Car accidents in Atlanta are an unfortunate but common occurrence. Between heavy commuter traffic, busy intersections like the I-285/I-85 interchange, and distracted drivers, accidents can happen in an instant. If you’ve been involved in a crash, it’s crucial to take the right steps immediately to protect your health, your rights, and any future personal injury claim.
At Tobin Injury Law, we help Atlanta car accident victims navigate the aftermath with confidence. Here are the key steps to take after a collision in Georgia:
1. Call 911 Immediately
Georgia law requires drivers to report accidents that cause injury, death, or property damage exceeding $500. Even if injuries seem minor, call 911 and wait for the police to arrive. The police report will serve as a vital piece of evidence for your insurance claim and any legal action that follows.
If the accident occurs on a highway or interstate in Atlanta, request the Georgia State Patrol or the Atlanta Police Department, depending on your location.
2. Request Emergency Medical Help
Some injuries—like soft tissue damage, head trauma, or internal bleeding—may not show symptoms right away. Shock and adrenaline can mask serious conditions. Even if you feel fine, don’t decline medical attention at the scene. It is important that you see a medical doctor as soon as possible to document any injuries, external or internal, that you suffered as a result of the wreck.
In the days following your crash, look out for symptoms such as:
- Headaches or dizziness
- Neck or back stiffness
- Numbness or tingling
- Trouble concentrating
- Emotional distress
Documenting your injuries early can make a major difference in your personal injury case. To document you injuries, make sure that you take pictures of any bruises, scrapes, or swelling that resulted from the wreck. Continue to take pictures of those injuries from many angles as they heal. Without pictures taken at the time of the wreck, you will lose important evidence showing the severity of your injuries.
3. Document the Accident Scene
If you’re physically able, use your phone to take the following:
- Photos of all vehicles involved (including the license plates)
- Damage to each car
- Traffic signs, skid marks, and road conditions
- Injuries (yours and any passengers)
- The other driver’s license and insurance card
Also, write down:
- The time and location of the crash
- Names and contact information of witnesses
- The officers’ names and badge numbers
If you are able to, make sure to take pictures from many angles and distances so that you have documentation of the entire scene of the collision and pictures of specific damages to the vehicles involved in the wreck.
Be courteous, but do not apologize or accept blame, even if you think you were partially at fault. Georgia’s modified comparative fault rule could reduce your right to recover compensation if you are deemed to have any responsibility, or it could eliminate your right to recover compensation if you are deemed more than 50% responsible.
4. Take Videos of the Scene
Videos serve as powerful evidence in insurance claims and lawsuits. Capture:
- Vehicle damage from multiple angles
- The position of all the cars involved
- Skid marks, traffic signals, and road signs
- Weather and lighting conditions
- Injuries, bruises, or deployed airbags
5. Report the Accident to Your Insurance Company
Notify your insurance provider promptly, but be careful not to speculate about the accident or downplay your injuries or your passenger’s injuries. Avoid giving recorded statements until you’ve spoken with an attorney. You may be required to give a recorded statement to your insurance company eventually, but an experienced personal injury attorney will help guide you through that process to ensure that you do not damage your personal injury claim in any way.
Insurance companies train their insurance adjusters to gather information with the intent of minimizing compensation, even your own. It may seem like your insurance company is there to help you, but your insurance company will do all that it can to reduce the amount of compensation it has to pay you.
6. Follow Up with Medical Providers
It is important to go see a medical provider as soon as possible following the wreck to document your injuries. Just as important, listen to your medical provider’s instructions for continued care, and follow your doctor’s instructions. If a doctor tells you that you need eight weeks of physical therapy, and you only attend two weeks of physical therapy, then the insurance company can use that as evidence that your injuries were not as serious as you claim, because you did not follow your doctor’s instructions.
It is also important that you continue to promptly show up for your medical appointments to avoid large gaps in time between those appointments. Gaps in time between care can hurt your recovery and weaken your injury claim because the insurance company will use that large gap in time to call into question what you were doing that may have exacerbated the injury, or caused a new injury that is not related to your car crash. Make sure that you keep copies of:
- Medical records and bills
- Prescription receipts
- Diagnostic test results (e.g., MRI, CT scans)
- Recommendations for surgery, therapy, or rehab
These documents form the foundation of your personal injury damages claim, which may include compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
7. Speak with an Experienced Atlanta Car Accident Attorney
Before you talk to the insurance adjuster or consider accepting a settlement, speak to a qualified car accident lawyer. At Tobin Injury Law, we handle every aspect of your claim, including:
- Investigating the crash and preserving evidence
- Communicating with insurers
- Requesting certified copies of your medical records and bills
- Calculating your damages
- Summarizing your case in a demand letter to the insurance companies
- Negotiating an offer for you, if possible, before filing a lawsuit
- Researching complex questions of law that may apply to your personal injury claim
- Filing a lawsuit if the insurance company attempts to low-ball the value of your claim
- Preparing you for a lawsuit if we need to file a lawsuit against the at-fault party
- Preparing your case for trial in the event we cannot reach a fair resolution
You don’t pay us unless we win. With a track record of securing six- and seven-figure settlements and verdicts, our firm is ready to fight for you.
Why Choose Tobin Injury Law?
At Tobin Injury Law, we’ve earned a reputation for compassionate counsel and aggressive representation. Our Atlanta auto injury lawyers helped countless Georgians recover after serious car crashes. Our legal team is available 24/7, and we offer free consultations to answer your questions and review your case.
If you’ve been injured in an accident in Atlanta or anywhere in Georgia, don’t wait. Call us today at (404) 587-8423 or contact us online to get the legal help you deserve.