Personal Injury: What to do while you wait for the police to arrive

Car accidents are the No. 1 cause of personal injury claims. You don't always realize the extend of your injuries immediately after an accident as adrenaline is pumping. While you are waiting for the police to arrive, take stock of the situation.

 

Watch more of this video about Personal Injury from a car accident.

You can find more about Georgia Traffic Laws here.

Georgia Automobile Accident Attorney

Being in a automobile accident can be one of the most stressful times in life. Should you ever be in an Georgia automobile accident, it pays to have some idea of what the Georgia automobile accident law is. This is especially true if you are thinking about filing a claim for damages and other recourse against the person who was driving the other vehicle and who was responsible for the accident. In Georgia as with every other state in the Union, all drivers must exercise caution on the roads.

If you are involved in a automobile accident, Georgia automobile accident law requires that you stay at the scene of the accident until the police come. This is important especially if there is injury or serious damage to property. If you leave the scene of an accident you may face criminal charges or have sanctions placed on your drivers license.

You will also need to get the particular of the other driver or drivers involved in the accident with you. Ask for their drivers license number, the vehicle registration, insurance documents and a contact address and number. All these things will become important if you decide to make an insurance claim or to sue the driver.

According to Georgia automobile accident law you can only sue for damages such as loss of income, present and future medical expenses due to the accident and this includes doctors visits and any other treatment necessary, funeral expenses, pain and suffering due to physical injury, mental anguish which covers emotional and mental distress, loss of earning capacity both present and future, and property damage.

In the case of fault where there is no clear evidence as to who is negligent, Georgia automobile law allows for shared fault. Here both or all parties involved in the accident are adjudged to share equally in the responsibility. The insurance companies’ will then have to determine the proportion of fault to apply to the parties involved.

If you or a family member is a victim of a automobile accident in Georgia, contact Ernst & Partners, P.C. The Georgia car accident attorneys at Ernst & Partners have extensive experience handling lawsuits for clients who have been seriously injured automobile accidents. We offer a free initial consultation, and charge no attorney’s fee until we recover compensation for your injury.

Georgia Hit & Run Accident Attorney

A hit and run accident is an accident where the driver who is at-fault leaves the scene of a accident. Hit and run accidents typically result in serious injuries and sometimes, death. Hit and run injuries can end with long term disabilities and need pricey medical treatments. 

In Georgia, it is against the law to leave the scene of an accident.Indicting a hit and run driver can be extremely difficult.  If you are fortunate enough to identify the vehicle involved in the incident, it may still be difficult to demonstrate that the owner was the individual responsible for the accident.

If you are a victim of a hit and run accident, you can file a lawsuit and show the negligent driver that their illegal action was intolerable. At Ernst & Partners, we will work diligently to win the maximum compensation possible for your injury or loss.   Compensation can cover medical bills, pain and suffering and lost wages.At Ernst & Partners, P.C., we look past the standard details outlined in the hit and run accident report.  We conduct our own investigation, evaluating the available evidence, interview potential witnesses and do whatever else is necessary to recover the maximum damages for your injury or loss.

If you or a family member is a victim of a hit and run accident, contact Ernst & Partners, P.C. The Georgia hit and run accident attorneys at Ernst & Partners have the necessary experience handling accident lawsuits and can help those who have been seriously injured in hit and run accidents. We offer a free initial consultation, and charge no attorney's fee until we recover compensation for your injury.

Georgia Drunk Driving Accident Attorney

Drunk driving is one of the top reasons for car accidents in the Georgia. Drunk driving related crashes are unforgivable and disastrous when someone is killed or injured. In the state of Georgia, drunk driving incidents continue to be one of the top causes of vehicle related accidents.

According to NHSTA, almost 13,000 people perished in drunk-driving related incidents in the USA involving a drunk driver with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 or higher. In 2007, 26.9% Georgia drunk driving accidents resulted in a fatality. 

In spite of the circumstances, if you or a family member has been injured or has been killed as the result of an accident caused by a drunk driver, you should seek legal assistance as quickly as possible. Often, after time has passed, witnesses can be hard to locate, they can lose memory of what happened, important evidence can disappear or become  tainted. Your case could be seriously damaged as a result.

The attorneys at Ernst & Partners will fight for you. Our attorneys have successfully represented clients injured in drunk driving automobile accident cases resulting in large settlements and verdicts. Whether it's dealing with insurance companies, medical providers or taking your case to court, we'll be there every step of the way. Let us take care of all the legal details, so you can concentrate on recovering from your injury.

Georgia 18 Wheeler Accident Attorney

Each day motorist on Georgia roadways, automobiles encounter lots of trucks such as 18 wheeler, semis, tractor trailers and other large trucks weighing in at over 5 tons.   18 wheelers are involved in a great deal of catastrophic and fatal accidents throughout the state of Georgia and nationwide.  Unfortunately, due to the sheer size of these 18 wheelers, most of the casualties happen to passengers of other motor vehicles while 18 wheelers usually escape these accidents with few or minor injury.

Some of the most common causes of accidents involving 18 wheelers include:

• Driver Fatigue 
• Speeding 
• Truck rollover 
• Repair & Maintenance Failure 
• DUI / DWI
• Mechanical Failure 
• Brake Failure
• Faulty tires
• Overloaded trucks and trailers 
• Weight shift of truck load
• Backing up

An 18 wheeler accident can be distressing and often times catastrophic. If you or a member of your family has been hurt in an accident involving an 18 wheeler, you may not know where to turn or what to do. If you find yourself in this situation, don't hesitate to contact Ernst & Partners, P.C. The Georiga 18 wheeler accident attorneys at Ernst & Partners have extensive knowledge handling lawsuits for clients who have been severely wounded in large truck accidents. We offer a free initial consultation, and charge no attorney's fee until we recover damages for your injury.

Georgia Pedestrian Accident Attorney

Across the United States, a pedestrian is killed or injured in an accident involving a vehicle approximately every 8 minutes. About 5,000 pedestrians die each year as a result of these accidents.


Top causes of pedestrian accidents:

• Motorist do not yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk 
• Motorist fail to obey stop signs or traffic lights 
• Excessive Speeding
• Not paying attention
• Texting while driving (driving while distracted)
• Talking on cell phone while driving (driving while distracted) 
• Faulty traffic signals

In many instances, pedestrians have the right of way, unless of course they attempt to cross in a non-designated cross area. Children under the age of 16 are most likely to be struck by a car, while elderly victims are most likely to die as a result of their injuries sustained in a pedestrian accident.

Pedestrian deaths are the second-leading cause of vehicle related deaths.As in most automobilie accident cases, it's important that prompt action be taken to effectively protect important evidence, fully investigate the accident and secure witnesses. 

If you or a family member is a victim of a pedestrian accident, contact Ernst & Partners, P.C. The Georgia pedestrian accident attorneys at Ernst & Partners have extensive experience handling lawsuits for clients who have been seriously injured in pedestrian accidents and other automobile accidents. We offer a free initial consultation, and charge no attorney's fee until we receive compensation for your injury.

Georgia Motorcycle Accident Attorney

Motorcycle riders are generally individuals who relish the excitement and liberation that comes with traveling by motorcycle.  Statistics show that the popularity of riding a bike is growing.   Given the recent downturn in the economy, motorcycles have become an alternative, more economical, method of getting around.

However, due to the size and nature of motorcycles, motorcyclists are particularly defenseless against again other motor vehicles . As a result, Motorcyclists are often the victim of devastating  and fatal accidents that oftentimes are the fault of another truck or automobile driver. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in 2006, the number of people fatally injured in motorcycle crashes has doubled over the previous ten years.

There are many different reasons why motorcycle accidents occur:

• Motorcycle malfunction;
• Hazardous road conditions; 
• Haphazardly maintained motorcycle;
• Poor motorcycle design;
• Motorcycle Driver error;
• Careless driving

A motorcycle accident can be devastating, even catastrophic. If yourself or someone in your family has been injured in a bad motorcycle accident, you may not know where to turn or what to do. If you find yourself in this situation, don’t hesitate to contact Ernst & Partners, P.C. The Georgia motorcycle accident attorneys at Ernst & Partners have widespread knowledge handling cases for clients who have been severely wounded in motorcycle accidents. We offer a free initial consultation, and charge no attorney’s fee unless we recover damages for your injury.