A lot of people think they know what Georgia personal injury lawyers do. Their information usually comes from television and movies. In the real world, you’d be surprised at how much Georgia personal injury lawyers do. They handle all sorts of cases and help their clients in all sorts of ways.
For the most part, Georgia personal injury lawyers get their clients money for injuries they sustain in accidents. These accidents are usually caused by a third party. These injuries can range from whiplash to a spinal cord injury.
When you get injured, the first thing you need to do is seek medical treatment. Even if you don’t think you’re hurt, you need to get checked out at the hospital. First, you need to make sure you’re okay. Second, your attorney will need medical documentation to prove your injuries later.
After you get medical treatment, you need to call a personal injury lawyer. Your lawyer can help you file your insurance claim. He can also negotiate with the insurance adjuster to settle your case. If this isn’t possible, he’ll file a lawsuit on your behalf.
What Kinds of Cases do Georgia Personal Injury Lawyers Handle?
Georgia personal injury lawyers handle all sorts of cases. Some of the more common types of cases they handle include:
- Slip and Fall Accidents – You may fall at a grocery store and hurt your back.
- Premises Liability – Property owners are required to keep their premises safe and clean.
- Dangerous Drugs – With so many new drugs on the market, there is the risk that one could be dangerous.
- Product Liability – If your loved one gets hurt by a toy or some other product, you may have a product liability claim.
- Dog Bites – If you get by your neighbor or friend’s dog, you may have a claim for personal injury.
Depending on the situation, you may have a claim against the defendant’s insurance company. Most people and companies have insurance to cover them if people get hurt on their property. If you’re lucky, your claim will be paid right away. If not, your personal injury lawyer can also try to negotiate a settlement or file a lawsuit.
Your Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help if Your Claim is Denied
If you get hurt in an accident, you’ll likely have to file a claim against the defendant’s insurance company. Most claims do get paid rather quickly. You file your claim and will have your check within a week or two. However, other claims are denied.
Some of the reasons your claim may be denied include:
- The policy wasn’t valid at the time of the accident
- The driver wasn’t listed on the policy
- Also, they believe you were at fault
- They don’t believe you were injured
- They doubt the severity of your injuries
- Lastly, you have a history of filing false insurance claims
There’s nothing your attorney can do if the policy wasn’t valid. No insurance company is going to pay a claim against an invalid policy. For any other reason, your attorney can help you appeal your claim.
If your claim is still denied, you have the option of filing a lawsuit against the defendant. His insurance company will have to defend their client in court. Your attorney will have to prove that the defendant is liable for your injuries.
How Do You Prove a Personal Injury Case?
Most personal injury cases are based on negligence. Negligence is another way of saying the defendant didn’t act the way he should have. Although most negligence claims involve legitimate accidents, that doesn’t mean you aren’t entitled to compensation.
In order to prove a negligence claim, your Georgia personal injury lawyer will have to show the following four things:
- The defendant had a duty of care toward you
- He breached this duty of care
- You were injured
- Also, your injuries were caused by his breach
Proving that the defendant had a duty of care is the easy part. We all owe a duty of care to some extent. Some common duties include:
- Duty to keep premises clean and safe
- Also, duty to drive carefully and obey all traffic rules
- Duty to manufacture products that are safe for their intended use
- Duty to properly diagnose patients
It’s also not difficult to show that you were injured. Unless there’s a discrepancy over whether or not you have a pre-existing condition, your injuries will speak for themselves. This is why it’s so important that you seek medical treatment immediately after your accident. Also, you don’t want to give the defendant any reason to question the legitimacy of your injuries.
Your attorney’s job is to prove that the defendant breached his duty and that this breach caused your injuries. If he’s able to do this, you’ll be entitled to certain damages.
What Kinds of Damages Can Your Personal Injury Lawyer Claim?
Depending on how serious your injuries are, you may be entitled to certain damages. In order to recover money, you have to actually suffer an injury. You can’t sue someone just because they breached their duty of care. You must suffer a legitimate injury.
If your attorney can prove your injuries, he can demand that you be compensated. Your damages may include:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Property damages
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent disability
Not every case will involve all of these types of damages. For example, you normally won’t see property damage in a personal injury case. They’re more common in car accident cases. Regardless, your Georgia personal injury lawyer is going to work hard to make sure you get the compensation you deserve.
Contact a Georgia Personal Injury Lawyer Today
If you or a family member have suffered a personal injury, you need to contact a Georgia personal injury lawyer. Almost all firms offer a free initial consultation. This gives you a chance to discuss your case with an experienced personal injury lawyer.
During your consultation, you can also ask any questions you may have. Your lawyer can review your case and let you know what it may be worth. He can also give you an idea of what you’re up against. Not only is the consultation free, but you pay your personal injury lawyer nothing until you settle your case.
