Once you suffer a serious injury, it can alter your life for good. Furthermore, it may also lead to serious financial problems due to unprecedented medical bills. You will lose income if you are unable to work while you are in recovery.
Having a South Fulton personal injury lawyer will be of great help. Your injury lawyer will be able to guide you through your legal rights and hold all negligent parties involved accountable. Having a certified personal injury lawyer will help fast-track the process and help you get compensated faster. while you are recovering, they will represent you in any legal process.
Are you looking for a personal injury lawyer here in South Fulton, Georgia? Look no further. Humphrey & Ballard Law specializes in personal injury claims. Given the number of similar cases we have had to work on before, we can help you obtain the compensation you deserve. Call us at 404-341-0499 today for a free consultation.
What Should I Do After an Injury?
Seek safety first. No one wants to get injured. However, some scenarios are inevitable, as injuries are prone to happen to anyone at any given time. As soon as the injury occurs, you should:
Get Medical Treatment and Keep Records of All Visits
It should be the first step when an injury occurs. Seek medical treatment from a licensed medical professional immediately. The medic will examine you and determine your type of injury. As soon as you are done with the treatment, ensure you have all your medical records in place. These records are crucial for compensation as they will be presented in court as evidence of your injury.
Take Photos and Videos if You Can
Having a photo or video of your injury and the place it occurred can be of great help. These are clear evidence of the accident and the party at fault. Any qualified personal injury lawyer can build a strong case just from those videos and photos.
Get Names and Numbers of Any Witnesses
Having personal information of any witnesses around will go a long way during your personal injury claim case. Having names and numbers of those around when the injury occurred will enable you to contact them to come and testify. Having valid witnesses in your case guarantees an almost automatic victory as they will give an accurate account of the event.
Report the Incident
Notify the relevant authorities. Ensure to notify the police if it is a road accident. Making the authorities aware guarantees a safe procedure and that no evidence is lost. Their report will also be paramount in determining the actual events.
Call a South Fulton Personal Injury Lawyer
Once everything is sorted, the next step should be to contact a personal injury lawyer. Contacting a personal injury lawyer is advisable because they can access your case and take you through your rights.
Why Do I Need a Lawyer?
At Humphrey & Ballard Law, we’ve had years of experience preparing and filing personal injury cases. Here are some of the ways our South Fulton injury lawyers can help you.
Settlement Negotiations
The insurance adjusters will try to deny you compensation most times, so a lawyer is the best way to ensure that you get the compensation you deserve. An experienced lawyer can negotiate a great deal for you.
Case Preparation/ Filling a Lawsuit
Having a personal injury lawyer will help when it comes to case preparation and more importantly, having a lawsuit in place. They will ensure there ate no mistakes during the claims process that could put your case at risk.
Trial Preparation and Representation
Last but not least, they will prepare adequately and fully represent you in a legal battle to ensure you get your rightful compensation.
What Type of Damages Can I Recover?
Personal injury victims can recover three types of damages.
Economic Damages
Medical expenses ranging from ambulance to hospitalization fees fall under the economic category. This is a huge bill that has to be paid. Other economic damages you can recover include lost wages and property damage.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages include the pain and suffering that the injured victim goes through. Other damages include loss of a loved one, anxiety, and depression due to the accident.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages come into play when an accident occurred due to malice, fraud, or severe negligence. The guilty party is required to pay as a form of punishment for their actions.
How Is Liability Determined?
Georgia recognizes fault or liability based on negligence. There are four parts to proving negligence.
Duty of Care
The plaintiff must show that the defendant owed them a duty of care. The lawyer needs to show that the plaintiff was owed a legal obligation by the defendant (for instance, keeping a safe distance when driving).
Breach of Duty of Care
The evidence must show that the defendant neglected to perform his duty, which led to the injury of the plaintiff. The defendant must have failed to exercise their duty of care.
Causation
The lawyer must show that the plaintiff’s injuries resulted from the defendant failing to exercise their legal obligation of duty of care. There are two kinds of causation:
- Cause in Fact: The evidence has to show but for the defendant’s actions, the plaintiff would not be injured.
- Proximity Cause: The defendant is only liable for the harm or injuries that they could have foreseen when engaging in their actions.
Damages
The lawyer has to provide evidence showing that the plaintiff experienced harm as defined in legal terms. The evidence is shown in terms of economic and non-economic damages. They may be such as:
- Lost wages
- Medical expenses (past and anticipated)
- Loss of future job opportunities
- Mental anguish
- Wrongful death
Comparative negligence also applies to personal injury cases in South Fulton, GA. It comes into play if both drivers are responsible for the collision. The plaintiff’s lawyer must prove that the defendant is more than fifty percent responsible for the accident. If the injury victim has more than fifty percent fault in the collision, they will not recover damages.
How Much Time Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Claim in South Fulton, GA?
The statute of limitations for personal injury cases in Georgia is two years from the day of your accident. If you have not applied for a personal injury claim within that time, your personal injury claim will be void.
If the statute of limitations has passed, you should consult with us and let us see if your case may be the exception. Some cases are subject to “tolling,” an extension of the statute of limitations.
Personal Injury Claims Process
When you get injured, you will not have your lawyer with you, which means you have to act fast to protect yourself. Failure to do this could cause loss of evidence, meaning you will have a hard time getting the compensation you deserve. Here are the steps to take in your injury claims process.
Once you call your lawyer, they will file a complaint at the start of legal action. You should collect any evidence you can to support your case.
How Much Will a South Fulton Personal Injury Lawyer Cost?
A personal injury lawyer is paid a contingency fee (a percentage of the amount recovered from the case). A contingency fee will only be paid if we secure a settlement or you are awarded compensation in a court of law. We always strive to get you the most possible compensation that we can.
Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle at Humphrey & Ballard Law
We handle a variety of personal injury cases in Georgia, including:
Car Accidents
A car accident often leads to broken bones and, in some cases, loss of limbs. A lawyer is imperative to help you get the compensation you deserve.
Truck Accidents
Most truck accidents are a result of the truck driver’s negligence. Unfortunately, more lives are lost in truck collisions than small car collisions. A lawyer is essential if you want to file a wrongful death claim.
Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycles offer limited protection. Most motorcycle accidents cause severe injuries or death. If you were injured or lost a loved one in a motorcycle crash, call our law firm today for help.
Rideshare Accidents
Rideshare companies often try to pay the customer as little as possible when an accident happens. We will ensure that you are fully represented so that you can get fully compensated.
Wrongful Death
Any death due to the negligence of others is a potential wrongful death lawsuit. While compensation cannot ease the grief of losing a loved one, it can allow the family to cope with the economic burdens. Our compassionate attorneys can help you hold the responsible party accountable.
Call Our South Fulton Personal Injury Lawyers Today
Once you suffer a serious injury, it can alter your life for good. Furthermore, it may also lead to serious financial problems due to unprecedented medical bills. You will lose income if you are unable to work while you are in recovery.
If you have been injured because of someone’s intentional actions or reckless behavior, Georgia law allows you to pursue compensation. Call Humphrey & Ballard Law today on 404-341-0499 and get the best personal injury lawyers in South Fulton, GA. We will ensure you get all the benefits of hiring a lawyer for your case. You can also get a free consultation on your case.