Marietta and Alpharetta, Georgia – Advice from a Personal Injury Attorney

Knowing how to react after an accident is a key to bringing a successful case against those responsible for your injuries and property damage. Hasty Pope LLP, serving the greater Marietta and Alpharetta, Georgia area, has a personal injury attorney who can help. Our staff of lawyers has the experience and knowledge necessary to help you obtain just and fair financial compensation for your injuries. If you have suffered a serious injury or lost a loved one due to the negligence of another party, we can assist you in the filing of a personal injury or wrongful death suit.

Many of our clients have similar queries regarding how best to proceed with their claims. For that reason, we have provided answers to some of the more frequently asked questions by our clients in the hopes that they will serve as a quick reference guide. To learn more, or to schedule a free consultation with our firm, contact one of our personal injury attorneys today.

What should I do after an accident? 

If you have been involved in an auto accident, you may be eligible for financial compensation for any injuries you may have suffered. In order to provide yourself with the greatest chance of maximizing your settlement, it is important to take certain steps, including:

  • Do not talk to anyone about your accident except a qualified personal injury attorney. At Hasty Pope LLP, our associates can review your case free of charge and offer informed legal counsel on your legal rights. You are required to talk to your own insurance company, but it may be prudent to have your attorney present when you talk to them.
  • Keep a daily diary of the problems that confront you because of your injuries. Consider buying a spiral notebook and keep your diary in it. Check with your attorney or their secretary to see if you are keeping it correctly.
  • If your injury requires a cast, brace, traction, or other appliance, save it. Be sure to bring these to your lawyer after you are no longer using them. Please have someone take a picture of you in any brace, cast, etc.
  • Be sure to keep your attorney advised of any change in your address or telephone number.
  • If you are obtaining your own medical records, please request that the records are certified.

If you have any questions regarding these instructions or any matters in regard to your case, please feel free to call or email your personal injury attorney at Hasty Pope LLP at any time.

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Do I really need a personal injury attorney?

Justice is not automatic, even when you have been injured by another party's negligence. For this reason, it is usually wise to enlist the services of a personal injury attorney you can trust.

In order to protect the legal rights of a person who has been injured there are a number of issues to be considered and addressed. Proceeding without legal advice can be extremely risky. At our firm, serving the greater Alpharetta and Marietta, Georgia region, an experienced personal injury attorney will do the following to help you maximize your claim for monetary damages:

  • Determine all possible sources of insurance. Many times there are additional sources of insurance available that those without legal experience would not know to request. Examples are liability insurance, resident relative insurance, medical payment coverage on auto and other policies, uninsured motorist coverage, umbrella coverage, health insurance, and disability insurance.
  • Determine the applicable statute of limitations. This is the time frame in which a person must file a claim.
  • Analyze the applicable laws in light of the facts of your particular case.
  • Determine the full extent of the injuries. Such injuries may include pain and suffering, cost of medical care, and lost wages.
  • Determine the types of damages that apply to the case. Such damages may include compensatory damages and punitive damages.
  • Preserve evidence. For example, a good personal injury attorney will take photographs of the scene of the accident, including damage to the automobile or the injury itself. Personal injury attorneys also help their clients gather statements from witnesses and the investigating officer.
  • Determine the fair value of the claim.

The personal injury lawyers at Hasty Pope LLP handle these steps for every client. We leave our clients to focus on the important things like getting healthy and returning to their day-to-day life. We will take care of the complicated legal issues so that you don’t have to worry. Both our staff of paralegals and partners are experienced and ready to fight for you. Call Hasty Pope LLP today for a free consultation.

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How should I handle damaged property?

Show your damaged automobile and any damaged personal property to your personal injury attorney.  Please make sure you have pictures of any damage before it is repaired. The trial attorneys at Hasty Pope LLP can utilize this evidence to help ensure you are justly compensated for any damages you may have suffered as a result of an automobile accident or truck accident.

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What should I do with police and incident reports?

If you have a police or incident report, please pass it on to your personal injury attorney. If you know of any witnesses to the incident, please furnish your lawyer with their correct names, addresses, and telephone numbers. Our staff can interview any witnesses to better determine the cause of the accident. If the witnesses can help us prove that the negligent actions of another party were responsible for your injuries, we can help you obtain financial compensation.

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How should I keep track of lost wages?

Make sure you furnish your lawyer with the names and addresses of all places from which you lost wages.  If you are self-employed, please try to obtain records that can provide an accurate indication of the amount of wages you would reasonably expect to accrue during the time period in which you were unable to work. If you work for an employer, please keep an accurate record of all days lost from work because of your injuries. Make sure your doctors give you work excuses for days missed due to your injury.

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How should I handle doctor visits?

You should return to each of your doctors as often as necessary and be sure to tell them in detail all of your potential medical concerns. Make sure you immediately advise your lawyer of all doctors you see and the days of your visits. Your lawyers can help determine the severity of your injuries by consulting with your doctors, and determine an appropriate amount of compensation to pursue in court.

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What should I do with my drug, hospital, and medical bills?

Obtain and duplicate copies of all medical, hospital, and drug bills, and mail one copy to your personal injury attorney. Or, if you prefer, mail your lawyer what you have and he or she will make a copy and send one back to you. You should periodically send these bills to your lawyer for his or her files. 

In addition, please keep records of any other expenses you may have in connection with your accident, including the hiring of extra help, medical bills, and the costs incurred in going to your doctor. All your bills should be paid by check or you should obtain and keep receipts.

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Who will pay my hospital and doctor's bills?

In the event of an accident where you have been injured by the negligent actions of another party, the at-fault party or their insurance provider is responsible for reimbursing you for any medical bills that you may have paid. In some instances, your own auto insurance carrier will pay your hospital and doctor bills up to the amount of coverage under your policy. Our lawyers can help obtain financial compensation to cover these costs.

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How should I handle traffic court?

If you are arrested in connection with an auto accident, be sure to advise your personal injury attorney as to the date, place, and time of any traffic court hearing. It may be possible for us to attend the traffic court to offer you sound and informed legal counsel on how best to proceed in your case.

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What should I do with my photographs?

If you have any photographs, please send both the negatives and any prints to your personal injury attorney, or any digital files in the event that they were taken with a digital camera. If you are in the hospital, please notify your attorney's office; they will see to it that photographs are taken care of. Any photographs that can be used to support your claim can be used to ensure that you obtain just and fair financial compensation for your injuries.

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What should I do if I have further questions?

Call Hasty Pope LLP at 770-479-0366 or contact our personal injury attorneys by email.

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Contact Hasty Pope LLP To Learn More

If you are in need of legal counsel, our staff can help. Proudly serving the greater Atlanta area, including Marietta and Alpharetta, Georgia, a personal injury attorney from Hasty Pope LLP can review your case free of charge. Contact our law office today to schedule a free consultation.

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If you live in Marietta, Alpharetta, or surrounding Georgia communities and would like to speak to a personal injury attorney, please contact us today.

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Hasty Pope LLP

211 East Main Street
Canton, GA 30114
Phone: (678) 792-3250
Fax: (770) 479-0139

1370 Thompson Bridge Rd
Suite #200
Gainesville, GA 30501
Phone: (678) 343 2913

Hasty Pope LLP – A Results-Driven Personal Injury Practice

  • Our attorneys were able to secure a $2,500,000 settlement for our client for injuries she sustained in a motor vehicle accident. Learn more
  • A $1,000,000 verdict amount was awarded to our client in a medical malpractice and wrongful death lawsuit filed by the victim's family. Learn more
  • The attorneys at Hasty Pope LLP were able to obtain a $490,000 settlement for our client, who suffered severe injuries in a workplace accident. Learn more