If you suffered an injury due to the acts of others, you might be entitled to be compensated by the liable party if you file a personal injury claim. Too many people make the mistake of trying to figure this out on their own without representation from an experienced attorney. The fact is, a Mableton personal injury lawyer with experience in personal injury cases is an invaluable asset during this very stressful time. At Ted A. Greve & Associates, we understand how difficult it is when you are hurt. We will take charge of your case and deal with all of the legalities involved in filing your claim so you can focus your energy in your recovery. We will represent you through the entire process and fight for you until you get the compensation that you are entitled to. Contact a Mableton Personal Injury Lawyer for a free consultation to discuss your case.
What Should I Do After an Injury?
After you are injured, the first thing you should do is to quickly assess if you require immediate medical attention. If you are unable to get up, paramedics should be called right away. If you are able to get up but suspect that you sustained a physical injury, you should have someone take you to the emergency room. At the very least, call your doctor and make an appointment to see him as soon as possible. This is to protect your health, which is first and foremost in importance. In addition, seeing a doctor after the injury will document your claim that you have suffered an injury. Keep records of any tests or treatment that you receive.
If you are able to, at the scene of the accident, take photographs or videos of the scene and surrounding areas. You want to capture the cause of your injury and things that might have contributed to it.
Report the incident to the appropriate authorities or personnel. If you are injured in an auto accident, the police should be called. If you were injured at work, report this to your supervisor or the person in charge of the department. If the injury occurred in a retail or service establishment, report this to the manager.
There are probably bystanders at the scene. Try to get the names and contact information of anyone who witnessed the accident.
When you describe the incident to the authorities or to the relevant personnel, be mindful not to admit to any fault. Statements like, “I should not have changed lanes,” or “I should have known that the box was too heavy for me to lift,” might be taken as your taking partial responsibility for your injuries. Therefore, choose your words carefully when you describe what happened.
Contact a personal injury attorney. The days after your accident can be confusing and difficult to handle on your own because of your physical injuries and emotional trauma. Give us a call and discuss your case. We will fight for your rights to be justly compensated.
Do I Really Need A Mableton Personal Injury Lawyer?
If you try to do this on your own, you will be doing yourself a great disservice. Dealing with insurance companies can be very stressful, and they often will offer you a settlement far below than what you deserve. If you want to file a lawsuit, trying to navigate through the legal system will take a tremendous amount of your time, and you will be placing yourself under undue stress. All the stress might delay your recovery from your injuries.
When you hire a Mableton Personal Injury Lawyer to represent you, we will prepare your case in every detail and file the lawsuit on your behalf. We will contact witnesses and take their depositions. We will assemble all of the evidence and documentation that support your case like your medical treatment records, damage and repair reports, police reports, documentation of lost wages, and much more. We will negotiate with your insurance company to get you the best settlement. If we have to take your case to court, we will take care of the filing and represent you during the court proceedings. You can rest assured that you will be in good hands because we will fight for you every step of the way.
What Type of Damages Can I Recover?
If your injury happened in Mableton, Georgia, you can claim damages under three categories.
Economic damages
These are considered special damages in Georgia. This is a quantifiable loss of any money as a result of your injuries. This includes wages that you were not and will not be able to earn due to your injuries; loss of your job, your ability to work, or business opportunities; medical expenses that you incurred or will incur; cost of personal care that you used or will need; property that needs to be replaced or repaired (e.g. your vehicle); the value of services that you have lost.
Non-Economic damages
These are considered general damages. The measure of loss is more subjective. This includes the amount of pain and suffering you experienced as a result of your injury; the inconvenience you experienced; your loss of enjoyment of things that you are no longer able to enjoy; loss of the companionship or socialization you once had; emotional distress; loss of consortium (e.g. you were unable or will be unable to provide your family with the same level of companionship and affection that you provided to them before the injury).
Punitive damages:
This sum does not compensate for a loss. It is awarded to punish the party at-fault for the willful actions that caused your injuries and to deter similar actions or behavior in the future.
How is Liability Determined?
In determining liability of the defendant, Georgia follows the rule of modified comparative fault. That means as the injured party, you must show that you were less than 50 percent responsible for the accident. If the defendant is found to be more than 50 percent at-fault, you can claim damages.
To prove that the defendant was negligent, the liability of the defendant is determined by the following criteria.
- Duty of Care: You must prove that the defendant has a reasonable duty to follow a standard of care that should keep you safe from unreasonable risk or harm.
- Breach of Duty of Care: This happens when the defendant fails to practice the standard of care that is due to you.
- Causation: You need to prove that the negligent action of the defendant caused your injury.
- Damages: You need to prove that you suffered physical and emotional damage from your injuries.
How Much Time Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Claim in Georgia?
In Georgia, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims is two years. That means you must file your claim within two years of the date of the event that caused your injury in order to claim damages. If you file after the two-year window, you may lose your right to compensation barring any special circumstances.
Personal Injury Claims Process
- First, follow the steps outlined above on what you should do after an injury.
- Contact us to discuss your case. We will start your claims process.
- We will formally contact the insurance companies to open your claim. You have the option to contact the insurance companies before you contact us, but be very careful not to commit to any statements that you make. It is advisable that you let them know you will retain an attorney.
- We will gather evidence, talk to witnesses, gather documentation from you, and prepare your case.
- We will send the insurance company a formal letter stating the demand for compensation. The insurer typically has 30 days to respond.
- We will negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf. If an equitable settlement cannot be reached, we will move the claim to a trial. We will represent you, present evidence, and fight for a favorable verdict.
How Much Will a Mabelton Personal Injury Lawyer Cost?
We will charge a fee on a contingency basis. That means we will get paid only if we can win you a settlement. Typical fees range from 33.3% to 40% of the settlement.
Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle at Ted A. Greve and Associates
We have extensive experience with a wide range of personal injury cases.
- Car Accidents: This involves any type of vehicular collision that results in your injury.
- Slip and Fall: Property owners have legal duty to keep their premises safe for visitors. If you are injured on someone else’s property, you may be entitled to damages.
- Medical Malpractice: Healthcare professionals are held to a standard of care for their patients. If you are injured because the standards were not met, you can claim damages.
- Dog Bites: If a dog owner’s dog is off-leash, and it bites you, the dog owner may be liable for your injuries.
- Workers Compensation: Any type of injury you sustained at your place of employment.
- Product Malfunctions: If you were injured by a defective product, you can claim damages.
When you get hurt as the result of the actions of others, you should focus your energy in healing and recovery. Let us do the work in fighting for your rights to a just settlement during your recovery. We will take care of every step of the process so you will not have to deal with the stress of talking to insurance companies and filing documents. You pay us nothing until you receive your settlement. Call us today for a complimentary, no-obligation consultation to discuss your case.
