1: Should I give a statement to the insurance company?

You should never give a statement to an insurance company without a lawyer present, if at all. Typically, there are two insurance companies involved in an accident case. One company represents the at-fault party. The other may be your own insurance company. Your own insurance company may have language in your policy that requires you to cooperate with them in order for your coverage to apply. This is a good reason to seek the advice of an attorney who is experienced at understanding insurance policy language.

2: How do I get a copy of the accident report?

The accident report will be made by the investigating officer that arrives first on the scene. Your report will be produced at the facility that performed the investigation at the scene, be it the Georgia State Patrol or a local police department. Typically, it takes a few days after the collision for an accident report to be finalized and ready. If you have trouble getting a copy of your accident report, we can get one for you.

3: Should I take pictures of my injuries?

Absolutely! It is true that a picture "speaks a thousand words." Pictures help to prove the severity of your injuries. Some injuries can be photographed with a simple camera. Others require a professional photographer. We work with a professional photographer that specializes in photography for use in negotiations and at trial.

4: I don't have any health insurance. How will my doctors get paid?

This happens to many of our clients. There are some doctors that are sympathetic and will agree to treat you on a lien. This means that the doctor will agree to provide medical treatment for you and will be paid from settlement funds at the time of settlement. We will work closely with your doctor to help you in any way that we can.

5: The person at fault does not have any insurance. What do I do now?

You need the help of an experienced attorney to determine if there is other insurance coverage available to you. Many times, it appears that no insurance coverage is available, when, in reality, there is other coverage. Do not trust the insurer to inform you of coverage that may be available to you. Insurance companies are only concerned with their bottom line: profits. They are not willingly going to inform you of additional, available coverage. Contact our office and let us find out the answer for you.

6: What do I do about losing time from work?

This is part of your damages. We will work closely with your Employer to determine your actual monetary loss. Even if you use your vacation time or sick pay, that is a loss to you and we can convert it into a dollar amount in order for you to recover your loss.

7: I owe more money on my car that the insurance company says that it is worth. What do I do?

Please contact us so that we can see if you have what is called "GAP" insurance that may cover the difference in the "book value" of your car and what you owe to the company that financed your car. Even if you do not have "GAP" insurance, your loss is part of your damages. An experienced attorney can help you to recover that loss.

8: How much money is my case worth?

This is always a difficult question to answer at the beginning of your case. The value of your case is determined by several factors, including the severity of your injuries, the permanency of your injuries, your lost time from work and how your future is going to be affected by your injuries. One thing that we pride ourselves on is that we consider your case as just that: YOUR case. We will communicate with you every step of the way regarding settlement offers and our opinion in regard to the value of your case.

9: How long before my case is settled?

This depends on many factors. Generally, it is never a wise idea to settle a case before you have recovered from your injuries. In Georgia, the Statute of Limitations is two years for a personal injury case. This means that you must have settled your claim or have filed suit on or before the two-year anniversary of your injury date. Generally, it is time to begin negotiations to settle your case when you have been released from your doctor's care. If your doctor determines that your medical care will be ongoing, we will work with your doctor to help us understand the medical care that you will need in the future so that we can begin negotiations without delay.

10: Do we have to go to court?

Not necessarily. Sometimes, cases are able to be settled through negotiation or mediation. There are times when the insurance company will not make a reasonable offer and a lawsuit has to be filed. However, we will NEVER make a decision about filing suit without your input. This is your case and your wishes are always taken into consideration.