Getting hit by a speeding car, injured by a defective toaster, or injuring yourself in a fall all have something in common. They are all possible personal injury cases, and they are governed by the same general legal rules. If you can prove that someone else was to blame for your injury, you may be eligible for financial compensation. First, you should contact an experienced Midtown injury lawyer to stand up for your legal rights.
You can file a claim or a lawsuit after any type of personal injury. At Spaulding Injury Law, we handle the following types of cases:
- Car Accidents
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Pedestrian Accidents
- Truck Accidents
- Brain Injury
- Back and Neck Injury
- Slip and Falls
- Product Liability
- Dog Bites
- MARTA Accidents
- Drunk Driving Accidents
- Boating Accidents
- Lyft and Uber Accidents
- Wrongful Death
The legal process begins immediately after your injury. The first thing that you do is contact a personal injury attorney. We will speak with you and learn more details about your case. We will explain your legal options and begin to work to build your case.
The Role of Negligence in Your Personal Injury Case
Winning your personal injury case means that you either settle your claim or get a favorable verdict from a jury. Winning requires legwork and preparation. To be in a position to receive compensation, you must have the evidence to show what happened. Then, you must explain why the responsible party acted unreasonably. This is also known as proving negligence. Here are some examples of negligence in a personal injury case:
- A contractor leaves debris out in the open, causing a passerby to slip and fall
- A driver causes a car accident by not yielding when the other driver has the right of way
- A product manufacturer does not take proper care when designing a product that they sell to the public
For each of these cases, there is work to be done. For example, in a car accident case, you would need witness testimony, pictures from the scene, or accident reconstruction to show what the other driver did. Needless to say, this is something that is very difficult for the average person to do on their own, especially when they are dealing with their own personal injuries.
Hiring an attorney gives you an experienced advocate and counselor during your legal process. Your personal injury lawyer advises you on the best way to receive compensation and puts that plan into action.
Your Legal Options After a Personal Injury
For example, your attorney may advise you to try to file an insurance claim. This is often the least risky and quickest route to compensation for accident victims. However, the claims process is not easy. The insurance company likes to throw up every barrier that they can because they do not want to pay you what you deserve. Your personal injury lawyer may do the following:
- Come up with a value for your personal injury claim
- Compile your claim, including the evidence of liability and proof of your damages
- Review the insurance company’s settlement offer and advise you whether it is acceptable (tip: usually the initial offers are not anywhere close to your actual damages)
- Negotiate with the insurance company and get them to raise their settlement offer
Your other option is to file a personal injury lawsuit. This may not always be what you think. Most lawsuits will eventually end in a settlement agreement. You may need to go through part of the court process, but only about 5% of personal injury cases will end up in front of the jury.
Personal Injury Damages
When it comes to compensation, you have the legal right to be paid for all of your damages. This includes both your actual monetary and property damages and payment for everything that you have endured since your accident. Personal injury damages are supposed to pay you for everything, both in the past and the future. You can be paid for:
- Lost wages (including both what you have lost by not being able to work at all or up to your full capacity)
- Medical bills
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
If your loved one died from their injuries, your family has the legal right to file a wrongful death lawsuit. This is your family’s own personal injury case for the damages that you have suffered from your loved one’s death. This is the same as other personal injury cases in that you need to prove negligence in the death of your family member, but the damages are unique to you, based on what you lost.
Why You Should Come Forward After a Personal Injury
Filing a personal injury lawsuit has several benefits for you:
- You are paid for all of your losses
- You get a sense of justice, knowing that you have held someone accountable for what they did
- You may get a sense of closure after your injuries
First, you need to come forward and take action before the time to file your case expires. It is not always easy to go through the legal process. There can be stress involved, and you may need to relive what happened when you are speaking with your attorney or testifying. However, it is the only way that you will be able to get the compensation that you legally deserve.
Contact a Midtown Personal Injury Attorney Today
If you or a loved one have been injured in an accident, the time to act is now. You have a limited amount of time under Georgia law to hold someone legally responsible for what they did. The attorneys at Spaulding Injury Law can help you navigate the financial compensation after your accident.
Call us today at (470) 509-5772 or fill out a contact form online to schedule your free initial consultation. You will get the peace of mind that comes from knowing that you have an experienced attorney fighting on your side to protect your legal rights.
