The Angell Law Firm: What To Do After A Minor Car Accident

GA based The Angell Law Firm - Atlanta recently published a new article on their blog that explores whether drivers need a lawyer for minor car accidents. As public perception mainly seems to rest on the belief that an attorney’s involvement is unnecessary for small dents and scratches, the firm hopes that their insight will help drivers make more informed decisions.

The issue with minor car accidents, the firm explains, is that the true repercussions of a collision on the road may only become evident some time after the fact. Large bruises, broken bones, excessive debris and so on are more likely to make an accident victim expect to need legal assistance, but relatively few realise that they may be injured even if nothing seems to be wrong on the surface.

The post opens by posing a hypothetical situation in which a car meets with a minor accident. It says, “You are driving home after a long day of work, and someone rear-ends you at a red light. Luckily, the damage to your vehicle is minor. Your car isn’t totaled, and it drives just like it did before. And for the moment, you feel fine. Soon after the accident, you start to notice some pain in your neck. However, it doesn’t seem serious. In this accident, there is no question that the other driver was at fault. They even admit it to law enforcement. Based on the circumstances of this accident, do you really need to contact a car accident attorney? Even in accidents like this, yes, you should.”

What accident victims should keep in mind, according to the post, is that they run the risk of underestimating their injuries if they do not seek the advice of professionals who are trained to evaluate such situations in an accurate manner. Given that many attorneys offer a free initial consultation, the firm advises drivers to explore their legal options even if they believe this to be unnecessary. A consultation with a reputable attorney who is familiar with personal injury law may very well unearth a few aspects of the accident that the victim was not aware of, such as the potential for less obvious injuries such as whiplash and other chronic, painful issues and the compensation they may seek for it.

Despite whose fault it is or the apparent severity of the accident, The Angell Law Firm asserts that there are certain steps victims should take immediately following a collision or crash. The first and most important step for a driver or passenger is to check whether anyone in their vehicle needs emergency medical attention. Similarly, they should check whether anyone in the other vehicle or vehicles involved need help as well. Should this be the case, the firm states that emergency services (911) should be summoned at once.

Once the threat of immediate danger has been dealt with, a police report needs to be made, as this report can help the victim if they decide to file a case in the future. However, they should also take the precaution of never admitting to any guilt over the course of making this report. This is due to the fact that it can be held against the party admitting guilt (and hurt their case) if they decide to pursue compensation in the future.

Once a police report is filed, drivers should still make it a point to exchange information with the other driver of the other vehicle. This information should include their name, phone number and car insurance information, including their policy number. At the same time, should it be possible, photos of the damage inflicted upon both cars should be taken. These can be used later to reconstruct the events leading up to the accident and so help the victim’s attorneys determine who was at fault.

At this point, the victim should speak to a lawyer as soon as possible. The firm states, “As soon as the accident is reported, insurance companies will try to protect themselves so they can pay as little as possible if anything at all. You should also keep in mind that there is a statute of limitations for car accidents that resulted in injuries. The statute of limitations will vary from state to state. However, in most states, like Georgia, the statute of limitations is two years.”

The most important takeaway here is that accident victims should consult with an attorney whether or not they believe it is worthwhile, especially given that this part of the proceedings will likely not cost them anything if they approach the right firm. A professional opinion would give them a better idea of the options they have at their disposal.

A great deal more information is available in the blog post, and all those interested are welcome to read it in full on the The Angell Law Firm’s official website. The firm regularly publishes articles on personal injury law and related subjects in order to raise awareness in the communities they serve. In another recent post, for instance, they explore how important it is to choose the right lawyer following an accident on the road.

Further inquiries may be directed to Bryce Angell of the The Angell Law Firm - Atlanta. Similarly, social media users are welcome to connect with the firm through their preferred platforms to stay up to date with their most recent articles, news and announcements.