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The Meeks Impact Law logo features large blue initials “IL” with the firm name in bold, dark blue text overlaying the design.
678-341-5212
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The Meeks Impact Law logo features large blue initials “IL” with the firm name in bold, dark blue text overlaying the design.
678-341-5212
Free Case Evaluation

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are the questions we hear most often, starting with the ones that apply to almost every case, followed by questions grouped by the type of accident. If you do not see your question, call us. The consultation is free.

Most Commonly Asked Questions

You may, if someone else's careless or wrongful conduct caused your injury. The clearest way to find out is a free consultation, where we look at how the injury happened, who was involved, and what it has cost you. There is no charge to ask and no obligation.

In both Georgia and Alabama, most personal injury claims must be filed within two years of the date of the injury. Miss that deadline and your claim is generally barred, no matter how strong it is. Some situations shorten that window, and claims against a government entity in particular can require formal written notice much sooner, so do not assume you have time.

Talk to a lawyer first. The other driver's insurer is not on your side, and an early recorded statement can be used against you later. This matters everywhere, but it matters even more in Alabama, where being found even slightly at fault can end your claim entirely. See the fault question below.

This is where Georgia and Alabama split sharply, and it is the most important difference to understand.

 

In Georgia, you can still recover as long as you were less than 50% at fault. Your compensation is reduced by your share of the blame, so if you are 20% at fault, you recover 80%.

 

In Alabama, the rule is far harsher. Alabama follows contributory negligence, which means being found even 1% at fault can bar you from recovering anything at all. This is why an Alabama case has to be built carefully from day one, and why you should never talk to an adjuster before talking to a lawyer.

 

Which rule applies depends on where you were injured.

There is no honest flat answer, because it depends on the injury, the medical care involved, how your life has been affected, and the available insurance. Be cautious of anyone who quotes a number before reviewing your case. What we can tell you early is whether you have a claim and what factors will drive its value.

Most injury cases settle without a trial. But cases settle well when the insurance company believes you are prepared to try them, which is why we prepare every case as if it may go to court. If a fair settlement is not offered, we are ready to take the next step.

Nothing upfront. We work on contingency, which means no consultation fee, no hourly billing, and no costs out of your pocket along the way. We are paid a percentage of the recovery, and if there is no recovery, you owe us no fee.

We are a family owned firm with offices in Cumming, Georgia and Birmingham, Alabama. We handle the investigation, the paperwork, the medical records, and the insurance company, so you can focus on healing. You get personal attention from the people whose name is on the door, not a case manager you never meet.

Car and Motorcycle Accident Questions

If you can, call the police, get medical attention, and photograph the scene, the vehicles, and your injuries. Get the other driver's information and any witness names. Then, before you speak to the other driver's insurer, call a lawyer.

Usually the at-fault driver, but not always only that driver. Depending on the facts, an employer, a vehicle owner, or another party may share responsibility. Part of our job is identifying every source of recovery.

Fault is built from evidence: the police report, photographs, witness accounts, vehicle damage, and sometimes crash reconstruction. Because Georgia and Alabama treat fault so differently, establishing it correctly matters enormously, especially in Alabama, where any share of fault assigned to you can defeat your claim.

You may be able to recover through your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. Many people do not realize they have it. We review every available policy to find coverage.

The law is largely the same, but motorcycle cases often face bias against riders and tend to involve more serious injuries. Both make experienced representation more important, not less.

Generally two years from the date of the crash in both Georgia and Alabama, with exceptions.

Commercial Vehicle and Truck Accident Questions

The same first steps as any crash, get safe, get medical care, document the scene, but act quickly to involve a lawyer. Trucking and delivery companies often begin investigating within hours, and important evidence can disappear fast.

Several things at once: severe injuries, multiple potentially responsible parties, federal and state trucking regulations, and company records that must be preserved before they are lost. These are not ordinary car crash cases and should not be handled like them.

Tractor trailers, box trucks, delivery vans, company vehicles, and similar. Birmingham in particular sits where three interstates meet and carries heavy freight traffic, and the GA-400 corridor moves commercial trucks through Forsyth County constantly.

Potentially the driver, the trucking or delivery company, a maintenance provider, or the party that loaded the cargo, among others. Identifying every responsible party is often what separates a small recovery from a full one.

Expect it. Commercial carriers and their insurers routinely deny fault early. That is why preserving records, driver logs, and vehicle data quickly matters so much.

Medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and in serious cases more. The specifics depend on the injuries and the state where the crash happened.

Generally two years in both states, but the early evidence work should begin immediately.

Wrongful Death Questions

A wrongful death claim arises when someone dies because of another party's negligent or wrongful conduct, such as a fatal crash, a preventable injury, or dangerous conduct by a company. We handle these with the care they require.

This differs by state, and the rules on who has the right to bring the claim and in what order are specific.

Here Georgia and Alabama are fundamentally different.

 

Georgia allows recovery for the "full value of the life" of the person who died, which is measured from the perspective of what was lost.

 

Alabama is unlike almost every other state: it allows only punitive damages in a wrongful death case. Alabama does not permit recovery of the compensatory losses most states allow. Damages are measured by the wrongdoer's conduct rather than by the family's financial loss.

 

This is a major difference that affects how a case is valued and handled, and it is one reason a wrongful death claim should never be left to a general practitioner.

Deadlines apply in both states and can differ from the standard two-year injury deadline depending on the circumstances. Do not wait to ask.

No. Many resolve through settlement, though some do proceed to trial. Alabama's punitive-only structure can affect how these cases are litigated and resolved.

Accident and scene evidence, medical records, and documentation of the circumstances of the death. Preserving it early is important.

Rideshare Accident (Uber and Lyft) Questions

Get medical care, report the accident within the app, and document everything: the drivers, the vehicles, and the fact that a rideshare trip was in progress. Then call a lawyer before speaking to any insurer.

It depends on what the driver was doing at the time. Rideshare companies carry sizable insurance that can apply while a driver is on a trip or en route, but coverage varies by the phase of the trip, which makes these cases more complicated than they look.

Usually yes. As a passenger you are rarely at fault, which simplifies your claim, though the question of which driver and which insurer is responsible still has to be sorted out.

Talk to a lawyer first, for the same reasons as any crash, and with the same extra caution in Alabama regarding fault.

Medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering, depending on the injuries and the applicable coverage.

Drunk and Impaired Driving Accident Questions

A drunk driver who injures you is liable in a civil claim regardless of the criminal case, and impaired driving conduct can, in the right circumstances, support additional damages. These cases carry an added dimension that ordinary crashes do not.

Often yes. The criminal case and your civil injury claim are separate. You do not need a conviction to pursue compensation, though a conviction can help.

Not necessarily. Your civil claim can often proceed on its own timeline. Because deadlines still apply, waiting can cost you.

Your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may apply. We review all available policies.

Medical costs, lost income, and pain and suffering, and in some cases additional damages tied to the driver's conduct. This varies by state.

Pedestrian and Bicycle Accident Questions

Get medical attention first, even if you think you are not badly hurt, because these injuries are often serious and not always obvious at the scene. Document what you can and get witness information.

Through the same evidence as any crash. Fault is especially important here because of the two states' different rules, and because drivers and their insurers often try to blame the pedestrian or cyclist.

You may still have a claim. Being outside a crosswalk does not automatically make you at fault, though it is exactly the kind of fact an insurer will use, which matters a great deal in Alabama. This is worth reviewing with a lawyer rather than assuming you have no case.

You may still be able to recover, often through your own uninsured motorist coverage. Report the incident to the police as soon as possible.

Generally two years in both states, with exceptions.

Unsafe Property and Premises Liability Questions

Report the injury to the property owner or manager, get medical care, and photograph what caused the injury before it is repaired or cleaned up. That evidence often disappears quickly.

Hazards like wet or uneven floors, poor lighting, broken stairs, or unsafe conditions the owner should have addressed. Whether it supports a claim depends on the specifics.

Often the question is whether the owner knew or should have known about the danger and failed to fix it or warn about it. The standard has nuances in each state.

Possibly. Businesses owe a duty to keep their premises reasonably safe for customers. Whether that duty was breached is the heart of the case.

The absence of a warning can actually support your claim, though it is not the whole picture. Have it reviewed.

Generally two years in both states, with exceptions.

Dog and Pet Attack Questions

Get medical care, as bite wounds carry real infection risk, and report the attack to animal control. Identify the owner and any witnesses, and photograph your injuries.

Usually the animal's owner, though the rules for when an owner is liable differ between Georgia and Alabama and can turn on the animal's history and the owner's knowledge or conduct.

You may still have a claim depending on the circumstances and the state's rule. A prior bite is not always required.

Often yes. Many dog attack claims are paid through the owner's homeowners or renters insurance.

Children are frequent and often serious dog bite victims, and the law recognizes that. These cases deserve particular care.

Medical costs, including future care for scarring or reconstructive treatment, along with pain and suffering.

Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Questions

Unexplained injuries, sudden weight loss, poor hygiene, bedsores, withdrawal or fear, and changes in mood or behavior. Trust your instincts if something seems wrong.

The facility, its staff, and sometimes its ownership or management, depending on what happened and why. Understaffing and inadequate training are common underlying causes.

Make sure your loved one is safe, document what you see, and report serious concerns to the appropriate authorities. Then talk to a lawyer about the next steps.

Through medical records, facility records, staffing documentation, photographs, and witness accounts. Much of this evidence is in the facility's control, which is why prompt legal help matters.

Protecting your loved one comes first, and moving them does not forfeit a claim. Get them safe, then pursue accountability.

Unsafe Product and Herbicide Exposure Questions

These claims involve harm caused by a dangerous or defective product, including exposure to herbicides such as glyphosate. If you developed a serious illness after exposure, you may have a claim.

That connection is established through medical and scientific evidence, which is part of what we investigate. If you are unsure, a consultation is the place to start.

These claims have deadlines that can be complicated by when the illness was discovered. Do not wait to ask.

Still Have Questions?

Every case is different, and this page cannot cover everything. If you were injured in Georgia or Alabama, call for a free consultation. You owe us nothing unless we make an impact for you.