Do I need a lawyer after a car accident in Georgia?
Every rule below is quoted from Georgia law or a state agency, with a link. Checked September 17, 2026.
The short answer
We can't tell you whether you need a lawyer. We can show you the Georgia rules that usually decide it: how fault is split, how long you have, and how injury lawyers are allowed to charge. Many people with only car damage settle directly with the insurer. People with injuries, disputed fault or a claim near a deadline often talk to a lawyer first.
How fault changes your claim
If you were partly at fault
Georgia uses modified comparative negligence with a 50 percent bar. You can recover damages only if you are less than 50 percent at fault, and your award is reduced by your own percentage of fault. If you are 50 percent or more at fault, you recover nothing.
“the plaintiff shall not be entitled to receive any damages if the plaintiff is 50 percent or more responsible for the injury or damages claimed.”
How long you have
- 2 years
- to sue for injuriesO.C.G.A. § 9-3-33
- 4 years
- to sue for car or property damageO.C.G.A. § 9-3-31
- 2 years
- for a family to sue after a deathO.C.G.A. § 9-3-33, applied to wrongful death claims brought under O.C.G.A. § 51-4-2
- 6 to 12 months depending on the government involved
- to notify the government if a public vehicle or road was involvedO.C.G.A. § 50-21-26 (state); § 36-33-5 (municipal, 6 months); § 36-11-1 (county, 12 months)
Deadline to sue for injuries
You generally have 2 years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit for your injuries.
“actions for injuries to the person shall be brought within two years after the right of action accrues”
If a government vehicle or road was involved
If a city vehicle or city-maintained road is involved, you must give written notice of your claim within 6 months. If a county is involved, the deadline is 12 months. If a state government vehicle or road is involved, you must give written notice within 12 months of discovering the loss.
“Notice of a claim shall be given in writing within 12 months of the date the loss was discovered or should have been discovered”
How injury lawyers charge in Georgia
Contingency fee rules
Georgia does not set a maximum percentage for contingency fees by rule. A contingency fee must still be reasonable, must be in writing, and must state how the fee and expenses are calculated. When the case ends, the lawyer must give the client a written accounting. Contingency fees are not allowed in most divorce and alimony cases or in defending a criminal case.
“A contingent fee agreement shall be in writing and shall state the method by which the fee is to be determined, including the percentage or percentages that shall accrue to the lawyer”
Questions to ask any lawyer before you sign
- What percentage do you charge, and does it change if the case goes to trial?
- Who pays case costs like records and expert fees if we lose?
- Will you handle my case yourself, or pass it to someone else?
- How long do cases like mine usually take here?
- What is the deadline for my claim, and when will you file?
If the insurer is the problem
File a complaint with the state
You can file a complaint against an insurance company with the Georgia Office of Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire online, or by phone, mail, fax, or email.
“The most efficient and quickest process is the Online Consumer Complaint Portal”
Sources on this page
Each one was opened and checked on September 17, 2026.
Know My Claim is not a law firm or a government agency, and this page is not legal advice. Laws change, so check the linked source before you rely on a deadline.