Getting injured because of someone else’s mistakes can be a physically, psychologically, and financially draining experience. You may have to spend a significant sum of money on your health. There is also a chance that you won’t fully recover from your injuries.
Fortunately, you can seek justice against the responsible parties and get compensated for your losses. Working with a Valdosta personal injury attorney from our firm can lighten the workload of filing a claim or lawsuit.
Getting Compensation for Your Injury in Lowndes County, Georgia
You generally have two options for recovering damages from the liable party:
Filing an Insurance Claim
If the at-fault party has liability coverage, you could file a personal injury claim with their insurance provider. Liability insurance pays for the injuries other people suffer because of the policyholder.
For example, a private individual may have homeowners insurance while a business has commercial liability insurance. The claims adjuster will review the incident to determine how much the insurance company should pay you.
An injury attorney from our team can help gather evidence. This can include pictures, videos, and witness statements.
Bringing a Personal Injury Lawsuit to Court
When you take an injury case to court, a civil judge or jury will check both sides’ statements and proof before determining the amount owed to you. Cases that go to court can be expensive and time-consuming due to legal fees, processing, and court proceedings. It might also take a while for the court to reach a verdict.
However, getting sued may encourage the liable party to settle privately to avoid going to court.
Our injury lawyer can guide you through the filing process and speak on your behalf in court. We can also advise you on what to do during the proceedings.
For a free legal consultation with a Personal Injury lawyer serving Valdosta, call (404) 888-8888
Damages in a Valdosta Personal Injury Case
If your Valdosta injury claim or case is successful, you can recover two types of damages: economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages pay for financial losses suffered due to the injury, such as:
- past and future medical expenses
- past and future lost wages
- business profit losses
Non-economic or pain and suffering damages refer to abstract costs like:
- disabilities and disfigurements
- physical pain
- emotional distress
- loss of enjoyment of life
To calculate your total recoverable damages as accurately as possible, you will want to compile all records of your injury-related expenses, like medical bills and medication receipts. An injury attorney with our firm can review them to give you an estimate of what you could receive in compensation.
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What Is Considered a Personal Injury?
“Personal injury” is a term that refers to any harm you suffer due to someone else’s actions, whether intentional or not. As such, you can use these bases for personal injury cases:
- Negligence: Injuries caused by the other party’s lack of care. An example would be if a neighbor needlessly fires a loaded gun up in the air that ends up wounding you.
- Intentional behavior: This is when someone deliberately harms you. It can also apply in cases where you are not the actual target but still got injured by them.
- Strict liability: A defendant may be strictly liable even if they did not intend to injure the plaintiff. For example, a seller, distributor, or producer of a defective product may be liable to anyone hurt by the goods, even if they took all reasonable precautions to avoid the problem.
A lawyer from our firm can help determine the type of personal injury case you must file. We are also knowledgeable about the local statutes and can counsel you on the laws related to your case.
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Laws Affecting Your Georgia Personal Injury Case’s Outcome
Georgia has a few laws that can impact how your Valdosta personal injury claim or lawsuit turns out, including:
The Comparative Fault Law
According to Georgia’s comparative negligence statute, O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33, in order to be reimbursed, the other party must have a higher portion of the blame than you.
Furthermore, your recoverable damages depend on the fault percentage you have.
To illustrate, say that you slipped and fell on a store’s wet floor, injuring your spine. While it is mainly the business’s fault for not putting up a warning sign, the claims adjuster or judge may find you partially at fault for your injury since you were running. As such, they declare you 20 percent liable, which means you can only recover 80 percent of the total damages.
Georgia’s Statute of Limitations
Georgia’s statute of limitations is your time limit for filing your Valdosta personal injury case. Compliance is critical since your case could get rejected if you miss the deadline. According to O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33, you generally need to file the case in two years.
The statute timer can toll under special instances. For example, let’s say that the other party faces assault and battery charges for intentionally injuring you. O.C.G.A. § 9-3-99 will stop the statute timer for up to six years or until the criminal prosecution finishes.
An injury attorney from our firm can help ensure you file on time. We can check for tolling exceptions and work on the case while you focus on your recovery.
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You Can Start Seeking Justice Today with One of Our Lawyers
If you suffered injuries because of another’s negligence or intentional actions in Valdosta, Bader Scott Injury Lawyers is here to help you take action and recover damages. Our Valdosta attorney can help develop your claim or case and represent you in front of insurance companies or the court if needed.
For over 12 years, we have handled personal injury cases throughout Georgia. Our practice areas include product liability, auto accidents, and nursing home abuse. Call 404-888-8888 for a free consultation. A team member is standing by to listen to the facts of your case and get you connected with one of our lawyers who can advocate for you.
Call or text (404) 888-8888 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form