Getting a settlement for a soft tissue injury after a car accident can be either straightforward or draining, depending on whether the liable party has an insurer willing to communicate openly and in good faith. You could benefit from hiring a car accident attorney to seek a settlement on your behalf. What Is a Soft …
What Should You Do If You’re in a Car Accident While Pregnant?
If you are in a car accident while pregnant, seek medical attention immediately. Even if you are not hospitalized after an accident, you can suffer from complications that can put both you and child at risk. If you are not taken to the hospital in an ambulance immediately after the accident, go to the emergency …
Am I Legally Obligated to Report an Auto Accident?
According to O.C.G.A. § 40-6-273, you are legally obligated to report an auto accident to 911 or the nearest police department, county sheriff, or state patrol if the following conditions apply to the crash: Someone sustained an injury or died in the accident The property damage likely exceeds $500 The locality where the crash happened …
Can I Sue Someone for Running a Red Light and Hitting Me?
The failure to stop at a red light is one of the most commonly ignored rules of the road. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the leading causes of car accidents. So, if someone ran a red light and hits you, you could sue them for the resulting property damage, medical bills, and other losses you …
Can Early Retirement Impact Eligibility for Social Security Disability Benefits?
Whether you want to retire early to get your retirement benefits, or a health condition forces you to do so, you might be concerned with whether you can file for disability insurance benefits with the Social Security Administration (SSA). After all, it is always possible that your request for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits …
Right-of-Way Laws in Georgia
Right-of-way is an integral part of Georgia law. As outlined in O.C.G.A. § 40-6-70 through § 40-6-77, these laws ensure roadways are safe for all who use them. Violation of these laws can lead to accidents with subsequent fines and even jail time for the at-fault driver. Therefore, knowing the ins and outs of these …
Paying for Medical Bills While Your Injury Claim Is Still Pending
If you sustained an injury due to someone else’s negligence, Georgia’s injury laws allow you to file an insurance claim or lawsuit to seek damages from the at-fault party. However, personal injury claims can take time to resolve, and all the while, your medical bills still need to get paid. So, what are your options …
Can Spouses of Social Security Disability Recipients Also Receive Benefits?
Yes, if you are collecting Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), your spouse can receive a benefit based on these requirements: You have been married for at least one year Your spouse is 62 or older Your spouse is caring for your child who is under 16 or is disabled and entitled to benefits What Is …
Who May Be Liable for an Accident Caused by a Road Hazard?
Road hazards can cause devastating injuries and collisions. When you suffer critical injuries in an accident caused by dangerous roads, you may be wondering what legal options are available to you. If you hope to recover compensation for your suffering, you must prove that someone else’s negligence caused your injuries. But who is responsible for …
Determining Fault for an Accident Due to a Sudden Medical Emergency
When someone suffers a sudden medical emergency and causes an accident that results in devastating injuries for you or a loved one, you may wonder what legal options are available to you. If you hope to recover the compensation you will need to get through these tough times, your attorney must prove that someone else’s …
What to Do When a Truck Tire Blowout Hits Your Car
When a truck tire blowout hits your car, you can take several steps to protect yourself, your rights, and your ability to recover damages. First, taking precautions at the scene can prevent further injury. Next, reporting the crash creates a record of the accident. Finally, exploring compensation can alleviate your financial burdens. At the Scene …
How Are Workers’ Compensation Benefits Paid?
Workers’ compensation covers nearly all Georgia employees. Moreover, if you become injured or ill at work, you can receive certain benefits during your recovery. When you’ve been in a work-related accident, your priority should be to recover fully. Accumulating medical expenses and your inability to work will almost certainly be a source of stress. Still, …
Differences Between Interstate and Intrastate Trucking
The biggest difference between interstate and intrastate trucking is: Interstate trucking is when a vehicle goes between multiple states. Intrastate trucking is when a vehicle only travels in one state. If a trucker is going between multiple states, they need to abide by the rules set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). However, …
Does Workers’ Compensation Cover a Car Accident While at Work?
Workers’ compensation can cover a car accident that happens while at work. To qualify for benefits, you must have been hurt while performing your job-related duties. For instance, if you get into a collision as a delivery driver, you can seek damages through workers’ compensation insurance. However, if you were on the clock but got …
Does My Georgia Car Insurance Cover Other Drivers?
In most cases, your Georgia car insurance should cover other drivers. Generally speaking, most types of auto insurance coveragwe in Georgia goes with the vehicle, not the policyholder. If you loan your vehicle to someone else and they cause a collision, your auto liability coverage will be the primary insurance. This is not an across-the-board …
Can You File a Diminished Value Claim After a Georgia Car Crash?
If your car got damaged in a collision, you might wonder, Can you file a diminished value claim after a Georgia car crash? The answer is yes, often you can. There are certain rules regarding how diminished value claims work in our state. In general, however, Georgia allows people to seek a recovery of these …
Who Is Liable if a Driver’s Ed Student Crashes?
You might wonder who is liable if a driver’s ed student crashes into your vehicle. Who will pay for your losses if you got hurt or your property was damaged in the crash? The student does not yet have a driver’s license, but that does not mean that they cannot be liable for careless driving. …
Does Distracted Driving Increase Insurance Rates?
It’s likely that your insurance rate will increase if you are pulled over and receive a citation for distracted driving. Whether your insurance rate increases depends on the state you live in, and in Georgia, it’s common for drivers to see their vehicle insurance rates jump after getting that ticket. However, there are other ways …
How Not Wearing a Helmet May Affect a Motorcycle Accident Claim
If you were in a motorcycle crash without a helmet on, you might have questions about how not wearing a helmet may affect a motorcycle accident claim. Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 40-6-315) requires everyone driving or riding a motorcycle to wear compliant headgear, regardless of the person’s age. Also, the individual must wear compliant eye …
Steps to Take If Your Child Was Injured in a Pedestrian Accident
After a child gets injured in a pedestrian accident in Georgia, a parent might be able to take legal action against the at-fault party. Your family may be able to seek compensation for your child’s medical expenses as well as your family’s non-financial challenges related to the accident. If your child got hurt while in …
Best Driving Apps to Have on Your Phone
If we had to list the best driving apps to have on your phone, we’d be here all day. Thankfully, we’ve narrowed down these apps and placed them into three categories based on their navigational tools, safety, and miscellaneous benefits. All of the apps on this list are free to download and compatible with both …
How Soon Must I Take Legal Action in Georgia?
There is a deadline that determines how soon you must take legal action in Georgia following a personal injury incident or accident. This deadline is set by the statute of limitations. There are exceptions to these rules, but they do not apply in most cases. Pursuing compensation in a personal injury case can take time. …
What Makes a Property Owner Responsible for Injuries?
Under a section of personal injury law known as premises liability, property owners owe a duty of care to those who visit them. They must keep their buildings, yards, sidewalks, parking lots, and other areas free from preventable hazards and repair any hazards they become aware of as soon as possible. If someone gets hurt …
Georgia Motorcycle Helmet Laws
Under O.C.G.A. § 40-6-315, Georgia requires all motorcyclists to wear approved protective headgear. It also requires the Commissioner of Public Safety to provide a list of the qualifying helmets that meet this requirement. This law is in place to reduce the number of accident-related head injuries and deaths in Georgia motorcycle crashes. Georgia’s motorcycle laws …
Georgia Dog Bite Laws
In general, there are two ways dog bite laws work in the United States. Some states hold the owner directly responsible for any bad behavior the dog demonstrates, while others hold the owner legally responsible only if that owner was aware of their dog’s vicious propensities. The type of law that applies can greatly affect …
What to Do If You Are a Victim of a Staged Auto Accident
Unfortunately, staged crashes happen all the time. Scammers purposely cause collisions in the hopes of filing a fraudulent insurance claim and holding you legally responsible. They recover monetary damages while you have to pay to repair the damage to your vehicle and deal with increased auto insurance premiums. If you don’t know what to do …
Understanding Georgia Car Insurance Policy
Understanding Georgia car insurance policy is critical for several reasons, including: Ensuring you have the coverage you need in case of a crash Getting the money you need to cover your expenses if another driver causes you to suffer injuries in a collision If you have questions about your current coverage, your insurer should be …
Why Truck Accident Reconstruction Is Critical
Accident scene investigators can recreate the events that lead to an accident. For this reason, truck accident reconstruction is critical for determining fault and other facts of the accident. It can also greatly benefit an injured person pursuing a compensation claim. By using the services of an accident reconstructionist, a personal injury attorney can add …
The Importance of Preserving Evidence After a Truck Accident
We’ve all seen the detailed investigations that accompany TV shows like Law and Order, CSI, and Bones. Strong evidence is crucial in any legal case, and the importance of preserving evidence after a truck accident case is no different. If you were injured in a truck accident, you may need to prove that the other …
How Truck Driver Fatigue Contributes to Accidents
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has mandates in place against fatigued driving, limiting how long truckers can drive in one period. Truck driver fatigue contributes to numerous collisions because it: Encourages speeding. A motorist may drive faster than usual to make it home sooner. Slows a driver’s reflexes. When exhausted, a driver may …