According to the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), 39.5 million patients require treatment for injuries suffered during an accident every year. Around 29.4 million suffer injuries that are serious enough to warrant a trip to an emergency room, and 169,936 suffer injuries that result in deaths. Personal injuries are the third most common reason of deaths in the United States after cancer and heart disease. You are entitled to seek compensation for your injuries in the event that you’re among these few. It is your right to.
You could be eligible for compensation if you’ve been injured due to the negligence of someone else. To maximize the amount you receive get in touch with an Buford personal injury lawyer at 1Georgia Injury Lawyers. To schedule a no-cost consultation, contact our Buford personal injury firm at 678-635-9939.
What Is a Personal Injury Lawsuit?
A personal injury lawsuit allows victims to pursue compensation if they’ve suffered harm due to another party’s negligence. These claims can arise from various types of accidents and injuries, each requiring skilled legal representation to secure maximum recovery. At 1Georgia Personal Injury Lawyers, we handle diverse cases involving accidents, negligence, and personal harm.
Some of the most frequent personal injury cases we encounter in Buford include:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Dog bites and animal attacks
- Slip-and-fall injuries
- Rideshare accidents (Uber and Lyft)
Whether it’s motor vehicle accidents or injuries from hazardous premises, our experienced personal injury attorneys understand how to navigate the complexities of Georgia law. We focus on ensuring that accident victims receive compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and property damage.
Our team is available 24/7 to help victims through every stage of the personal injury lawsuit process—whether negotiating with insurance companies or representing clients in court.
What Is the Process for a Personal Injury Case?
If you choose to employ a Buford personal injury attorney, you must be aware of the procedure. When someone decides to hire our legal assistance, I’ll guide them through the typical process for a personal injury case.
Medical Treatment
You could be the kind that doesn’t enjoy the doctor’s office and doesn’t go to one even if they have been injured. It’s possible that you don’t visit an ER doctor due to the fact that you don’t realize that you’re injured. It is important to see a doctor right away after an accident. In the event of any accident, the first thing you need to take is to seek medical treatment. In the event of a personal injury claim medical records be used as evidence.
Examining the Claim
When you’re not busy dealing recovering from your injuries, your lawyer will look over the claim. This includes taking your written statement and interviewing witnesses, obtaining videos, photographs and a copy of the accident, submitting claims to insurance companies, contacting health insurance companies, asking for documents on employment, background checks and more. While your personal injury lawyer handles all the other details, you need to concentrate on your health.
Reviewing and Obtaining Medical Records
Once you’ve completed the treatment for the injuries you sustained, your personal attorney will ask for all of your medical bills and medical records from the medical center of your choice. The lawyer will go through the medical records and create an account of your personal injury claim.
The Demand Letter is Sent Out
Once your personal injury attorney has sent you a demand letter requesting to settle the matter and have all your expenses and medical documents in exhibit form, they will forward the demand letter to the party at fault or their insurance company , or their legal counsel. The demand letter will be delivered to the opposing of the parties. The deadline to respond to the demand letter is typically 30 days.
Negotiate a Settlement
In this scenario negotiations might not be required. Your lawyer will negotiate to resolve your case with a settlement. If the other party refuses or offers an amount that is not satisfactory, a lawsuit could be required.
Filing a Lawsuit
The majority of personal injury cases can be settled outside of court. However, sometimes, it is required to file a lawsuit in order to make the other side of the case to take your case seriously and to offer a fair settlement.
The Negotiation of Medical Bills
The personal injury lawyer you hire will begin the final stage of your case. This is to negotiate your medical expenses down once you’ve reached an agreement.
Medical Professionals
This means contacting all medical professionals who has treated you for your injuries and determining whether there’s a remaining balance. It’s possible that you owe the full amount if you don’t have insurance, or the doctor refuses to charge your insurance. There is also the possibility of owing the amount due for your co-pay, deductible or co-insurance. Your lawyer can determine the amount on your behalf.
Health Insurance
This means that you must get in touch with your insurance company because they might be in a position to pay any medical expenses. The party at fault is paying you for medical expenses. If the health insurance company paid the medical bills and the defendant is now paying those same expenses, it’s called a double recovery.
The law does not like it. The settlement you receive from your personal injury case may permit you to receive compensation from your insurance provider for any charges they’ve paid for on your behalf. Your lawyer will determine the amount of reimbursement payable to the insurance.
What Is a Personal Injury Lawsuit Worth?
You may would like to be aware of the answer to the million-dollar question prior to you begin your personal injury claim.
To support a personal injury claim, you need to prove the four elements of negligence:
- Duty
- Beach of duty
- Causation
- Damages
We won’t get into details on each one, but we’ll tell you when you inquire about how much your personal injury claim is worth What is the “damages?”
A jury is typically responsible to determine what “damages will be worth.” According to the American Judges Association that only 3% of personal injury claims ever proceed to trial. The majority of personal injury cases settle prior to trial, for a sum which provides an estimate of the worth of the claim before a juror.
It is the sum of several diverse categories that are combined to create one lump amount. This is the amount you could be awarded in the course of a Georgia personal injury lawsuit:
- Medical bills
- Lost Wages
- Lost Earning Capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Depression and emotional distress
- Physical Impairment
- Disfigurement
- Inconvenience
- The loss of enjoyment
Every one of these categories could be a subjective one, but not more than suffering and pain. Because pain and suffering are subjective, there could be a variety of opinions regarding the worth of any personal injury case.
FAQ: Questions About Personal Injury Lawyers and Cases
What does a personal injury lawyer do?
A personal injury lawyer helps clients navigate legal claims after an accident by building a case, negotiating with insurance companies, and representing them in court if necessary. They work to secure compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
When should I hire a personal injury lawyer?
It’s best to hire a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible after an accident to preserve evidence, meet filing deadlines, and avoid errors in dealing with insurance companies.
How long do I have to file a personal injury lawsuit in Georgia?
In Georgia, the statute of limitations for filing most personal injury claims is two years from the date of the accident or injury.
What types of compensation are available in a personal injury case?
Victims can recover compensation for medical bills, lost income, property damage, pain and suffering, and, in some cases, punitive damages.
What if I’m partially at fault for the accident?
Georgia follows a modified comparative negligence rule, meaning you can still recover damages if you’re less than 50% at fault, though your compensation will be reduced by your share of the fault.
What Does a Buford Personal Injury Lawyer Charge?
Buford personal injury lawyers are paid on a contingent fee basis. A lawyer receives an amount that is contingent upon the case is successful. If the case fails the attorney is not liable for any loss. Attorneys who collect funds for you receives an amount.
There isn’t a set amount that a personal injury attorney will deduct from the settlement. It differs from one lawyer to the next. During your initial consultation, you’ll have to ask this question. Buford personal injury attorneys could take 1/3 of the total amount under a contingent fee arrangement. If the case is litigated the percentage could be higher, usually 40 percent.
Let’s say for instance medical bills of $15,000, loss of earnings of $5,000, and pain and suffering worth $10,000. Your personal injury case has been resolved out of court for $30,000. In this case the personal injury lawyer would get $10,000 from the settlement of $30,000. But the personal injury attorney would get $12,000.
This arrangement differs from the other kinds of lawyers who use a retainer agreement such as divorce lawyers. Retainer agreements require that clients pay a fee upfront for their services. The hourly fee of the attorney will typically be listed in this kind of contract. Personal injury lawyers do not charge hourly rates.
Take the First Step Toward Justice – Call for Your Free Consultation
At 1Georgia Injury Lawyers, we understand the challenges of dealing with injuries caused by someone else’s negligence, especially when insurance companies try to undervalue your claim. Our experienced team will manage every aspect of your case, from investigation to resolution, so you can focus on healing.
We fight tirelessly for the compensation you deserve for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Don’t let negligence go unanswered—contact us 24/7 at 678-635-9939 to connect with an attorney specializing in your specific case.
Your path to recovery starts with a call.