Which courts handle Atlanta injury cases
The State Court of Fulton County tries civil cases, including serious personal injury and wrongful death cases. Fulton County Superior Court also hears civil disputes. In Georgia, state courts can hear civil cases of any dollar amount, alongside superior courts, except cases only a superior court can hear (O.C.G.A. § 15-7-4).
Some Atlanta neighborhoods are in DeKalb County, which has its own State Court and Superior Court. Which court is right for your case can depend on details like who is being sued. An attorney can tell you where your case belongs.
How to get an Atlanta Police crash report
- Online: buy and download it from BuyCrash at buycrash.com. It helps to have the crash date, the street, your name as given to police and your vehicle's VIN.
- In person: go to the APD Central Records Unit at the Atlanta Public Safety Annex, 3493 Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy NW, Atlanta, GA 30331.
- Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Questions? Call the Central Records Unit at 404-546-7461.
The 3-Point Claim Check
- 1
An injury
You were hurt, even if it didn't seem serious at first.
- 2
Someone else at fault
Another driver or company caused the crash.
- 3
Insurance coverage
There's a policy that may cover what happened.
If the crash happened on an Atlanta interstate
Atlanta's interstates include the Downtown Connector, where I-75 and I-85 run together through the city, along with I-20 and I-285. Crashes there may be handled by Atlanta Police or by the Georgia State Patrol.
If the Georgia State Patrol worked your crash, request the report from a State Patrol post or the Georgia Department of Public Safety Open Records Unit at 404-624-7591. Include your name and contact details, the names of people involved, the city or county, the date, and the report number if you have it.
Georgia rules that apply in Atlanta
Georgia law applies to Atlanta crashes. You generally have two years to file an injury lawsuit (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33). If you're found 50 percent or more at fault, you can't recover, and below that your recovery is reduced by your share (O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33).
If a City of Atlanta vehicle or a city road problem was involved, written notice is generally due within six months and must be served on the mayor or the council chair (O.C.G.A. § 36-33-5). Claims against Fulton or DeKalb County generally must be presented within 12 months (O.C.G.A. § 36-11-1).
Talking with a participating attorney near you
ClaimFinch is a marketing service, not a law firm. After you answer a few questions, we can connect you with one participating local injury attorney who handles car accident cases in Atlanta, Fulton County and DeKalb County.
The attorney can review your crash report, medical records and deadlines, and explain your options. It's free to check your claim, and you don't have to go ahead.