Accidents happen every day in Atlanta, GA. If you or a loved one were injured due to somebody else’s negligence, you can seek monetary damages through a personal injury claim or lawsuit. An experienced Atlanta personal injury lawyer can help you obtain financial compensation after a serious and unexpected accident.
You might have questions about how a personal injury case works from start to finish. We’ll answer some of your questions here. Spartan Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers in Atlanta, Georgia, can meet with you to discuss your case in more detail. Contact our law office today at (844) 772-7826 to schedule a free consultation with an Atlanta personal injury attorney.
How Can Spartan Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers Help With a Personal Injury Case in Atlanta?
If you or a loved one were hurt in an accident in Atlanta, GA, a knowledgeable Atlanta personal injury attorney can help you move forward.
When you hire Spartan Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers in Atlanta, GA, to handle your personal injury case, our Atlanta personal injury lawyers will:
- Carefully investigate your case and develop your legal strategy
- Negotiate aggressively with insurance companies
- Gather and present evidence that supports your claim
- File a personal injury lawsuit when justice demands it
- Hire experts to testify and support your claim
- Handle all stages of a lawsuit through filing, discovery, negotiations, mediation, and a jury trial whenever necessary.
Every case is unique. Our Atlanta personal injury attorneys will make sure your personal injury claim gets the full attention it deserves. We understand the challenges you face after a devastating accident and will work hard to connect you to the financial resources you deserve for your losses.
What Is Personal Injury Law?
Personal injury law is an area of legal practice under the category of tort law. A court’s goal in a personal injury case is to make injured victims “whole” again, to the best of their ability. While a court cannot restore a person physically, they can order financial payments to cover the victim’s financial costs along with their pain and suffering. Personal injury claims are based on the legal theory of negligence. When a person, business, or other entity fails to use reasonable care and caution expected of them, and someone is injured as a result, that can meet the legal definition of negligence.
Financial awards in personal injury claims help cover actual costs such as medical bills, lost wages, out of pocket expenses, and other losses. A victim can also be awarded compensation to reflect their emotional distress, pain and suffering, and non-economic losses.
Personal injury law is an area of specialized practice. Some lawyers focus on personal injury law and excel in that area. If you need help in a personal injury case, you need a lawyer with a strong background in personal injury law.
Who Can File a Personal Injury Claim in Georgia?
Victims of an accident caused by someone else’s negligence can take action against the negligent party. Based on the facts of the accident, injured victims could have legal grounds to file a claim against or sue the at-fault party. When children are injured, parents or guardians often can file claims on their behalf.
Those injured in an accident can take up a claim with their insurance company or the at-fault party. It is almost always better to have a lawyer involved during the insurance claims process. When preparing to file a lawsuit, an experienced personal injury lawyer will provide valuable guidance throughout the process.
What Is the Difference Between a Personal Injury Claim and a Personal Injury Lawsuit?
A personal injury claim is typically handled through an insurance company after the accident. The personal injury claim is not overseen by a judge as part of the court process. Instead, personal injury claims are handled between the insurance company and the injured claimant (along with their attorney).
The claims process can take anywhere from a few days to several months. The length will depend on the facts of the accident and any complexities involved. Personal injury lawsuits can be filed after an accident and are usually filed after an insurance claim doesn’t lead to a fair settlement offer from the insurer.
Personal injury lawsuits are often filed in the county where the accident took place. The lawsuit will need to identify who was injured, who is alleged to be at fault, how the accident happened, and the damages that a plaintiff seeks as a result. However, when a personal injury lawsuit is filed, the total damages might not be known. Through the discovery process, your lawyer will get a better picture of your total damages and will fight for what your case is worth.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer in Atlanta?
Lawyers in Georgia personal injury cases will normally represent clients on a contingency fee basis. This means that the client pays no legal fees or retainer upfront and does not pay at all unless they win their case. In a contingent fee arrangement, attorney fees come out of the financial settlement a winning client receives. Your attorney at Spartan Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers will work hard to maximize your settlement or jury verdict and accept no attorney fees unless they win your case.
How Much Is My Personal Injury Claim Worth in Georgia?
Every personal injury case is unique based on the facts involved. Different factors will affect the ultimate financial award in a personal injury case.
Factors influencing a claim’s value include:
- How the accident occurred
- Any issues and complications in proving negligence
- The severity of your injuries and any long-term impacts
- The accident’s effect on your income and ability to work in the future
- Insurance policy limits that might apply
- Emotional trauma, reduced quality of life, and pain and suffering you might experience
Experienced personal injury lawyers can estimate what your claim might be worth based on the facts and evidence in your case.
What Damages Can I Collect in a Personal Injury Case?
Economic damages and non-economic damages are the main categories of damages available in personal injury claims.
Economic damages include the hard numbers and financial costs of an accident. Medical bills, lost wages, out-of-pocket expenses, property damage, and other expenses are included as economic damages in a claim. Economic damages are normally proven through documentation such as medical statements, payroll information, bills and invoices, and other forms of proof.
Non-economic damages in a Georgia personal injury case are the “unseen” damages caused by an accident. Emotional distress, pain and suffering, lowered quality of life, loss of companionship, and other traumatic losses fall within non-economic damages. Non-economic damages are usually based on a multiple of your economic damages. Experienced personal injury lawyers can estimate how non-economic damages will be calculated in your case.
In certain situations, but not all, punitive damages can come into play if the defendant’s actions were reckless or intentional.
Can I File a Personal Injury Claim in Georgia if I Share Blame for the Accident?
You can collect damages in a personal injury claim even if you shared some of the blame. Georgia uses a modified comparative negligence law, which allows accident victims to receive compensation even if they share a percentage of responsibility.
If the victim’s share of liability was less than 50%, they can still pursue a personal injury claim. However, your total payment will be reduced by the percentage of your fault. For example, if you were found 20% at fault in a $100,000 claim, your payment would be reduced to $80,000.
If your share of fault was 50% or more, you cannot recover any compensation for your injuries or losses.
Is There a Deadline to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Georgia?
The statute of limitations for personal injury cases in Georgia is two years from when the accident happened in most cases. Some exceptions can apply. If you do not file your case within the statute of limitations, your legal right to sue the at-fault party could be lost forever. Your Atlanta personal injury lawyer will help make sure your case is strong, and your lawsuit is filed on time.
Contact an Atlanta Personal Injury Lawyer for a Free Consultation
If you’ve been injured in an accident in the Atlanta, Georgia, area, you could have important legal rights. If your injuries were caused by someone else’s negligence, they can be required by law to pay you for damages. Spartan Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers have proven experience helping Georgia clients get the financial help they need after a serious accident.
You will have many questions if you’ve been hurt, and we are here to answer them. Call our law office today to schedule a free consultation with an Atlanta personal injury lawyer.