Georgia law gives you three duties at a Decatur crash scene: stop and help (O.C.G.A. § 40-6-270), call police immediately for any injury or $500+ in damage (§ 40-6-273), and move a drivable car out of the road (§ 40-6-275) — moving it is not an admission of fault. Then get your $5 crash report and remember: you have two years to sue, and talking to insurers doesn't pause that clock.
The three things Georgia law requires at the scene
After a car accident in Decatur, Georgia law hands you three duties on the spot. First: stop and help. O.C.G.A. § 40-6-270 requires every driver involved to stop, share name, address, and registration, show a license on request, and render reasonable aid to anyone hurt — leaving a crash that seriously injures or kills someone is a felony carrying one to five years.
Second: call the police — immediately. Under § 40-6-273, any crash with injury, death, or apparent damage of $500 or more must be reported by the quickest means available; inside Decatur city limits that's the Decatur Police Department, and on unincorporated DeKalb roads it's DeKalb County police.
Third — and this one surprises people: move the car. If nobody is seriously hurt and your vehicle can be driven, § 40-6-275 makes it your duty to move it out of the roadway to a safe spot. The statute says so explicitly: moving your car is not an admission of fault. Photograph positions and damage first if you can do it safely — then clear the lane.
Getting your Decatur crash report
The police crash report is the backbone of your claim, and in Decatur it costs $5. If Decatur PD responded, buy it online through BuyCrash.com (a small service fee applies) or in person at the department on West Trinity Place. If DeKalb County police worked the crash, the county's Central Records unit in Tucker sells it for the same $5, or use BuyCrash. Read it when you get it — factual errors are much easier to fix early, and the responding officer's diagram and notes often decide how insurers assign fault.
How fault gets decided in Georgia
Georgia is a fault state: the at-fault driver's insurer pays, backed by required minimum coverage of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per crash for injuries (O.C.G.A. § 33-7-11). Fault-sharing follows the modified comparative negligence rule (§ 51-12-33) — you recover as long as you're less than 50% at fault, minus your percentage.
Build your side of the fault story from day one: photos, witnesses, the crash report — and don't overlook phone use. Georgia's Hands-Free Law (§ 40-6-241) makes merely holding a phone while driving illegal, and evidence the other driver was on their phone is powerful. The problem is statewide and real: Georgia recorded over 373,000 crashes and 1,615 traffic deaths in 2023. Never guess at fault out loud at the scene, and decline to give the other side's insurer a recorded statement before you've talked to a car accident attorney.
Your deadline — and the exception hiding in it
You have two years from the crash to file an injury lawsuit in Georgia (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33), and four years for vehicle damage. As a practical rule, negotiating with an insurance company does not stop that clock — only filing suit does.
The exception hiding inside: if the vehicle that hit you belonged to a government — a city truck, a county vehicle, a bus — your real deadline may be a written notice due in as little as six months. When in doubt, treat the shortest possible deadline as yours. Dream Team Law's Atlanta-area team serves Decatur and all of DeKalb County — free consultation, no fee unless we win.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to move my car after an accident in Decatur?+
Yes, if no one is seriously hurt and the car is drivable — O.C.G.A. § 40-6-275 makes clearing the roadway a legal duty, and the statute states that moving your vehicle is not considered an admission of fault. Take quick photos of the positions first if it's safe.
How do I get my crash report in Decatur?+
For $5 from the agency that responded — Decatur Police Department (West Trinity Place) or DeKalb County Central Records in Tucker — or online through BuyCrash.com with a small service fee. You'll want the report number the officer gives you at the scene.
How long do I have to file a claim after a Decatur car accident?+
Two years from the crash date for an injury lawsuit under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33, and four years for property damage. But if a government vehicle was involved, a written notice may be due in as little as six months — so have the deadline checked early.
This article is for general information only and is not legal advice; reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Deadlines depend on the specific facts of your case — consult a licensed attorney in your state about your situation. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.