[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/blog\/how-long-to-file-car-accident-claim\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/blog\/how-long-to-file-car-accident-claim\/","headline":"How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Claim in Georgia?","name":"How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Claim in Georgia?","description":"You might be eligible for compensation if someone else\u2019s negligent actions injured you in a Georgia car accident.\u00a0You have two years after an accident to file a lawsuit in Georgia against the person who hurt you.\u00a0The compensation you get after a crash could come through a settlement, but...","datePublished":"2023-06-08","dateModified":"2026-02-26","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/blog\/author\/kenbernard\/#Person","name":"Ken Bernard","url":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/blog\/author\/kenbernard\/","identifier":7,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/2c8989e3a6ded75e4fe0fae6e90fc6dfec65eaf7676e8cefa113ad6e8e2d6c66?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/2c8989e3a6ded75e4fe0fae6e90fc6dfec65eaf7676e8cefa113ad6e8e2d6c66?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Sherrod & Bernard, P.C.","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/SB-Logo-1.png","url":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/SB-Logo-1.png","width":300,"height":109}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/injured-car-accidents.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/injured-car-accidents.jpg","height":667,"width":1000},"url":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/blog\/how-long-to-file-car-accident-claim\/","video":[{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"VideoObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=DeS49hO7t9E#VideoObject","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=DeS49hO7t9E","name":"How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Claim in Georgia? -  Sherrod & Bernard, P.C.","description":"For more information about Car Accidents, please visit: https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/blog\/how-long-to-file-car-accident-claim\/\n__________________________________\nSherrod & Bernard, P.C. - Personal Injury Lawyers in Douglasville\n8470 Price Ave \nDouglasville, GA 30134\nPhone: (770) 920 - 8350\nwww.sherrodandbernard.com","thumbnailUrl":["https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/DeS49hO7t9E\/default.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/DeS49hO7t9E\/mqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/DeS49hO7t9E\/hqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/DeS49hO7t9E\/sddefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/DeS49hO7t9E\/maxresdefault.jpg"],"uploadDate":"2023-06-08T21:05:33+00:00","duration":"PT2M52S","embedUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/DeS49hO7t9E","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCNK4EK-AuNLyADEP1Gsgx7w#Organization","url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCNK4EK-AuNLyADEP1Gsgx7w","name":"Sherrod and Bernard","description":"When you are in a legal bind, you need an experienced attorney you can count on to provide you with skilled representation and sound legal counsel. Every lawyer under the sun will tell you that he or she is the right person for the job, but you need a firm backed with a successful track record. You need the firm of Sherrod & Bernard, serving the Douglasville area.\n\nAfter attending the University of Georgia together, attorneys John Sherrod and Ken Bernard founded the law firm of Sherrod & Bernard, P.C. in 1992. From the very beginning, the goal of our firm has been to provide each and every client with the quality personal service and skilled representation they deserve. You can count on our work ethic and our commitment to our clients.\n\nYou need a highly skilled attorney to successfully resolve your legal issues. One of our lawyers can help. Schedule a free consultation by calling our Douglasville office at 770-920-8350.","logo":{"url":"https:\/\/yt3.ggpht.com\/uK-5K9pyHHwlk4D1Wclej9JOOudzsipnxVRsoc1u0fyFTl1Ykw0P1mMXhCw6PbtfZAwzpbuF_A=s800-c-k-c0x00ffffff-no-rj","width":800,"height":800,"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=DeS49hO7t9E#VideoObject_publisher_logo_ImageObject"}},"potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=DeS49hO7t9E#VideoObject_potentialAction","target":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=DeS49hO7t9E&t={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"},"interactionStatistic":[[{"@type":"InteractionCounter","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=DeS49hO7t9E#VideoObject_interactionStatistic_WatchAction","interactionType":{"@type":"WatchAction"},"userInteractionCount":53}]]},{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"VideoObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=FCnVGmLc6-0#VideoObject","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=FCnVGmLc6-0","name":"How is fault determined in an auto accident? | Sherrod & Bernard","description":"How is it determined who the at-fault driver is so that the case can be properly filed? \n\nThis question is usually answered by reviewing the official law enforcement report. The investigating officer has a duty to review the scene, question the drivers involved, make conclusions about how the wreck occurred and even issue citations for any violations of rules of the road. At Sherrod & Bernard we also conduct our own independent investigation of the wreck to determine the at-fault party. \n\nWe know it's our job to make a recovery for our clients. This job starts with bringing the case against the proper driver and the insurance company.\n\n__________________________________\nSherrod & Bernard, P.C. - Personal Injury Lawyers in Douglasville\n8470 Price Ave \nDouglasville, GA 30134\nPhone: (770) 920 - 8350\nwww.sherrodandbernard.com","thumbnailUrl":["https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/FCnVGmLc6-0\/default.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/FCnVGmLc6-0\/mqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/FCnVGmLc6-0\/hqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/FCnVGmLc6-0\/sddefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/FCnVGmLc6-0\/maxresdefault.jpg"],"uploadDate":"2019-07-12T11:30:01+00:00","duration":"PT47S","embedUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/FCnVGmLc6-0","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCNK4EK-AuNLyADEP1Gsgx7w#Organization","url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCNK4EK-AuNLyADEP1Gsgx7w","name":"Sherrod and Bernard","description":"When you are in a legal bind, you need an experienced attorney you can count on to provide you with skilled representation and sound legal counsel. 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It is wise to contact an experienced\u00a0car accident attorney\u00a0soon after the accident so they can try to negotiate a settlement for you. If that doesn\u2019t work, they\u2019ll still have time to meet the statutory deadline for filing a lawsuit.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAre There Different Statutes of Limitation for Car Accident Claims?Georgia law\u00a0states that you must file a personal injury lawsuit resulting from a car accident within two years after the accident date.\u00a0If you miss the filing deadline, you can no longer seek relief through the courts. In other words, if you do not file your lawsuit within the two-year window, you won\u2019t be able to pursue compensation through the court system. You will have lost one of your best tools against the insurance company: the threat of a lawsuit.The same two-year deadline applies to wrongful death suits, which are also a type of personal injury case. However, if you need to file a lawsuit for property damage, you\u00a0have up to four years\u00a0after the accident date to file a suit.\u00a0Some limited exceptions can extend the statutory period. Some of those exceptions include:The injured person is under the age of 18.The injured person had an intellectual disability or mental illness at the time of the accident.The defendant has pending criminal charges.The defendant leaves the state before the plaintiff files the lawsuit.The car accident victim is deceased, and the estate has no personal representative.The statutory period will begin to run after the relevant situation is resolved or no longer applies.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHow Long Do I Have To File a Claim If the Accident Involved a Government Vehicle?The timeframe for filing a personal injury lawsuit for a car accident involving a government-owned vehicle is still two years, but there are additional requirements to meet for you to receive financial relief. If a\u00a0Georgia state agency\u00a0or a county government owns the vehicle, a negligence claim must be filed (in writing and sent by certified mail) with the government agency within twelve months. The written negligence notice must be filed within six months if a\u00a0Georgia city\u00a0or municipality owns the vehicle. Usually, people can\u2019t bring lawsuits against state governments because of the state\u2019s sovereign immunity. However, an exception applies if a government employee was negligent in the vehicle\u2019s operation.What Should I Do Right After a Car Accident?At the time of the accident, you undoubtedly contacted 911 and got emergency medical care for anyone who needed it. You probably also exchanged contact details and insurance information with the other driver. Now you\u2019re wondering what you can do next to bolster your claim. Your priority should be safeguarding your health and protecting your claim for compensation against the at-fault driver.If you haven\u2019t yet sought\u00a0medical care, do so immediately. To pursue compensation for injuries you sustained in the accident, you\u2019ll need to prove that they occurred in the accident and not at some later time.If you didn\u2019t\u00a0get photos\u00a0of the accident scene at the time, you could ask a friend to get them for you or rely on your attorney to obtain them.Write down your recollection of how the accident happened, the weather, and surrounding conditions while it is fresh in your mind.Gather and retain any paperwork\u00a0you receive in conjunction with the accident. That includes medical records, receipts for prescriptions, and other out-of-pocket expenses that resulted from the accident. Keep copies of any repair or replacement documentation for your damaged property in the crash.Keep a pain journal.\u00a0In this journal, you can keep track of all your medical appointments. Write down how you feel each day and how your injuries affect your ability to perform your usual activities.Stay off social media.\u00a0Anything you post could be taken out of context and potentially used to diminish the value of your case. If the insurance company asks for a recorded statement,\u00a0refer them to your personal injury lawyer.Should I Accept the First Settlement Offer from the Insurance Company?The insurance company is a business that is trying to stay profitable, so it wants to cut its expenses as much as possible. One of the ways it can do that is to make a quick, lowball offer in hopes that you\u2019ll be desperate enough to take it.\u00a0It\u2019s usually not a good idea to take that first offer. You haven\u2019t yet been able to determine how serious or long-lasting your injuries might be. You probably don\u2019t know yet whether you\u2019ll have to take time off work. Until you have a firm idea of the total value of your claim, you should hold off accepting any settlement from the insurance company. Your best bet is to engage a skilled Georgia car accident attorney. They can fight for the compensation you deserve and will understand how to avoid insurance company tactics designed to minimize your financial recovery.Contact a Georgia Car Accident LawyerThe experienced attorneys of\u00a0Sherrod & Bernard, P.C., successfully pursue and obtain compensation for our clients in car accident injury cases. Over the nearly three decades we\u2019ve been in practice, we\u2019ve developed various winning strategies to gain the compensation our clients need. Don\u2019t try to go through this challenging time alone. We are ready to help you pursue compensation for the injuries and losses you suffered. If you are the victim of a car accident caused by another\u2019s wrongdoing, contact one of our attorneys today to learn more about how we can help.Visit Our Georgia Car Accident Law Offices"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Claim in Georgia?","item":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/blog\/how-long-to-file-car-accident-claim\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]