Atlanta Car Accident Lawyers

When you are hurt in a crash, you are worried about how to protect your family and your financial future.  You want an award-winning legal team committed to helping you immediately by explaining your legal rights and how to pay for and afford medical care for your injuries, how to recover lost pay due to missing work , and how to receive fair compensation for your pain and trauma.

Learn what to do and how much your accident case may be worth by calling or contacting us today. Our expert car accident lawyers will talk to you on the phone, in-person, or by email-at no charge and give you great legal advice. We can and will start working on your accident claim today.

No Risk: We require no money up-front and we are not paid a legal fee unless you win money.

Get The Essential Legal Advice You Require

• How much is a Georgia car accident case worth?
• What types of accidents does your law office handle?
• How do I pay my hospital and medical bills  after a crash?
• Can I recover past and future lost pay?
• How much do you charge in attorneys fees?
• How much legal experience do you have in handling car accidents?
• How do I get my car fixed or replaced?
• Can my medical costs or liens be reduced so that I can take home more of my settlement?

How An Atlanta Car Accident Attorney Can Help You

Protect Your Financial Future

Our attorneys have over fifty years’ combined personal injury experience. Most members of our support staff have over twenty years’ legal experience, each. Very few Georgia law firms have our depth of experience.

Protect Your Legal Rights and Your Family

Whether you were the driver, a passenger, or an innocent bystander or pedestrian  you have certain legal rights. When a dangerous, distracted, or simply negligent driver hurts you or a loved family member – a wife or husband, elderly parent, or teen driver – getting and paying for prompt medical attention and then getting your claim investigated and established with the right insurance company or business is critical.

You will want to obtain a police report, make sure evidence is preserved, know what to say when the insurance company calls, get your car repaired, and how to build the strongest possible case by getting the right medical attention and documentation of your past and future expenses.

Dealing With The Insurance Company or Adjuster

Once you have gotten over the initial shock of you or a loved-one having been involved in a serious car crash, you should notify your own auto insurance company, and you may begin receiving calls from an insurance adjuster for the man or woman who caused the accident. This is an important time in your case.  What will you say?

Most often, your own insurance company will be helpful. It is recommended, and probably required by your insurance policy, that you report the accident and tell your claims representative what happened.  But, at-fault driver’s insurance adjuster is most likely calling you for a completely different reason.

Don’t Give A Recorded Statement Without First Getting Legal Advice

Insurance adjusters can and will use your recorded statement against you. If you tell the adjuster you are “fine” when you are not certain, the adjuster may use the statement to claim you are exaggerating your injuries if it later turns out your condition is more serious. Or, the adjuster may ask you to estimate how fast you were going, or when you first saw the defendant’s vehicle.  The adjuster is usually hoping you will make a mistake or say something that hurts your case.

In most cases involving a motorcycle or automobile crash, we recommend that you decline to give a recorded statement or written statement to an insurance adjuster for the at-fault driver and politely let the adjuster know he or she will soon hear from your car accident lawyer.

Get The Medical Care You Need to Prove Your Case

This may sound obvious. But many people cannot afford to, or may be reluctant, to get the care and treatment necessary to prove the full extent of injuries after a car wreck.  The problem with not getting medical attention and following your doctor’s

treatment plan

is that the at-fault insurance company will argue “little treatment” means “little or no injury.”  If you do not have health insurance, there are

resources and advice that a skilled injury attorney can offer

to minimize the risk that an insurance adjuster can accuse you of not being hurt or defeating your claim with arguments that your injuries are exaggerated or pre-existing. We can help.

Don’t Settle Your Injury Case Before Speaking to a Local Attorney

Do Not Sign A Release or Settlement Agreement Too Quickly

Automobile collisions never come at a convenient time and insurance adjusters may contact you claiming to offer help, but they may try to get you to settle early for a low settlement offer for a low payout before you know the full amount of your physical recovery, your medical bills,lost work and pay, or damage.

It is important that you do not sign a settlement release until the full extent of your current and future damages is known. Once you sign the release, you may not be able to recover more money in the future, even if you discover that your injures or losses are greater than you knew when you signed the settlement agreement.

The First Settlement Offer is Rarely The Best Offer

One of the goals of an insurance company is to settle your injury claim as quickly as possible and for the least money possible. If you are approached immediately by an adjuster with a settlement offer while you are still under treatment, beware. If you settle your claim before the full extent of harm is known, or if you accept the first offer made, it is almost certain you are leaving money on the table.

The value of a car accident injury case is almost always based upon the seriousness and lasting effect of the physical harm. In some cases, the value may be limited by the amount of insurance available or increased by the reputation and skill of an attorney.

Simply Hiring a Top-Rated Injury Lawyer Can Help Your Case

You certainly can handle your car accident case on your own and without hiring a lawyer. Many people worry about the cost of paying a well-known attorney to handle their case. However, insurance industry studies show that accident victims who hire a car accident lawyer usually wind up with more money after the car accident lawyer is paid, than an adjuster was willing to offer before an attorney was hired.

How can this be? This is because even at the settlement stage, insurance adjusters and defense lawyers require everyone (victims and their lawyers) to be able to prove their claim as if the case were being determined in a Georgia courtroom. If an adjuster knows that you do not have an injury attorney, he or she will assume that you are not going to be able to “beat” the insurance company in court or you will not know how to present evidence of your medical bills and all of the financial losses you suffered, and he or she will almost always automatically discount the settlement offer, usually by a lot.

Fast Action Brings Better Results

Whether you hire an attorney, fast investigation, immediate notice of claim, and prompt medical care are among the top things that can help you recover more compensation. Millar Law Firm attorneys offer sensible, practical legal advice about what steps you should take next. If you contact us today, we can even help you deal with problems like getting medical treatment when you do not have health insurance.

Delays, especially in getting your medical care, are often used against you by the insurance adjuster. A short delay of one or two weeks in seeking treatmentafter your crash may result in an adjuster arguing that you were “not hurt,” even if your injuries are obvious. Getting your injuries treated and properly documented are key to maximizing your motor vehicle accident claim.

Our Investigative Process

Investigation of a car accident case almost always begins with determining andproving who was at fault. If you do not already have an accident report, our firm will usually begin your case by getting the police report and the 911 calls and recordings. We interview witnesses and police officers. We also review your past and present medical bills, records, and history and help you prove the full extent of your injuries.

Investigation of the accident scene is just one of the first things we do to determine the facts of a case. Here are some of the things that are regularly done to investigate motor-vehicle accident cases:

• Photograph the scene and the cars, trucks, or motorcycles involved in the crash.
• Interview other drivers, passengers, and eyewitnesses.
• Obtain video from traffic cameras, nearby businesses, and police cars.
• Hire top accident reconstruction experts to build and prove your case.
• Review your medical care with your doctors, to prove all of your injuries.
• Find and prove all relevant medical bills and lost wages, past and future

Georgia law requires you to not only prove who was at-fault in a collision, but also that all your injuries and lost pay were caused by the negligent driver. A good car accident lawyer will carefully build and present your case to the insurance company or defense attorney so that all of your damages are considered.

Proving your Injuries Using Medical Evidence

In any negligent or reckless driving case, you will need to prove — not only who was at fault — but the full extent of your injuries. You will have the burden of proving your ambulance bills, hospital and emergency room treatment and costs, ICU or surgical care, and even any x-rays, MRIs or Cat-Scans you may have had.  Not only will you have to prove you received the medical care and tests, you must prove that all of this treatment was necessary and related to your accident.

Admissible courtroom evidence of medical care can come from medical workers, such as doctors, nurses, EMTs or paramedics, physical therapists, chiropractors, or other professional health care providers. Often this requires deposition or court room testimony, because it is doubtful that a Judge will allow more than very limited testimony from the accident victim to explain the nature and extent of the medical procedures performed and why they were necessary and related to the collision.

In some cases you may need to prove that your conditions were not pre-existing, or that a particular health problem was aggravated or made worse by the wreck. It is a common defense and insurance company tactic to argue that anyone who has a past diagnosis of minor ailments such as osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, tendinitis, or other painful syndromes – even if completely healed – is not really and truly hurt in a car accident.  Fortunately, with careful preparation and the right evidence, these defenses can be overcome.  Expert testimony from physicians, whether orthopedists, primary care doctors, or surgeons can be used to demonstrate that your injury was acute, meaning caused by the traumatic incident, instead of some previous injury.

Settlement Negotiation: Getting the Most Out of Your Case

Once you have recovered from your injuries or your condition has reached maximum improvement, the next step is usually to negotiate settlement with the insurance company. The insurance company will try to pay out as little as possible-often by making excuses, like: You were “not badly hurt.” If you were seriously injured, they might make the accusation that your injuries were pre-existing.

In Georgia the best way to achieve a fair settlement is to present a demand package fully documenting everything, proving to the insurance company that you can beat them in a courtroom battle, if necessary.

• Our firm prepares demand packages that include:
• Police and accident reconstruction reports
• Photos of your injuries and the damage to your car, truck, or motorcycle
• Your medical bills
• Lost pay and earnings
• Special narrative reports from your doctors explaining your condition
• Expert reports explaining your future medical and economic losses

In most injury cases in the Atlanta area, the insurance company will only make a full and fair settlement offer when the adjuster or defense lawyer have been convinced that you have the evidence necessary to win your case in court.

Fortunately, many cases will settle once this level of proof is shown through a well-documented demand. However, if your case does not settle, you should have the proof needed to take them to court and win! The Millar Law Firm provides this level of proof and presentation; it is how we consistently achieve great results both inside and outside the court house.

Other Ways The Millar Law Firm Can Help

Uninsured and Underinsured Drivers (known as “UIM claims”). Unfortunately, due to the explosive growth in our area, many drivers on the roads in and near Atlanta do not have auto insurance. If you happen to be hit and injured by one of these drivers, you can be out of luck unless you or, in some cases, your employer has UIM coverage. Don’t expect an insurance company to explain that this coverage may be available-many times the claims handler is hoping you will not discover that UIM coverage exists. We check for UIM in every case we handle. You may be pleasantly surprised to find out this additional coverage exists.

Fighting the ‘canceled’ insurance policy or excluded driver. We have seen many cases in Atlanta where an insurance company tried to deny payment of a claim because the at-fault driver’s policy allegedly canceled just before the wreck, or the driver was allegedly excluded. Sometimes these excuses for refusing to pay your claim are bogus, such as when the policy was not properly cancelled or the car had been loaned to a “permissive driver” who is, in fact, covered by the policy.

Doctors who won’t see you because your injury is from a car accident.

Many people are surprised to find out that their Georgia primary care doctor and some medical clinics refuse to treat them because the injury came from a car accident. We run into this several times per year in and near Atlanta. Some medical providers may refuse to accept your insurance for the same reason. Should this happen to you, call us. We have several successful ways of dealing with this problem.

Keep more of your car accident settlement.

Most likely your medical care was paid for by a health insurance company or workers compensation carrier.  A health insurance company is likely to try to claim part of your money after settlement, claiming a right to subrogation or reimbursement.  However, not all medical health care plans must be reimbursed.

Knowing which plans have an enforceable lien on your settlement is key to keeping as much of your settlement as possible. For example, a plan that is subject to Georgia’s “made whole doctrine” may not be entitled to claim any of your settlement money. Likewise, workers compensation liens may also not be enforceable against your settlement either.  But, don’t count on the insurance companies to tell you whether their lien is strong.  You need a strong legal team to fight off unfair subrogation claims.

–Back to Top–

Types of Car Accident Cases We Handle

Since 1993 the Firm has expertly represented your neighbors in Atlanta and across the State of Georgia on cases that include:

• Interstate highway accidents and collisions on I-75, I-85, I-285, I-16, and state highways
• City street and roadway crashes (the busiest streets and highways in Atlanta include our interstate highways, Peachtree Street and Buford Highway)
• Intersection, stop sign, and traffic light collisions
• Wrecks involving totaled vehicles
• Rear-end collisions
• Head-on crashes
• Hit-and-run cases
• Wrongful Death cases
• Paralysis cases
• Side-impact and side-swipe incidents
• Wrecks due to failure to yield or maintain lane
• Injuries caused by DUI/drunk drivers
• Distracted driving cases
• Negligent and careless drivers
• Speeding and reckless drivers
• T-bone collisions
• Multiple-car pile-ups
• single-vehicle accidents
• Vehicular roll-over cases and claims
• Road rage and aggressive driving attacks
• Phantom vehicle crashes with or without contact

Interstate Highway Crashes

Interstate Highway Crashes are special claims in several ways. Due to high speeds and vehicle size, reckless driving, and long-distance driving as people cross the State of Georgia on their way to Florida, Alabama, Tennessee and South Carolina, many at-fault drivers suffer fatigue and fall asleep at the wheel or are distracted by phones and electronics.  Crashes on Georgia Interstate Highways tend to be serious, causing greater than average injuries and death.  Fortunately, heavy trafficusually means eyewitnesses. One of the first things to do in the days after a highway accident is to request 911 telephone logs and audio recordings. Even if witnesses do not stop, they often tell the dispatcher what they saw, and those records can be used to identify and interview witnesses.

City Street and Roadway Crashes

City Street and Roadway Crashes make up the majority of car accidents in the Atlanta area. Many of these accidents happen because of texting or eating while driving.  Although some intersections have traffic cameras, surprisingly few cameras are actually in-use or recording.  Still, it is best to request traffic camera footage from the local authorities, on the chance that it does exist.  Be sure to obtain a copy of the police report, officer body camera recordings, and 911 records as soon as possible after the crash.

Intersection, stop sign, and traffic light collisions

Intersection, stop sign, and traffic light collisions can be problematic because many at-fault drivers attempt to blame the victim or claim that they had a green light. However, detailed investigation can often prove that a driver disobeyed a stop sign or traffic signal.  Ways of proving this include requesting and analyzing the traffic light programming sequence from the local or Atlanta department of transportation or the electronic data from the vehicles themselves.  Additionally, police officers often issue tickets and if the cited driver mails in payment, this is a guilty plea that can be used to prove your case.

Wrecks involving totaled vehicles

Wrecks involving totaled vehicles can mean a vehicle was totally destroyed, or can happen when a vehicle is older or custom, and it is more expensive for the insurance company to repair rather than replace the vehicle. If your vehicle was totaled, make sure you take pictures as the insurance company is likely to pay you for the loss and take the vehicle away to be sold for parts, scrap, or crushed.

Rear-end collisions

Rear-end collisions are known to cause back and neck injuries, but can also cause concussions and more serious traumatic brain injuries, as well as broken or sprained wrists, ankles, feet, and toes. Many people initially feel “fine” for a little while at the accident scene after a moderate rear-end hit, and may refuse medical care.  If this has happened to you, and you are not feeling better hours or a day or more after the wreck, seek medical attention.  Not getting medical attention right away, even for a serious injury, generally leads to the at-fault insurance adjuster arguing you were “not hurt.”  This defense can be overcome, but expect a fight from the adjuster.

Hit-and-run cases

Hit-and-run cases happen every day around Atlanta. Often a driver flees the scene and later claims that he or she was not driving or the vehicle had been “stolen” before the wreck.  Lying drivers can be found-out by requesting police and 911 records, proving that the vehicle had never been reported stolen or that the alleged theft took place after the time of the crash.  Drivers who flee the scene of an accident can be responsible to pay punitive awards.  If the driver is not found, your un-insured motorist coverage can pay your damages.

Head-on crashes

Head-on crashes usually result from extreme distracted driving, drunk driving, reckless driving or loss of control. It is not unknown for a driver who causes, and survives, a head on collision to blame an act of god, poor road conditions or some other unusual circumstance.  These defenses can be attacked by reconstructing the accident, downloading black box data, checking weather data and conditions, and reviewing the negligent or reckless driver’s medical records to verify if he or she actually had a medical emergency, or is making up an excuse.

Fatal or Paralyzing crashes

Wrongful Death and paralysis cases should usually only be handled by law firms that have the experience, resources (ie., money), and network of medical and economic experts needed to win and get top-dollar.

Georgia negligent death claims and paraplegic or quadriplegic cases require proving fault, plus the future value of the life lost or the future medical and life-care costs. Special expert witnesses such as lifecare planners, vocational experts and economists are usually necessary.  Our office routinely spends tens of thousands of dollars on such experts, when the circumstances require.

Side-impact and side-swipe incidents

Side-impact and side-swipe incidents can range from very minor, to extreme situations where one vehicle hooks onto another and drags the car or small truck and its occupants some distance, causing large injuries. These accidents can result from untrained or inexperienced drivers, or just driver error.  However, some of these accidents arise from angry drivers who can be punished for causing such wrecks with punitive damages.

Wrecks due to failure to yield or maintain lane

Wrecks due to failure to yield or maintain lane accidents most often arise from one driver pulling out in front of an oncoming car, or beginning to turn illegally. Eyewitness testimony or the physical evidence found by the police officer at the scene is often the difference between winning and losing these claims.

Injuries caused by DUI/drunk drivers

Injuries caused by DUI/drunk drivers are known to result in catastrophic damages to the victim, while the drunk driver walks away unscathed or with only minor bumps and bruises. In these cases, evidence gathered by the Police can be used in your civil case against the intoxicated driver.  Drunk driving verdicts and settlements tend to be much larger than other accidents, due to the reckless and punitive act of drunk driving.

Distracted driving

Distracted driving cases include, not only cell phone use in violation of Georgia’s hands-free laws, but other electronic devices such as GPS or even video players. It can also include drinking and eating fast food while driving or other acts of driver negligence like yelling at children in the back seat, selecting music on the radio or ipod,teenagers talking and goofing around in the car, having a dog sitting on the driver’s lap and other dangerous and outrageous behavior.

Speeding

Speedingand reckless drivers may try to blame road construction, potholes, or animals for making them suddenly lose control. Some of these drivers may try to blame you for pulling out in front of them, when the truth is that they were driving far in excess of the speed limit. Accident reconstruction or eyewitness testimony may help you win a case where the at-fault driver was speeding.

T-bone collisions

T-bone collisions usually cause very serious injuries, because the victims have only the protection of a car door between themselves and the front-end of the oncoming car. One or both vehicles are usually destroyed.  Other issues that can and should be examined in these incidents are the crash worthiness of the cars and, for passengers in a vehicle that struck another car head-on, whether the air bag properly deployed.

Multiple-car incidents

Multiple-car incidents such as pile-ups can include high-speed boulevard or highway road-wrecks, or chain-reaction rear-end collisions in heavy, stop-and-go traffic, or when traffic suddenly slows on a busy road. Determining who was at-fault can be difficult, but it may be possible by analyzing how many impacts were felt by each driver and by the position and damage to the automobiles.

Single-vehicle accidents

Single-vehicle accidents may arise from automobile product defects, such as tire blow-outs, tire tread separation, or other sudden mechanical failure. In such cases, the vehicle and the roadway may be analyzed by an expert to determine the cause of the crash.

Road rage

Road rage and aggressive driving attacks are becoming more and more common in the Atlanta area and around the State of Georgia. Our law firm’s attorneys have handled a number of road-rage vehicle attacks, and with great success.  These accidents can include exemplary or punitive damages, in addition to the traditional compensatory and economic damages of most injury cases.

Phantom vehicle crashes

Phantom vehicle crashes, with or without contact can be covered by Georgia uninsured motorist policies. You will need proof of contact with another automobile or a witness who can testify that he or she saw you run off the road by the phantom driver.

–Back to Top–

Other Automobile Related Practice Areas

Automobile Products Liability

Most automobile products liability injury cases begin with a horrific crash. Our law firm works on or with other law offices on automobile crash cases that have resulted from defective vehicles and parts.  Some of the issues arise from manufacturing defects, and others from design or repair issues and problems.  We have handled cases or worked with other lawyers on cases from all of the major manufacturers, including Honda-Acura, Ford, General Motors, Toyota, Nissan, Chrysler-Jeep and others.

When a person is more seriously injured than expected in an accident, or is seriously injured or killed in a single-car accident, it can be prudent to investigate the vehicle for potential defects or crash worthiness issues. A few areas to be examined include; seat-belt defects, airbag issues and failures, such as failures to deploy or unwanted deployment, tire tread separations and blow-outs, seat-back failures, and brake failures, among other things.

Our firm has also encountered several instances where the failure of a repair shop to safely replace or repair components, such as a steering rack or transmission, or where dangerously worn or bald tires were sold to the car’s owner caused a severe crash or roll-over injury. Knowingly selling a used car that has defective equipment or brakes may also result in a legal claim.
–Back to Top–

Car Accident Injuries We Handle

Types of Car Accident Injuries The Millar Law Firm Handles and How We Prove Them:

Car accidents can cause a wide variety of injuries. Generally speaking, we can and do handle any injury that is proven to have been caused (known as ‘proximate cause’) by your crash. Although some injuries are more common than others, this does not mean the insurance company will not fight to keep from paying maximum compensation.

Neck and Whiplash-Type

One of the most common injuries we handle are whiplash or neck injury claims. This type of injury is often caused by rear-end crashes but can happen in any traumatic collision. Insurance adjusters often try to claim that these injuries are a minor inconvenience, are being exaggerated, are pre-existing, or don’t exist at all. Do not be fooled. Neck injuries need to be taken seriously and can often include damage to discs or ligaments. See a doctor right away if you are having severe neck pain after a collision. Back and neck injuries can cause discomfort, numbness, stiffness, soreness and disability ranging from a few weeks to a lifetime.

Back Injuries

Another common injury caused by car accidents is damage to the upper, mid, or low back. Because back pain is a common complaint among people generally, insurance adjusters often fight back injury cases and try to claim that the back pain or injury was already there before the wreck. If you are having back pain after a car accident, don’t wait to see a doctor or hospital. Get treatment right away  to document that this is a new injury. It is not uncommon for back injuries to be quite severe and high-value cases due to both the acute and chronic pain such injuries cause.

Amputation Cases

A serious crush injury to an arm or leg, particularly in a severe collision or when a car hits a pedestrian, bicyclist or motorcycle rider has meant the loss of a limb through amputation for several of our past clients. Unfortunately, in these most severe of injuries the at-fault person or company often tries to avoid blame.  We have seen every ridiculous excuse in the book, including that a pedestrian failed to dive out of the way of a careless driver or that a motorcyclist who was stopped at a traffic light was speeding.

Amputation cases are large high value, catastrophic, claims. In addition to overcoming the defendant’s reluctance to accept responsibility and pay damages, the testimony of the surgeon who removed the arm or leg is necessary to prove why the limb could not be saved.  You will also need expert testimony about the type and cost of prosthetic needed to replace the arm or leg, the costs of maintenance for the prosthesis, and the replacement cost.  Most artificial arms and legs will need to be replaced every three to six years, depending on the quality of the unit and how it is used.

Leg and Knee Injuries

Leg and knee injuries must often be proven by expert medical testimony. Insurance companies love to claim that traumatic injuries such as meniscus tears, bursitis, tendon and ligament ruptures to the ACL, PCL, LCL or MCL were caused by an old injury and are not related to a collision.  The testimony of your treating orthopedic and primary care doctors can be used to show that the injury did not exist before the wreck, and that it is related to the accident.

Injuries to the Hand and Foot

Hand and foot injuries can be among the worst injuries, because we constantly use and rely on our hands and feet. Even a sprained or strained foot or ankle can be painful, and can result in nerve damage.  If you feel numbness or tingling, nerve injury may be proven through the use of medical experts.  Serious harm to the hands and feet can also result in arthritis setting into the joints of the fingers, ankles or toes, leading to a lifetime of pain.

Internal and Abdominal Injuries

Internal injuries can often cause long term damage to your body, meaning a more serious and larger civil case. Cases involving damage to your pancreas, liver, spleen, bladder, intestines, or internal bleeding are often high-value, and more complex, claims leading to larger settlements or awards.

Shoulder Injuries

Injuries to large joints, such as the shoulder may not be obvious immediately at the scene of the collision. It may take a few hours or days for a rotator cuff tear or cartilage injury to become known, until fluid builds up or the tissues in the area swell, becoming painful.  Do not let an insurance adjuster tell you that because you did not rush to the doctor to complain about your shoulder, but instead waited a week, that you were not injured.  It is likely that your doctor will explain otherwise.  Our office routinely handles shoulder injuries, including dislocations, impingement and frozen shoulder, separations, and rotator cuff surgeries.

Soft Tissue Injuries

Although not considered “serious” by insurance adjusters, soft tissue injuries can be very painful and may be an indication of more serious injury. Symptoms such as bruising, contusions, swelling, and lumps should be examined by a doctor.  Those visible signs of injury could be an indication of a fracture or crush injury or a herniated disk.  Additionally, take pictures of any blackened or bruised areas.  Seat belt bruises are common in more severe collisions.  Failing to take photographs of your bruises and injuries means permanent loss of this important evidence.  It can be extremely difficult to “explain” a bruise or contusion to an insurance adjuster or a Jury without good photos.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Being able to understand and explain spinal cord injuries involving paralysis to a Judge and Jury are essential trial lawyer skills. Our office has handled many cases for paraplegic and quadriplegic clients.  Our approach is to work with the doctors and life care planners to determine how best to address all aspects of the injury, most particularly future medical expenses and future income losses.  Unfortunately, it can be expected that a paralysis victim will require a lifetime of future medical care, sometimes costing millions of dollars.  While many people heroically return to work in some capacity, others do not.  And, even if you do return to work, it is likely in a reduced capacity, meaning that less money will be earned.

Our office coordinates with the treating physicians, life-care planning professionals, and economic and vocational experts to estimate the future needs of spinal cord clients.  Atlanta has some of the Country’s finest physicians, and we have worked with many at the Shepard Center and Emory University to assess the condition and needs of clients.

Wrongful Death

Even cases where there is no question who caused the crash, when a person is fatally injured and passes away, the loss to the survivors is enormous. Family members may be entitled to recover damages for the full value of the life of the deceased.  We have recovered millions of dollars for the surviving family members of wrongful death victims. For more information, please review our Georgia wrongful death service pages.

Head and Brain (TBI) Injuries

Head and brain injuries can occur in both high- and low-speed car accidents. If you or a loved one is having headaches, dizziness, or memory or personality changes after a crash, it is important to be evaluated as soon as possible. TBI, or traumatic brain injury, can be proven by clinical observation and/or by diagnostic studies such as MRI’s and by the testimony of specialists, clinicians and neurologists.

There is no such thing as a “minor” or “mild” brain injury. Even a concussion or being in a short coma can lead to serious long term cognitive impairment.  If you experience loss of sight, hearing, or smell, or if you have confusion or find it difficult to complete every day tasks, like getting lost driving home from the grocery store, see a doctor right away – it could be a sign of neurological damage.

Facial Injuries

Bruising to the face or a black eye can be a symptom of a broken jaw, fractured orbital bone or other facial damage. Airbags and steering wheel impacts are known to cause such injuries, even if you are wearing seat belt.  However, you can expect that the insurance adjuster might claim that your injury came from not wearing a seat belt.  In some cases it can be proven that you were, in fact, wearing your seat belt based upon electronic data recorded by your car.

Fractures and Broken Bones

Car crash cases in which bones are fractured, broken or shattered can be high-value claims. When you have had surgery to implant hardware such as pins, plates or rods, or to reconstruct a joint, this is a permanent injury that is likely to cause future pain and limitations.  Even being in a cast or splint is a major inconvenience on your lifestyle for which you deserve full compensation.

Other fractures may be less dramatic or more difficult to detect, such as stress fractures or compression fractures. Be sure to describe any unusual or painful symptoms to your doctor.  Continued unexplained pain in a limb, joint or in your spine can be a sign of a stress or burst fracture that may need the attention of a medical specialist.

Chest Injuries

A broken or cracked sternum or rib can be both extremely painful and frustrating. Often a blow to the chest can result in a collapsed lung, bruised or torn cartilage or painful fracture for which there is little direct medical care.  To make matters worse, the medical bills may be small compared to other injuries that are less painful.  You may hear an insurance adjuster or agent tell you the bills just aren’t “that high.”  A good car accident lawyer knows from experience that a chest injury makes it extremely painful to breath, cough, sneeze or laugh.  Do not accept excuses from at-fault drivers and their insurance carriers.  Testimony from medical professionals should be used to prove just how painful and debilitating a chest injury can be.

Other injuries

Our firm can handle any injury suffered in a car accident, crush injuries such as broken bones, road rash, burns, lacerations, shoulder injuries, and more. We work carefully with your doctors and accident.
–Back to Top–

Damages and Compensation Available in a Georgia Car Accident

Your Damages: How Maximum Compensation Can Be Recovered

Georgia law allows you to recover the damages you are legally entitled to after a car accident. This means you may be paid your current, past, and future medical bills and other legal damages, such as pain and suffering. You may be entitled to be reimbursed your out of pocket expenses as well as your medical bills, even if health insurance paid for your medical care, subject to certain subrogation requirements.

Most cases can be resolve and damages can be recovered through settlement. If, however, settlement is not possible, all of your damages are available through legal action. Maximum compensation can be achieved by gathering all of your medical and economic evidence and first presenting it to an insurance adjuster in a settlement demand. If the case cannot be resolved through settlement negotiation with the insurance company, you may decide that a lawsuit should be filed.

How much compensation you are entitled to most likely depends on the amount of your past and future medical bills and how long you suffered or will continue to suffer from your injury. Cases involving permanent injury or where an impairment rating rating has been given by a doctor will generally have a higher projected value than other matters where there is a complete recovery.  If you believe you are permanently injured, an AMA disability rating may be needed in order to receive the highest level of compensation.

Legal recoverable damages in an automobile-related injury cases:

“General Damages” are non-economic payment for your physical pain and suffering and lost quality of life caused by the trauma of impact.

“Special Damages” means reimbursement for medical costs and billing, and past and future medical costs, lost pay and earnings.

“Punitive Damages” are a separate category of damages intended to punish or deter an at fault driver who is especially reckless or derelict, such as a drunk, drugged, hit and run, or road rage driver.

Future losses such as the costs of surgery or forced retirement due to a catastrophic injury.

Proving Your Non-Economic, General Accident Damages In An Auto Wreck Case

The amount of payment for non-economic losses are usually negotiated with the auto insurance company’s adjuster or lawyer, or decided by a jury at trial. In a serious auto wreck, under Georgia law, victims are entitled to be paid for pain and suffering and enduring injury resulting in either temporary pain or permanent impairment and disability.  These damages are intended as payment for short-term or long-term loss of enjoyment of life.

Medical records and expert doctor, nurse, chiropractor or therapist testimony is most often used to prove the extent and lasting effect of the injuries. Exhibits can be used as well, to show the injuries or medical treatment received.

Lay-witnesses, such as family members, friends, sports coaches or club members can be called-on to tell their personal experiences and explain how you were and are different before and after the crash. Loss of companionship of a spouse, known in Georgia as a “loss of consortium,” are another item of damages that may also be available and is usually proven through the testimony of a wife or husband and other family members.

Recovering Your “Special” or Economic Damages After a Vehicle Accident

Economic losses, bills, or special damages, can often be calculated by the you or a car accident lawyer totalling up the money lost as a result of the incident. This includes totaling the amount of money you lost from being unable to work after a wreck. In more complicated cases future financial losses can be calculated by an expert witness, such as a doctor or an economist.

In cases involving damage to a car, pick-up, SUV, bike or other autos, the special damages usually include the property damage or loss such as the vehicle repair cost or fair-market replacement value. You can obtain the necessary records from body-shops, appraisers, and sometimes directly from your own or the at-fault driver’s insurance company.

Special damages after an accident may also cover lost work income and earnings, loss of future earnings, compensation in the amount of your current and future medical expenses such as surgery, injections or therapy you may eventually need.

How to Recover Punitive Damages in a Georgia road-wreck case

Punitive damages are not automatic in Georgia car accident claims, and usually require evidence rising to at least the level of gross negligence. These damages can be awarded or recovered in a negotiated settlement when the defendant driver has acted in an outrageous way, such as driving while intoxicated on drugs or alcohol or has been driving recklessly.  Punitive damages can also be given in Georgia for hit-and-run,  intentionally causing an accident, or leaving the scene.

You will have the responsibility or burden of proving that the driver acted in a malicious, violent, oppressive, wanton or willfully indifferent manner. However, this behavior may be presumed in some cases when a driver makes a grossly negligent decision, like deciding to drive drunk or recklessly, or using his or her car as a weapon.  The police report, eye witness testimony, and officer and patrol car video may be excellent sources of evidence to be used to prove a punitive case. The at-fault driver’s criminal or driving history showing that he or she is a repeat offender with more than one prior DUI convictions can also be used to support an award of punitive damages to punish or deter them from future intoxicated driving.
–Back to Top–

Understanding the Fundamentals of Car Accident Court Cases

Going to Court Over a Car Accident. Will a Lawsuit Be Necessary?

Most cases that are well-prepared and well-documented, and where prompt and necessary medical care was received, can be settled without a lawsuit or civil action or other legal proceedings. Cases involving complicated medical conditions or disputed facts may have to be filed in court. This is true also when the insurance adjuster is being especially stubborn and makes a low-ball settlement offer.

In these cases, our attorneys will discuss your legal options with you and prepare you for what’s next. Even after a suit is filed, very few “court cases” actually make it to trial. With the right preparation and aggressive litigation, it is very possible your suit will settle after the insurance company reconsiders and makes a larger offer.

Should your case be called for trial, you can rest assured The Millar Law Firm will be ready. We have tried over 100 cases to verdict, and you are invited to review our case results here. Some of our best cases have been referred to us by judges who have seen our work in their courtrooms!

What Happens When A Case Goes to Trial?

In a nutshell, before going to Trial, the attorneys will meet with the Judge and have hearings to decide what issues will be tried and what evidence will be admissible or allowed. A Jury is usually selected through the process known as Voir Dire.  Then the car accident trial itself takes place, with the Jury making an award of damages following closing arguments.  The typical car wreck trial can be as short as one-day, or can last from several days to more than one week.

Jurors often wonder or worry about who will pay their Verdict. Car crash trials are almost always defended by insurance defense lawyers and the judgments and verdicts paid by insurance.  This is true even if you do not hear the word “insurance” spoken at trial.  Georgia’s Rules of Evidence do not usually allow the parties to talk about insurance, even though insurance is paying the judgment in the vast majority of cases.

Our office never accepts or takes frivolous automobile injury claims to trial. This would be an insult to the intelligence of most Jurors and a waste of everyone’s time. We strongly believe that there are already too many lawsuits, and that only the best and most-worthy cases should be pursued.

I was injured in the car accident but didn’t go for treatment right away – will the Insurance Company or Jury think I am not hurt?

Some people experience immediate pain at the scene of an accident and seek treatment right away; especially in severe car accidents. However, others may feel “fine” for a few hours or delay in seeking medical care because of a fear of doctors and/or hospitals; an inability to pay for medical care; or no health insurance.

Unfortunately, some at-fault driver’s insurance company and their lawyers may try argue that you were not badly hurt if you did not go to the emergency room or immediately seek medical care. This is a common defense strategy.

We believe that unless you delay for a very long time (more than a few days), a short delay in seeking medical care can be overcome. We believe that most Jurors understand that it is not uncommon for accident victims to say they are “fine” at the scene of the accident (no one likes a complainer), only to feel much worse hours or days later.

How Long Does a Typical Car Accident Case in Atlanta Take?

We recommend that you do not settle your car accident injury claim until you are done with your medical care, or until your future medical condition and needs are known. Thus, many car accident cases will settle two or three months after your medical care ends. If a lawsuit is necessary-either because the facts of your case are in dispute or the insurance company is refusing to make a fair settlement offer-civil suits in the Atlanta area usually take between one and two years after filing before they are called for trial.

What is Mediation, and How Does it Work in Atlanta?

In Georgia, mediation or ADR — Alternative Dispute Resolution — is a settlement conference in which both sides get together and attempt to negotiate a settlement of a legal case. In an injury case, this means the injury victim or Plaintiff and your attorney on one side, and the defense lawyer and representatives of the insurance company on the other.  A neutral party, or mediator listens to the positions of both sides and helps them negotiate, usually by shuttling back and forth to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the case and to negotiate by exchanging settlement offers and counter-offers.  Mediation can be voluntary by agreement of the parties, or court ordered.
–Back to Top–

The Monetary Value of an Atlanta Car Accident – Financial Recovery

Determining How Much Your Atlanta Car Accident Case Is Worth

Assessing the value of your claim requires full knowledge and investigation of the facts, the law, and your medical condition. A good starting point is totaling the amount of your medical bills, property damage, lost pay, and taking stock of the seriousness and permanency of your injuries.  Georgia law allows an accident victim to be compensated for economic losses, meaning your past and future expenses caused by the wreck, as well as your current and future losses and pain.  Cases where you recover completely within a matter weeks or months may not have a value as high as other instances where you have a permanent injury.

An experienced car accident attorney can often estimate the value of an injury case  at the beginning, such as during the free consultation. But this is not exact.  as it is not always possible to give you an exact figure right away until more is known about the extent of your recovery, the amount of insurance, and the driving history of the at fault driver.  However, it is likely that one of our attorneys can give you some idea of case value and whether it is necessary to hire a car accident lawyer. Our legal team takes pride in only taking cases that will result in a good experience and outcome for you, the injured client.

Georgia Punitive Damages Caps

Georgia has a $250,000.00 damages cap for awards of punitive damages in personal injury cases. This cap, however, does not apply to drunk driving cases. There are no caps for general and special damages (meaning for your pain and suffering and proven economic losses).
–Back to Top–

Proving Your Injuries and Recovering Money After a Car Accident

Money doesn’t mean happiness will be restored after a car or truck crash, but it certainly helps you get back on your feet. We help with that and keep you informed and involved every step of the way toward your recovery. Some of our clients have received quite a lot of money at the end of their case, which has gone a long way toward relieving some of their burden and worry.

What Can a Person Recover After a Car Accident?

If another driver is proven to be at-fault for causing an accident in which you are injured, you are usually entitled to recover damages. You may be entitled to special, general, and/or in some instances, punitive damages. Special damages usually mean your financial harms, such as medical bills, final expenses (funeral), and pay – future and past.

General damages are mental and physical in nature and may include pain and trauma, scars, distress, or even the loss of the comfort and companionship of your spouse.

Punitive or exemplary damages are possible in certain cases such as reckless driving, racing, or intoxicated (drunk or drugged) driving incidents. Such damages are, under Georgia’s public policy, meant as a punishment or to deter others, including the defendant, from doing the same thing again.

How Do I Repair or Replace My Car After an Accident in Atlanta?

If you live in the Atlanta area and your car is totaled in a car accident , you are entitled to recover the fair market value of the car in the local geographic area, known as its replacement cost in its current condition. This, unfortunately, does not mean what you paid for it, or what you owe on the Car, pick-up or SUV.  It also means that you must look to the value of the car in or near Atlanta, as compared to another market where the price of cars is generally higher.  Further, the value of the car will be affected, up or down, based on the mileage or number of miles, the overall condition, and the options on the car.

You may be entitled to have the at-fault drivers insurance company pay you for your repairs or total loss, or you may go through your own insurance company and pay a deductible. If you did not cause the accident, your insurance company will usually attempt to recover your deductible back from the at-fault insurance carrier and refund the deductible to you.  In Georgia, this process can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months.
–Back to Top–

Building a Strong Car Accident Case

Who has the Burden of Proof in a Georgia Car Accident Injury Case?

Even though the facts may seem obvious, the injured victim or Plaintiff has the burden of proving everything in his or her case. This means that when you have been hurt and are bringing a claim against an at-fault driver you must prove every part of your case, including who negligently caused the accident and that your medical care and all of your bills and expenses were made necessary by, meaning approximately caused by, the crash.

What Evidence Can Be Used to Prove a Georgia Accident Claim?

Physical evidence that can be used to prove a car accident case can include photographs, drone recordings, witness testimony and interviews, the police report, video recordings from the vehicles or surrounding businesses, measurements of the scene and skid marks, cell phone recordings and photos, vehicle inspection records, electronic data downloads from the ECM, manufacturers data, 911 operator recordings, EMS and first responder statements and records, police camera recordings from the body camera and patrol car, and cell phone records.

How Can Evidence be Preserved After A Car Accident?

First, physical evidence, damage to the vehicles, and the scene should be photographed  as soon as possible. Injures are also “evidence,” and you should take many pictures of your injury when it is fresh and as you heal and recover.  For evidence that is not in your control, such as surveillance video, auto maintenance records and electronic data, etc. a preservation of evidence letter can, in many instances, be sent.  If a defendant receives a request to preserve evidence and later destroys it, knowing that you may be making a claim, the person or company could be sanctioned or punished for “spoliation of evidence.”

If you are worried about preservation or spoliation of evidence by the at-fault driver or company, or by anyone else, consulting with an experienced personal injury attorney is usually a great idea.
–Back to Top–

Insurance Related Car Accident Questions

What Does Liability and Automobile Liability Insurance Mean?

The legal term “liability” simply means fault. As in, who was at-fault and caused the car accident.  Liability insurance for a car or other auto is the insurance that covers the driver or owner of the vehicle when a claim is made.  Auto accident claims are defended and paid by liability insurance.

Georgia Automobile Insurance and UIM Limits

Georgia requires every driver to have insurance coverage of at least $25,000.00 per person and $50,000.00 per accident to cover ‘at-fault’ bodily injury and property damage. Georgia law requires an insurance company to have an insured sign a waiver declining uninsured or underinsured  (UIM) coverage or when purchasing lower UIM than bodily injury limits, or you are automatically covered to at least the liability insurance limit.

Will my Insurance Rates or Premium Increase After An Accident or if I Use my UIM Coverage?

In Georgia, insurance companies are not legally allowed to increase your insurance premium or rate if the accident was not your fault. This holds true even if you used your under insured or uninsured motorist benefits.

Georgia Uninsured Motorists: The vehicle that hit me did not have insurance and I have medical expenses.  What can I do?

This is unfortunately common in Georgia. By law you have the right to pursue recovery directly from that at-fault driver. This means demanding payment or filing suit against the owner and/or driver of the uninsured car or truck for your medical bills, lost pay (past and future), mental and physical pain, and possibly for exemplary damages.

However, if the at-fault driver had no insurance, the chance of collecting your damages may be small. Therefore, if you have purchased UIM coverage, you may also make a claim with your own automobile insurance policy for your UIM or uninsured motorist benefits.

A UM (uninsured or underinsured motorist) policy allows you to recover your damages when the at-fault driver has no liability insurance or has insurance limits that are not large enough to cover your losses. It is advisable to have your car insurance policy reviewed by a Georgia car accident attorney to determine if you have UM coverage and in what amount.

Why is my health insurance company asking questions about my car accident?

This is unfortunately common in Georgia. By law you have the right to pursue recovery directly from that at-fault driver. This means demanding payment or filing suit against the owner and/or driver of the uninsured car or truck for your medical bills, lost pay (past and future), mental and physical pain, and possibly for exemplary damages.

However, if the at-fault driver had no insurance, the chance of collecting your damages may be small. Therefore, if you have purchased UIM coverage, you may also make a claim with your own automobile insurance policy for your UIM or uninsured motorist benefits.

A UM (uninsured or underinsured motorist) policy allows you to recover your damages when the at-fault driver has no liability insurance or has insurance limits that are not large enough to cover your losses. It is advisable to have your car insurance policy reviewed by a Georgia car accident attorney to determine if you have UM coverage and in what amount.
–Back to Top–

Georgia Car Accident Lawsuit Laws and Regulations

Georgia is an “At Fault” State for Motor Vehicle Claims

The State of Georgia is what is known as an at-fault state, meaning that the driver who caused the accident and injuries is to pay for all damages caused, such as your injuries, lost pay, and the damage to your car.

Georgia Personal Injury Statute of Limitations is Generally Two Years

For most car accident injury claims, Georgia has a two-year statute of limitations, meaning that if your case is not settled within two years, you must file a lawsuit before the two-year anniversary of your injury to preserve your right to recover money. There are some exceptions to this rule, so be sure to do some additional research or call a personal injury lawyer if you are near or beyond the two-year limitation period and no lawsuit has been filed.

Can I Request or Subpoena Another Driver’s Cell Phone or Records?

Usually the power to require another driver to produce their cell phone records only exists after a lawsuit or legal proceeding has been filed in court. If you absolutely need the other driver’s cell phone records or electronic data right away, filing suit immediately after the wreck may be your best option.  Another “best practice,” is to send a request to the at-fault driver or their representative or insurance company demanding that the phone and records be preserved in the event of future litigation.  A party’s failure to preserve evidence when a claim or possible lawsuit is known about can, in some cases, result in civil penalties.

How are Subpoenas Used in Civil Car Accident Cases?

In a Georgia car accident claim, subpoenas are available after suit has been filed. There are two general types of subpoenas:  Witness subpoenas and evidence subpoenas.  Witness subpoenas may be used to require a person to appear for a deposition or as a trial witness.  Evidence subpoenas are used to obtain documents or physical items as evidence in a case.  Very often, subpoenas are used to compel the testimony of police officers or to obtain documents from third-parties or companies who are not named Plaintiffs or Defendants in the case.  In a car accident litigation this can mean GPS data, repair and maintenance records, prior claims information and a variety of other evidence relevant to the automobile accident.

I was hit in Georgia by a driver from another state, how does that work?

Georgia has a non-resident motorist act, allowing you to bring a claim against an at-fault driver from another state. Many cases can be resolved through settlement.

If a lawsuit must be brought against the out-of-state driver, it can generally be filed in the county where the car accident happened, or in the county where you live, your choice.C.G.A. 40-12-3.  Under the Georgia long-arm statute the lawsuit can also be served directly to the out of state driver and may be filed in the County where the wreck happened.O.C.G.A. 9-10-93.
–Back to Top–

Hiring a Car Accident Lawyer

How soon should I get a lawyer after an auto accident?

Under Georgia law, you will generally have two years to file a lawsuit. This time period is called the statute of limitations. In some cases, the statute of limitations may be either shorter or longer than two years depending on who has been involved in the crash. O.C.G.A. 9-3-31.

Even though you have up to two years to file a lawsuit, we do consulting with an attorney as soon as possible after the wreck. It is best to consult with a lawyer within days or weeks of your motor vehicle accident.

Whether you hire an attorney or not, a thorough investigation of your case, review of applicable insurance policies and discussion with medical experts to determine the full extent of your losses, is necessary – and this takes time. Many law firms will not accept a case if they are contacted shortly before the statute of limitation is set to expire, due to the inability to fully investigate your case before time runs out. It is imperative that you don’t delay in consulting and hiring a personal injury lawyer.

How do I know which Personal Injury Lawyer is the best one to help with my car accident case?

There are many lawyers advertising in Atlanta (and around Georgia) for your injury case. To narrow your search and find the best accident attorney for you, consider the following:

Good law firms specialize. You want lawyers who are are experts in car, truck and motorcycle accident law.

Local attorneys who know and understand your area and the local metro-Atlanta court system can give you an advantage.

Be wary of “discount fee” injury lawyers. Some lawyers advertise cheap or discounted rates (25% contingency fees, or even less). This often means they are high volume firms or are inexperienced lawyers with few staff or resources. Unfortunately, you may get exactly what you pay for.

When deciding which law firm to hire, be sure to ask how many trials the firm has had recently. Most strong personal injury firms go to trial several times each year.

Personal Injury is not a “general” area of law; it is very specialized. It requires knowing and understanding insurance law, how to effectively interact and negotiate with adjusters, how to discover all of the available insurance coverage information, and how to collect all of the damages you are entitled to.

Personal Injury Law also involves knowing how to try this type of case and actually bring it to court. Does the lawyer you are speak to have the experience and resources (staff and money) to conduct a full-blown personal injury trial?

Before hiring a personal injury lawyer in Atlanta, be sure to check out their online reviews (we have dozens of 5 star reviews), AVVO rating (ours is a Perfect 10), and Better Business Bureau rating (The Millar Law Firm is rated “A+”).

In The Lawyer’s Office, Who Will Be Working on My Car Accident Case?

Most injury cases are handled by one or more attorneys and a paralegal or legal assistant. In our office, all cases have an assigned lawyer who is assisted by staff in getting medical records.  All of our lawyers litigate “first chair” – meaning that they have tried car accident cases to verdict.  Many of our cases have two or three attorneys, including the Senior Partner, working together as a trial team.

Additionally, we often work with expert accident reconstruction experts and private investigators, legal nurse and medical expense consultants, and functional capacity experts to investigate and build the value of your case. All work done by expert witnesses is coordinated with and supervised by your attorney.

What Should A Person Bring to a Meeting or Consultation With a Personal Injury Lawyer?

We are often asked by clients what to bring to the free initial consultation with an attorney with a car accident lawyer or personal injury lawyer? This will depend on your case.

For example, if you’ve been hurt in a car accident, you should bring:

A copy of the police report or the police report number. Don’t worry if the incident report is not yet available, a good law firm will get it for you.

Photos from the accident scene, the damage to the vehicles involved, and of your injuries.

The at-fault driver’s insurance company and policy number, and their full name, address and phone information.

Names and contact information of witnesses.

A list of hospitals, clinics and doctors you have seen. The law firm will obtain your medical records and bills for you.

Contact information for your job and supervisor, so that the law firm can obtain records showing time you may have missed from work.

A journal you have kept, describing how your injuries have impacted you.

Your auto insurance card or policy.

If you have been involved in a slip (or trip)-and-fall incident or accident, a dog attack or dog bite or any other injury case, an attorney may request that you bring other items to your consultation. For example, an incident report, or animal control report, or clothes you were wearing on the day of the animal attack could be brought to the meeting.

Of course, if you do not have some or all of these items, don’t let it stop you from seeking legal help. An attorney can get these documents for you or help you to track these items down.

How much will it cost to hire an attorney to handle your auto accident case?

Most reputable personal injury law offices provide a free initial case consultation and operate on a “contingent fee” or contingency agreement. This means you are not charged legal fees unless the firm actually recovers money for you or your family through settlement, a jury verdict, or Judgment.

Personal Injury legal fees in Georgia generally range from one-third for most settlements to forty-percent when a lawsuit must be filed. In rare instances, fees can vary. Our lawyers will evaluate your case by telephone or in-person at no charge and discuss the fee arrangement with no obligation or pressure to retain us.

What happens if a doctor says I will never fully recover from my car accident?

If you have been left with permanent injuries that will require ongoing medical treatment, reduce or prevent you from working, or your injuries will diminish your enjoyment of life. This must be taken into account when seeking a fair and reasonable recovery in your case.

The best personal injury lawyers will review medical and work records and consult with medical experts, vocational experts, economists and others to determine the full amount of past and future medical expenses, lost wages, and reduced quality of life you are entitled to be compensated for after a serious injury accident.

Cases involving serious permanent injury are very likely to have a much higher value than an injury in which the accident victim has a full and complete recovery.

To learn more, please see our page that discuses the role of Experts in Your Car Accident Case

Will an auto mechanic be called as a witness in my case?

Sometimes we do use mechanics and auto-body repairmen as witnesses. But, most often the testimony of the victim, witnesses, photographs, repair estimates and bills, and accident reconstruction experts are used to prove that a car was damaged in a crash. The fact that the mechanic or body-man did not testify does not mean that your car did not sustain damage.

Will my car insurance premiums increase if I didn’t cause the car accident?

Georgia law, C.G.A. 33-9-40, states that a motor vehicle insurance company may not increase your rates or cancel your policy if you are not at-fault for an accident or collision.
–Back to Top–

About The Area

Atlanta has always been well-known, but in recent years we have hosted the Olympics, SuperBowls and become the home of major Hollywood movie production. We are known for hot and humid Southern summers and generally mild, but sometimes “exciting” winters – including Snowpocalypse Atlanta in 2014.

Metro-Atlanta is also known for heavy traffic, and traffic jams. Who hasn’t driven through Atlanta and become stuck at Spaghetti Junction in North Atlanta, or at the Grady Curve on the downtown connector?

In the spring, summer and fall months, heavy downpours, lightning, and sudden storms are a major cause of Atlanta area car accidents. Many unskilled or selfish drivers fail to slow down on wet roads in heavy rain and fog, causing major accidents on our crowded local interstate highways. In the winter, unexpected snow and sleet causes icy conditions resulting in Atlanta’s inexperienced winter drivers to crash into each other. In Atlanta and across Georgia, the at-fault drivers in these collisions are cited for driving “too fast for conditions.” A huge number of these wrecks happen on Interstates 75, 85, 20 and 285 in and around Atlanta.

A surprising number of collisions happen near or on airport property, at Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport. Part of the airport is located in Atlanta, and part in Clayton County, GA. People, taxis, limos, and Uber and Lyft drivers all rushing to get in and out of the airport cause many accidents each and every day. Because we are located near the airport, our office has the honor of representing people from all over the United States, and sometimes internationally, who were hit by a careless or reckless driver going to or from the Atlanta airport.

The Millar Firm’s Atlanta Office is located in the heart of the Buckhead area in Atlanta and is convenient to the entire area. Between the central Atlanta and South Atlanta Offices, the staff is easily able to investigate car wreck cases all across the metropolitan area.

Client And Fellow Attorney Testimonial(s) And Reviews

The Millar Law Firm has been independently rated among the best attorneys in Atlanta! Please take a look at the reviews posted to this website and to Google My Business for the law firm’s Atlanta and South Atlanta office locations. There are well over 100 5-Star reviews.
The firm and attorneys have also been awarded top “AV” and SuperLawyer ratings. These ratings are done by anonymous surveys of other lawyers, to ensure that the results are genuine.

Case Results
In the past quarter-century our firm has handled a great many car accident cases. Feel free to review our case results here. 

Contact Us

Quality Legal Advice For Your Atlanta Case is Available to You Today

The core values of The Millar Law Firm are personal service, continuous improvement, commitment, and professionalism. There is no charge or obligation for a free consultation, and you will not be pressured to hire our services.

The Millar Law Firm’s phones are answered 24/7. Call 770-400-0000 or contact a lawyer through this website. Have your questions answered by phone or email today, even if you are not yet ready to hire a lawyer for your car accident claim.
–Back to Top–

 

–Back to Top–