Atlanta Personal Injury Lawyers

All kinds of accidents – from slip and fall incidents to auto accidents – occur every day in Georgia, and in many cases, they could have been prevented if not for the wrongdoing or negligence (carelessness or recklessness) of another individual or entity. Sufferers may have to struggle with physical, financial, and emotional challenges for months, if not permanently.

Hiring a personal injury attorney may not be among the things that come to mind after suffering an injury – but it should. A personal injury case in Georgia can be very complex, and successfully recovering compensation can only be assured through expert legal representation.

An accident resulting in injuries is traumatizing, so why should you and your loved ones have to shoulder worries about fighting with insurers about a claim, making up for lost income, or paying bills? You shouldn’t!

Let our North Atlanta personal injury lawyers help. Our team of dedicated personal injury lawyers at 1Georgia Injury Lawyers has successfully represented clients with all types of lawsuits involving bodily injuries. We know the many ways that severe injury can shatter your life and are dedicated to providing you with the skilled and aggressive legal representation you need to recover. Contact us today through our online form, or call us at 678-635-9939 to schedule a free case evaluation with our North Atlanta injury lawyers.

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What Should I Do After an Injury?

The chances are you’ll be in a state of shock immediately after an accident, and fussing around taking measures to protect your legal interests will probably be the last thing on your mind. But, if you’re able to do so, taking the proper steps can be very useful if you decide to lodge a personal injury claim later down the line. Below are six crucial steps to take after an accident:

Seek Medical Treatment Right Away

Even if you think you are unharmed, it is crucial to get medical attention after an accident and address the injuries. Remember, you may have been hurt without realizing it straight away.

In the time following your accident, makes sure to keep receipts for any medical expenses caused by your injuries, as these may help with your claim at a later time.

Take Photos/Video If You Can

Unless you need emergency treatment, remain at the scene of the accident as long as necessary and collect evidence to substantiate your personal injury claim. Doing so will support your side of the story and help maximize your compensation. Examples of evidence you can collect include:

  • Photos of your injuries
  • Photos of the scene and location where the accident occurred
  • Get surveillance footage from the surrounding buildings if any
  • Make a note of a detailed account of your version of events

Get Names and Contact Info of Witnesses

Always make sure to exchange details after an accident. Get the name, contact, vehicle, address, and insurance details of anyone involved. This includes the property owner where the accident occurred, drivers of other vehicles involved, and any interested witnesses the property owner or other driver is not at the scene to give their details.

Report the Incident

If you were involved in a car crash resulting in injuries, report the incident to law enforcement immediately or within 24 hours. If the injury occurred at work, report the incident to your supervisor, employer representative, or the employer. If your injury happened on another persons’ property, report the incident to the property manager or owner. Whichever the case, make sure to keep any records of communication regarding your report of the accident.

Never Apologize or Admit Fault

Even if you believe your actions may have been the cause of the accident or partly responsible, you MUST NOT apologize or admit fault as this can affect your insurance and legal position.

Call a Personal Injury Lawyer!

Although it might seem unnecessary or stressful, a personal injury lawyer can do most of the work on your behalf after an accident. Bear in mind that you are free to take impartial professional legal advice with the North Atlanta injury attorneys at 1Georgia Injury Lawyers. Besides, we take personal injury compensation claims on a no-win, no-fee basis, so there’s zero financial risk in contacting us. Let us protect your interests. Please speak with our experienced personal injury compensation lawyers today.

Why Do I Need a North Atlanta Personal Injury Lawyer?

Personal injury lawsuits are complex, and cases can be challenging to prove without professional legal representation. Remember, insurers are not on your side, and they often employ tactics intended to undervalue your claim to save money. Simply having an experienced lawyer is enough to increase your chances of recovery.

The personal injury lawyers at 1Georgia Injury Lawyers have the knowledge, experience, and resources to make sure you recover the restitution you deserve. We fight for you and act on your behalf, taking the burden of shouldering the lawsuit off your shoulders. Our legal team in North Atlanta can guide you through every step in your journey towards recovering compensation to heal properly, including but not limited to:

Case Preparation / Filing a Lawsuit

Once your North Atlanta personal injury lawyer understands the details of your accident, they will start to prepare for the case by determining who was at fault and accountable for your injuries. This may be one individual/entity or multiple parties.

We will file your personal injury claim on your behalf and use facts and evidence, including police reports, medical documents, and receipts, to back your claim.

Settlement Negotiations

It may feel like your accident was the hardest thing you ever experienced until you hit the red tape of settlement negotiations. As mentioned above, insurance companies only look out for themselves, and they have no duty or incentive to help you during the process. Our personal injury lawyers will level the playing field and handle settlement negotiations with insurers on your behalf.

We gather documentation, evidence, and testimony to calculate the actual value of your claim to help with settlement negotiations and trial preparation.

Trial Preparation & Representation

Our injury lawyers begin trial preparation from day one because we understand settlement negotiations don’t always work out. When they are productive, they are more effective if we have a well-prepared and trial-ready case.

With the help of experienced and talented trial lawyers, you can be sure your case is in the right hands. Quite simply, we will make sure you recover maximum compensation, whether through settlement or trial.

North Atlanta personal injury lawyer meeting man with broken arm

What Type of Damages Can I Recover for Personal Injury in Georgia?

Once you have retained an experienced and reputable personal injury attorney, they will calculate the value of your claim, which may involve medical evaluations, discovering how your injuries impact your future well-being, medical assessment, and ongoing medical care. We will thoroughly examine every detail that can help determine what damages you can claim. Damages refer to how you have been harmed because of your injuries that you recover monetary compensation for.

The three types of damages for personal injury compensation cases in Georgia include:

Economic

These refer to the financial harm caused by the injury. Economic damages include:

  • Medical expenses for both past and future treatment
  • Rehabilitation and therapy costs
  • Loss of income if your injury keeps you from returning to work
  • Property damage
  • Loss of earning capacity

Non-Economic

These refer to subjective, non-monetary harm caused by the injury

  • Emotional trauma or distress
  • Pain and suffering
  • Loss of companionship or society
  • Loss of enjoyment of life/quality of life
  • Loss of consortium

Punitive Damages

These are a rare category of damages that can only be recovered when the negligent party is considered to have acted in an intentionally careless, extremely reckless, or malicious way. Punitive damages are always awarded for punishment. An example of a personal injury lawsuit that might involve punitive damages is a property owner who knowingly had hazardous conditions on their property, failed to warn residents and visitors, and caused an accident. Punitive damages are recoverable in Georgia but are extremely rare.

Not all accident victims will be able to claim for all damages; the amount you can expect to obtain will vary depending on your case and the extent of the impacts of the accident. Consulting a skilled personal injury lawyer is often the best way to estimate the damages accurately and recover maximum compensation.

How Is Liability Determined?

Merely sustaining an injury in the workplace, in a public or private space, or on the road is not sufficient for a personal injury claim – it must be shown that negligence was involved. A finding of negligence in Georgia involves proving the following:

Duty of Care Existed

Did the person or party that caused the accident that led to your injury have a duty to ensure you didn’t get hurt? This is not typically difficult to prove since civilians have a legal responsibility to act reasonably, i.e., they have a “duty of care” towards others. This means they should consider others when performing any activity or type of conduct and take reasonable steps not to cause harm.

For example, all drivers are expected to drive with reasonable regard for other motorists’ and pedestrians’ safety.

Breach of Duty of Care

Did the party of the person who caused your injury breach the duty of care? Since everyone is expected to act reasonably, you must provide evidence to show that a reasonable person would not have engaged in the same behavior or conduct as the defendant in a similar situation.

Causation

Is there a direct link between your injuries and the actions of the party or person who caused them? You must prove that you would not have been hurt if the defendant had not breached their duty of care. You can also prove that the party or individual who caused you your injury could have foreseen that their actions might cause harm.

Damages

Is there a link between your injuries and the party or individual who breached their duty of care? Even if you show that there was a breach of duty, you must show that the offending party’s negligence directly caused your injury.

Georgia Is a Modified Comparative Negligence State

It’s crucial to note that the state of Georgia follows the modified comparative negligence doctrine. Under this legal principle, negligence is apportioned according to the percentage of fault that the fact-finder assigns to each party, and the plaintiffs’ recovery is reduced by the percentage of negligence assigned to them.

Under the Official Code of Georgia: Title 51, Chapter 11, Section 7, you cannot recover compensation for damages in a personal injury case if you are found to share more than 50% of the fault in the accident.

Personal injury law book on desk of North Atlanta attorney

How Much Time Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Claim in Georgia?

If you believe you have a personal injury case in Georgia, you should be aware that there are deadlines for filing your claim before the courts can no longer accept it as valid. This is referred to as the “statutes of limitations.”

In Georgia, the statute of limitations for personal injury cases is usually two years from the date of the injury. Note that the deadlines for cases involving a government entity are shorter. Because of these strict deadlines, you should not wait to speak with a lawyer after an accident.

Personal Injury Claims Process

The process of filing a personal injury compensation claim can be overwhelming without a lawyer, especially in the aftermath of a catastrophic injury. Below are typical steps of a personal injury claim lawsuit:

First, your lawyer will evaluate your case to determine if it’s worth pursuing. At 1Gerogia Injury Lawyers, we’ll look at several pieces of potential evidence, including witness reports, the medical treatment you received, and any viable police reports.

  • Next, we will work out who was responsible
  • Gather evidence, including where and when the accident occurred, how it happened, etc.
  • Assess your injuries by reviewing photos of the injuries, arrange an expert medical assessment, and find impacts of your injuries
  • File a complaint and serve the defendant
  • Pre-trial process and “discovery,” which involve asking the other party for evidence and witness information
  • Settlement negotiation
  • Work out your compensation amount
  • The trial phase (takes place if settlement negotiations fall through)

Filing a personal injury compensation claim can come with legal and financial issues that you need help with. Here at 1Georgia Injury Lawyers, you can get expert legal advice and support in all matters concerning your case.

How Much Will a North Atlanta Personal Injury Lawyer Cost?

The cost of working with a personal injury attorney in North Atlanta can vary depending on your injuries and unique circumstances.

At 1Georgia Injury Lawyers, we understand your concern for legal fees and are here to alleviate them. When you work with our North Atlanta personal injury lawyers:

  • We offer free no-obligation consultations and represent clients strictly on a contingency fee basis.
  • You will owe us zero attorney fees unless and until we succeed in recovering compensation for you.

Types of Injury Cases We Handle at 1Gerogia Injury Lawyers

1Georgia Injury Lawyers is a full-service personal injury law firm. We have specialized in litigating personal injury cases in:

Contact Our North Atlanta Personal Injury Lawyers Today

If you suffered an injury, no matter what type of accident you or your loved one was involved in, the best way to fight for compensation is to hire an experienced attorney who will fight for maximum compensation and justice. Please do not hesitate to contact the dedicated and aggressive personal injury lawyers at 1Georgia Injury Lawyers to protect your future. Call 678-635-9939 or reach us online for a free and comprehensive case evaluation.