Woodbine, GA, Car Accident Lawyer

Woodbine Car Accident Attorney

Car accidents can happen unexpectedly for various reasons, and when an accident occurs due to a specific driver’s actions, anyone injured in the incident is likely to wonder how they can recover their losses and ensure accountability. If you recently experienced a car accident in Woodbine, Georgia and you believe another party is to blame, the first steps you take in the aftermath of the accident can significantly impact the recovery efforts that follow the crash. State law requires every driver to have auto insurance, but insurance alone may not fully compensate for the damages you suffered.

Helping Car Accident Victims Recover in Woodbine, GA

Spohrer Dodd Trial Attorneys has years of experience providing client-focused and responsive legal counsel in a wide range of personal injury cases, including those arising from motor vehicle accidents in South Georgia. When another driver is to blame for your recent accident, we can guide you through the process of holding them accountable for the harm they’ve done, from gathering the evidence needed to prove fault to establishing the extent of damages you can claim. We can assist you with the insurance claim filing process and, if this is not enough to compensate you for all your losses, build a comprehensive personal injury case on your behalf that seeks maximum recovery.

Proving Liability for Your Car Accident in Woodbine

If you have an accident in Southeast Georgia, the fault rule applies when it comes to determining how you will recover your losses. This means you need to prove how the accident happened and identify the driver responsible for causing the accident. Various forms of evidence can come into play in your case depending on how the accident occurred, such as another driver’s cell phone records, vehicle computer data, recorded footage from nearby traffic cameras, and statements from any witnesses who saw your accident happen firsthand. A few of the most commonly cited causes of car accidents in Woodbine and throughout South Georgia include:

• Distracted/inattentive driving. Every driver has a duty of care to operate their vehicle attentively and refrain from distracting activities while driving. Any distraction behind the wheel is potentially dangerous, and texting while driving is one of the most commonly cited forms of distracted driving responsible for accidents throughout the United States.
• Posted speed limits exist to ensure a safe and efficient flow of traffic. While it’s relatively common for drivers to see others moving a few miles per hour over the posted speed limit, any speeding is inherently dangerous and can easily lead to an accident. The more a driver speeds, the less time and distance they have to stop or slow down to avoid a collision. Speeding is one of the most commonly cited contributing factors to the number of fatal accidents in the Woodbine area each year.
• Driving under the influence (DUI) of drugs or alcohol. DUI is a crime throughout the United States. Penalties for DUI conviction in Woodbine may include the defendant losing their driver’s license for an extended period, heavy fines, and incarceration. These penalties will automatically increase if the defendant hurts or kills another person in an accident they cause. Your Woodbine car accident attorney can advise you as to how the illegal nature of the defendant’s actions could impact your case award.
• Vehicle malfunctions. Drivers are expected to maintain their vehicles, and if a driver notices any significant mechanical issue, they are legally required to have the car serviced to fix the problem. Failure to conduct appropriate maintenance, faulty maintenance, or a defect in the vehicle may cause an accident. Your legal team can help determine the root cause of such a crash and identify the party or parties responsible.

These are only a few possible causes of car accidents in Southeast Georgia. Ultimately, if you believe another driver is in any way responsible for your recent accident, you have the right to pursue accountability, first with a claim against their auto insurance, followed by a personal injury claim.

Filing Your Auto Insurance Claim for an Accident in Woodbine

State law requires every driver to have auto insurance that meets specific coverage requirements. At minimum, a personal auto insurance policy must include at least $25,000 in bodily injury liability coverage for injuries to a single person. The policy must also expand this coverage to at least $50,000 for injuries to multiple victims. Additionally, auto insurance must include at least $25,000 in property damage liability coverage to pay for vehicle repair and replacement costs.

A basic coverage policy may be enough to compensate for the damages from a minor accident, but if a victim suffered any severe injuries, their damages are likely to eclipse the at-fault driver’s coverage by a wide margin. However, filing an auto insurance claim is an important first step in your recovery process, even if you know that insurance alone will not fully cover your losses. Your Woodbine car accident attorney can make the claim filing process easier in several ways.

Dealing with an insurance company representative can be challenging, and saying the wrong thing at the wrong time or making any mistakes with the claim filing process could lead to many significant problems with your claim. Insurance companies train their claim adjusters to look for all reasons they can find to deny a claim or reduce the settlement offer as much as possible. Some even engage in bad faith tactics to avoid paying out settlements. However, when you have a seasoned Woodbine car accident attorney representing you, the insurance company is less likely to try such tactics after they notice you have legal representation. After recovering as much compensation as possible from the defendant’s insurance policy, the remaining damages can be recovered with a personal injury claim.

Damages You Can Recover in a Personal Injury Claim for Your Car Accident

The objective of a personal injury claim is to hold a defendant accountable for the effects of their negligence or intentional misconduct. Under state law, the plaintiff has the right to seek full accountability for all the economic losses they suffered. They are also allowed to claim compensation for their pain and suffering. Your Woodbine car accident attorney can build a personal injury claim on your behalf that potentially helps you recover:

• Medical expenses. Car accidents can cause a host of injuries, including traumatic brain damage, bone fractures, injuries to internal organs, and more. The victim may require extensive ongoing care to fully recover. You have the right to seek full compensation for all the medical expenses you incurred from your car accident, including the cost of future rehabilitative care you will need to reach maximum medical improvement from your injury.
• Lost income. When a car accident has left you unable to earn income, the defendant is liable for the income you lose during your recovery period. If you have been permanently disabled by your accident and will not be able to return to work at all, the defendant is also liable for the future income you would have otherwise been able to earn.
• Property damage. The at-fault driver’s insurance may pay for some of your vehicle repair costs and other property losses, but any outstanding losses can be cited as economic damages in your personal injury suit.

Economic damages are generally straightforward in most civil suits in South Georgia, but calculating pain and suffering can be more difficult. The state does not apply any caps or limits on pain and suffering compensation for most personal injury claims, including car accident claims. This means you have the right to claim as much as you think is fair to reflect the severity of your experience and the physical pain, psychological trauma, and emotional distress you suffered from the accident.

If the at-fault driver caused your accident through any illegal misconduct, this can influence your case award as well. They may owe you punitive damages, or it is possible for a criminal case filed by the state to yield restitution. An experienced Woodbine car accident attorney is a valuable asset when you face any such complexities in a car accident case. Your attorney can help determine the most viable path toward recovering your damages and maximizing your recovery to the fullest extent possible under the law.

The team at Spohrer Dodd Trial Attorneys takes time to learn as much as possible about each individual client we represent. We can carefully review the details of how your accident happened and assist you in identifying the party or parties liable for your damages. Whether you can recover fully through auto insurance or need to file a more extensive personal injury claim against the at-fault driver, you can rely on our firm to provide the responsive legal counsel you need to approach your case with peace of mind.

Car Accident Lawyer FAQs

Q: Can I Sue Another Driver for Causing a Car Accident in Woodbine?

A: The state follows the fault rule when it comes to resolving car accidents, meaning the driver who caused the accident is liable for the damages they inflict on others. If another driver caused your recent accident, you could hold them accountable by filing a claim against their auto insurance. If they do not have enough insurance coverage to compensate you fully for your damages, you can proceed with a personal injury claim to recover the rest.

Q: What Happens if I’m Partially Liable for My Car Accident in Woodbine?

A: It is possible for a plaintiff in a civil suit in Southeast Georgia to bear partial liability for their damages and still recover compensation. The state enforces the modified comparative negligence rule, meaning a plaintiff loses a percentage of their case award equal to their percentage of fault for causing the damages. As long as the plaintiff is less than 50% responsible for the accident, their fault percentage is deducted from their case award, and they keep the remainder. If they are 50% or more at fault, they cannot recover compensation from the defendant.

Q: How Long Do You Have to Sue for a Car Accident?

A: If you cannot fully recover your losses through insurance alone and need to file a personal injury claim in Woodbine, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims is two years. This time limit starts on the date of your accident. It will take some time to gather the documentation and materials needed to file your case, so it is advisable to start the process as soon as possible with the help of an experienced Woodbine car accident attorney.

Q: Can a Driver Go to Jail for Causing an Accident in Woodbine?

A: Yes, it is possible for a driver to face criminal charges for causing an accident if they did so by breaking the law. Driving after drinking or taking drugs, excessive speeding, or intentional misconduct of any kind behind the wheel may lead to criminal prosecution of the at-fault driver. If any illegal misconduct caused your recent accident, your attorney would advise you as to how this may impact your recovery.

Q: How Long Will It Take to Recover Compensation for My Car Accident in Woodbine?

A: Your recovery from an accident is likely to require an auto insurance claim, and it may take a few weeks for you to receive your settlement from the at-fault driver’s insurance carrier. If you need to file a personal injury case, resolving your civil suit will take longer. If the defendant agrees to settlement, this may only require a few weeks, but if the case needs to be resolved through litigation, this could take much longer, potentially several months. A Woodbine car accident attorney can provide an estimate of your recovery efforts’ timetable.

An experienced Woodbine car accident attorney is an invaluable asset when it comes to recovering from a crash that another driver caused. When you have Spohrer Dodd Trial Attorneys representing you, you can approach every step of your recovery process with confidence and peace of mind. We take every case with the goal of helping our client recover as fully as state law allows. If you are unsure how to recover from your recent accident, we are ready to assist you. Contact us today and schedule a free consultation with a Woodbine car accident attorney to start working toward your recovery.