Auto accidents are one of the leading causes of personal injuries in the United States. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), each year there are over 2.7 million people injured and over 36,000 wrongfully killed in auto accidents. In Georgia alone, there are approximately 150,000 people injured and 1,400 fatalities each year in auto accidents. There are many different types of auto accidents, including car crashes, trucking wrecks, and motorcycle collisions. Each type of accident carries with it unique causes and risks of injuries. If you or a loved one were seriously injured in a motor vehicle crash, ask our auto accident lawyers in Jonesboro, Georgia for help.

At Joseph M. Todd, P.C., we represent victims and their families after serious and life-changing motor vehicle crashes in Jonesboro, Atlanta, Clayton County, and throughout the rest of Georgia. We offer FREE consultations and pay the upfront costs and disbursements of litigation such as filing fees, medical record copying expenses, expert expenses, court costs, and other disbursements. We also do not collect any attorney’s fees until we recover compensation for you in a settlement or verdict, meaning there is a no-win, no-fee guarantee with our bodily injury law firm. Call (770) 477-7878 to schedule your free consultation with our auto accident lawyers in Jonesboro, Georgia.

Types of Auto Accidents We Handle
There are many different types of auto accidents. Each type brings unique issues that require a skilled lawyer’s review. At Joseph M. Todd, P.C., we handle nearly all types of auto accidents that could result in serious personal injuries or wrongful death. Some of the most common types of auto accidents that we handle in Georgia include the following:

• Car accidents
• Trucking wrecks
• Motorcycle collisions
• Ridesharing accidents
• Bicyclist collisions
• Pedestrian knockdowns or hit by a car
• Bus accidents
• Emergency vehicle crashes
• SUV rollovers
• Scooter accident
• ATV crashes
• Tanker accidents, and
• Any other types of vehicles involved in collisions occurring in Georgia.

Common Causes of Auto Accidents in Georgia
Most auto accidents are entirely preventable. This means that victims who suffer injury are unnecessarily harmed due to the reckless or careless conduct of another person, business, or government entity. Some common examples of avoidable auto accidents include the following:

• Distracted driving – NHTSA statistics reveal that over 3,100 people die each year due to distracted drivers
• Speeding
• Failure to yield at an intersection, yield sign, or roundabout 
• Drunk driving – the CDC provides almost 10,500 people die each year due to drunk driving accidents, which is one death every 50 minutes
• Tailgating or following too closely
• Improper left turns
• Falling asleep at the wheel or driver fatigue
• Running a red light or stop sign
• Crossing the centerline
• Improper lane changes
• Aggressive driving or road rage
• Hit and run accidents
• Rear-end collisions 
• Improper passing
• Roadway issues
• Mechanical defects
• Unsecured cargo or loads on a truck
• Driver inexperience, and 
• Many other common causes.

Injuries Caused by Auto Accidents in Georgia
Motor vehicle crashes could result in very serious or catastrophic personal injuries. Some of these injuries could require surgery or result in months of physical therapy or occupational therapy. Other times the injuries could be debilitating and result in temporary or permanent disability.  

Generally, the faster the vehicles are at impact, the more likely that the injuries will be catastrophic. Also, the larger and heavier that the vehicle is the more likely that there will be a powerful and significant collision that results in serious personal injuries. This means that bus accidents, trucking, and other big rigs are more likely to result in serious or catastrophic injury in an auto accident.

Some of the most common personal injuries caused by an auto accident in Georgia that our experienced lawyers could handle for you include the following:

• Traumatic brain injuries – including concussions, diffuse axonal injuries, brain bleeds, coup-contrecoup, penetrating injuries, and other damage
• Spinal cord injuries – such as stenosis or narrowing of the spinal column, as well as paralysis including paraplegia, quadriplegia, or monoplegia 
• Amputations or loss of a limb
• Broken bones or fractures – including those that need surgery to repair (open reduction)
• Shoulder injuries – including SLAP tears, rotator cuff tears, or the need for a partial or total shoulder replacement 
• Knee injuries – such as meniscus tears or MCL, LCL, PCL, ACL, or other ligament damage
• Nerve injuries – brachial plexus or facial nerve injuries, or radiculopathy 
• Dislocations or separations
• Burn injuries
• Significant scarring or disfigurement
• Wrongful death, and
• Other types of serious disabling, or catastrophic personal injuries.

Auto Insurance in Georgia
Every state requires automobile insurance to operate a motor vehicle on public roadways, and Georgia is no different. States adopt a “no-fault” or “at-fault” type of policy. This dictates how a claim is handled and what a policyholder or claimant may be entitled to under the law.

In “no-fault” states, victims of a motor vehicle accident turn to their own insurance carrier for compensation to reimburse medical bills, lost wages, and property damage. It does not matter who was at fault for the collision when the claims are filed because the insurance companies will address fault later between themselves. Generally, if a victim has a severe injury he or she could commence a lawsuit against the defendant for additional compensation.

In “at-fault” states, victims submit an insurance claim to the at-fault or responsible driver’s insurance company. As long as one driver is 51% or more responsible, he or she will be considered the at-fault driver. The at-fault driver pays for all personal injury and property damage.

Georgia has adopted the at-fault statutory scheme. This means that victims injured in a motor vehicle accident must establish fault by 51% or more against the other driver for the other driver to be considered at fault. This corresponds with the civil burden of proof which is “by a preponderance of the evidence,” also requiring a victim to prove a claim by 51% or more.

Damages We Can Recover for You in an Auto Accident
A party to a lawsuit can seek “damages.” This is the relief that a party is entitled to. In personal injury actions, damages are typically monetary compensation. The most common types of damages that a victim of an auto accident in Georgia could seek include the following:

• • Past Pain and Suffering – from the date of the accident to the date of payment
  • Future Pain and Suffering – a sum measured from the date of payment for the rest of the victim’s life
  • Medical Bills – past and future medical bills
  • Lost Wages – due to the accident, injury, disability, or from appointments due to the accident
  • Loss of Consortium – spousal relations between parties, including basic society, romantic relations, time together, and other connections
  • Lost Future Earnings – if you are unable to work the same job and have to take a lower-paying job, the difference in salary multiples by the number of working years
  • Home or Vehicle Modifications
  • Property Damage
  • Punitive Damages – used to punish truly egregious and morally reprehensible conduct
  • Wrong Death Damages – including burial costs and funeral expenses, and
  • Other damages related to your Jonesboro auto accident that our law firm can handle for you.

Injured Due to the Negligence of Another Driver? Ask Our Jonesboro Auto Accident Lawyers for Help
If you were hurt in an auto accident occurring in Atlanta, Jonesboro, Clayton County, or anywhere else in Georgia, call Joseph M. Todd, P.C. to schedule your FREE consultation with one of our experienced auto accident lawyers in Jonesboro, GA by dialing (770) 477-7878 or filling out our easy and convenient to use “contact us” box available here. Our bodily injury law firm is dedicated to protecting the rights of victims injured by the negligence of another person, business, or government entity, and we have proven that with our strong reputation for zealous advocacy. Learn how we can help you and your family by calling today.