Atlanta Injury Lawyer

When you’re unexpectedly injured, dealing with sudden and drastic life changes can be overwhelming. You may have insurmountable medical bills. You may be unable to work. The loved ones that depend on you may not know where to turn.

This can be even more frustrating when you’re hurt as a result of someone else’s negligence. If only the other person had been more careful, you may not have gotten hurt. This can leave you feeling lost and angry.

Fortunately, we may be able to help. Our team of Atlanta personal injury attorneys can help you fight for the compensation that you deserve. Georgia law allows deserving victims to recover financially when they suffer personal and financial losses at the hands of someone else. We can help you pursue your case, so that you can recover for the full value of your injuries.

Types of Injuries

There are a number of reasons that we meet with individuals who have suffered injuries. Some of these accidents include:

  • Bicycle Accidents
  • Boating Accidents
  • Car Accidents
  • Construction Injuries
  • Dangerous Products
  • Injuries in the Workplace
  • Medical Malpractice
  • Premises Liability (Dangerous Property)
  • Wrongful Death
  • Other Injuries

Georgia Negligence Laws

Georgia law allows a victim to recover when they’re hurt because of someone else’s negligent actions. A person acts negligently when they don’t use the care and caution that a reasonable person would use in the same situation. This negligent behavior creates an unreasonable risk of harm. For example, a reasonable person stops at a stop sign. If a driver doesn’t stop at a stop sign, they act negligently.

Negligence is a type of tort. Law 51-1-1 of the Georgia legal code defines a tort as “the unlawful violation of a private legal right.” A person in Georgia has a right to be free of another person’s unreasonable conduct. When a person acts negligently and it results in another person’s injuries, the victim has a right to recover under Georgia law for their losses.

Other types of conduct

In addition to negligent behavior, there are other types of conduct that may give you a right to recovery under Georgia law. Someone might act recklessly. To act recklessly means to disregard an obvious danger. Dangerous conduct is also called willful and wanton conduct. That’s conduct that shows an indifference to the safety of others.

A person might even hurt you by acting intentionally. When that happens, you have a right to recover from the responsible party. Regardless of what motivates a person’s behavior, when it falls below a reasonable standard of care, a victim can seek compensation. Willful or intentional conduct may allow you to recover punitive damages as well as for economic and non-economic losses.

Damages

There are a number of different types of damages that you may be able to recover when you’re hurt as a result of someone else’s behavior. In fact, you may be surprised at all of the different ways you can recover. Medical bills are just one of the types of losses that you can seek. Georgia law aims to put a dollar value on your losses and compensate you accordingly.

Medical Bills – You can receive compensation for your direct expenses. This includes costs for doctor’s visits. It can also include mobility aids, physical therapy and a projection of future damages.

Lost Wages – When you suffer a personal injury, you may not be able to work. Lost wages are a form of costs. You can seek compensation for your lost wages as part of your claim for damages.

Pain and Suffering – Emotional losses are an important part of a personal injury case. Your injuries may cause you physical pain. You may have a harder time getting around. You may not be able to do things that you used to enjoy. You may have stress and flashbacks. In Georgia, there’s no limit to the amount of damages that you can recover for pain and suffering.

Replacement Services – Your injuries may render you unable to do things for your family. You may need help driving the kids to school and to their activities. It may be impossible to do the family grocery shopping. The family might not have anyone to cut the grass or perform home maintenance. All of these problems can be solved with a claim for replacement services.

Punitive Damages – These types of damages exist to punish a person for their bad acts. Georgia law 51-12-5.1 says that when a person acts willfully or with fraud or malice, a jury can consider awarding punitive damages. These types of damages aren’t meant to compensate a victim. Rather, it’s a way to punish the bad actor.

What if I’m partially to blame?

Even if you think you’re partially to blame for your injuries, it’s important to talk to an Atlanta personal injury lawyer about your case. Georgia uses a system of contributory negligence. That means, even if you’re partially to blame for what happened, you can still bring a case. The court reduces your recovery by the amount that you’re to blame. You can recover as long as you’re not 50 percent or more to blame.

It’s important not to make assumptions about fault. The police officer who arrives at the scene isn’t the person who determines fault. It’s up to a jury to decide. What looks like fault to you might not look like fault to a jury. It’s important to speak to an Atlanta personal injury attorney for an evaluation of your case.

How can an attorney help?

If you’ve been injured, there are a number of ways that an attorney may help you maximize your recovery. A personal injury lawyer has the training and experience to skillfully prepare court documents and file them in the appropriate jurisdiction. They can give you a realistic idea of what to expect at each step.

The right attorney can help you build your case. They might work with accident reconstruction experts to determine exactly what went wrong. They can demand records from the other side and from other third parties. Depositions are another helpful way for your attorney to build your case.

A personal injury attorney has a network of medical experts to tap. These experts can help you identify the full extent of your injuries. They can help you value your injuries both now and in the future. Your attorney may also work with accountants to help you document pain and suffering, lost wages and other types of damages.

Finally, a skilled Atlanta personal injury attorney is a skilled negotiator. They can work with the other side to convince them to offer a full and fair settlement. They can give you expert guidance about whether you should accept a settlement offer or proceed to trial. If you go to trial, rest assured that you have a confident litigator to present your case to the jury.

Time limitations

If you’ve been hurt, you have a limited amount of time to prepare your case. In some cases, this is as little as two years. It’s important to work with an attorney as soon as possible in order to preserve your right to bring your claim. When you miss the filing deadline, you may lose your right to recover forever.

Can I afford a lawyer?

We’re committed to helping you recover when you suffer from someone else’s negligence. In most cases, we can represent you with no upfront costs. Our team won’t get paid until you have a check in your hands. In addition, there’s no cost to consult with our legal team. We’re happy to meet with you to get to know you and discuss your legal options.