If you were injured after a negligent accident in Carrollton, you may be entitled to compensation under Georgia law. The costs of medical care, recovery, or lost wages from missed days at work can add up quickly. You should not have to pay for damages someone else caused.
A Carrollton personal injury lawyer at Bader Scott Injury Lawyers will stand by you during your fight for justice. Our attorneys understand that you may have more important things to worry about after a life-altering accident. We can handle your legal proceedings while you focus on your recovery.
Our law office has a team of experienced personal injury lawyers ready to assist you. To learn more about our personal injury services in Carrollton, contact a Bader Scott Injury Lawyers team member today to receive your free consultation.
Recoverable Damages in Carrollton
Depending on the circumstances of your personal injury claim, you may be able to recover compensation for several types of economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages have a set dollar amount. They are monetary losses caused by an accident and can be proven through bills, receipts, and invoices. Non-economic damages refer to damages that do not have a set dollar amount. The monetary value of non-economic damages is usually determined in court by a jury.
Some of the damages you can pursue compensation for include:
- Loss of income and benefits
- Diminished earning capacity
- Medical expenses and the estimated cost of your ongoing care
- Property damage
- Physical pain
- Mental anguish, loss of companionship with your spouse or family, or loss of enjoyment of life
- Accommodations for permanent disabilities
Our Carrollton law office has personal injury lawyers ready to help you recover the compensation you deserve. Call us today and talk to our team to receive your free consultation.
For a free legal consultation with a personal injury lawyer serving Carrollton, call (404) 888-8888
When and Why You Should Consult With a Personal Injury Lawyer
You are urged to consult with a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible if you have sustained any injuries, no matter how minor, due to an accident for which you are not responsible. Insurers and liable parties tend to take your claim more seriously when you have legal representation. In general, you should avoid being without legal counsel during any part of the claims process for the following reasons and more:
Insurance Companies Tend to Fight for Their Own Best Interests, Not Yours
Many people don’t retain a personal lawyer because they are covered by insurance, either through their own carrier or the liable party. You may mistakenly believe that insurance agencies are there to look out for you. But in many cases, the insurer’s best interests are literally at odds with yours because you have the primary objective of receiving the maximum compensation available to you. Conversely, the goal of insurers is to pay you as little as possible to increase their profits.
If you are making a claim against an insurance company, you should also realize they will have their own professional team of attorneys well-versed in personal injury law who will represent them and fight for their best interests. If the insurer or party you are seeking compensation from has retained legal representation, this is a strong indication that you will need your own counsel at your side who can fight back on your behalf.
Your Injuries May Be More Severe Than You Think
Many accident victims are hesitant to hire an attorney for relatively minor injuries, such as scrapes and bruises. If the liable party’s insurance company or your own offers to pay your medical bills and lost wages, it may not initially seem worthwhile to seek legal counsel. However, if, over time, your injuries become worse than you and your health provider initially believed, and you have already agreed to a settlement, you will no longer be able to recover compensation to which you should have been entitled.
Moreover, when you settle with an insurer, you must relinquish all future claims that may someday arise from the accident. An attorney will advise you to wait until you are sure of the full extent of your injuries and help you identify when it’s time to accept a settlement offer, or go to trial.
In summary, whenever you suffer from accident-related injuries partially or fully the fault of another, you should consult with an attorney because they will work to prove the full scope of damages you’re entitled to and maximize your compensation.
You’re Seeking Damages for Pain and Suffering, Loss of Quality of Life
Physical pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of companionship and life enjoyment are damages that may be owed to accident victims who sustain severe or long-lasting injuries. Unfortunately, many insurance companies are reluctant to compensate for these losses as they are subjective and often not included in policies.
However, if you take your claim to court, you might be more likely to be awarded for these losses. Your attorney can explain the different types of damages to which you could be entitled and will advocate on your behalf to receive these in a settlement or verdict.
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The Role of Punitive Damages in Personal Injury Law
Punitive damages are subject to unique restrictions and guidelines. First and foremost, the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A.) §51-12-5.1 dictates that punitive damages cannot exceed $250,000.
Ultimately, punitive damages will not apply to many victims because they are rarely awarded by the court. To qualify for these special damages, you must prove that the offender showed an abnormal amount of negligence, including:
- Willful misconduct
- Oppression
- Wantonness
- Fraud
- Malice
- Or an overall disregard for the safety of the community
In fact, judges reserve these damages so they can use them as punishment for extremely reckless offenders. In this way, punitive damages are designed to serve as a warning to the community instead of explicitly compensating you for your hardships.
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Comparative Negligence in Carrollton Accidents
Georgia’s “comparative negligence” laws may affect your case and your compensation. If you are less than 50% responsible for your accident, under O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33, you are allowed to recover compensation. That means you can still get compensated even if you were partially at fault for your injuries.
However, keep in mind that your final settlement can get reduced based on your level of liability for the accident. Once all the evidence is reviewed, your overall culpability is translated into a percentage between 1% and 100%. That percentage will affect your final settlement.
To better understand the implications of comparative negligence, consider the following example:
If you receive $40,000 in damages, but you were 25% liable for your injuries, your settlement gets reduced according to that percentage.
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Areas of Personal Injury Law We Represent at Bader Scott Injury Lawyers
Our firm represents many forms of personal injury cases. We can work to evaluate your particular personal injury case based on the specific local and state laws that apply to your circumstances. We understand the seriousness of accidents and the financial consequences they can have on the lives of victims.
Our practice areas include, but are not limited to:
- Product liability (defective products)
- Slip and fall
- Nursing home abuse
- Medical malpractice
- Dog bites
- Car, motorcycle, and truck accidents
- Uber and Lyft accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Wrongful death
If you have any questions about your legal options in Carrollton, contact a Bader Scott Injury Lawyers representative today to receive your free consultation.
Time Limits on Filing Personal Injury Claims
The time you have to file a claim may differ depending on your specific type of case. Additionally, there are specific deadlines for filing a claim against a medical organization or government entity.
Ultimately, it is important to discuss the particular statutes and guidelines that govern your personal injury claim with a lawyer. Some of the most critical deadlines include:
- One year to file a workers’ compensation claim, per O.C.G.A. § 34-9-82
- Six months to file a claim against a city, per O.C.G.A. § 36-33-5
- One year to file a claim against a county, per O.C.G.A. § 36-11-1
- One year to file a claim against the state, per O.C.G.A. § 50-21-26
- Two years to file a general personal injury claim, per O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33
Personal Injury Lawyers Fighting for Victims in Carrollton
Our attorneys at Bader Scott Injury Lawyers are dedicated to serving victims of injustice. When you retain a Carrollton personal injury lawyer at our firm, we can fight to help protect your right to compensation in multiple ways.
Our personal injury services include:
- Offering legal counsel throughout your proceedings
- Assisting with settlement negotiations
- Calculating the value of your pain and suffering
- Representing your affairs and communicating with other parties on your behalf
- Fighting for your case at trial
- Gathering evidence and working to prove liability
- Examining your insurance coverage
Start learning more about how our personal injury lawyers can help with your case during your free consultation. To get started, call Bader Scott Injury Lawyers today.
Call or text (404) 888-8888 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form