The Bowen Painter Injury Lawyers team is all too familiar with the many types of car accidents that can happen in Savannah, Georgia. Whether you can recover compensation after one of these accidents, though, can depend on the cause of the crash.
But how exactly do you determine who was at fault in an accident? This is where a Savannah car accident lawyer from our team comes in. We can investigate the details of your crash to uncover any and all liable parties. While every collision is different, here’s a general look at common car accident scenarios—causes and determining fault in mind.
How Bowen Painter Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Car Accident in Savannah, GA
If you’ve been hurt in a car accident and are trying to recover compensation for your medical bills and other expenses, a Savannah car accident attorney from our team can make all the difference.
A few of the key ways we can help you include:
- Investigating the circumstances of your crash to uncover any liable parties
- Filing your claim promptly
- Negotiating with insurance companies to ensure you don’t accept an unfair settlement
- Taking your claim to court if negotiations fail
At Bowen Painter Injury Lawyers, our Savannah personal injury lawyers have over a decade of combined experience working with car accident victims. We keep a small caseload to ensure we have enough time for each client, and you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. Contact us today to find out how we can fight for you.
Common Car Accident Scenarios in Georgia
Each car accident comes with its own unique set of circumstances.
However, these are some of the most common scenarios in Georgia:
Driver Distraction
Distracted driving is an increasingly common cause of car accidents in the state. Texting while driving is one of the most frequent scenarios, but anything that takes a driver’s attention from the road can lead to a crash, including:
- Adjusting a GPS or radio
- Having loud passengers
- Looking at billboards or other outside distractions
- Eating while driving
- Reaching for something on the floor of the vehicle
Proving that the at-fault driver was distracted isn’t always easy. However, your attorney may be able to access cell phone records that show the driver was texting or otherwise using their phone at the time of the crash.
Speeding
The faster a vehicle is traveling, the more devastating the impact can be. If a driver is speeding, they have less time to react and avoid a potential collision. Speeding affects a car’s stopping distance, so even if the driver recognizes a hazard and slams on the brakes to avoid it, they may still cause a serious accident.
Driving Under the Influence of Drugs Or Alcohol
When someone gets behind the wheel after consuming alcohol or using drugs, they endanger themselves and everyone else on the road. They may not notice potential hazards in time to react, and impaired motor skills may make it easier for them to lose control of the vehicle.
Driving While Fatigued
Even if a fatigued driver doesn’t fall asleep behind the wheel, they can still cause accidents. Extreme fatigue can slow reaction time and impair judgment. There’s also a high risk of “micro-sleeps,” or momentary lapses in consciousness.
Micro-sleeps can cause a fatigued driver to drift into oncoming traffic or lose control of the vehicle—especially when they happen at very high speeds.
How Do You Determine Fault in an Accident?
In some accidents, it’s easy to see who was at fault, but that’s not always the case. Your car accident report will likely include a preliminary determination of fault for the accident, and your insurance company and the other driver’s insurance company will each conduct an investigation.
If the insurance companies do not agree on who was at fault, the court may need to decide. When this happens, both sides may present testimony from accident reconstruction experts and other expert witnesses to support their case.
You might wonder what happens when both drivers are partially at fault. Fortunately, because Georgia uses what’s called a modified comparative negligence standard, you may still be able to recover compensation if you were partially responsible.
However, you generally may only do so if your proportion of fault is less than 50%. If you are awarded compensation, it will likely be reduced by your percentage of fault. For instance, if a court determines you were 40% at fault and awarded you $100,000 in damages, that amount could be reduced to $60,000.
Contact Our Savannah Car Accident Attorneys for a Free Consultation
If you’re healing from serious injuries after an accident, the idea of pursuing a car accident claim might seem exhausting and overwhelming. That’s why you need the help of an experienced car accident lawyer.
When you choose Bowen Painter Injury Lawyers, you benefit from a seasoned team that is invested in your success. We know what it takes to navigate Georgia’s claims system, and we can fight tirelessly for every dollar you are owed under the law. Contact one of our Savannah car accident attorneys at (912) 335-1909 to get started with a free consultation today.