Were you recently injured in a car accident in Brunswick, GA? If you were hurt because someone else was careless, you may deserve significant compensation. That said, insurance companies rarely make it easy for accident victims to recover the money they need. An experienced Brunswick car accident lawyer at Mayfield Law, LLC can help you stand up to the insurance companies and fight for the maximum compensation you deserve.
Our lawyers have years of experience helping car accident victims like you recover fair compensation for their injuries. A dedication to providing personal attention and support sets our law firm apart from the rest.
When you want to recover full compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more, count on our team for legal assistance. To get started, contact our law offices in Brunswick, Georgia at (912) 457-8557 or schedule your free consultation today.
How Can Mayfield Law, LLC Help Me Recover Compensation After a Car Accident in Brunswick?
Many injury victims soon discover that the insurance claims process is more difficult than they could have imagined. The insurance company may be pressuring you to provide information you don’t have. It may even seem like they’re trying to blame you or downplay your injuries.
When you hire an experienced Brunswick personal injury attorney, you’re telling the insurance company that you mean business.
With our trusted team at Mayfield Law, LLC by your side, the insurance company will know you aren’t going to settle for less than you deserve. We’re experienced trial lawyers with insurance defense experience. We’ve been on the other side of the negotiating table. We know how to prepare a case that the insurance company can’t ignore.
When you trust us to handle the fight for compensation, we will:
- Develop a custom-tailored strategy based on the facts
- Launch a detailed investigation into the accident
- Gather and analyze all evidence that can prove your case
- Protect you from allegations that you were responsible for the crash
- Bring in respected experts in medicine, economics, accident reconstruction, and any other relevant specialty
- Review your losses and determine how much your case is worth
- Handle all paperwork and legal filings
- Negotiate with the insurance company for a full settlement
Taking a reduced insurance settlement can have serious consequences. An unfair insurance settlement may not cover all of your costs. As the victim, you’ll be stuck with that result and left to pay out-of-pocket.
With an experienced Brunswick personal injury lawyer on your team, you can rest assured that all current and future losses are accounted for. Contact us today to learn more.
Why Should I Hire a Car Accident Lawyer?
Your car accident lawyer’s experience can make a huge difference in the amount of money you take home. After an accident, you’ll likely be dealing with an insurance company. Insurance companies have many tricks up their sleeves. They do a lot to avoid paying the full amount you deserve.
Here are just some of the reasons hiring an experienced lawyer is important:
- You’ll level the playing field. Insurance companies are major corporations with virtually endless resources. When you hire an experienced accident attorney, you’ll have someone in your corner who knows every trick in the book–and how to successfully fight back
- You’ll gain access to experts. Expert testimony is often critical to successfully resolving personal injury claims. Experienced attorneys know who to call on for help strengthening your claim
- You will be blamed. Accident victims in Georgia can lose their right to damages entirely if they share too much fault. Insurance companies exploit this law on a regular basis. Experienced attorneys know how to protect you from these tactics
- You have enough to deal with. Let’s face it–you have enough on your plate after an injury. Many injury victims are in pain and struggling to recover. Your health should be your top priority, and with an experienced lawyer handling the details, you’ll have time to rest and recover
All cases are different. Most car accident lawyers offer free case reviews, so there’s no risk in learning about the benefits of legal representation.
How Much Compensation Can I Recover By Filing a Car Accident Claim?
The value of any personal injury claim will vary based on the facts. Victims with severe injuries tend to recover higher settlements and verdicts. If you require ongoing medical care, your case value will increase. Similarly, if the injury will cause your life to change in major ways, you’ll likely deserve a higher compensation award.
Some specific facts that attorneys assess when determining how much a personal injury case is worth include:
- Your current expenses, including for medical treatment, vehicle repairs, rehab and other out-of-pocket costs
- Your prognosis for making a full recovery
- The value of any wages you’ve lost due to the injury
- How the injury is expected to impact your future earning ability
- Your personal pain, suffering and trauma
- The nature of the at-fault party’s acts
- Available insurance coverage
- Whether you share blame for the crash
Your injuries can wreak havoc on your life in many different ways. Remember that the insurance adjuster’s job is to negotiate the lowest settlement possible. You don’t have to deal with the insurer on your own. An experienced attorney can help you understand how much compensation you deserve–and fight for every dollar.
How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit After a Car Accident in Georgia?
The personal injury statute of limitations in Georgia gives you two years to file a lawsuit. That two-year period starts running on the date of your injury. Missing the deadline has serious consequences. You lose your right to compensation entirely after two years pass.
You didn’t expect this to happen. You may not even want to think about taking legal action while you’re in pain and recovering. Still, it’s important to speak to an experienced attorney sooner rather than later. Two years may seem like a long time, but it will take time to build your case.
What Types of Damages Can I Recover in a Car Accident Lawsuit?
Georgia personal injury laws allow victims to seek damages for their economic and non-economic losses. These damages compensate for the specific losses you have sustained due to the injury.
What Types of Economic Damages Can I Recover in Georgia?
Your financial losses are your economic damages, and often include:
- Current expenses for ER visits, hospitalization, follow-up doctor’s visits, medications, etc.
- Future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Lost job benefits
- Reduced earning capacity
- Nursing care
- Assistance with basic in-home activities
- Rehabilitation
- Vehicle repairs and property damage
- Out-of-pocket expenses
Keeping good records after a crash is important. The insurance companies will want to see proof of the expenses you’ve incurred. Our attorneys can help you gather the documentation you’ll need to establish the value of your economic damages award.
What Types of Non-Economic Damages Can I Recover in Georgia?
Non-economic damages compensate for the more personal harm you’ve experienced because of the accident and a serious injury. These damages are known as your “pain and suffering” damages. They can cover a variety of losses.
While all injury victims are unique, some more common types of non-economic damages include:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and mental trauma
- Diminished quality of life
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Anxiety
- Depression
- PTSD
- Physical disfigurement or scarring
- Damage to personal relationships
- Loss of consortium in wrongful death cases
Unlike with economic damages, you won’t have clear documentation to prove the value of these non-economic damages.
Am I Entitled to Seek Punitive Damages After a Car Accident in Georgia?
Courts in Georgia only rarely award punitive damages. Punitive damages are awarded solely to punish the defendant. If the defendant’s acts were intentional or willful, judges may award punitive damages. Punitive damages may also be available if the defendant’s acts were so shocking that they amount to a reckless disregard for your safety.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Car Accident Lawyer?
Accident victims commonly worry about racking up large legal fees. The idea deters many from hiring a lawyer. It’s important to understand that quality legal representation isn’t just for the wealthy.
Most personal injury law firms work on a contingency fee basis. They don’t require upfront retainer fees from clients. Instead, they only get paid once they’ve recovered compensation for the injured client. Most of the time, the lawyer takes between 33% and 40% of the settlement or verdict.
Your lawyer will explain their fee structure so you have all the information before you hire them.
What Happens to My Compensation Award if I’m Partly Responsible for Causing a Car Accident in Brunswick?
In most cases, you can recover partial damages if you were partly responsible for causing the car crash. However, you lose your right to damages entirely once your share of fault reaches 50%.
Georgia has a modified comparative negligence law. Sharing some blame doesn’t prevent a victim from recovering damages. Victims only lose their right to damages if they’re found to be “mostly” responsible.
When you share some blame, but not 50% of the blame, your compensation is reduced. For example, if you’re found to be 20% responsible for the auto accident, you’re still entitled to 80% of your settlement or verdict.
Will My Car Accident Case Go to Trial?
Thousands of car accident injuries are reported across the state of Georgia each year. Very few of those injury claims make it to trial.
Insurance is the primary source of compensation after a car accident. Insurance companies rarely want to go to trial. Trials are unpredictable and they’re expensive. Hiring a successful trial lawyer is often enough to motivate the insurance company to negotiate for a full settlement.
Sometimes filing a lawsuit makes sense. Trial may be necessary if serious disputes over liability exist or the insurance company refuses to budge from a lowball settlement amount.
After our lawyers file a formal lawsuit, we’ll go through a discovery process. Discovery allows us to get more information from the other side. Sometimes filing a lawsuit is enough to convince the insurance company to negotiate in good faith.
We Handle All Types of Car Accident Claims in Brunswick
At Mayfield Law, LLC, our Brunswick car accident attorneys have the skills to handle any type of car accident case.
Some examples of the types of cases we handle include:
Distracted Driving Accidents
Distracted drivers pose a threat to everyone on the roads. Distracted driving can take many forms. Texting while driving, eating or even daydreaming can all lead to dangerous accidents. If you were injured and suspect the other driver was distracted, call our accident lawyers in Brunswick for help proving you deserve compensation.
Rear-End Collisions
While many rear-end crashes are classified as mere fender benders, not all victims are so lucky. Rear-end accidents can cause a range of severe and life-changing injuries. Even if you’ll recover, your life may be turned completely upside down. Let our experienced rear-end accident lawyers at Mayfield Law, LLC help you build the strong claim for compensation that you deserve.
Head-On Crashes
A head-on car accident can be nothing short of terrifying. Even airbags and advanced safety technology can’t protect you from all injuries. While you’re struggling to recover, it can be tough to deal with a legal battle over liability. Our attorneys in Brunswick have the skills to handle every aspect of your case, so contact us today for a free case review.
Intersection Accidents
There’s a lot going on when you approach an intersection. Establishing liability in intersection accident cases can be tricky. Whether the at-fault driver blew through a red light or failed to yield, our lawyers are here to help you locate the evidence you need to prove your case. Call our law firm in Brunswick to arrange your free case evaluation today.
Speeding Accidents
Excessive speeds make any accident much more dangerous. Accidents involving high speeds generally result in more serious injuries. Even if the officer issued a ticket, that doesn’t mean you’ll automatically recover fair compensation. Our lawyers are ready to help you establish every element of your case, so don’t hesitate to reach out today.
Multiple-Vehicle Accidents
Cases are always more complicated when multiple parties are involved. It’s possible that more than one party could be liable for your injuries. It’s also likely that each party will try to blame someone else for the crash. If you were injured in an accident, count on our attorneys to help you with these and any other challenges you’re facing.
Our team also handles cases involving:
- Rollovers
- Sideswipe accidents
- T-bone accidents
- Single-vehicle accidents
- Highway accidents
- Truck accidents involving large semi-trucks, big rigs and tractor-trailers
- Motorcycle accidents
- Accidents involving commercial vehicles
- Bus accidents
- Drunk driving accidents
- Pile-ups
- Intersection accidents
- Parking lot accidents
- Accidents involving uninsured/underinsured motorists
- Left-turn accidents
- Hit-and-run accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Accidents involving bicycles
If you were involved in an accident, we have the skills and experience to help. Call today to learn more about how we’ll put our proven track record of success to work in your case.
Who Can Be Held Liable for My Car Accident Injuries?
Under Georgia state law, just about anyone could be responsible for your injuries. Liability depends entirely on why your accident happened. Georgia is an at-fault insurance state. That means the person who caused the accident is responsible for the resulting damage.
Most cases are based on negligence. However, vicarious liability and strict liability theories can also be relevant, depending on the facts.
Some examples of parties who may share liability for your accident include:
- The negligent driver who caused the crash
- A negligent driver’s employer, if the driver was working at the time they caused the accident
- Trucking companies
- Government agencies responsible for road maintenance and oversight
- Manufacturers of defective safety equipment
- Negligent passengers
- Third-party motorists, pedestrians or bicyclists
Remember that it’s always possible that someone who wasn’t even at the crash scene could be legally responsible for your damages. If you were seriously injured, a full investigation will be critical to identifying all responsible parties.
What Types of Car Accident Injuries Do Victims Suffer?
Some car accident injuries are mild and inconvenient. Others have the potential to fundamentally change the victim’s life.
Regardless of your situation, you deserve to be compensated for the damages you suffered due to the other driver’s careless acts.
While virtually any type of injury is possible, some common examples of car accident injuries might include:
- Broken bones
- Facial injuries
- Eye injuries
- Crushing injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Concussions
- Chest injuries
- Thoracic injuries
- Joint injuries to the knees, shoulder or ankles
- Whiplash and other soft tissue injuries to the muscles, nerves and tendons
- Head and neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Nerve damage
- Internal bleeding
- Internal organ damage
- Burns
- Severe cuts and lacerations
- Amputations
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
If you or a family member were injured, hiring an experienced car accident attorney can make a huge difference in how your case turns out.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Car Accidents in Brunswick?
Some form of negligence plays a role in most car accident cases.
Negligence means that:
- The defendant owed you a legal duty of care (all drivers on the road have a duty to exercise reasonable caution)
- They breached that duty of care
- The breach directly caused your accident
- You suffered damages
Many types of negligent driving behaviors can be relevant to your case.
Some of the most common causes of car wrecks include:
- Distracted driving
- Texting while driving
- Speeding and ignoring other traffic regulations
- Drunk driving
- Failure to yield the right-of-way
- Tailgating, or following too closely for road conditions
- Aggressive driving behaviors
- Weaving between lanes
- Passing too closely
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Racing through intersections
- Dangerous left-hand turns or U-turns
- Driving under the influence of drugs
- Fatigued drivers
- Failure to maintain a vehicle in a safe condition
- Hazardous road conditions, whether due to negligent road maintenance or poorly marked turns
An experienced attorney can investigate and help you understand why your accident occurred. Once the cause–or causes–have been determined, you’ll have the information to pinpoint the at-fault party.
Statistics on Car Accidents in Brunswick
According to the Georgia Department of Transportation, over 374,000 motor vehicle accidents occurred statewide in 2023. 148,330 people were injured in those accidents. Unfortunately, 1,667 victims lost their lives.
Brunswick isn’t immune from serious accidents. In Brunswick alone, 232 people were injured, and three people were killed in auto accidents during 2023.
What Should I Do After a Car Accident in Brunswick?
The steps you take after a car accident are important. Your health and wellbeing should be the top priority. If you can, move the vehicles to a safe space near the accident scene.
If you can, you should also:
- Call 911 and remain at the scene
- Request emergency assistance if anyone has suffered severe injuries
- Exchange contact information and insurance details with the other driver
- Obtain the contact information for any witnesses who stopped to help
- Cooperate with the police officer who arrives at the scene, but don’t admit fault
- Take photos and videos of the accident scene to document vehicle damage, visible injuries and general conditions in the area
- Avoid signing any insurance papers or making a recorded statement without a lawyer
- Seek medical attention as quickly as possible, even if your injuries don’t require emergency care
Call an experienced accident attorney as soon as you’re able. The sooner you get a lawyer involved, the sooner they can start piecing the evidence together.
Contact an Experienced Brunswick Car Accident Lawyer for a Free Initial Consultation Today
Compensation may be available if you were involved in a car accident. Recovering the full amount you deserve can require a battle that feels like it’ll never end. Hiring an experienced Brunswick car accident lawyer can make a huge difference in the fight for compensation. Contact Mayfield Law, LLC today to learn more about how our lawyers can help you recover fair compensation for your losses in Brunswick, GA.