All kinds of accidents – from slip and fall incidents to auto accidents – occur every day in Georgia, and in many cases, they are caused by someone else’s negligence. Injury victims may have to struggle with physical, financial, and emotional challenges for months, if not permanently.
Hiring an Atlanta personal injury lawyer may not be among the things that come to mind after suffering an injury – but it should. Personal injury claims can be very complex, and legal assistance is crucial in recovering the financial compensation you deserve.
You and your loved ones shouldn’t have to worry about fighting with the insurance company, making up for lost income, or paying medical bills. Let our Atlanta personal injury lawyers help.
Our team at 1Georgia Injury Lawyers has successfully represented Atlanta clients in all sorts of personal injury cases. We know the many ways that severe injury can shatter your life and are dedicated to providing you with skilled and aggressive legal representation.
Contact us online or call 678-635-9939 today to schedule a free consultation.
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What Should I Do After an Injury in Atlanta, GA?
The chances are you’ll be in a state of shock immediately after an accident. But, if you’re able to do so, taking the proper steps can be very useful when filing a personal injury claim later down the line. Below are six crucial steps to take after a car accident or other accident.
Seek Medical Attention 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. Motor vehicle accidents can cause internal injuries, and conditions like whiplash may have delayed symptoms.
Make sure to keep receipts for any medical expenses after your accident, 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 accident scene as long as necessary and collect evidence to support your personal injury case. 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 could include the property owner after a slip and fall injury or other drivers involved in a car accident.
Make sure to get the names and contact information of any witnesses.
Report the Incident
If you were involved in a car accident, report the incident to law enforcement immediately. If the injury occurred at work, report the incident to your supervisor, employer representative, or the employer. If your injury happened on another person’s property, report the incident to the property manager or owner.
Wherever the incident happened, make sure to keep any records of communication regarding your report of the accident.
Never Apologize or Admit Fault
Even if you believe you may be responsible for the accident, you must not apologize or admit fault as this can affect your ability to file an insurance claim or lawsuit.
Call a Personal Injury Lawyer!
If you’re hurt because of someone else’s negligence, don’t wait to contact an experienced personal injury attorney. Reach out to our Atlanta personal injury lawyers for a free case evaluation.
We take personal injury cases on a no-win, no-fee basis, so there’s zero financial risk in contacting us.
Why Do I Need an 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 personal injury lawyer can make all the difference. Our legal team in Atlanta has the knowledge, experience, and resources to fight for the full compensation you deserve. We guide you through every step of the legal process and manage your case, taking the burden off your shoulders.
Building a Strong Case
Our experienced personal injury attorneys in Atlanta meticulously gather and analyze evidence, including medical records, witness statements, and accident reports, to establish liability and demonstrate the extent of your injuries. We will file your personal injury claim on your behalf.
Settlement Negotiations
An Atlanta personal injury attorney excels in advocating for a fair settlement. They engage with the insurance company and opposing counsel, utilizing their in-depth knowledge of personal injury law to negotiate terms that reflect the true value of your losses. This includes compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other related costs.
Personal Injury Lawsuit
If settlement negotiations do not yield satisfactory results, our experienced personal injury attorneys in Atlanta, GA are fully prepared to represent you in a lawsuit. Our expertise in personal injury litigation ensures that your case is presented effectively before a judge and jury.
Personal Injury Compensation 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 compensation you can claim.
Medical Bills
Compensation for medical costs covers medical bills incurred from hospital stays, surgeries, medications, and rehabilitation. Additionally, you can recover future medical expenses if ongoing treatment or long-term care is necessary.
Lost Income
Compensation for lost wages is available to cover the income you missed while recovering from your injury. If your injury affects your ability to work in the future, you may also be entitled to compensation for loss of earning capacity.
Property Damage
Property damage covers the cost to repair or replace any property damaged in the accident, such as a vehicle in a car accident.
Pain and Suffering
Pain and suffering compensation addresses the non-economic impacts of your injury. This includes physical pain and emotional distress that result from the accident. The goal is to provide relief for the mental anguish and diminished quality of life you experience.
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 awarded to punish the at-fault party.
An example of a personal injury lawsuit that might involve punitive damages is a car accident caused by a drunk driver. Georgia law caps punitive damages at $250,000 in most cases. However, there are exceptions, such as drunk driving accidents.
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 impacts of the accident. Consulting a skilled Atlanta personal injury lawyer is the best way to estimate the damages accurately and recover maximum compensation.
Proving Fault in a Personal Injury Case
Proving fault in a personal injury case in Georgia involves a few clear steps, which a lawyer follows to show that someone else is responsible for your injuries.
Duty of Care
First, the lawyer shows that the person or party who caused your injury had a duty of care. This means they were supposed to act safely and responsibly. For example, drivers must follow traffic laws to keep other drivers and pedestrians safe.
Breach of Duty
Next, your personal injury attorney must show the at-fault party failed to fulfill this duty. This is called a breach of duty. It might mean they were careless or did something wrong, like texting while driving or not fixing a dangerous condition on their property.
Causation
Your lawyer must show that the other person’s negligence caused your injury. For instance, if a driver runs a red light and hits your car, they are to blame for the accident and your injuries.
Damages
Finally, the lawyer demonstrates that you suffered actual harm or losses because of the injury. This can include medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and more. They’ll use evidence like medical records, pay stubs, and witness statements to show the extent of your damages.
By carefully collecting and presenting evidence, an Atlanta personal injury lawyer can prove who is at fault for your injury and help you get the compensation you deserve.
What If I’m Partially at Fault?
Georgia personal injury law follows a modified comparative negligence rule, meaning that 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.
Your compensation amount will be reduced based on your share of fault. For example, your compensation would be reduced by 30% if you are 30% at fault.
How Much Time Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Case 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. This is referred to as the “statute 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 personal injury attorney after an accident.
Personal Injury Claims Process
The process of filing a personal injury 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.
- Free Consultation: First, your lawyer will evaluate your case to determine if it’s worth pursuing.
- Building a Case: Next, we will gather evidence to prove the defendant’s negligence.
- Evaluating Damages: We will assess your injuries and damages, including the cost of medical treatment, lost income, etc.
- Settlement Negotiation: We negotiate with the insurance company for fair compensation.
- Filing a Lawsuit: If the insurance company doesn’t offer a fair settlement, we will file a lawsuit and serve the defendant. We’ll continue negotiations while preparing for the trial.
- Pre-Trial Process and Discovery: This involves asking the defense for evidence and witness information.
- Trial: We represent you in a trial if negotiations with the insurance company fall through.
Here at 1Georgia Injury Lawyers, you can get expert legal advice and support in all matters concerning your case.
How Much Will an Atlanta Personal Injury Lawyer Cost?
We understand if you’re worried about the cost of hiring a personal injury attorney in Atlanta and are here to alleviate your concerns. At 1Georgia Injury Lawyers, our personal injury lawyers represent clients on a contingency fee basis.
This means you pay nothing upfront. You will owe us zero attorney fees unless and until we recover compensation for you.
We also offer a free consultation so you can discuss your case.
Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle
1Georgia Injury Lawyers is a full-service personal injury law firm. We specialize in personal injury cases, including car accidents, motorcycle accidents, truck accidents, and more.
Car Accidents
Our personal injury lawyers are dedicated to helping injured clients navigate the complexities of car accident claims. We understand the physical, emotional, and financial toll that car accidents can take, and our law firm is committed to securing the compensation you need for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
By thoroughly investigating the accident, gathering crucial evidence, and negotiating with insurance companies, we fight for the full compensation you deserve.
Premises Liability
An Atlanta personal injury lawyer can help if you are hurt because of unsafe conditions on someone’s property. Whether it’s a slip and fall, inadequate security, or hazardous property maintenance, our law firm fights to hold careless property owners accountable.
Dog Bites
Dog bites can result in severe physical and emotional trauma, and the personal injury attorneys at 1Georgia Injury Lawyers are experienced in handling these cases. We fight to ensure dog bite victims get the justice they deserve.
Wrongful Death Cases
If you lost a family member because of someone’s careless or intentional actions, you may be entitled to file a wrongful death claim. We support families through the difficult process of filing a wrongful death case and work tirelessly to hold the responsible party accountable.
Our goal is to secure compensation for the financial and emotional losses suffered by families in these tragic cases.
Workers’ Compensation
Our law firm helps injured employees in Atlanta, GA navigate the complexities of the workers’ compensation system. We’re dedicated to ensuring you receive the full benefits you deserve.
Contact Our Atlanta Personal Injury Lawyers Today
If you suffered an injury because of someone else, the best way to fight for compensation is to hire an experienced personal injury lawyer. Our team at 1Georgia Injury Lawyers has handled countless Atlanta personal injury cases, from car accidents to slip and fall cases.
You can rely on our dedicated and aggressive personal injury lawyers to fight for the maximum compensation. Call 678-635-9939 or contact us online for a free case evaluation.
