Decatur Car Accident Lawyer

You should hire Conoscienti & Ledbetter because our local firm combines over two decades of combined aggressive trial experience with a deeply personalized approach to client care in DeKalb County. We do not generically refer to our clients as “those people.” We know them by name.

Deep Knowledge of Local Decatur Courts and Judges

Our intimate knowledge of the DeKalb County courthouse, judges, and opposing counsel provides our clients with an advantage when negotiating with insurance companies and litigating at trial. We know how DeKalb County judges think and what specific filing procedures only the DeKalb County State Court will require.

• We understand the unique expectations of jurors who live and work in the Decatur area.
• Our reputation for being trial ready often causes insurance companies to increase their settlement offers.
• We have developed relationships with local expert witnesses we can call upon to testify in your case.

A Proven History of Helping Clients Receive Maximum Financial Compensation

When you retain us as your DeKalb County auto accident lawyer, you can rest assured that we have experience getting our clients the maximum amount of compensation for their injuries. Our Georgia attorneys have recovered millions of dollars for our clients through high value verdicts and settlements.

• Our firm will calculate all of your future damages including ongoing medical care.
• We have successfully handled claims ranging from minor fender-benders to large multi-car pileups.
• If we believe you have a case, we will take it to trial to ensure you get the compensation you deserve.

Your Decatur car accident lawyer will handle any motor vehicle collision, ranging from simple rear-end impacts to complex side-impact accidents and commercial vehicle crashes. Car crashes can happen anywhere and at any time.

Side Impacts (T-Bone Accidents)

If you were hit on your driver’s side door, then you were likely involved in a T-bone accident, which occurs when one driver fails to yield the right-of-way or runs a red light. These accidents often occur at busy Decatur intersections and lead to traumatic brain injuries and pelvic fractures.

• The human body has more protection in the front and rear of the car compared to the side.
• Side collisions cause more than 23% of passenger deaths during a car accident.
• Ensuring that you had the right-of-way will be crucial to proving negligence.

Truck Accidents in Georgia

Accidents involving commercial trucks require specialized legal expertise because trucking companies have teams that respond immediately after a crash to remove key evidence before your lawyer can inspect the scene. Large commercial trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds when fully loaded. You can find detailed safety standards at the FMCSA official site.

• Large trucks have blackout boxes that can tell us where every brake was during the crash.
• You might be dealing with three different insurance policies: the driver, the carrier, and the trailer owner.
• Hours of service violations caused by truck driver fatigue are commonplace.

Uber & Lyft Accidents

Rideshare accidents involving Uber and Lyft require an understanding of specific insurance phases, as there are times where only the driver’s personal policy applies. Knowing when these companies are responsible can greatly affect the value of your case.

• If the Uber or Lyft app was off, then we will need to make a claim under the driver’s personal insurance policy.
• If the driver had the app on but was waiting for a customer, then we can make a claim under Uber or Lyft’s contingent policy.
• If a passenger was in the car, a $1 million policy is usually available to cover your injuries.

From medical bills to pain and suffering, a dedicated Decatur injury attorney will work tirelessly to pursue every dollar of financial compensation you deserve. We don’t leave money on the table.

Economic damages: Lost Wages and Medical Bills

Also called special damages, these recoverable damages allow you to be specifically reimbursed for out-of-pocket financial losses caused by the crash. They can be proven with bills and receipts.

• Payments for past and future medical treatments.
• Physical therapy to recover from your injuries.
• Repair or replacement of damaged property.
• Lost income from being unable to work.

Non-Economic damages: Pain and Suffering

Non-economic damages allow victims to recover financial compensation for the subjective effects the crash had on their life. While not every injury is visible, they are still very real. These losses are not reimbursed with receipts.

• Physical pain you experience while working or sleeping.
• Emotional distress from a traumatizing accident.
• Inability to enjoy life to its fullest by doing the things you love.

Punitive Damages for Georgia Car Accident Claims

Punitive damages are awarded in the most egregious of cases to punish the wrongdoing driver financially. Unlike compensatory damages mentioned above, punitive damages are not intended to compensate you but are intended to punish the person at fault. Read more about punitive damages at O.C.G.A. § 51-12-5.1.

• Typically only awarded if the other driver was intoxicated.
• The judge wants to set an example to prevent them from ever doing it again.
• Clear and convincing evidence is required.

Decatur car accident attorneys at Conoscienti & Ledbetter charge nothing up front because our law firm works on a contingency fee basis only. We finance the case, and you repay us if we win.

• No hourly charges. No up-front fees.
• We pay all the costs associated with proving your case.
• If we lose, you don’t owe us a penny.

Some common questions we receive from accident victims include inquiries about the length of time a case takes, filing a claim with an uninsured motorist and if their injury claim will end up in court.

Will I need to go to court for my car accident injury claim?

Not necessarily. Most auto injury claims are settled out of court. However, if the insurance company is unwilling to provide you with a fair and reasonable financial recovery, then we will take your case to court. Approximately 90% of cases settle.

• At Conoscienti & Ledbetter we prepare every case as if it is going to trial.
• The fact that we are ready to go to court often leads to a settlement before trial.
• If we have to go to trial, we will stand by you every step of the way.

How long does it take to settle my case in DeKalb County?

A case can settle in a matter of months or can take well over a year to resolve. Every case is different. However, how long your injuries take to heal and the insurance company’s willingness to pay plays a big role.

• Do NOT settle until you have reached Maximum Medical Improvement. If you settle too soon, you can’t go back to the insurance company if you need additional treatment.
• A lot of times waiting will dramatically increase your settlement amount.

What if the person that hit me doesn’t have insurance?

If the negligent driver does not have insurance, we will shift gears and file a claim against your insurance company’s Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) coverage. This allows us to obtain your compensation from your own insurance company. More people than you think are driving without insurance. You can learn about Georgia’s insurance requirements at O.C.G.A. § 33-7-11.

• Just because you have UM coverage does NOT mean your insurance company won’t fight you.
• We will fight your own insurance company just as hard as we will fight everyone else.