperate with your own insurance company does not require that you also submit to a recorded statement to the other driver's insurance company. As master negotiators with professional experience, insurance company claims adjusters are well-trained in the art of asking questions that are specifically designed to trigger a response that could then be used to hurt your case.

One of the primary intentions behind an insurance adjustor's actions is to save his or her own company money. To ensure that you are not taken advantage of in any way during this process, do not wait to align yourself and your case with a professional car accident lawyer from our office. If any communication between you and the other driver's insurance company is required, then we would be more than happy to step in and act on your behalf.

Do I have to notify the other driver's insurance company of the accident?

No. You are under absolutely no obligation to notify the other driver's insurance company of the car accident in which you were involved; this is the responsibility of the other driver(s). In fact, any communications that you have with an insurance company other than your own could put your entire case in jeopardy. It would be far better to involve a personal injury attorney in the matter who can act on your behalf when any communications are necessary between yourself and another insurance provider.

The other driver's insurance company denied liability. What should I do?

Driver liability is perhaps the easiest thing for the insurance company to immediately deny or dispute when a car accident claim is made against one of their clients. Whether or not the other driver was actually at fault for the accident, it is very likely that his or her insurance company will at first deny liability. In such cases, it becomes the responsibility of you (and your lawyer) to prove that the other driver was, in fact, responsible for the accident that left you injured and / or your property damaged.

Fight for Compensation with the Help of Our Firm

If you wish to seek compensation, you must first review the facts of your case with a lawyer who can help you discern whether or not you have grounds for a personal injury claim. With our help, you can rest assured knowing that your case will be handled with the level of attention it deserves.