Trusted Car Accident Lawyers Serving Buford, GA, and Nearby Communities

Common Causes of Car Accidents in Georgia

Car collisions can profoundly impact your physical recovery, financial stability, and legal standing. Acting purposefully amid the confusion can protect your immediate safety and long-term interests.

The leading causes of car accidents in Georgia include:

• Distracted Driving: Including texting, phone use, eating, grooming, and other non-driving activities
• Speeding: Driving above posted limits or too fast for current road conditions
• Driving Under the Influence (DUI): Operating a vehicle while impaired by alcohol or drugs
• Reckless Driving: Aggressive maneuvers, weaving through traffic, and street racing
• Weather Conditions: Rain, fog, and occasional ice creating hazardous conditions
• Failure to Obey Traffic Signals: Running red lights and disregarding stop signs
• Tailgating: Following too closely behind another vehicle
• Fatigue: Driving while exhausted or sleep-deprived
• Poor Road Conditions: Potholes, uneven pavement, construction zones, and hazardous design
• Inexperienced Drivers: Newly licensed drivers lacking proper skills and judgment
• Vehicle Defects: Faulty brakes, defective tires, and other mechanical failures

These factors can significantly increase the risk of accidents, particularly when combined with other hazardous conditions or behaviors.

What to Do at the Scene of a Car Accident in Buford, GA

Knowing the proper steps to take immediately following a car accident in Buford can protect your health, safety, and legal interests. Follow these guidelines if you’re involved in a collision:

Immediate actions to take:

• Check for injuries and call the police, even for minor accidents
• Request medical assistance if anyone is injured
• Remain at the scene until police arrive – leaving could result in hit-and-run charges
• Avoid moving injured persons unless they’re in immediate danger
• Protect the accident scene by leaving vehicles in place unless they impede traffic
• Use emergency cones, triangles, or flares if available

Information to collect:

• License plate numbers, makes, models, and colors of all vehicles involved
• Names and addresses of all drivers and passengers
• Drivers’ license numbers of all parties
• Vehicle owner information (if different from the driver)
• Insurance company details from all drivers
• Names and contact information of any witnesses

If you hit an unattended vehicle or object, make reasonable efforts to locate the owner. If unsuccessful, leave a note with your contact information and document the accident details for your records.

Signs You Need to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer After a Car Accident

After experiencing a car accident in Georgia, certain circumstances signal the need for professional legal representation. Timing can affect the outcome of accident claims based on Georgia’s statute of limitations. Recognizing these signs early can significantly impact your case outcome. 

Consider hiring an attorney when:

• You’ve sustained serious injuries requiring extensive medical treatment
• Your accident resulted in significant property damage beyond simple repairs
• A commercial vehicle was involved in the collision
• The at-fault driver lacks insurance coverage
• Liability for the accident remains unclear or disputed
• Your insurance claim was denied despite valid coverage
• You received a settlement offer that seems inadequate
• Multiple parties are involved in the accident
• The accident caused you to miss work and lose income.

An experienced auto accident attorney can help calculate the full extent of your damages, including current and future medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering. Our car accident lawyers also understand how to effectively negotiate with insurance companies that often prioritize their bottom line over fair compensation. If you recognize any of these signs, promptly consulting with a personal injury lawyer can protect your rights and financial interests.

How to Settle Your Car Accident Claim Under Georgia’s Fault-Based Insurance System

Georgia is a “fault” state for auto insurance claims, meaning that, as the injured party, you have different options for seeking compensation for your losses, including:

• Filing a claim with your own insurance company — Under ideal circumstances, your company would pay your claim and then seek reimbursement from the at-fault driver. But more often than not, this option puts you in an adversarial role with your own insurer. Your insurer may even attempt to show you were also at fault as a way of reducing the amount it has to pay you. The possible conflicts of interest are even worse if the company insures both you and the at-fault driver. Moreover, a serious accident can easily exceed your policy limits, forcing you to sue the at-fault driver anyway.
• Filing a third-party claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company — This puts you in an adversarial relationship with the insurance company, which will use all the tactics at its disposal to reduce the amount it pays on your claim. Your losses may exceed the limits of the other driver’s policy, forcing you to file a claim under your own policy’s underinsured coverage (if you even have such coverage) or to sue the other driver in court.
• Retaining an attorney to pursue a claim against the at-fault driver — The only way to be certain you have an advocate who’s 100 percent on your side is to hire your own lawyer to pursue compensation from all potential sources.

We offer free consultations, which means you can discuss your options with one of our experienced car accident attorneys at no cost and with no obligation.

Steps to Protect Your Rights After an Auto Accident in Georgia

It’s imperative to take appropriate actions after a car accident in Georgia to preserve your legal rights and maximize your potential compensation. 

Following these steps creates a strong foundation for your claim:

Document everything:

• Call the police immediately. Georgia law requires reporting accidents involving injuries or damage exceeding $500 (OCGA §40-6-273).
• Never admit fault when providing statements.
• Take extensive photos of the accident scene, vehicle damage, and visible injuries.
• Collect contact information from witnesses.
• Keep detailed notes about the accident and your recovery process.

Seek medical attention:

• Get examined by a healthcare provider even if injuries seem minor.
• Follow all treatment recommendations consistently.
• Keep records of all medical visits, treatments, and expenses.

Protect your claim:

• Have your vehicle damage professionally assessed by multiple mechanics.
• Maintain a folder with all accident-related documents, including receipts.
• Be cautious when speaking with insurance representatives.
• Avoid social media posts about the accident or your injuries.

Consulting with a traffic accident lawyer early in the process ensures you understand Georgia’s statute of limitations and helps prevent critical mistakes that could undermine your case. Your attorney will serve as your advocate throughout the claims process, handling communications with insurance companies while you focus on recovery.

How We Advocate for You in an Auto Accident Claim

Georgia law only requires a minimum of $25,000 bodily injury liability coverage per injured person, with a maximum of $50,000 per accident. The minimum state requirement for property damage liability coverage is only $25,000. These amounts are nowhere close to the losses you can expect from a serious car or trucking accident. To recover full compensation for your injuries, you need an injury attorney dedicated to your case.

Our auto accident lawyers are ready to:

• Review your case — After receiving medical attention, hiring an experienced lawyer is the best decision you can make. We will assess your case, inform you about its strengths and weaknesses, and advise you on how to move forward.
• Hire expert witnesses — Doctors and investigators provide valuable testimony on your behalf. This evidence can significantly bolster the strength of your case and improve your chances of being justly reimbursed. As your counsel, we advance the costs of these services.
• Fight for you — When you hire a lawyer, you gain an ally who will stand by your side and fight for you. We can negotiate a fair settlement or take your case to court.
• Provide personalized legal assistance — Few auto accident lawyers offer the personalized legal guidance The McGarity Group provides. We provide patient support and knowledgeable guidance throughout every stage of your case.

Risks of Waiting to Hire an Auto Accident Lawyer

Delaying legal consultation after a collision creates dangerous vulnerabilities that insurance companies are trained to exploit. 

Strategic disadvantages of postponing legal guidance:

• Providing unadvised recorded statements that become permanent case evidence.
• Critical evidence degradation or complete loss as time passes.
• Premature settlement acceptance before understanding full injury implications.
• Approaching Georgia’s two-year statute of limitations without adequate preparation.
• Inadvertent statements that trigger Georgia’s comparative negligence principles.
• Facing sophisticated liability challenges without equivalent expertise.
• Communication misinterpretation by trained insurance professionals.

The gap between incident and representation often becomes fertile ground for claim devaluation through various industry-standard tactics. Early traffic accident attorney engagement establishes protected communication channels, ensures proper case valuation from the outset, and positions your claim for maximum recovery. 

Why Choose Car Accident Attorneys from The McGarity Group

We offer specialized expertise in Georgia car accident cases, combining thorough investigation with strategic advocacy. Our hit-and-run lawyers understand the physical, emotional, and financial toll that roadway collisions take on victims and their families.

Our approach to car accident representation:

• Insurance industry knowledge — Our founder previously defended major auto insurers, giving us insight into how they evaluate and minimize accident claims.
• Proven road accident results — Secured numerous significant settlements in vehicle collision cases, including $5 million for a tractor-trailer accident and $4.75 million in a truck crash.
• Accident reconstruction experts — We collaborate with specialized investigators who analyze crash scenes, vehicle damage patterns, and roadway evidence.
• Focus on driver negligence cases — Extensive experience with distracted driving, DUI, speeding, and reckless operation accidents throughout Georgia.

When handling your car accident claim, we thoroughly document all aspects of your case—from immediate medical needs to long-term rehabilitation requirements and lost income. Our attorneys have successfully challenged insurance companies that attempt to undervalue Georgia accident claims.

The McGarity Group’s reputation in vehicle collision litigation ensures insurance adjusters take your case seriously from the beginning. Our team’s familiarity with Georgia’s laws and local court systems provides distinct advantages when fighting for maximum compensation after a Georgia car accident.