Although we often think of accidents as being beyond anyone’s control, someone is usually responsible. Get help from a lawyer to determine who is responsible after you are injured in an accident.
You should file a personal injury lawsuit if you believe your injuries were caused by someone else’s negligent, reckless, or careless behavior. Plaintiffs usually have 2 years to file their case in the right court. Damages should include your financial costs and personal experiences like pain and suffering. Evidence can be found almost anywhere, depending on your unique case, and can be unpredictable. The best way to get compensation depends on how you were injured and the various circumstances of your case. Insurance claims and lawsuits can help you get the money you need and deserve.
Speak to our personal injury lawyers at Howe Law about a free case review by calling (844) 876-4357.
When to File a Personal Injury Case in Sandy Springs, GA
When a person should file a personal injury lawsuit can be difficult to determine. Many personal injuries are the result of accidents, and people often believe that nobody can be blamed for unintentional injuries. In reality, you might have a potential lawsuit on your hands if your injuries are from another person’s behavior, intentional or not.
One very important element of a lawsuit you must keep in mind is the statute of limitations. This statute imposes a strict deadline on when you can file your lawsuit. Different kinds of cases might adhere to different statutes of limitations. In Georgia, the statute of limitations for personal injury cases is 2 years.
Although 2 years might feel like a long time to file a case, there is much work to do in those 2 short years. Our personal injury attorneys need time to assess your damages, find evidence, and prepare the initial complaint before filing the lawsuit. If you were injured because of someone else’s negligence, speak to an attorney as soon as you can.
Potential Damages Recoverable in Sandy Springs, GA Personal Injury Claims
Your damages represent your losses and injuries that resulted from the accident caused by the defendant. Careful assessment of your damages is important so that no losses are overlooked by mistake. Our team will help you thoroughly analyze your losses so that your compensation is as great as can be.
Compensatory Damages
These damages are meant to make up for your losses from the accident. Ideally, compensatory damages awards should put you back in the same place you were in prior to your injuries, at least financially.
Economic damages directly relate to money you lose because of your injuries. Medical bills, damaged property, lost income, and other expenses can be tallied up and added to your total damages calculations. In addition, we can estimate the value of future expenses and add them to your damages calculations. For example, if you anticipate future medical treatment for your injuries, we can claim those damages now.
The other component of compensatory damages is your non-economic injuries. These are somewhat more challenging to calculate because they are often unrelated to real money. Instead, they comprise personal experiences like pain, suffering, humiliation, and more. Since a court cannot undo these losses, financial compensation is assessed instead.
Punitive Damages
Although rarely awarded, punitive damages might be available. Punitive damages do not compensate for any economic or non-economic losses but punish defendants for their egregious behavior. While you might financially benefit, these damages are primarily intended to deter future accidents.
Under the law, you might recover punitive damages if we can help you present evidence establishing the defendant’s behavior when they caused your injuries amounted to willful misconduct, fraud, malice, oppression, wantonness, or an absence of care for the consequences of their actions. This is a very high bar to meet, and punitive damages tend to be less common.
Most punitive damage awards are capped at $250,000, most of which must be paid to the state treasury. The bar is very high for punitive damages, but they might be available if the defendant’s behavior is shocking or outrageous.
Where to Find Evidence for Your Personal Injury Claims in Sandy Springs, GA
Finding the right evidence can be complicated. In some cases, a ton of evidence is just waiting to be scooped up. Meanwhile, in other cases, evidence is scarce. Even if you can find strong evidence, it must be admissible under the rules of evidence in Georgia. The rules of evidence are complex, and handling the matter alone is not advisable.
A lot of evidence might come from the place where your injuries occurred. If possible, take photos and record videos of the accident scene immediately after being injured. Many people do this while they wait for emergency responders to arrive. These records might save precious details that we can use later to support your case.
If other people saw your accident happen or have other first-hand knowledge relevant to your case, we can call them as witnesses. Witnesses may provide testimony about their personal knowledge, and their testimony may be very persuasive, depending on what they know. Accidents that occur in public spaces might have numerous witnesses.
Proving the extent of your injuries is another important aspect of your case, and we might need your medical records as evidence. It is crucial that you see a doctor immediately after being injured so that your medical records are as thorough and accurate as possible.
Call Our Sandy Springs, GA Personal Injury Attorneys for Assistance
Speak to our personal injury lawyers at Howe Law about scheduling a free assessment of your case by calling (844) 876-4357.
