Personal Injury Attorney in Atlanta, Georgia

One of the most common questions clients ask concerns how much their injury lawsuit is worth. Any compensation you may receive will depend on several factors, such as the total of your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. For example, if you suffered serious injuries, you will likely be eligible to recover more compensation. One of the most significant benefits of having an Atlanta personal injury lawyer is that they will work to maximize your compensation and prevent the insurer from looking for a way to blame you for the accident.

Georgia law follows a modified comparative negligence doctrine, meaning you can still recover compensation as long as you are less than 50% at fault for the accident. If you are 50% or more at fault, you will be barred from seeking damages. Under the law, your total amount of compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are awarded $100,000 in a personal injury lawsuit but are found to be 20% at fault, you will receive $80,000 in compensation. Insurance companies often try to argue that accident victims share a greater degree of fault to reduce or deny claims.

Catastrophic injuries are severe and life-altering injuries that permanently prevent accident victims from performing their previous type of employment or daily activities and typically require extensive medical care. Common examples include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, amputations, loss of vision, and severe burns covering over 25% of the body or 5% of hands or face. These types of severe injuries usually result in expensive hospital bills and ongoing care that can quickly create a financial crisis, so it is essential to have an attorney who will work diligently to maximize your compensation.

Even if you feel fine after being injured in an accident, it is always best to be examined by a medical professional. Internal injuries or concussions do not always immediately manifest themselves. But if these injuries are left untreated, they could have life-threatening consequences. Promptly obtaining medical care provides legal documentation that links your injuries to the accident. Insurance companies often argue that gaps in medical care prove that the accident victim’s injuries are not as serious as reported. Be sure to keep all accident reports and medical documentation that supports your claim.

In most personal injury cases that result in a financial recovery, accident victims are typically awarded economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages reimburse victims for out-of-pocket expenses, while non-economic damages are subjective and meant to make the claimant “whole.” Punitive damages are meant to punish the responsible party and to warn others not to repeat the same behavior. Personal injury cases that may qualify for punitive damages include those involving impaired driving, product liability, nursing home abuse, or commercial trucking incidents involving falsified logs or violations of safety regulations.

If your family member has died due to fatal injuries caused by another person’s negligence, you may be entitled to file a wrongful death claim. State law allows families up to two years from the date of their loved one’s death to file a lawsuit. If you fail to file your lawsuit within the statute of limitations, the court will throw out your case, and you lose any chance of trying to recover compensation. There are, however, exceptions to the rule. If the case involves a government entity, you will usually have 6 months to file a notice that you intend to pursue compensation. In cases of death resulting from a criminal act, the statute of limitations may be tolled (paused) until the criminal case is resolved, typically for up to 6 years.

If you have suffered injuries due to negligence, you should seek legal representation immediately. When you hire an attorney, they can immediately begin investigating the accident, gathering evidence, and building a robust case that withstands legal scrutiny. In many instances, an insurance company will attempt to contact the victim as soon as they receive the claim. Having a lawyer evens the playing field with the insurer and makes them more willing to offer a fair settlement. Your attorney and their legal team will handle all communications with the insurance provider, which allows you to rest and focus on your recovery.

It is worth noting that every personal injury case differs, and any compensation that you may recover will be based on the case facts. Even so, many accident victims can successfully recover economic and non-economic damages that reimburse them for financial and intangible losses. Your attorney will seek to help you recover compensation for past and current medical bills, lost income, emotional distress, and property damage if applicable. If you have suffered severe injuries, your attorney can also advocate that you receive compensation that pays for ongoing medical treatment, such as physical therapy and rehab.