Atlanta Car Accident Lawyer

Car accidents can be devastating. If you or a loved one has been injured in a car or truck accident, or as a pedestrian, let us help you put your life back together. We understand what you are going through, and we can help.

At the Law Office of Perry Dean Ellis, P.C., we are in our third decade of practicing injury law. We have the knowledge, skills and resources to help maximize your compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other costs resulting from the crash. We know that every car accident case is different, so let us develop a customized strategy for achieving a favorable result.

To schedule a free consultation, contact us today at 404-692-7474. We fight for car wreck victims in the Atlanta metro area and throughout Georgia.

We Handle All Types Of Car Accidents

If you need a lawyer with the knowledge, skill and integrity needed to maximize your compensation, the Law Office of Perry Dean Ellis, P.C., is the law firm to choose.

We have extensive experience throughout the Atlanta area in all types of personal injury and car accident claims, including:

• Claims involving uninsured/underinsured motorists
• Motorcycle accidents
• Trucking accidents
• Pedestrian accidents
• Medical transport accidents
• Bicycle accidents
• Work-related vehicle accidents

If you have questions about insurance coverage, getting medical treatment or any other issues related to your car crash, please see our Car Accident FAQ.

Key Points About Uninsured Motorist Coverage In Georgia

If you’ve been struck by an uninsured motorist in Georgia, our experienced law firm is here to help. We understand that roughly 12% of Georgia drivers lack the proper insurance that they need on the roads. Uninsured or underinsured motorist policies are insurance policies that drivers can buy to protect themselves if they are injured in an accident caused by one of these uninsured drivers.

The Minimum Requirements In Georgia

In Georgia, the minimum requirement is $25,000 of coverage for bodily injury to one person. This is increased to $50,000 for bodily injury to multiple people in the same accident. After all, many accidents involve injuries to both drivers and passengers or multiple cars could all be involved in the same crash. There is also a minimum for property damage liability, which is set at $25,000.

However, if someone ends up in the hospital or needing surgery and other types of expensive treatment, $25,000 may not be nearly enough to cover even the beginning of their costs. As such, drivers should be aware that they can “stack” the uninsured motorist policies. If someone owns multiple vehicles, they can have a policy on each vehicle and these policies can be stacked to help them in the event of a very serious accident – even when only one of the vehicles was involved in the crash.

Seeking Proper Compensation

In essence, drivers just need to understand that insurance isn’t always going to cover them, at least if they are counting on the other driver’s policy. It is simply the reality that far too many drivers skip this step and operate their vehicles without insurance. You cannot count on them to have that coverage when you’re facing serious medical costs, a major reduction in wages and other such damages. You need to be able to seek proper compensation, and that may mean utilizing an uninsured motorist policy in Georgia. If you need help with this process, you can count on our firm for experience, guidance and professionalism.

What Are The Most Dangerous Roads In Georgia?

Living in Georgia means navigating some challenging highways. While the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) works tirelessly to enhance safety, certain stretches of asphalt can still present a greater danger than others. So, before you hit the gas, remember the inherent risks of the road and prioritize caution.

Some of Georgia’s most dangerous highways and byways include:

• Interstate 20: I-20, an essential east-west thoroughfare stretching 200 miles across the heart of Georgia, cutting through the middle of downtown Atlanta and its suburbs, is prone to numerous car accidents due to high-speed driving, too many vehicles in tights, lots of lane changing and numerous entrances and exits with tight merges. A drive can turn dangerous in the blink of an eye.
• Interstate 75: I-75, a major north-south highway renowned as one of the busiest in the nation, has encountered its share of gridlock-related car wrecks and rear-end collisions. Merging lanes and sudden stops test even the most seasoned drivers’ patience. Add in all the tractor-trailers and other large vehicles hauling everything and anything you can imagine while driving at high speeds in lots of traffic on this up-to-eight-lane beast of a highway in the Atlanta area, especially going north into Cobb County, and you create the potential for hazardous driving conditions.
• Interstate 85: Covering the stretch from Montgomery, Alabama, to Petersburg, Virginia, passing through Atlanta, I-85 stands out as one of the busiest highways in the state. Weaving through the heart of the city, it becomes a particularly treacherous beast during rush hour, with fender benders and brake lights painting a familiar scene.
• Highway 129: As it traverses the North Georgia Mountains, Highway 129 is recognized for its winding roads and steep drop-offs, both of which can contribute to serious car accidents.
• Highway 441: Cutting through central Georgia, this road is characterized by high traffic volumes and frequent car wrecks.
• Highway 285: Also known as the Perimeter, it circles Metro Atlanta with its large amounts of tractor-trailers, many lanes, and a ridiculous amount of vehicles, all driving too fast in too tight spaces. This creates a cocktail for accident disaster.

At Law Office of Perry Dean Ellis, P.C., we understand the unique challenges posed by the roads in Georgia. Our skilled personal injury attorneys are determined to ensure you get the legal support you deserve when facing the aftermath of a car accident caused by such things as distracted driving, tailgating, unsafe speeds, failures to yield, and more.

Adequate Medical Treatment Matters

After a car accident, you may be unsure of how to get and pay for medical treatment. And the truth is that many people might get medical treatment, but it isn’t the best treatment for that specific injury. Injuries stemming from car accidents can vary greatly, ranging from broken bones to traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, burns and even fatalities.

Our lawyers can help you obtain the “right” medical treatment for your specific injury. This is important not only for your health — but also for getting you the maximum compensation for your injury case.

Do not hesitate to seek medical attention if you are injured. If you do wait an extended period, the insurance company will use that against you by claiming that your injury isn’t as bad as it really is, and that will very likely affect the amount of compensation you will receive on your injury case. Again, get medical treatment immediately if you have suffered an injury. Gaps in medical treatment are very bad for your injury claim.

Your Rights And Responsibilities After A Car Accident

Even if you were not at fault in the accident, it is still your responsibility to work as quickly as possible to get the repairs done to your vehicle. Do not worry about using your own car insurance for the repairs — your insurance company will be reimbursed by the at-fault driver’s insurance company for the cost of repairs.

Also, it is important that you keep good records throughout your case. Please keep a list of all the doctors, hospitals and other medical providers you have seen for injuries related to the accident, including the name, address and phone number for each provider.

Other important points:

• Please notify us if your phone number or address changes. It is very important that we are able to contact you concerning your case.
• Our office will be in contact with you throughout the course of your medical treatment, but please contact us if any new developments occur.
• Please mail us all medical bills that you have received for treatment. Why? After your treatment, requesting and receiving medical records can take one to three months, and we can speed up the process if you provide us with some of those documents.
• Once we receive all medical records and bills, we will submit a settlement demand package to the insurance company. Considering time for mailing and reviewing, it usually takes three to four weeks to hear back from the insurance company with a response to our demand.
• When we begin the negotiation process to settle your case, the attorney handling your case will contact you to discuss any and all settlement offers.
• Personal injury settlements generally occur after medical treatment is finished, but there can be exceptions, primarily when there is a limited amount of insurance money to collect from.

Once a settlement has been reached and we receive the settlement check in our office, we will contact you immediately so that you can make arrangements to come to our office to sign the final documents and receive your money.

If the other driver involved in your accident is uninsured or underinsured, our car accident lawyers have experience representing clients in uninsured motorist claims. We understand that you are going through a difficult time, and we are committed to helping you and being responsive to your needs. Personal service is the hallmark of our legal practice.

You Have A Right To Compensation After A Medical Transport Injury

When medical transport arrives to take you to the hospital, appointments or to help you move around, you reasonably expect that the driver and personnel will take proper care to keep you safe. However, you might be surprised by how often people suffer serious injuries in medical transportation vehicles in the Atlanta Metro area. We believe this type of injury does not get the attention it deserves.

In many cases, people are injured in medical transportation vehicles due to the negligence of the med transport driver or other med transport personnel. People with disabilities — and particularly people who are confined to wheelchairs — are often the victims in these situations.

Common Causes Of Medical Transport Injuries And Who May Be At Fault

Although they are meant to protect the health and safety of their passengers, medical transportation vehicles can be dangerous. The drivers of these vehicles are usually in a hurry to get the passengers to their doctors’ appointments or to treatments such as dialysis.

When drivers are in a hurry, they may drive aggressively, increasing the risk of an auto accident. They may also fail to take basic but important safety precautions. For instance, passengers may be injured when drivers and medical personnel:

• Neglect to properly belt the passengers into the vehicle’s seats or into their wheelchairs
• Neglect to secure the wheelchair into the floor restraints

Patients who do not have the use of their arms or legs are unable to protect themselves from falling or to brace themselves to better absorb the impact. They are therefore much more susceptible to severe injury when a medical transportation van crashes or abruptly stops.

Our lawyers are familiar with the insurance issues involved in medical transport accidents. We can help you maximize your compensation after a serious injury.

Motor Vehicle Accidents Caused By Elderly Drivers

Many of us have loved ones whose ability to drive has been affected by aging. It’s a common occurrence in life, but that does not make it any easier for elderly people to give up the freedom and mobility that come with driving.

Unfortunately, many motor vehicle accidents in the Atlanta area involve elderly drivers, and the factors that lead to senior citizen crashes often include physical and mental issues that come with aging, such as:

• Weakened eyesight
• Slower reaction times
• Hearing impairment
• Dementia

In some cases (but certainly not all), an elderly person who caused a crash had already surrendered their driver’s license or had it suspended and was driving without a license.

Understanding Insurance Coverage Following A Senior Driver Car Accident

If you have been injured in a car accident caused by an elderly driver, one of the most important things to understand is where your financial compensation will come from. Usually, when you seek compensation for your medical bills and other costs, you are not getting that money directly from the elderly individual who caused the crash. Instead, in most cases, you are getting that money from the elderly person’s insurance provider.

Even in a case where the older driver’s license had already been surrendered, you are most likely seeking compensation from the insurance of whoever owns the car. If the elderly person didn’t have insurance, you may still have options through uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage in your own insurance policy.

The main thing to keep in mind is that you should not feel bad about seeking compensation after a crash with an elderly driver. Insurance exists for a reason, and you should seek the full amount of compensation to cover your injuries.

Arrange A Free Consultation | Contact Us Today

Our skilled, dedicated attorneys and courteous, responsive staff are ready to help you. For a free consultation, please call 404-692-7474 or send us an email. We advise and represent clients in Atlanta and throughout the state of Georgia.

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