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Never Speak To Insurance Companies Without Your Attorney

Insurance Settlement

After an Atlanta car accident, there is a significant chance that you will receive a phone call from the other driver’s insurance company. However, it is usually best never to speak to insurance companies without your attorney. While you may think you need to cooperate with the other driver’s insurer, remember that anything you say to their insurance company could be twisted and used against you later. Instead, our Atlanta personal injury attorneys at Shani O. Brooks P.C. can help you.

Who Must You Cooperate With After An Atlanta Car Accident?

After an auto accident in Atlanta, you must cooperate with certain parties. First, you are required by Georgia state law to stay at the crash scene and exchange information with others involved in the accident. You need to render aid to anyone hurt and call for medical assistance. However, you should keep your conversations with others in the accident to a minimum.

Second, you need to cooperate with the responding police officers. Expect to provide your driver’s license, insurance information, and vehicle registration.

Third, you must call your insurance company and tell them about the accident within a reasonable period. You also need to cooperate with your insurance company’s accident investigation team.

You Are Not Required To Talk To The Other Driver’s Insurance Company

Many accident victims may believe they have to talk to the opposing driver’s insurance company. But this is untrue. When the insurance adjuster calls you after the accident, it is not to see how you feel after the accident. Instead, their call is entirely about the insurance company’s bottom line. The goals of their conversation with you are:

To get you to say something that makes it easier to blame you for the accident. Even if the other driver caused the accident, the insurance company might try to blame you for what happened.

To encourage you to accept a fast settlement before you call an Atlanta personal injury attorney. Immediately after the accident, you probably do not know how seriously hurt you are. Also, unless you are a personal injury attorney, you probably have little idea what the case is worth. The insurance adjuster knows that a personal injury attorney being involved will cost the insurance company more money.

When the insurance adjuster calls you, the best policy is to say as little as possible. It is best to refer the call to your personal injury attorney. But if you say anything to the adjuster, keep it brief. For example, you might say:

  • You will not discuss the accident or who was at fault.
  • You are still getting medical treatment.
  • You will only sign something or settle with your attorney present.

If the insurance adjuster continues calling, just inform your attorney. Once the lawyer contacts the insurance company, the calls should stop.

Speak To Our Atlanta Personal Injury Attorneys Now

 

You may be tempted to speak to the other driver’s insurance company after an Atlanta car accident, but this is never a good idea. Instead, have our Atlanta personal injury attorney at Shani O. Brooks P.C. talk to the insurance company for you. Your attorney will aggressively negotiate with the insurance company and represent your interests. Contact Shani Brooks about your personal injury case today at (404) 920-4736.

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Why Do Personal Injuries Increase In The Spring?

Personal Injury

There is considerable evidence of more personal injuries in the spring. For example, many studies show the rise in accidents, from workplace injuries to car accidents, as the weather warms and Daylight Saving Time (DST) begins. Learn more about why there are more personal injuries in the spring, then talk to our Atlanta personal injury lawyer at Shani O. Brooks P.C. today.

Daylight Saving Time Causes More Accidents

Every spring, Americans move their clocks ahead an hour for DST. The time change gives us more light in the evening, so we can enjoy being outside in warmer weather. However, evidence suggests more accidents after DST starts, including car accidents and job-related injuries.

Fatality Analysis Reporting System data shows a 6% rise in auto accidents the week after DST starts. The data shows that the time change causes about 28 more yearly deaths. This study also indicates that the accident rate declines the week after DST. Losing an hour of sleep can significantly affect our ability to make safe driving choices.

DST Also Causes More Job-Related Injuries

Evidence also suggests that job-related accidents rise after Daylight Saving Time starts. For example, a recent study by Michigan State University found that changing to DST in March leads to about 40 minutes less sleep for workers. This led to a 5.7% rise in job-related accidents and about 68% more days lost to injuries at work.

Can losing about an hour of sleep cause more personal injuries? Experts believe that it can. This is especially in high-risk jobs requiring attention to detail. Studies have shown that losing an hour of sleep makes our attention decrease our concentration. For people driving, there can be more car accidents because of driver fatigue. In addition, workers in the trucking and construction industries may be more tired after Daylight Saving Time.

Other Reasons For More Personal Injuries In The Spring

Daylight Saving Time is not the only reason for more personal injuries in the spring. There are simply more people driving in warmer, sunnier weather in Atlanta. When more people are driving on the roads, there will be more accidents.

Also, warmer weather causes more people in Atlanta to be outside at the Atlanta Botanical Garden and other outside venues. When more people are outside, more pedestrian and bicycle accidents will occur.

There are even more slip-and-fall accidents during the spring. The Atlanta area tends to have rain in the spring, which can cause slick sidewalks, floors, and steps.

It is wise to use caution when you are out and about in warm, sunny weather every spring. Also, get more sleep the week before DST starts, so you are awake and alert behind the wheel.

Call Our Personal Injury Attorney Now

Were you injured in a car accident in Atlanta because of someone’s negligence?  You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. Contact our Atlanta personal injury attorney at  Shani O. Brooks P.C. at (404) 920-4736. Our Atlanta personal injury attorneys also serve the communities of Buckhead, Decatur, and Dunwoody.