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Here at The Kalka Law Group, we have built a reputation for fighting for car accident victims' rights. Whether you were injured in an Uber or Lyft accident, a hit-and-run with a drunk driver, or you were simply just in a car accident that you know wasn’t your fault, we can help.
If you have been injured in a car accident, contact our Atlanta car accident lawyers!
As soon as you come to The Kalka Law Group, our legal team will begin the investigation process. Our goal is to uncover if the other driver failed to comply with any Georgia State laws. If they did, then it could be much easier for us to prove their liability.
Our team has a track record of being on the scene right away, doing extensive research, and collecting the evidence necessary to win car accident cases. The reason this investigation is so critical is that the at-fault party's insurance will be doing their own investigation as well. More likely than not, they will try to reduce the amount they owe you in compensation, down to $0.
You want a lawyer who will be able to look at police reports or gather witness accounts as soon as possible after your accident. The more time that goes by, the easier it is for things to get missed, lost, or even erased.
YOU WILL NOT PAY ANYTHING UNLESS WE RECOVER COMPENSATION.
A car accident claim from the start to a trial can include these steps:
Our legal team looks for the following:
Generally, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a case for personal injury. If a minor child was involved in the accident, then that child has a longer period of time to file their case, though.
Recently, the Georgia Supreme Court ruled that the time period to bring file a personal injury case can be extended beyond two years depending upon the date of the injury and resolution of the traffic ticket. This new law provides injured victims additional time to select the proper lawyer.
Experiencing a car accident can be traumatic and facing the aftermath can be overwhelming. The costs of car repairs or a new vehicle, as well as medical expenses, can become a great burden. This is especially the case if you are unable to work after an injury and are experiencing wage loss.
An experienced attorney may be able to secure your financial compensation for the following:
No two cases are the same. Case valuation involves a complex and skilled analysis of the liability issues, causation, and damages that are unique to your case. Our team can examine all factors and help you understand what compensation might be owed to you, as well as your legal rights and options.
Factors to be considered, include:
The steps you take after your car accident can have a major impact on whether or not you receive a settlement, as well as your physical recovery.
Here is a list of a few of the things you should do after you are injured in an auto collision:
A car accident can occur at a moment's notice, leaving you in a state of shock with many questions swirling around in your head. “Is my car totaled? How much is this going to cost me? What do I do now? Is it safe to get out of the car? Is the other driver at fault, or am I?”
After the accident, you may know that you need to exchange contact information with the other driver, but there are many things that you should NOT do, including the following:
The length of time it will take for you to obtain compensation through a personal injury claim or lawsuit will depend on various factors. With both the claims process and the litigation process, a resolution can take just a few months, or it can even take a few years. One major factor that could affect the timeframe of your case is the seriousness of the injuries.
When injuries are serious or catastrophic, it may take a long time before the full extent and effect of the victim's injuries are apparent. It is important that attorneys do not settle or litigate a case before they can prove the full monetary damages (past, current, and future) of the victims' injuries. The injuries will likely need to be proven through medical records and statements or testimony provided by medical professionals.
In the claims process, it can take a great length of time to reach a settlement if the victim and the insurance company are not available to agree on a compensation amount. In litigation, the discovery stage (which involves the exchanging of key information between both sides in the lawsuit) and the stage of getting a date for a jury trial can potentially drag out the process. At The Kalka Law Group, we do everything we can to help the claims or litigation process go as efficiently and smoothly as possible.
Car accidents involving an auto part defect are complicated, especially when it comes to recalls for defective parts.
For example, imagine that your accident was caused by an accelerator issue. First, we would need to find out if your vehicle's VIN was involved in a recall that is related to the gas pedal. Unintended acceleration cases have been known to be caused by sticky gas pedals and floor mat obstructions. They also have been caused by human error, as drivers push the gas pedal instead of the brake, so we need to make and prove that distinction.
In order to determine what exactly happened in your case, you should get investigators, software engineers, and a good accident attorney on your side. A full team of legal professionals and outside experts can determine if the manufacturer could be held liable for your auto accident.
After you receive a settlement or verdict, assuming that your case is a success, entities that paid medical bills on your behalf or provided other benefits might try to seek reimbursement through the compensation award. Some of these entities include health insurance companies, auto insurance companies for medical payments, government-run providers of health benefits(including Medicaid and Medicare, and providers of workers' compensation.
These types of claims for reimbursement can greatly reduce the level at which you are able to benefit from your settlement or verdict award. Our firm can help you explore your options for eliminating or lowering your reimbursement obligations.
Figuring out who is to blame for a car accident involves uncovering negligence and determining liability. In legal terms, someone acts negligently when they act in a way that another reasonable person would not have, and that decision or action causes someone else to suffer from harm. For example, a person who decides to drink and drive is acting negligently because the average person would not make that choice. Liability is a legal term for “blame” or “fault.” The more someone’s actions contribute to an accident, the more liable they are.
Georgia is a modified comparative negligence state with a 50% liability threshold. As long as you are no more than 49% liable for your car accident, you can seek a recovery from the other driver. However, any damages you can recover will be reduced by your liability percentage. For example, if you were 20% liable for your crash, then you can still file a claim and potentially recover 80% of your damages.
Car accidents take many forms, such as:
It is important to work with a law firm with extensive experience with all sorts of car accident types, so you can be confident that they will know how to best handle your case.
People who are hit by another driver can suffer a variety of injuries. Typically, the injuries that they suffer will be dependent on the type of impact that happened. For example, whiplash and lower back injuries are common among people who are hit in rear-end accidents. People who are hit head-on, though, might be more likely to suffer broken limbs and a traumatic brain injury.
After a work-related car accident, you might be able to recover compensation in two ways. Firstly, you should explore your workers’ compensation policy to see if you can have your medical costs and a portion of your lost wages replaced without needing to prove that you weren’t liable for the crash. Secondly, you should talk to a car accident attorney about filing a claim against the driver who hit you. If you can, you might be able to receive compensation for damages that have not been paid by your workers’ comp benefits.
The purpose of a car accident claim is to give the injured party an opportunity to pursue justice and compensation for the defendant’s negligence. Compensation can come in the form of economic and non-economic damage. Economic damage relates to things like medical bills, vehicle repair costs, and lost wages. Non-economic damage relates to less concrete harm, like your physical pain and emotional suffering.
You should also know that you are not suing the other driver directly in most cases. You are filing their insurance policy, so most or all of the damages are paid by their insurance company. Don’t feel guilty or hesitate when receiving money from an insurance company. Their purpose is to pay out claims like yours when an accident happens.
After an accident, insurance companies and adjusters will try to pressure you into giving them a recorded statement or getting you to sign paperwork. Do not do it. It is critical that you do not do anything that could hurt your potential case. Insurance adjusters are hired to save their employers money, even if it is at your expense. They know how to settle your claim for as little money as possible.
To receive compensation after your car accident, you will need to negotiate with the negligent driver's insurance company. Insurance adjusters are in the practice of offering low amounts of money to accident victims. It isn’t personal, though, it’s just in their job descriptions. They know every trick in the book that will help them lessen the amount of compensation they owe you. Oftentimes, an insurance company's offer is woefully less than you deserve and need for recovering from your injuries and loss.
Don’t worry about dealing with insurance adjusters if you hire our Atlanta car accident attorneys, though. We have built our firm on going head-to-head with insurers, so clients can skip this unpleasant part of the claims process.
Our lawyers know how to negotiate with the insurance adjuster in order to secure a just and fair amount.Our Atlanta car accident lawyers have earned recognition due to our dedicated representation, including:
The Kalka Law Group has recovered millions of dollars for car accident victims throughout Atlanta. If you have been injured, call today to discuss your case during a free consultation.
“Kalka Law Group is the best”John O’Neil
“My lawyer was Alfred Evans and I can sincerely say without a doubt that this man did everything right. He always kept me informed of what was going on and I felt he and his people were doing everything in my best interest.”Billy S
“Professional”A. Williams
“I would never use another attorney for personal injury. Tony loves his job and it shows in his work!”Robin
“Tony and his team put together a case and helped me when no one else could I was able to get a recovery.”C Rabren
“Everything was dealt with in a timely manner and I was well informed throughout the entire process. I would highly recommend using Tony Kalka!”Jessica
“cannot thank you enough for the hard work, diligence and time you put forth on my personal injury case. At all times you displayed professionalism, integrity and compassion.”C. Icemp
“Tony Kalka is an Extraordinary Attorney, I can never thank enough. If it had not been for Tony Kalka, I would not be physically or logically writing this. He literally saved me from having a nervous breakdown.”M. Kay Weatherford
“If anyone has such a tragic event, in their lives, Tony is the attorney to whom to turn. He will be forever in your memory as not only a good lawyer, but a member of your family.”
“I am here to recommend Tony Kalka to anyone that desires a knowledgeable attorney that is efficient and thorough for a lawsuit victory. Mr. Kalka has adequately demonstrated to be the highest quality and an excellent choice.”Christrost
“I'm not sure what I would have done without The Kalka Law Group. Their staff was very helpful in addressing my concerns. Tony - I appreciate your work and all you have done for me. I will refer everyone I know to you.”M. Morgan
“There will never be enough words that can describe the type of lawyer, professional, confidant, and friend that Tony Kalka and Renee Smith have been thru the entire ordeal of my case. To say that they have gone above and beyond, is a complete understatemen”Meg Bennett
“Tony sat me down and laid out all the next steps be followed. He did what he had advised and everything turned out just right. They are honest which allows you to make an intelligent decision.”Sara
“You will not find another law firm that will do the things the wonderful people here will do for you.”Andrew
“Man did they deliver on their promise. They fought hard make sure I received the recovery necessary get me and my family back on our feet after the accident. I have attorneys for life.”E. Ripley
