Car Accidents

Motor Vehicle Collision Attorneys Serving the Savannah Area

Car accidents are common in Georgia and around the country. Many of these crashes result in deaths or catastrophic injuries, such as brain trauma, burn injuries, or spinal cord damage. In 2016, there were 1,130 traffic fatalities and thousands of injuries on Georgia roads. If you were injured or a loved one was killed in a crash that was the fault of someone else, the experienced Savannah car accident lawyers at the Suthers & Harper may be able to help you recover damages. Pursuing a lawsuit with the help of an injury attorney may be a useful way to cover the costs of medical care and other expenses that are attributable to the accident.

Seeking Compensation After a Car Accident

Car accidents may happen for any number of reasons. It is appropriate to sue another driver for negligence if they failed to use reasonable care while driving and struck you as a result. A failure to use reasonable care may consist of texting while driving, driving while excessively fatigued, drunk driving, running a red light, or failing to yield the right of way, among other behaviors. In most car accident lawsuits in Georgia, you must establish someone else’s negligence by a preponderance of the evidence to recover your damages.

Both special damages and general damages may be available in Georgia. Punitive damages, which are harder to prove and require evidence of malice, fraud, or intentional actions, also may be available after car crashes caused by a defendant’s drunk driving.

It is common for defendants to argue that the plaintiff bears some responsibility for an accident. For example, if you were speeding, your speeding may have contributed to a crash. In Georgia, you will be barred from recovering damages if you are 50% or more at fault for a car accident. If you are less than 50% at fault, your damages will be reduced by your percentage of fault.

What if more than one person was at fault? In Georgia, defendants are held “severally liable” for the victim’s damages. This means that they must pay damages that are proportionate to their own degree of fault. Suppose, for instance, that your total damages are $200,000, and Defendant A is 30% responsible, Defendant B is 60% responsible, and Defendant C is 10% responsible. You may recover $60,000 from Defendant A, $120,000 from Defendant B, and $20,000 from Defendant C. As you can see, it is crucial to retain an attorney who understands the strategic effects of Georgia’s negligence laws and can bring all of the appropriate parties into the litigation.

Contact a Car Accident Lawyer in Savannah

Car crashes may result in serious injuries. After an accident in which you were hurt, you may receive a call from an insurer for the at-fault driver. In many cases, the adjustor is trying to secure an admission of fault from you. You should consult your own attorney before speaking to an adjustor for the other side. The Savannah car accident attorneys at the Suthers & Harper may be able to assist you in your claim. Our firm also represents people who need a car or truck crash lawyer in Atlanta, Decatur, Stone Mountain, Marietta, Watkinsville, Norcross, Lawrenceville, Roswell, Athens, Pooler, Brunswick and Statesboro, as well as other areas of Oconee, Gwinnett, Clark, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, Chatham, Glynn and Bulloch Counties. Contact us by calling 1.800.320.2384 or completing our online form to set up a free appointment.