Car accidents are unfortunately very common in the State of Georgia. According to the Georgia DOT, there were a total of 331,796 car crashes in Georgia in 2020. While some were minor fender benders, 124,492 injuries resulted from these car accidents. There were also 1,588 fatal crashes in 2020. With car accidents being this common, it is important to know what to do after a car accident takes place. Continue reading for 5 steps to take after a car accident.
Step 1: Take pictures and videos of where your car stopped before moving your vehicle. Vehicle position is important for police to investigate the accident. Remain at the scene to report the accident.
After a car accident in Georgia, you must stop your car and stay at the scene of the crash until police arrive. According to O.C.G.A § 40-6-273, this includes any car accidents that result in an injury or at least $500 worth of property damage. The accident needs to be reported to the state or local authorities. It is also in your best interest to make sure authorities come to the scene of the accident to investigate and file an official accident report.
Step 2: If you have health insurance, make sure the hospital bills your insurance company.
If you are injured in the car accident and need to go to the hospital, make sure the hospital bills your own health insurance company. Do not allow them to bill the other drivers’ insurance. There is no guarantee that the other drivers’ insurance will actually pay the bill, so it is easier to bill your own, and increase your potential settlement if you pursue an injury claim.
Step 3: Contact your own car insurance company
Car insurance companies have a requirement that policy holders must notify them of a crash within 30 days after the accident. If you do not notify within the 30 days, the insurance company could deny any uninsured or underinsured claims you make. The insurance company cannot increase your rates based on the filing of an UIM claim. If you do not provide notice, you might not be able to pursue a UIM claim against your insurance company.
Step 4: Take photos and gather additional evidence
Make sure you document your car accident. This includes pictures of the vehicles involved, the site of the crash, the weather, any additional damage, and your own injuries. These will assist you in filing an insurance claim. You may also want to go to the location of the crash and get private surveillance videos that may capture the car accident.
Step 5: Get your free consultation with Glass & Robson
Our Georgia car accident attorneys at Glass & Robson are highly knowledgeable on how to navigate these situations. They are experienced in handling all types of car accidents, including head-on collisions, hit and runs, rear-end collisions, failure to yield, drunk driving, uninsured drivers, and more. Car accidents are the most common and most deadly form of personal injury in the United States. Glass & Robson has the expertise to help you heal and recover from your car accident. In your free consultation, you will be able to ask us any questions you may have and learn your options. Contact us today to schedule.
Sources:
https://www.glassrobson.com/personal-injury-attorney/car-accident/
https://gdot.numetric.net/crash-data#/
https://law.justia.com/codes/georgia/2010/title-40/chapter-6/article-12/40-6-273