In Your Corner After Any Car Accident
Most of us travel by car almost every day, which can make it easy to forget how dangerous these vehicles can be. Someone else’s instant of carelessness on the road can cause you serious, possibly permanent injuries. At Morris & Dean, LLC, our car accident attorneys know the toll a car accident takes.
Putting your life back together after a serious car accident is a difficult process. You will need access to quality medical care and financial resources to be able to make it through the tough times you face. We’ve helped Dalton residents fight back after major car accidents.
Injured in a Car Accident? Get Experienced Local Help.
A serious car accident can change your life in seconds. You may be facing painful injuries, time away from work, mounting medical bills and an insurance company that is already trying to minimize what it pays.
Morris & Dean helps people injured in car accidents in Dalton, Whitfield County and throughout Northwest Georgia. Our attorneys can investigate what happened, protect you from insurance-company tactics and pursue the compensation you need to move forward.
Attorney Jeffrey J. Dean has represented accident victims for decades and understands what it takes to build a persuasive personal injury claim. Whether your collision happened on I-75, Walnut Avenue, Cleveland Highway, Chattanooga Road or another road in the Dalton area, our team is ready to discuss your options.
Your initial consultation is free. You pay no attorney’s fee in a personal injury case unless we secure compensation for you.
Call Morris & Dean at 706-222-3790 or contact us online to speak with a Dalton car accident lawyer.
Why Choose Morris & Dean After a Dalton Car Accident?
The lawyer you select can have a significant effect on how your case is investigated, presented and resolved. Morris & Dean offers accident victims the experience of an established Dalton law firm combined with direct, personal attention.
When you work with our firm, you receive:
- Decades of personal injury and trial experience
- A local Dalton legal team that understands North Georgia
- Direct guidance throughout your claim
- A thorough investigation of the accident and your injuries
- Experience dealing with insurance companies
- Preparation for litigation when a fair settlement is not offered
- A free initial consultation
- No attorney’s fee unless we recover compensation for you
We do not believe an injured person should be treated like a claim number. We take the time to understand how the accident has affected your health, your work, your family and your future.
How a Dalton Car Accident Attorney Can Help
Insurance companies begin evaluating an accident almost immediately. Adjusters may request a recorded statement, ask you to sign medical authorizations or offer a quick settlement before the full extent of your injuries is known.
Their objective is to resolve the claim while paying as little as possible.
A car accident attorney from Morris & Dean can level the playing field by handling the legal and insurance issues while you concentrate on your medical care. Depending on the circumstances, our work may include:
- Investigating the accident scene
- Obtaining the police crash report
- Interviewing witnesses
- Preserving photographs and video
- Collecting medical records and bills
- Reviewing vehicle damage
- Identifying every responsible party
- Examining available insurance coverage
- Calculating present and future losses
- Communicating with insurance adjusters
- Negotiating for a fair settlement
- Filing a lawsuit when litigation becomes necessary
We also help protect clients from mistakes that can weaken an otherwise valid claim, including giving an unnecessary recorded statement, accepting an inadequate settlement or posting damaging information on social media.
Car Accident Cases We Handle
Morris & Dean represents people injured in many types of motor vehicle collisions, including:
Rear-End Collisions
A rear-end crash can cause whiplash, spinal injuries, concussions and other conditions that may not be immediately apparent. The insurance company may describe the collision as minor based on vehicle damage, even when the occupants suffer significant injuries.
Intersection and T-Bone Accidents
Side-impact collisions frequently occur when a driver runs a traffic light, fails to yield or turns across oncoming traffic. These accidents can cause severe injuries because the side of a vehicle offers less protection than its front or rear.
Head-On Collisions
Head-on crashes often produce catastrophic or fatal injuries. These cases may involve distracted driving, impairment, excessive speed, unsafe passing or a driver crossing the center line.
Highway and I-75 Accidents
High speeds, heavy traffic and commercial trucks can make crashes on I-75 especially dangerous. Highway accident cases may require immediate preservation of video, vehicle data and other evidence.
Distracted-Driving Accidents
Texting, using a navigation system, eating or otherwise diverting attention from the road can cause a preventable collision. Phone records, witness statements and other evidence may help establish that a driver was distracted.
Drunk-Driving Accidents
An impaired driver can potentially face both criminal charges and civil liability. The criminal case does not automatically compensate the injured person, so a separate personal injury claim may be necessary.
Hit-and-Run Accidents
Leaving the scene does not necessarily eliminate your ability to recover compensation. Uninsured-motorist coverage and other sources may be available even when the responsible driver cannot be located.
Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Claims
If the at-fault driver has no insurance or insufficient coverage, your own policy may provide uninsured or underinsured motorist benefits. These claims can still become contested because your insurance company may dispute liability or damages.
Multi-Vehicle Accidents
Determining fault in a chain-reaction crash can be complicated. Multiple drivers and insurance companies may blame one another, making a prompt and independent investigation particularly important.
Work-Related Vehicle Accidents
If you were injured while working, you may have a workers’ compensation claim as well as a personal injury case against someone other than your employer. Evaluating both potential claims can help identify all available compensation.
Injuries Caused by Car Accidents
Car accident injuries can range from temporary pain to permanent disability. Some symptoms appear immediately, while others become more noticeable during the hours or days following a crash.
We represent clients suffering from injuries such as:
- Traumatic brain injuries and concussions
- Neck and back injuries
- Herniated or damaged spinal discs
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones
- Shoulder and knee injuries
- Internal injuries
- Nerve damage
- Facial injuries and scarring
- Burns
- Amputations
- Chronic pain
- Psychological trauma
- Wrongful death
Seek medical attention as soon as possible after an accident. Prompt care protects your health and creates documentation connecting your condition to the collision.
What Compensation Can You Recover After a Georgia Car Accident?
The value of a car accident claim depends on the severity of the injuries, the available insurance coverage, the effect on the injured person’s life and the strength of the liability evidence.
Depending on your case, recoverable damages may include:
- Emergency transportation and hospital expenses
- Doctor and specialist bills
- Surgery and rehabilitation
- Physical and occupational therapy
- Prescription medication
- Future medical treatment
- Lost income
- Reduced future earning capacity
- Property damage
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Permanent impairment or disfigurement
- Losses suffered by surviving family members after a fatal accident
An early insurance offer may account for the bills already received without addressing future treatment, continuing pain or reduced earning ability. Before accepting a settlement, it is important to understand the full extent of your losses.
Once you sign a final release, you generally cannot return to the insurer for additional compensation if your condition worsens.
What to Do After a Car Accident in Dalton
The moments after a collision can be confusing. If you are physically able, take the following steps:
- Call 911. Request police and emergency medical assistance.
- Get medical care. Do not assume that pain or stiffness will disappear without treatment.
- Exchange information. Obtain the other driver’s name, contact details, driver’s license and insurance information.
- Document the scene. Photograph the vehicles, roadway, traffic controls, skid marks, debris and visible injuries.
- Identify witnesses. Ask witnesses for their names and contact information.
- Avoid admitting fault. Provide truthful information, but do not speculate about who caused the accident.
- Notify your insurance company. Report the collision without giving unnecessary opinions or agreeing to a recorded statement before obtaining legal advice.
- Keep important records. Save medical bills, repair estimates, wage-loss information, correspondence and photographs.
- Be cautious on social media. Insurance companies may use posts, photographs or activity updates to challenge an injury claim.
- Speak with an attorney. Early legal help can prevent evidence from disappearing and protect you from avoidable mistakes.
What If You Were Partly Responsible for the Accident?
Being accused of contributing to an accident does not automatically mean that you have no claim.
Georgia uses a modified comparative-fault system. Your compensation can generally be reduced by your percentage of responsibility. If you are found 50% or more responsible, you may be prevented from recovering damages.
Insurance companies understand the importance of these percentages and may attempt to place more blame on you than the evidence supports. Our attorneys can investigate the accident and challenge an unfair allocation of fault.
Do not accept an adjuster’s conclusion about responsibility without having the evidence independently evaluated.
How Long Do You Have to File a Car Accident Claim in Georgia?
Georgia law generally provides two years from the date of an accident to file a lawsuit for personal injuries. Different deadlines or notice requirements can apply in certain circumstances, including claims involving government vehicles or agencies.
Waiting can also make a case harder to prove. Surveillance recordings may be erased, vehicles may be repaired, physical evidence may disappear and witnesses’ memories may fade.
Contacting an attorney early gives your legal team an opportunity to preserve evidence and determine the deadlines that apply to your specific situation.
Serving Car Accident Victims Throughout Northwest Georgia
Morris & Dean is based in Dalton and represents injured people throughout the surrounding area, including:
- Whitfield County
- Rocky Face
- Tunnel Hill
- Varnell
- Chatsworth and Murray County
- Ringgold and Catoosa County
- Fort Oglethorpe
- Calhoun and Gordon County
- LaFayette and Walker County
- Other North Georgia communities
Our local experience helps us understand the roads, courts, medical providers and practical concerns that can affect an accident case in Northwest Georgia.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dalton Car Accident Claims
Do I really need a lawyer after a car accident?
Not every property-damage accident requires an attorney. You should strongly consider obtaining legal advice when you have been injured, fault is disputed, multiple vehicles were involved, the other driver is uninsured, you may miss work or the insurance company is pressuring you to settle.
How much does it cost to hire Morris & Dean?
Your initial consultation is free. Morris & Dean handles personal injury cases on a contingency-fee basis, meaning you do not pay an attorney’s fee unless we recover compensation for you. We will explain the fee agreement and treatment of case expenses before you hire us.
Should I give the insurance company a recorded statement?
You may be required to cooperate with your own insurer under the terms of your policy, but that does not mean you should provide an unprepared statement. You generally are not required to give the other driver’s insurance company a recorded statement. Speak with an attorney before agreeing to one.
What if the insurance company already offered me a settlement?
You can have the offer reviewed before accepting it. Initial offers may not include future medical care, continuing symptoms, lost earning ability or the complete effect of the injury. Do not sign a release until you understand what rights you are giving up.
What if my injuries did not appear until the day after the accident?
Delayed symptoms are common after car accidents. Adrenaline can mask pain, and some neck, back and brain injuries become more apparent over time. Seek medical attention promptly and tell your healthcare provider when and how the symptoms developed.
Can I recover compensation if the other driver was uninsured?
Possibly. Your automobile policy may include uninsured-motorist coverage. Other insurance policies or responsible parties may also be involved. We can review the available coverage and explain your options.
How long will my car accident case take?
The timeline depends on the severity of your injuries, the length of treatment, whether fault is disputed and whether the insurer negotiates reasonably. Resolving a claim too early can prevent you from understanding its full value. We work to move cases forward while protecting clients from premature settlements.
Will my case have to go to court?
Many car accident cases settle without trial. However, a fair result is more likely when the insurance company understands that the attorney is prepared to litigate if necessary. Morris & Dean prepares each claim carefully and can file a lawsuit when settlement negotiations do not produce an appropriate resolution.
Speak With a Dalton Car Accident Lawyer Today
You should not have to face the insurance company alone while recovering from an accident. Morris & Dean can explain your rights, investigate the collision and help you pursue compensation for the harm you have suffered.
Your initial consultation is free, and you pay no attorney’s fee unless we secure compensation for you.
Attorney Jeffrey J. Dean has a record of offering effective representation for Dalton car accident victims and for delivering positive results that stretches back almost 30 years. He knows how to take on the insurance companies and how to find the most direct path to getting the maximum compensation for you. He is AV Preeminent* rated by Martindale-Hubbell’s peer review rating system, the highest available rating and has an 9.3 “Excellent” rating from Avvo.
To learn more about how we have helped people, review our verdicts and settlements page and our client reviews.
Call Us Today To Start Your Case
For help you can depend on to fight for the compensation you deserve, turn to Morris & Dean. To schedule a free initial consultation, call 706-222-3790 or contact us online.
We only collect attorney’s fees for personal injury cases if we secure compensation for you.
Also serving: Blairsville, Tunnel Hill, Chatsworth, Calhoun, Ringgold, Fort Oglethorpe, Elijay, Blue Ridge, Resaca, Ft. Oglethorpe, Varnell, Hiawassee, Rome, Cartersville, Cohutta, Canton, Crandall, Rising Fawn and Chattanooga, TN.
*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer-review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.
