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Columbus Car Accident Attorney

Every year, thousands of motorists sustain severe injuries in motor vehicle accidents on Georgia roads. According to the state’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan data, Georgians suffered 7,308 serious injuries from collisions in just one recent year. Nearly 1,500 people died during the same period. This is a devastating loss that is mostly preventable if negligent drivers pay attention and react appropriately to road and traffic conditions.

After a crash, many victims are left with chronic pain, and may experience lingering psychological effects that limit their ability to function optimally in daily life. These limitations can lead to financial difficulties due to missed income, expensive medical bills, and other constraints. Depression, anxiety, and other symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder can make it difficult for victims to get back to their daily activities and the things they enjoy.

Attorney David Bence and the team of dedicated personal injury attorneys at Bence Law Firm, LLC, are here to help if you’ve been hurt in a Georgia motor vehicle accident. Our law firm has recovered more than $35 million in compensation for injured people just like you. With help from a Columbus car accident lawyer, you can demand the full and fair compensation you need to cover your losses after a wreck in the Peach State. Contact us today for a free initial consultation.

Top Causes of Motor Vehicle Accidents in Columbus

It’s all too easy for a negligent or reckless driver to cause a motor vehicle accident in Georgia. It only takes a fraction of a second or one glance away from the road to cause a car wreck that can have lifelong consequences. Car accident cases happen for a variety of reasons. Some of the most common causes of car accidents include the following:

Distracted Driving

Drivers who are talking on the phone, texting, snacking, putting on makeup, talking to passengers, adjusting in-vehicle controls, or are otherwise distracted may miss an obvious hazard in their path or be unable to react in time to avoid a collision. While things like eating while driving or carrying on a conversation aren’t illegal, they divide a driver’s attention from what they need to be focusing on. If this is what causes an accident, that driver can be found liable for the victim’s injuries and expenses.

Impaired Driving

Using drugs or alcohol before getting behind the wheel impairs a driver’s reflexes, affects their judgment, and may cause them to pass out while the car is still moving. Drivers who are impaired often veer out of the lane, potentially sideswiping vehicles next to them or causing a head-on crash with a vehicle in the opposing lane. They may also fail to brake appropriately, causing a rear-end collision. If you believe that alcohol or drugs were a factor in your accident, speak to an experienced personal injury attorney about how this could impact your claim and what evidence you need to show that the driver was impaired.

Fatigued Driving

According to one study, going 24 hours without sleep impairs someone’s driving ability to the same degree as someone who has a blood-alcohol content (BAC) level of 0.10. Given that 0.08 is the legal limit in Georgia, you can see how severe sleep deprivation can greatly affect your ability to drive safely. Drivers may not be aware that they are nodding off for a few seconds at a time, but it only takes that long to cause a serious accident. Accidents due to fatigued driving may be more common in the early morning hours, at night, or on main highways where drivers are more likely to be driving for long stretches at a time.

Speeding

The faster a motor vehicle moves, the harder it is to control because there’s less margin for error. Speeding drivers will have a harder time merging or changing lanes safely. High-speed crashes also tend to result in more severe injuries because the force of impact is much more violent than collisions at lower speeds. Speed limits are posted for a reason, and drivers who don’t obey the law can be found to have breached their duty of care to the other motorists, which opens them up to liability in a lawsuit.

Aggressive or Reckless Driving

Unsafe lane changes, taking turns too quickly, failing to yield, tailgating, running stop signs, racing, and other aggressive or reckless driving behaviors make a motor vehicle accident more likely on Georgia roads. Whether this is someone who is in a hurry to get where they’re going or it’s a case of road rage, this type of driving is dangerous and dramatically increases the risk of an accident. If the other driver was seen to be weaving in out of lanes or otherwise driving in a reckless manner prior to the accident, this can be valuable evidence for your case.

Mechanical Defects

A problem with a motor vehicle’s critical mechanical systems – brakes, engine, transmission, steering, etc. – can make it difficult or impossible for a driver to safely control the vehicle, leading to a crash. While the driver may still be found liable in these cases, it’s also possible for the liability to rest with the mechanic who installed the faulty part or the manufacturer of the part itself. These cases can be complex, and an attorney can provide more guidance on who you may be able to sue for damages after the accident.

Poor Road Conditions

Rain, snow, ice, sleet, and other inclement weather can cause road conditions to deteriorate rapidly. Precipitation makes it harder for drivers to control their cars and increases the time they need to stop safely. Road defects due to poor maintenance can cause similar problems for drivers. While road conditions are often beyond the control of the driver, how they respond to them is not. If a driver doesn’t reduce their speed or otherwise take action in accordance with conditions, this could be deemed negligence.

No matter why an accident happened, one of our car accident lawyers can help you determine if you have a personal injury case and how you can start the process of pursuing a car accident claim for medical expenses and other losses.

Common Auto Accident Injuries

Serious injuries are common in Columbus motor vehicle accidents. These include major injuries that can take multiple weeks, months, or even years to heal, and in some cases, victims may be left with lifelong impairments. Some examples include:

  • Broken bones and sprained joints
  • Soft tissue damage (e.g., muscles, ligaments, tendons, etc.)
  • Deep cuts, which can cause major bleeding depending on the location
  • Internal bleeding
  • Internal organ damage, which may necessitate surgery or needing a transplant
  • Neck injuries, such as whiplash
  • Back injuries, such as a herniated disc
  • Traumatic brain injury (TBI), including concussions and penetration injuries
  • Spinal cord damage, including paralysis, which can be permanent
  • Facial disfigurement
  • Amputation
  • Burns

Injuries like these can require multiple surgeries to address as well as ongoing medical treatment. In some cases, full recovery may not be possible, and the victim may need to spend money on making their home more accessible or buying medical equipment, such as a wheelchair or other assistive devices. These are major expenses and should be paid for as part of your compensation from the at-fault party.

How Long Do I Have to File a Columbus Motor Vehicle Accident Claim?

In Georgia, you generally have two years from the date of the crash to file a motor vehicle accident lawsuit. Fail to file a claim within that timeframe, and you’ll most likely lose your chance at recovering compensation for your injuries. However, it’s a good idea to talk to a knowledgeable car crash lawyer in Columbus as soon as possible after the accident.

Depending on the facts and who’s liable in your motor vehicle accident case, the deadline to file your claim could be much shorter or possibly longer. It’s critical to know what exceptions might apply in your case. Some of these exceptions include:

  • If the victim is a minor, the statute of limitations doesn’t begin until the victim reaches adulthood
  • If the victim has a mental incapacity, the clock can be extended if it’s believed that the person will eventually regain the capacity
  • If the injury wasn’t able to be reasonably discovered within the statute of limitations, which is unusual for car accident cases
  • If the defendant leaves the state before the victim can file a lawsuit

The statute of limitations is generally only shorter than two years for car accident cases if the accident involved a government vehicle. In which case, you may need to provide notice of intent to file a lawsuit earlier.

What to Do If You’ve Been Hurt in a Columbus Car Accident

One of the most valuable parts of hiring an attorney is having someone who can give you step-by-step guidance on what to do after your accident. While some things will vary depending on the circumstances of the crash, there are some general guidelines all victims should abide by. Here’s what you need to do if you’ve been injured in a motor vehicle accident in Columbus.

Call 911

The most important thing to do after any car accident is to get treatment for your injuries. In some cases, victims may be able to call themselves, but in others, the call may be made by someone in another car or a bystander who witnessed the accident. Calling 911 will bring emergency medical personnel to the scene to evaluate you for injuries and transport you to the hospital if needed. In addition, the police can start working on an accident report, which you’ll want if you need to file an injury claim later.

Document the Accident Scene

If you or someone nearby is able, document the crash site. Take pictures or videos of the damage to any vehicles, the area around the crash area, and any injuries you sustained. If there are any eyewitnesses, get their names and contact information. These witnesses can offer valuable evidence for your case and can be called to testify in court to corroborate your claim of the other driver’s negligence. It’s much easier to gather witness information while they are still on the scene than to try to hunt down who may have seen the accident days after the fact.

See a Doctor Right Away

If you aren’t taken to the emergency room, see your physician immediately after a crash. Some people don’t want to get medical treatment because they’re afraid of the cost or think they are fine. However, you may have internal injuries that aren’t obvious and require treatment. Your doctor can also document the injuries in your medical record, linking your condition directly to the crash. This will be crucial evidence in your motor vehicle accident claim to help you get compensation for the medical expenses you incur.

Don’t Talk to the Insurance Company

An insurance adjuster may try to lock you into a story or get you to agree to a quick settlement. Don’t fall for it. Before agreeing to make any kind of statement, contact a motor vehicle accident lawyer in Columbus. It’s okay to tell the representative from the insurance company that you aren’t ready to answer any questions or that you need to speak to your attorney before you do. When you hire Bence Law Firm, LLC, to represent you, our attorneys can speak with the insurance companies for you, so you don’t have to worry about this aspect.

Stay off Social Media

Anything you post on social media can potentially be used against you in the insurance claims process. Avoid making statements or posting pictures that can be used against you by the insurance company. This includes sharing pictures of the vehicle or any information about your injuries. It’s also a good idea to avoid posts completely while the case is pending. Even a seemingly innocuous post, such as a picture from a family vacation, can be used against you to try to show that your injuries aren’t as serious as you claim.

Hire a Columbus Motor Vehicle Accident Attorney

When you’re recovering from a car accident, it can be a challenge just to get through your daily activities — let alone navigate the complexities that come with a personal injury case. Let a lawyer handle the legal legwork involved in your claim while you focus on healing from your injuries. A skilled attorney can help you pursue maximum compensation for your losses and ensure that you are able to focus on what’s most important.

Types of Compensation After a Car Accident

With help from the right attorney, you could potentially recover significant compensation after a motor vehicle accident in Columbus. This includes money for:

  • Medical bills
  • Property damage
  • Lost wages
  • Reduced future earning capacity
  • Pain and suffering
  • Psychological distress

Your attorney will review your case to help you determine how much compensation to file a claim for and what might be a reasonable settlement offer to consider if you want to avoid a trial.

How a Columbus Car Accident Attorney Can Help You

If you’ve been seriously hurt in a motor vehicle accident, it’s essential to get help from a skilled attorney who can fight for you to receive full compensation and justice for your injuries. At Bence Law Firm, LLC, we will:

  • Investigate the accident to determine who’s liable and what compensation you’re eligible for
  • Gather and preserve evidence to demonstrate the extent of your injuries and their impact on your life
  • Manage all of the necessary insurance and court paperwork involved in your motor vehicle accident claim
  • Aggressively negotiate for a full and fair settlement for your car accident injuries
  • File a car accident lawsuit if settlement talks break down

We can start on your case today. Call a Columbus car accident lawyer at Bence Law Firm, LLC, at 334-489-1951 for a free initial consultation.